Joyful Hearts Farm is located in Southern California in the Temecula Wine Country. We have a small herd of top
quality Registered Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats. We have many diverse color patterns as well. Our foundation herd
has been carefully selected from some of the best bloodlines in the
country, primarily out of Rosasharn, Jobi, Twin Creeks and foundation lines such as Stonewall, Gay-Mor and
Goodwood. We are striving to breed the all around dairy goat
by placing equal emphasis on conformation, filling the milk pail, and milking temperment. We are committed to
participating in
evaluations of our goats as offered by AGS & ADGA, via Classifications and Linear Appraisals, and participating in at
least one show a year, as well as milk testing our does. We practice natural herd health management, resulting in
hardier stock and healthier milk.
With our current economic situation many are considering ways of becoming a little more self-
sufficient. Many are purchasing a few Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats and chickens, along with planting small backyard
gardens to ease the burden of high food costs. Also, knowing where your food comes from is becoming more and
more important to us. The beauty of the Nigerian Dwarf is that they only require a small space to raise. They can
provide your family with a year round supply of fresh, raw goat milk. Two ND's only need about a 20' x 20' pen with a
shelter. They are easy keepers and a real delight to own. Some cities are even allowing 2-3 female goats (does), such
as Seattle, WA and Pasadena, CA. Making your own butter, cheese, kefir and desserts can become a reality with very
little effort. Purchasing from the best dairy lines, such as ours, will ensure that you will enjoy many years of
production from your investment.
Our goal is to raise top quality dairy goats with correct conformation, dairy character, well supported udders, being
easy to milk (we hand milk), as well as having a sweet temperment on and off the milk stand! Our five Sr. Milking does
all earned their dairy stars in 2009. We are very proud of our girls and how they milk.
In August we had our entire herd Linear Appraised. We feel that Linear Appraisal and Classification scores,
along with milk stars, are far more important than being in the show ring. We do however plan on showing at one or
two shows when we can. This keeps our herd healthy since they do not have the stress of being hauled around the
country and being in contact with other herds on a regular basis. We have pets, family milkers, show prospects, and
breeding stock for sale almost all year round. Please check our For Sale
page for availability and our current Breeding/Kidding Schedule to make
reservations on future kids. Currently we are taking names for our wait list on 2010 kids)
If you have a Joyful Heart Nigerian Dwarf that has been Linear Appraised or Classified, done
well in the show ring or is on milk test, please let us know so we can make note of it here on the website!
Our Registered Nigerian Dwarf does & bucks are normally priced from $400.00 to $750.00. Pets are $300-350. Kid
prices are determined by pedigree, conformation, show records, milking stars as well as LA scores and DHI records,
kidding history and AGS classification scores ~ which include that of the dam, sire, and other close relatives. Wethers
are $100-$150 depending on color and conformation & how many are purchased.
We are confident that you will fall in love with the Nigerians sweet, affectionate nature and be entertained constantly
by their silly antics! They can even dance! If you don't believe me, look to your left at Hershey!! *smiles* Please note
that goats are herd animals and depend on the companionship of other goats!! Be sure to have at
least two goats so that they will be happy. We do not sell single goats (unless you already own goats of
course!). We really recommend purchasing 3 goats to start your herd (and that doesn't necessarily mean purchasing
them all from the same breeder). Please learn about goats before you purchase them! We are here to
offer support as we can after your purchase through our Yahoo group (see below to join) and via email. Be sure to
also read our Herd Management page as well and visit the Links
page for additional self-study.
Nigerian Dwarf doe's average one to two quarts of milk per day. If you plan on milking your Nigerian Dwarf (and they
are dairy goats after all!), be sure to purchase from a breeder who actually milks their goats! I was very surprised to
learn that a lot of people don't milk. Something else to keep in mind is that it's not the size of
the udder that matters, but the amount and quality of the milk that is being produced that counts. Nigerian Dwarf
milk is very high in butterfat ~ 4-6% is average! I have been told that if you take one gallon of a standard breed's milk
(like the Saanen which has about 3.4% butterfat) you would be able to make three 8 oz containers of fromage cheese
compared to the same amount of Nigerian Dwarf milk, and your yield will be about twice that much! That's why
butterfat is more important than quantity when it comes to cheesemaking or if you want lots of cream to make butter!
Does can be milked for 10 months or longer. Unlike other breeds, the Nigerian Dwarf can be bred year round, so you
can have a year round milk supply if you so desire. I regularly make cottage cheese, chevre (like cream cheese), Feta,
Ricotta cheese, butter, mozzarella as well as ice cream, puddings, kefir, yogurt, and so much more! YUM!
Every kid at Joyful Hearts Farm is started on a weekly Herbal Cocci/Deworming prevention program starting at 2
weeks of age. At 12 weeks they are given a Tetanus Toxoid vaccination, and their 2nd booster 4 weeks later. They are
also given BoSe at 4 weeks and again at 8 weeks of age. We disbud at approximately 3 days to 10 days of age. We band
wethers at 6-8 weeks of age and will tattoo Bucks & Does before leaving our farm. We also copper bolus all kids at 3
months of age.
We dam raise all of our kids and make sure each baby is properly socialized from birth. We will have babies available at
4-8 weeks old if you wish to continue bottle feeding after purchase. This must be arranged prior to birth so we can
get the kid used to a bottle at an early age. We try to get all bucks to take a bottle so their new owners can
continue them on a bottle for a few weeks longer.
Please visit our Kidding Schedule to reserve a baby from a future
breedings. Our kids go fast, many times before they even hit the sales page!
Currently, the Nigerian Dwarf Status according to the
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Priority List is "Recovering", meaning they were once listed in another
category, but have now exceeded Watch category numbers. They are still in need of monitoring however so more
quality breeders are needed!
Nigerian's are small and easy for children to handle which is making them extremely popular with FFA & 4-H kids. They
come in a large variety of colors which everyone finds appealing! One of our favorite color patterns is called
'buckskin'. Buckskins have a dark cape in the front, matching stripes on the face and legs, and the body color is
usually lighter. We also have chocolate colored, light gold, reddish gold (one of Fern's favorites!), and cream/fawn and
lots of flash in between!
If you are thinking of starting out with these wonderful dwarf dairy goats, or are looking to add some new milking
genetics to your existing herd, please consider a Joyful Hearts goat!
Page created on Sept. 1, 2005
JOYFUL HEARTS FARM
NIGERIAN DWARF DAIRY GOATS
Know well the condition of your flocks,
{And} pay attention to your herds........
And {there will be}
goats' milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your maidens.
Proverbs 27:23,27 (NASB)
Chino, CA June 2009
MCH/CH Jobi Lacie *D "VG" winning Sr. GrCh and Sandy Hollow CS Cherry Blossom 8*D "E" winning Reserve
Grand Champion (leg)
As part of our whole herd management system here at Joyful Hearts Farm, we test ALL animals one year of age and
older for CAE using Washington State Lab (WADDL) which uses the most sensitive Elisa testing available. We do not
random test, as some do, but test each animal for CAE and CL that reaches his or her 1st birthday. August of 2009
we tested our adult stock for CL, all Negative. You can be assured of our test results, as all blood draws are done by
a Licensed Vet and sent to WADDL by our Vet. Our milking does have been tested Neg. for Brucellosis as well.
California is a TB free state. Yes, this is very expensive and time consuming, but we feel that our herd health is of
the utmost importance. Our prices take into consideration the amount of time and expense of offering ND's that are
healthy, not only for our own peace of mind, but for our buyers ~ *you*!! We drink our milk raw as well so testing is
vitally important for our own health.
MILK
KIDS
Joyful Hearts Esther, flirting already at 3 days old; left, beautiful Logan
Sandy Hollow CS Blossom '09 with Buckling Joyful Hearts GD Mountain Ash
STATUS
4-H/FFA
Lacie 2009
SIGNS OF GOOD HEALTH
Rectal temperature = 102.5 - 104 F is the normal range
Pulse rate ~ 70 - 80 beats per minute (kids have faster pulse rate)
Respiration ~ 12 to 20 breaths per minute (kids have higher bpm than adults)
Rumen Movements ~ 1 - 1.5 movements per minute
Puberty ~ Bucks can reach puberty as early as 8 weeks old
Estrus Cycle ~ on an average every 17-21 days
Gestation ~ 145 to 155 days (5 months)
Life span ~ Nigerian Dwarfs average 12-18 years
SR DOES
JR DOES
HERD SIRES
KIDDING SCHEDULE
GOATS 4 SALE
OUR HERD MANAGEMENT
OUR SALES POLICY
PREGNANCY CARE
FARM PICTURES
LINKS
NEW ARRIVALS
The Nigerian Dwarf Yahoogroup is a community that love and breed Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats. The majority of our
members live on the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) and in the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico,
Nevada, Utah, Idaho) but all are welcome to join us to learn more about the breed or just enjoy the company of other
Nigie lovers! To join us, add your email address below.
Goat pages last updated January 28th, 2010
(c) Joyful Hearts Farm's website is created and maintained by Mrs. Fern Guyer. All rights reserved.
