The Anglo-Nubian is a man made breed of goat. Nubia was the name_formerly applied to a large region of Northern Africa and an area in the Northern Sudan has continued to be called the Nubian Desert.

        At the end of the nineteenth century, the term 'Nubian' was used in England to describe any goat from Near, Middle, or far East, with the typical points of the Jumna Pari breed from India and the Zairaibi breed from Egypt.

        The JUMNA PARI was bred for the dual purpose of milk and meat. It had long wide pendulous ears, bow-shaped face, short sleek glossy hair and was tall and leggy. It had a large udder with big teats and was valued for the milk yield.

The ZAIRAIBI (or Zareber) was kept for milk production. It had close silky coat, long pendulous ears, an elongated neck and body, long slender limbs, generally a spherical udder, short head with facial line strongly arched and flattened nostrils. The lower lip often projected beyond the upper, exposing the front teeth. The shape of the mouth causing it to browse. Some of the Zairaibi udders had to be supported by leather bags to keep them from dragging on the ground. The Zairaibi had more body than the Jumna Pari.

        During the nineteenth century goats were carried on steamers, so passengers returning to England might have benefit of fresh milk. On the boats docking, the Eastern goats were eagerly bought by interested goat keepers who crossed them with the common English milking goats. The resulting progeny from these crosses came to be known as the Anglo Nubian.

        The first registered Anglo Nubian was a cross bred goat in Volume II part 1 of the British Goat Society Herd Book about 1893.

        The Australian Anglo-Nubian came from a small nucleus of goats imported from England.

        In 1955 Mr. Long and his partner E. Whatley imported the First Anglo-Nubians into Australia, docking at N.S.W. The goats were MEARSGHILL BARBA (AN1) producing 1 doe and 1 buck HOOKSTONE PIONEER (AN1) who sired the first App. D Anglo-Nubians. They were reported to be good framed strong goats with good udders and exceptional production.

        HOOKSTONE CORONET (AN2) No Australia progeny was registered from her.

        In 1956 the only imported buck was PLAYFORD PETULANT (AN2) and he was the first Anglo-Nubian to come to South Australia. He sired 10 bucks and 9 numbered does and died in 1963.

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