Goat Breed · England (from African & Asian stock)
Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)
A large, floppy-eared dairy goat with a Roman nose and famously loud voice.
By WARN Research & Conservation TeamLast updated
In brief
The Anglo-Nubian, or Nubian, is a large dairy goat with long pendulous ears and a convex 'Roman' nose, developed in England from African and Asian goats. It gives rich, high-butterfat milk, tolerates heat well and is known for being affectionate and very vocal.
What are the key facts about a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
The Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is a goat breed from England (from African & Asian stock): large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg), affectionate, hardy, famously vocal. A large, floppy-eared dairy goat with a Roman nose and famously loud voice.
| Origin | England (from African & Asian stock) |
|---|---|
| Size | Large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) |
| Typical weight | Does from ~64 kg; bucks from ~80 kg |
| Lifespan | 15–18 years |
| Coat & colour | Short, fine coat in any colour; long pendulous ears; Roman nose |
| Temperament | Affectionate, hardy, famously vocal |
| Kept for / suits | Smallholding dairy, warm climates, families wanting a friendly milker |
Should you keep a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
Keep a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) only if you can meet livestock law, land, feed and veterinary care — not because the goat looks friendly online. This England (from African & Asian stock) type is large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) and affectionate, hardy, famously vocal.
A Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is husbandry, not a house pet. Check local zoning, neighbour rules, and whether you can provide species-appropriate shelter, forage and handling. A large, floppy-eared dairy goat with a Roman nose and famously loud voice.
Impulse “micro” livestock and Easter-gift birds are how goats end up dumped. If you cannot commit for 15–18 years, do not start. Rescue and rehoming exist; buying a cheap animal you cannot keep is the problem this page is trying to prevent.
What is a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
A large, floppy-eared dairy goat with a Roman nose and famously loud voice. Origin is England (from African & Asian stock); coat or markings are described as Short, fine coat in any colour; long pendulous ears; Roman nose.
Kennel and registry labels describe a type. Individual Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)s still vary, and rescue animals may be mixes.
Where does the Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) come from?
Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)s come from England (from African & Asian stock). The Anglo-Nubian was developed in 19th-century England by crossing native goats with lop-eared bucks imported from Africa, India and the Middle East.
Bred for rich, high-butterfat milk and tolerance of warm climates, it became one of the most popular dairy goats worldwide and the most numerous registered dairy breed in the United States.
That origin still shows. A Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) and affectionate, hardy, famously vocal, typically living 15–18 years. Use the history as context for care and conservation, not as folklore to repeat without sources.
What husbandry does a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) need?
Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) husbandry is land, feed, handling and veterinary access — for 15–18 years. This England (from African & Asian stock) type is large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) (Does from ~64 kg; bucks from ~80 kg) and affectionate, hardy, famously vocal.
Shelter, clean water, species-appropriate forage and a plan for parasites and feet or hooves are the baseline. Coat notes (Short, fine coat in any colour; long pendulous ears; Roman nose) tell you about weather and grooming, not whether the animal can live in a garage.
Know what you will do with offspring, and do not keep a single highly social goat alone if the species is a flock or herd animal.
What surprises people about the Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
A few details about the breed, alongside the practical care information in this guide.
- Nubians are famously loud — known for a strong, persistent bleat.
- Their milk is high in butterfat, prized for cheese and yoghurt.
- They tolerate heat better than the Swiss dairy breeds.
- They are the most popular registered dairy goat in the United States.
What health issues should you know about in a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
Health concerns to discuss with your vet, including changes to watch for and everyday care. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — always speak to your vet.
Mastitis (dairy goats)
Inflammation of the udder, usually from bacterial infection, causing heat, swelling, pain and abnormal milk in dairy does.
Care: Maintain clean milking hygiene and dry, clean bedding; a vet treats infections with appropriate antibiotics and pain relief.
Parasitic gastroenteritis (barber's pole worm)
Gut worms — especially Haemonchus contortus, the 'barber's pole worm' — cause anaemia, bottle jaw, weight loss and death, particularly in warm, wet climates.
Care: Use faecal egg counts and targeted, rotational worming rather than blanket dosing; pasture management and the FAMACHA anaemia check help control resistance.
Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE)
A lifelong viral infection of goats causing swollen, arthritic joints in adults and, rarely, neurological disease in kids; spread mainly through infected milk.
Care: There is no cure — control relies on testing, separating kids from infected dams, pasteurising milk and buying CAE-tested stock.
Who should skip a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
Skip a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) if you are anyone without land, zoning permission, and a vet. This England (from African & Asian stock) goat is large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) and affectionate, hardy, famously vocal — the mismatch is usually lifestyle, not a missing accessory.
This page is allowed to say no. Skip if you are anyone without land, zoning permission, and a vet.
A different goat breed on this site may fit. Wanting “a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)” after a film or a colour photo is not a reason to ignore the skip list.
What are the hidden catches with a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
The hidden cost of a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is usually not the purchase price. It is years of care, the health list on this page, and the mismatch between a affectionate, hardy, famously vocal animal and a busy home.
The impulse-buy catch
A Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) from England (from African & Asian stock) is often sold on looks. Coat, colour and size are not a temperament test. Meet the adult animal, ask about health screening, and walk away from pressure sales.
The mastitis (dairy goats) catch
Inflammation of the udder, usually from bacterial infection, causing heat, swelling, pain and abnormal milk in dairy does. Maintain clean milking hygiene and dry, clean bedding; a vet treats infections with appropriate antibiotics and pain relief.
The parasitic gastroenteritis (barber's pole worm) catch
Gut worms — especially Haemonchus contortus, the 'barber's pole worm' — cause anaemia, bottle jaw, weight loss and death, particularly in warm, wet climates. Use faecal egg counts and targeted, rotational worming rather than blanket dosing; pasture management and the FAMACHA anaemia check help control resistance.
How does a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) compare with Boer and Saanen?
A Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is not interchangeable with Boer and Saanen. Compare origin, size, lifespan and temperament before you choose — those four lines prevent most regret.
| Goat fact | Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) | Boer | Saanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | England (from African & Asian stock) | South Africa | Switzerland (Saanen valley) |
| Size | Large (does 64+ kg; bucks 80+ kg) | Large (does 90–100 kg; bucks 110–135 kg) | Large (does 60–70 kg; bucks 80–100 kg) |
| Lifespan | 15–18 years | 12–20 years | 15–18 years |
| Temperament | Affectionate, hardy, famously vocal | Docile, hardy, fast-growing | Calm, gentle, steady |
What is the verdict on the Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)?
Choose a Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) only if the care, skip-if and health sections still look like your life after a week of thinking. Otherwise pick a different goat or wait. Rescue is usually the better first door than a waiting-list puppy or kitten.
If the match is real, budget for 15–18 years of vet care and do not skip health screening. If it is not, walking away is the kind choice — for you and for the animal.
Goats are herd animals, not lawn ornaments
Goats are intelligent, social browsers that suffer when tethered alone on short ropes. Whatever the breed, they need at least one companion, secure fencing, browse and hay, hoof care and shelter. WARN's working-animal programmes support rural veterinary access where goats and equines share the same routes.
