Common Nigerian Dwarf Goat coat patterns.
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Buckskin
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Red buckskin.
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Light buckskin.
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Mahogany or dark buckskin.
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Chocolate buckskin.
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All photos courtesy of KW Farms
The buckskin pattern.
The buckskin Nigerian Dwarf sports a black, chocolate, or red cape that covers the head, neck, and shoulders creating a cape-like effect with black, chocolate, or red on the topside of the tail and black, chocolate, or red stripes down the fronts of the cannon bones. The remainder of the body is a lighter color (brown/tan/creme/etc.) The face and legs have coordinating stripes. Buckskin can come in several different colors. The most common is just your classic, "buckskin" (black and tan). There is a "light buckskin" (black and cream). "Red buckskin" (red and cream). The last is "Chocolate buckskin" (chocolate and cream or tan). Buckskin is a very common pattern in Nigerians and is easily passed on. There are several different "shades" of buckskin, but the pattern features remain the same.
The buckskin Nigerian Dwarf sports a black, chocolate, or red cape that covers the head, neck, and shoulders creating a cape-like effect with black, chocolate, or red on the topside of the tail and black, chocolate, or red stripes down the fronts of the cannon bones. The remainder of the body is a lighter color (brown/tan/creme/etc.) The face and legs have coordinating stripes. Buckskin can come in several different colors. The most common is just your classic, "buckskin" (black and tan). There is a "light buckskin" (black and cream). "Red buckskin" (red and cream). The last is "Chocolate buckskin" (chocolate and cream or tan). Buckskin is a very common pattern in Nigerians and is easily passed on. There are several different "shades" of buckskin, but the pattern features remain the same.
Chamoisee
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Light or pale chamoisee.
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Photo courtesy of...
Rocky Hollow Mini Farm 
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The chamoise/chamoisee pattern.
A chamoisee Nigerian Dwarf can be described as being tan or brown in color with solid black legs, black underbelly, a black stripe down the back, and a pair of black stripes that run down the face. Some chamoisees have a somewhat black face mask. Body color can range from a light tan color to a deep red. This pattern does come in two different "shades": Black or chocolate. A chocolate chamoisee will have chocolate points instead of black.
There are two different spellings of this pattern.
Chamoise: Is used to describe a male.
Chamoisee: Is used to describe a female.
A chamoisee Nigerian Dwarf can be described as being tan or brown in color with solid black legs, black underbelly, a black stripe down the back, and a pair of black stripes that run down the face. Some chamoisees have a somewhat black face mask. Body color can range from a light tan color to a deep red. This pattern does come in two different "shades": Black or chocolate. A chocolate chamoisee will have chocolate points instead of black.
There are two different spellings of this pattern.
Chamoise: Is used to describe a male.
Chamoisee: Is used to describe a female.
Swiss Marked
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The swiss pattern.
A swiss marked Nigerian will have a black or chocolate body with solid white, cream, tan, or orange legs and hind end. It will also have white, cream, tan, or orange ears and matching facial stripes that extend down to the muzzle. Some will also have a lighter dot on the side of each cheek. There are two colors to this pattern. You can have the most common black swiss marked or the more unusual chocolate swiss marked Nigerian.
Swiss marked and sundgau can sometimes be confused with each other. Easiest way to tell them apart is the sundgau has a lighter colored underbelly. The swiss marked does not. Also, the legs on the swiss marked will be solid. The legs on a sundgau will have black or chocolate stripes below the knees, down the cannon bones on both front and rear legs.
Sundgau
Photo courtesy of...
Rocky Hollow Mini Farm |
Photo courtesy of Foxcroft Genetics Page and Dr. Phil Sponenberg.
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Photo courtesy of...
Maria Duncan |
Photo courtesy of...
Farmer Jane |
Black & tan sundgau.
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Black and tan sundgau with abundant white markings.
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Chocolate sundgau with minimal white markings.
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Black and tan sundgau with white markings.
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Chocolate Sundgau
Photo courtesy of the Garvin Family. |
Photo courtesy of
Castle B Farm Cheri Castleberry |
Photo courtesy of...
Castle B Farm Cheri Castleberry |
The sundgau pattern.
The sundgau pattern is somewhat similar to the buckskin pattern, but has one distinct difference. There is no "cape." The body is solid in color (black or chocolate). The underside of the belly is a lighter orange, brown, or cream color, which can extend from the brisket, underside of neck, and up under the jaw. The legs are an orange, brown, or cream color with chocolate or black stripes running down the front of the cannon bones on both front and rear legs. The face has stripes starting above the eyes that usually run down the face toward the nose.
Have a sundgau Nigerian Dwarf? We would love more examples of this pattern. If you have photos and would like to share, please email them to us and let us know who to give photo credit to and we will post them here.
Cou Clair & Cou Blanc
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Cou Blanc
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The "cou" patterns.
Cou Blanc (coo blanc): Literally meaning "white neck". A cou blanc will have white front quarters and black hind quarters with black or gray markings on the head.
Cou Clair (coo clair): Literally meaning "clear neck." A cou clair will have tan, saffron, off white, or shading to tray front quarters, with black hind quarters.
The cou patterns are more commonly seen in Alpines, but is becoming more popular in the Nigerians. It is almost like a reverse of the buckskin pattern, with the black on the back toward the rump instead of on the shoulders. It can come in several different shades from black and white to a lavender, chocolate shade.
Cou Blanc (coo blanc): Literally meaning "white neck". A cou blanc will have white front quarters and black hind quarters with black or gray markings on the head.
Cou Clair (coo clair): Literally meaning "clear neck." A cou clair will have tan, saffron, off white, or shading to tray front quarters, with black hind quarters.
The cou patterns are more commonly seen in Alpines, but is becoming more popular in the Nigerians. It is almost like a reverse of the buckskin pattern, with the black on the back toward the rump instead of on the shoulders. It can come in several different shades from black and white to a lavender, chocolate shade.
Solid
Solid buckskin.
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Solid chamoisee.
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Solid black.
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Solid chocolate.
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Solid gold.
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Solid; no white markings.
A solid colored Nigerian Dwarf can be any pattern or color, but will have no white markings with the exception of having a white poll, frosted ears or muzzle, or if there are moon spots on the goat. So you could have a Nigerian with a pattern description of "solid chocolate with moon spots" or "solid gold with frosted ears and muzzle; white poll." A goat with any other white on it will not be considered "solid."
A solid colored Nigerian Dwarf can be any pattern or color, but will have no white markings with the exception of having a white poll, frosted ears or muzzle, or if there are moon spots on the goat. So you could have a Nigerian with a pattern description of "solid chocolate with moon spots" or "solid gold with frosted ears and muzzle; white poll." A goat with any other white on it will not be considered "solid."
Pinto
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Pinto/white markings.
Nigerian Dwarfs often times have white markings. There are a few ways to say the goat's pattern/color and white. You can simply say, the goat is _____ and white or you can get a little more detailed. Other descriptions of the white markings could be: pinto, white overlay, scattered white, broken white, abundant white, etc.
Or even give a short description of the color and location of white.
Nigerian Dwarfs often times have white markings. There are a few ways to say the goat's pattern/color and white. You can simply say, the goat is _____ and white or you can get a little more detailed. Other descriptions of the white markings could be: pinto, white overlay, scattered white, broken white, abundant white, etc.
Or even give a short description of the color and location of white.
Moon spots
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Photo courtesy of...
Zanzabeez Nigerians |
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Photo courtesy of...
Freedom Star Farm |
What are moon spots?
Moon spots are irregular, somewhat round spots of color on top of the coat pattern. They are randomly placed on the coat and have no order or pattern. Moon spots vary in color, ranging from light creme to dark brown. They can come in many different colors, but will never be *true white or *true black. Moon spots on kids often start out very dark and will lighten as they age.
Moon spots have not been researched heavily, but are thought to be a dominant gene, meaning either sire or dam has to have them in order to pass them onto the offspring. Sometimes moon spots can hide on the coat. A moon spot can be as tiny as just a few hairs and can also hide "underneath" white markings.
Moon spots are irregular, somewhat round spots of color on top of the coat pattern. They are randomly placed on the coat and have no order or pattern. Moon spots vary in color, ranging from light creme to dark brown. They can come in many different colors, but will never be *true white or *true black. Moon spots on kids often start out very dark and will lighten as they age.
Moon spots have not been researched heavily, but are thought to be a dominant gene, meaning either sire or dam has to have them in order to pass them onto the offspring. Sometimes moon spots can hide on the coat. A moon spot can be as tiny as just a few hairs and can also hide "underneath" white markings.
Roan
Photo courtesy of...
Lost Prairie Nigerians |
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Black & white with abundant roaning.
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Photo courtesy of...
Phoenix Rising Farm |
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Light buckskin with abundant roaning.
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Roaning on a swiss marked buck.
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Photo courtesy of...
Phoenix Rising Farm |
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Photo courtesy of...
Phoenix Rising Farm |
Nigerians with roaning.
Roan is generally defined as an even mixture of white hairs with the base color that does not change or fade as the animal ages. Roan is a pattern that is easily passed onto a goat's offspring. It can occur on any coat pattern. The amount of roaning shown on a coat varies from goat to goat.
Roan is generally defined as an even mixture of white hairs with the base color that does not change or fade as the animal ages. Roan is a pattern that is easily passed onto a goat's offspring. It can occur on any coat pattern. The amount of roaning shown on a coat varies from goat to goat.
Frosting
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Photo courtesy of...
Desert Springs Nigerians |
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Frosted ears and muzzle.
Frosting occurs around the muzzle, base to tip of ears, and sometimes around the eyes and/or underside of the tail. In extreme cases, I have seen frosting cause white ticking through the coat. Frosting is white in color can range from a very minimal expression to a very extreme expression. Any color goat can have frosting. Some goats will have just a little bit of ticking around the muzzle, others will look like they dipped their whole nose in white paint, so the pattern does vary. Some goats have frosting, some don't, but it is regularly seen in the Nigerian Dwarf breed and seems to be passed along to kids easily.
Frosting occurs around the muzzle, base to tip of ears, and sometimes around the eyes and/or underside of the tail. In extreme cases, I have seen frosting cause white ticking through the coat. Frosting is white in color can range from a very minimal expression to a very extreme expression. Any color goat can have frosting. Some goats will have just a little bit of ticking around the muzzle, others will look like they dipped their whole nose in white paint, so the pattern does vary. Some goats have frosting, some don't, but it is regularly seen in the Nigerian Dwarf breed and seems to be passed along to kids easily.
Mixed Patterns
Swiss marked and light buckskin.
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Chamoisee and buckskin.
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Chamoisee and buckskin.
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Swiss marked and chamoisee.
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Swiss marked with buckskin and roan.
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Chamoisee and buckskin.
Photo credit to Tristany Beckwith. |
Cou clair and sundgau.
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Swiss marked and buckskin.
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More than one pattern.
Nigerians can carry more than one pattern. These goats will show a mixed pattern coat. There are no names for these mixed patterns so for registration papers, it's okay to make a note of each pattern that the goat carries. Examples: Buckskin/chamoisee or Chamoisee/swiss marked or Light buckskin/cou clair, etc.
Do you have a mixed pattern Nigerian Dwarf? We need more examples and would love photos for the website. Email us with photos and photo credit information and we will add your photo(s) to the website.
The white poll.
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If a Nigerian Dwarf is described as having a "white poll," it is referring to the white, somewhat round spot on top of the head (the poll of the goat.) Commonly seen in Nigerian Dwarfs and regularly passed onto the kids from a parent. A good term to know when writing the color description for your goat or kid's registration application, especially if they have no other markings.