Nubian Goat Weight Chart by Age (Doe & Buck)
The Nubian is a large, long-eared dairy breed with a Roman nose, prized for rich, high-butterfat milk and famous for being vocal. Mature does run roughly 120 to 175 lbs, with bucks well over 150. That size means a Nubian has a long growth runway — it takes time to fill out a big frame — so the question is less "is my goat big enough?" and more "is it growing on schedule?" The chart and calculator below are scoped to Nubians.
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 a Nubian of that age.
Wrap a soft 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. Works for any goat.
Nubian Weight Chart
Expected weights for Nubian does and bucks at key ages. The calculator above is built from these ranges and fills in the gaps between them.
| 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 |
Nubian Growth, Month by Month
Nubian kids are born at a solid 6 to 9 lbs and grow steadily, but filling out their large frame takes longer than a smaller breed. A doe typically reaches breeding weight around 8 to 10 months, but true frame and depth keep developing well past 2 years. Don't be surprised if a yearling Nubian still looks lanky — that's normal for the breed.
Because Nubians are such efficient converters, the bigger risk during growth is usually too much condition rather than too little. Aim for steady, even gain rather than pushing a young goat to maximum size.
Nubian-Specific Things to Watch
- Prone to obesity. Nubians are excellent feed converters and easy to over-condition, especially as family milkers. Use body condition scoring, not just the scale, and go easy on grain outside of milking.
- High-butterfat milk is energy-dense to produce. A heavily-milking Nubian needs solid nutrition to avoid melting off condition early in lactation.
- Long frame, steady growth. A lanky yearling is usually fine — judge against the chart, not against a more compact breed.
- Watch for sudden loss. On a big goat, weight change can be easy to miss by eye; a sudden drop still warrants a parasite check and a look at teeth.
How to Weigh Your Nubian
The tape estimator above does the math from two measurements. For the full rundown — hanging scales, the bathroom-scale trick, livestock scales, and when each is worth it — see the complete goat weight guide, which also covers the general growth milestones and warning signs that apply to every breed.
Weight Charts for Other Breeds
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a Nubian goat weigh?
Nubian does reach about 120 to 175 lb as adults and bucks 150 to 200 lb, from a 6 to 9 lb birth weight. As a large breed they fill out slowly, and true frame and depth keep developing well past 2 years, so a lanky yearling is normal.
At what weight should I breed a Nubian doe?
About 80 lb, roughly 65 to 70% of her adult weight, usually around 8 to 10 months. As a large breed she has a long runway and rarely needs rushing; breeding before she has the frame costs you in kid size and first-lactation production.
Why does my Nubian goat look lanky?
Because Nubians are a large breed that takes longer to fill out its frame than a smaller goat, and true depth keeps developing well past 2 years. A lanky yearling is completely normal; judge her against the weight chart and body condition rather than expecting a mature look early.
Do Nubian kids grow slowly?
They grow steadily, but filling out their large frame simply takes longer than a smaller breed. Because Nubians are efficient converters, the bigger risk during growth is too much condition rather than too little, so aim for steady, even gain instead of pushing maximum size.
How do I weigh a Nubian goat without a scale?
Use the heart-girth method: wrap a soft tape around the chest just behind the front legs, measure body length from the point of the shoulder to the pin bone, and run both through the calculator above. It estimates weight within about 5 to 10%.
Track your Nubians' growth automatically
Herd Manager records weights for your whole herd in one session and charts each goat's growth, so you can see whether a young Nubian is filling out its large frame on schedule.
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