Nubian goats are one of the most popular goat breeds in the world.
Originally from Africa and India, Nubians were first introduced to the UK in 1893.
Nubians are primarily dairy goats prized for their large milk production capabilities.
They also make great pets with their friendly, intelligent, and highly curious personalities, although they are known for being vocal so you might want to keep them far from the neighbors.
What factors affect a Nubian goat’s lifespan?
A Nubian goat’s lifespan can vary greatly depending on several factors.
Thankfully, most of these factors are easily managed, helping Nubian goat owners to manage their lifespans well with a few practical steps.
Living Conditions
One of the most important factors that determine lifespan is a Nubian goat’s living conditions.
Just like humans, goats live longer when they’re happier and subjected to a more comfortable and healthier environment.
Nubian goats are known for being hardy given their African and Asian origins but still live longer in milder climates without very high or low temperatures.
Make sure they have some form of shelter in the winter where they can sleep warm.
Placing hay on the floor for them to sleep on goes a long way in helping them keep warm and not freeze.
Providing Nubian goats with enough space to graze, run around, and play is essential to their happiness.
Goats don’t like being cooped up in small spaces, so it’s best to have a large field to keep them in.
Diet
Diet not only helps them grow and stay strong but also helps them avoid sickness and reproduce better.
Diet is especially important if you’re keeping Nubian goats for their milk, as it can easily affect milk quality and quantities.
A good diet will have a healthy balance of energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins.
All goats are herbivores, so they just eat plants.
Goats are excellent foragers and are smart enough to select high-quality forages from low-quality ones.
Foods that can increase lifespan:
- Grasses
- Legumes
- Weeds
- Woody-stem plants (brambles, shrubs, small trees, and vines)
- Hay (it’s cheap and nutrient-rich)
- Salt lick (great for supplementing essential salts and minerals)
- Fruit like bananas and apples (except citrus)
- Most vegetables (carrots, cabbages)
- Berries
- High-quality grain
Foods that can decrease lifespan:
- Animal feed with artificial additives
- Most “human” food
- Meat (they’re herbivores, not omnivores)
- Garlic
- Onions
- Cocoa (chocolates)
- Caffeine
- Citrus fruits
- Cheap, low-quality animal feed
- Highly processed foods
- Nuts
- Cherries
- Avocados
- Potatoes
- Metal (yes, goats try to eat anything, so don’t leave tin cans lying around)
As a rule of thumb, the more natural and wild the food source is, the better it is.
Natural forages listed above are generally the best for Nubian goats.
Artificial additives and highly processed foods can adversely affect gut health and dramatically shorten lifespan.
Be aware that goats have a big effect on the plant ecosystem as they eat a lot and don’t care about preserving diversity.
This is another reason why it’s important to keep them in large spaces where there are plenty of plants around.
Remember that overeating even good food is also bad for a goat’s health.
Keep a close eye on their food consumption and take necessary action if you see them overfeeding.
Predators
While goats are smart and can usually avoid natural predators pretty well, they’re still vulnerable to many wild carnivores.
It’s usually good enough to keep them in a well-fenced enclosure or field and check for any ways wild animals could break in.
We’ve listed some common predators to look out for below, but you’ll still need to do some research to see which of them are common in your area and how you can protect your goats against each specific threat.
Common predators:
- Wolves (goats aren’t their usual meal, but they will attack if hungry and desperate)
- Coyotes
- Foxes (for smaller goats and young kids)
- Wild cats (mountain lions, bobcats, and cougars)
- Bears
- Dogs
- Eagles (also targets smaller goats and young kids)
Don’t forget about bacteria and parasites though.
Like all farm animals, Nubian goats may often get parasites through grazing or simply walking through a bad bush.
Many worm parasites like to live in goats’ guts, so it’s important to deworm them regularly.
Be sure to have a vet check on a goat if it seems weak or is acting strange.
Genetics
Beyond the above factors that are usually easily managed, genetics is a much more difficult factor.
Nubians are genetically large and live longer than other breeds, but breeding them intelligently will help improve these characteristics.
Because does are fertile for most of their life, it’s easy to identify the more resilient, long-living does and breed them with bucks with the same positive characteristics.
Does can give birth twice a year and have 1 to 3 kids per pregnancy, which gives you plenty of opportunity to test out different pairings.
How long do Nubian goats live in the wild?
This varies depending on where they live, how many natural predators are around, and how plentiful healthy food sources are.
Nubian goats face many more predators and adverse conditions in the wild, significantly shortening lifespans.
Colder climates tend to have fewer predators and parasites but put extra stress on tthe goats’ resilience.
Warm climates have plentiful food sources but present many more dangers.
How long do Nubian goats live in captivity?
Most animals have higher life expectancies in captivity.
This fact holds true for Nubian goats, who can live twice as long in captivity than in the wild.
This is mostly because lifespan factors like living conditions, diet, and predators are better managed.
Even in extreme climates, a simple shelter and healthy source of food will greatly increase lifespan.
The presence of humans also keeps predators away.
Nubian goats are often considered the best all-rounder goat, producing high quantities of milk and meat while also being suitable as pets.
Their long lifespan is ideal and their resilience allows them to live almost anywhere.
With a well-balanced diet and a good environment, they’re sure to meet all your goat needs no matter if you’re an experienced breeder or just looking for some goat milk in the morning.