Goat Weight Chart by Age and Breed
Knowing whether your goats are on track for their age and breed is one of the simplest ways to catch health and nutrition problems early. A kid that is underweight at 8 weeks may have a parasite problem or inadequate milk supply. An adult doe that is dropping weight may need a feed adjustment. This guide provides reference weights for the most common dairy and meat breeds at key ages — and a calculator so you can check your own goat against them.
Each breed guide has a scoped calculator, month-by-month growth, and breeding-weight targets. Or use the all-breeds checker just below.
Pick a breed and enter an age — even an in-between age like 2, 4, or 9 months. Add your goat's current weight to see whether it's on target for its breed and age.
Most goat owners don't own a livestock scale. Wrap a soft measuring tape snugly around the chest right behind the front legs (the heart girth), then measure body length from the point of the shoulder to the pin bone. Both in inches.
Reference Charts by Breed
The calculator above is built from these reference ranges. Use the full charts to see the whole growth curve for your breed at a glance.
Want one breed in depth? Each breed below links to a dedicated guide with a breed-scoped calculator, month-by-month growth, breeding-weight targets, and the weight problems that breed is prone to.
Nigerian Dwarf
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4 |
| 1 month | 6 to 10 | 7 to 12 |
| 3 months | 15 to 25 | 18 to 28 |
| 6 months | 25 to 40 | 30 to 45 |
| 1 year | 40 to 60 | 50 to 70 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 50 to 75 | 60 to 80 |
Nubian
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 to 9 | 7 to 10 |
| 1 month | 15 to 22 | 17 to 25 |
| 3 months | 30 to 50 | 35 to 55 |
| 6 months | 55 to 80 | 60 to 90 |
| 1 year | 80 to 120 | 100 to 140 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 120 to 175 | 150 to 200 |
→ Full Nubian weight guide — growth on a large frame, breeding weight & a Nubian-scoped calculator
Alpine
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 to 9 | 7 to 10 |
| 1 month | 14 to 20 | 16 to 23 |
| 3 months | 30 to 50 | 35 to 55 |
| 6 months | 55 to 80 | 60 to 90 |
| 1 year | 80 to 120 | 100 to 150 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 125 to 155 | 150 to 195 |
LaMancha
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 to 9 | 7 to 10 |
| 1 month | 14 to 20 | 16 to 23 |
| 3 months | 30 to 48 | 35 to 52 |
| 6 months | 50 to 75 | 55 to 85 |
| 1 year | 80 to 115 | 95 to 140 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 120 to 155 | 145 to 185 |
→ Full LaMancha weight guide — growth, breeding weight & a LaMancha-scoped calculator
Saanen / Sable
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 to 10 | 7 to 11 |
| 1 month | 15 to 22 | 17 to 25 |
| 3 months | 32 to 52 | 36 to 58 |
| 6 months | 55 to 85 | 65 to 95 |
| 1 year | 85 to 130 | 110 to 160 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 130 to 170 | 160 to 210 |
→ Full Saanen & Sable weight guide — fast growth, heavy milk, breeding weight & a scoped calculator
Boer (Meat Breed)
| Age | Does (lbs) | Bucks (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 7 to 10 | 8 to 11 |
| 1 month | 18 to 28 | 20 to 32 |
| 3 months | 40 to 60 | 45 to 70 |
| 6 months | 70 to 100 | 80 to 115 |
| 1 year | 100 to 150 | 120 to 180 |
| Adult (2+ years) | 150 to 225 | 200 to 300 |
Growth Milestones to Watch
Birth to 2 weeks
Kids should gain steadily from day one. A kid that loses weight or fails to gain in the first week may not be nursing adequately. Weigh daily for the first week if you are concerned. Healthy kids typically double their birth weight by 2 weeks.
2 to 8 weeks
Rapid growth phase. Kids start nibbling hay and grain around 2 to 3 weeks but milk is still the primary nutrition. Average daily gain for dairy kids is 0.25 to 0.5 lbs per day. Meat breed kids may gain 0.5 to 0.75 lbs per day.
8 to 12 weeks (weaning)
Most kids are weaned between 8 and 12 weeks. There is typically a brief growth stall around weaning as the kid adjusts to a fully solid diet. This is normal — growth should resume within 1 to 2 weeks.
3 to 12 months
Steady growth. Does should reach approximately 60 to 70% of adult weight by 12 months. Bucks grow faster and may reach 70 to 80% of adult weight. This is the period where good nutrition has the most impact on frame development.
How to Weigh Your Goats
- Hanging scale: Put the kid in a feed bag or sling, hang from a digital fish scale. Works well for kids up to 30 to 40 lbs.
- Bathroom scale: Weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the goat. Subtract. Works for kids and small breeds.
- Livestock scale: The most accurate method for adult goats. Many feed stores or vet clinics will let you use their scale.
- Weight tape / heart girth: A cloth tape around the heart girth (just behind the front legs), plus body length, gives a solid estimate of weight — use the tape estimator above to do the math for you. Less precise than a scale, but excellent for tracking trends.
When to Be Concerned
- Kid not gaining weight in the first week of life
- Growth rate significantly below breed averages despite adequate nutrition
- Sudden weight loss at any age — check for parasites (FAMACHA), dental issues, or illness
- Adult doe below body condition score 2.0 — needs immediate nutritional intervention
- Adult doe above BCS 4.5 — risk of pregnancy toxemia if bred, risk of metabolic issues
- Buck losing more than 15 to 20% of body weight during rut — increase nutrition before breeding season
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should my goat weigh?
It depends on breed and age. A Nigerian Dwarf adult is about 50 to 75 lb, standard dairy breeds (Alpine, Saanen, LaMancha, Nubian) roughly 120 to 160 lb, and Boers 150 to 225 lb or more. Kids are born at 2 to 4 lb for Nigerian Dwarfs and 7 to 11 lb for Boers, then follow a breed-specific growth curve.
How can I estimate a goat's weight without a scale?
Use the heart-girth method: wrap a soft tape snugly around the chest right behind the front legs, measure body length from the point of the shoulder to the pin bone, and run both through a weight formula (the calculator above does it). Expect roughly 5 to 10% accuracy, more variance on very young kids.
What is a healthy growth rate for a goat kid?
Kids should gain steadily from birth and roughly double their birth weight in the first couple of weeks. Falling significantly below breed averages despite good nutrition, or any sudden weight loss, is a red flag worth checking, usually parasites, dental issues, or illness.
How much does a Nigerian Dwarf goat weigh?
Nigerian Dwarfs are born at 2 to 4 lb, reach about 15 to 25 lb by 3 months and 40 to 60 lb by a year, and top out around 50 to 75 lb for does and 60 to 80 lb for bucks. They should hit roughly 35 to 40 lb before first breeding.
When should I be concerned about my goat's weight?
When a newborn isn't gaining in its first week, growth lags breed averages despite good feed, any goat loses weight suddenly, an adult doe drops below body condition 2.0 or climbs above 4.5, or a buck loses more than 15 to 20% during rut. Each calls for a nutrition or health check.
Track weight and growth automatically
Herd Manager's batch weight tool records weights for your whole herd in one session, shows last weight per goat, and builds growth charts on each goat's profile so you can spot problems early.
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