Breed · Goat breed
Anglo-Nubian
Capra hircus
Also known as: Nubian
The Anglo-Nubian is a large, lop-eared dual-purpose goat developed in England from British and lop-eared Asian and African goats. It is valued for rich, high-butterfat milk and tolerance of warm climates.
Record
Livestock breed- Breed of
- Goats
- Species
- Goat (Capra hircus)
- Type
- Dual-purpose
- Origin
- England, United Kingdom
- Recognition
- Registered
- Conservation status
- Not at riskReported per source and date (e.g. FAO DAD-IS); not a fixed property of the breed.
- Registries
- FAO DAD-IS · Global · as of 2026-07-12Breed recorded in the global inventory of livestock breeds.
- Adaptation
- Carries lop-eared Asian and African ancestry associated with good tolerance of warm and hot climates, while remaining adaptable to temperate dairy systems with appropriate management.
- Primary uses
- Milk production (high butterfat), Meat, Crossbreeding
Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.
The Anglo-Nubian was developed in nineteenth-century England by crossing native British goats with lop-eared goats of Indian (including Jamnapari-type), Middle-Eastern, and North African origin. The result is a large, striking breed with long pendulous ears and a strongly convex facial profile. In North America it is generally known simply as the Nubian.
Although classed by some registries as a dairy breed and by others as dual-purpose, the Anglo-Nubian is best known for milk that is comparatively high in butterfat and protein rather than for high volume, and it is also used for meat. Its Asian and African ancestry contributes good tolerance of warm climates.
Origin and development
The breed arose in Britain from crosses between local goats and imported lop-eared goats from India, the Middle East, and North Africa, and was consolidated as the Anglo-Nubian. It was subsequently exported widely and is recognised in dairy-goat herd books internationally.
Physical characteristics
- Large-framed with a short, fine, glossy coat in a wide range of colours and patterns.
- Long, wide, pendulous ears that hang close to the head.
- Strongly convex ("Roman") facial profile, giving a distinctive head shape.
Production and adaptation
The Anglo-Nubian is prized for milk of comparatively high butterfat and protein, well suited to cheese and other products, though its milk volume tends to be lower than that of specialised Swiss-type breeds. It is also kept for meat, supporting its dual-purpose classification.
Relationships
Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.
Adapted to climate
Farming systems
Scope & limitations
Geographic scope: Global; an English breed distributed internationally, with strong representation in warm climates. Husbandry and regulation vary by country.
Climate context: Adaptable dual-purpose goat with notable tolerance of warm and hot conditions given adequate management.
- This is a breed characterisation, not husbandry, breeding, or veterinary guidance.
- Milk yield and composition are highly management-dependent and are described only qualitatively here.
- FAO DAD-IS conservation status is assessed per national population; the not-at-risk assessment reflects broad international distribution rather than any single country.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]DAD-IS — Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Cited for: Breed record and characterisation in the global inventory
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Moderate
Cited for: General background on the Anglo-Nubian (Nubian) goat
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12