Boer Goat

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Boer goats, commonly called “gentle giants,” are known for being friendly and cute. They are one of the popular goat breeds primarily used for meat production but are now also being raised in farms and urban settings as a family animal and companion. Aside from being hardy and affordable, Boer goats are also great with kids.

 The Boer goat breed was developed in the 1900s in South Africa. It is a popular goat breed for meat production. The Boer goat breed’s name is derived from the Dutch or Afrikaan’s word boer, which means “farmer.” Tracing back the lineage of Boer goats, they were most probably bred from indigenous South African goats tended in the farms of the the Fooku, San and Namaqua tribes, with some possible crossing of European and Indian bloodlines. Boer goats were used primarily for their meat rather than milk production.

 Thanks to selective breeding and developments, Boer goats have had a fast growth rate and exhibited excellent carcass qualities, putting its breed in the spot of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer goats are also known for their high-resistance to disease and their ability to adapt well in hot, dry, semi-deserts.

 The Boer goat was brought to the United States in 1993. In the United States, production of boer goats is centered in west-central Texas, specifically in and around Menard and San Angelo. The original breeding stock in the U.S. came from herds located in New Zealand. It was only later that boer goats were imported directly from Africa.

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Characteristics of Boer Goats

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Boer goats are known to be very distinctive animals with brown heads and white bodies. Some Boer goats can be completely white or brown, leaving large spots of different colors on their bodies. Like Nubian goats, Boer goats have long, pendulous ears. They are well-known for having high fertility rates, being docile and fast-growing.

 Boer goat does are noted to have superior mothering skills compared to other goat breeds. Boer goats have the tendency to gain weight at about the same rate as sires, so a buck from a proven fast-growing bloodline can be sold at a high price, since its offspring is also expected to be fast growers.

 Goat kids primarily marketed as slaughter goats should reach a marketable weight of 22-36 kg. In the goat meat and slaughtering industry, kids are expected to reach a marketable size at the stage of weaning. The kids of Boer goats with a proven fast-growing sire are expected to weigh around 36kg at 90 days of age. An average-quality buck will be more affordable but breeders can definitely see the long-term effects in terms of profitability.

 Boer goats are considered to be the most productive goat breed in the world. Millions of Boer goats are raised across farms in Southern Africa as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand among others.

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Boer Goat Meat

The meat of Boer goats are known to be less compact, leaner and have different carcass portions than that of sheeps It also has relatively high collage contents with lower solubility, making the meat quality relatively superior than that of mutton and goat.

Breeding holds a significant key to improving the goat meat’s tenderness. Different animal slaughtering techniques can be used to modify the Boer goats meat as well. In general, Boer goats have high potential as meat animals, all the same time while yielding 3 kids in 2 years. Of course, farmers and meat producers need to make sure that Boer goats are fed well to produce quality meat and offspring.

Boer Goat Doe

Does that are used to breed show-quality goats are usually very large. However, for commercial meat production, medium-sized does are preferred since they produce the same number of kids but require less feedings to do so.

Logically speaking, the more kids birthed by a doe, the greater profit margins for the breeder. Boer goats reach sexual maturity at five months of age, and once they reach sexual maturity, they can breed throughout the year since they are polyestrous.

Typical breeding patterns of boer goats include production of three kids every two years – meaning, the does are pregnant for five months, spend the next three months nursing their kids and re-bred thereafter. Multiple births are common in boer goats and in managed herds, a 200% kid crop is highly achievable. First time goat moms may have one kid but after that, they usually produce more. Kids can be a mix of bown, black, white or a combination of the three colors.

Crossbreeding Boer Goats

Purebred boer bucks are usually preferred for breeding purposes while crossbred boer goats are used for kid production. Common crossbreeds are Boer x Jamnapari goat, Boer x Angora goat, Boer x Osmanabadi goat, Boer x Sirohi goat and Boer x Nubian goat.

Show Goats

While Boer goats primarily raised for show purposes may appear to have little in common with commercial, pastured goats, the difference is quite superficial. Boer show goats are bred to be larger than average goats and need to meet specific visual attributes which are considered to be very valuable genes to add to the commercial herd.

The value of Boer goats to ranchers lies in the improvement their unique genes can offer any goats being raised for meat. Boer goats were imported to the United States for this very reason. Primarily, show goats are bred to display the most desirable physical characteristics of the Boer goats, introducing the majesty of this animal to the public. Does and bucks bred for show can be and are often used for commercial breeding stock as well.

The most-prized Boer goats have a large body structure with a white body, red head, brown eyes, backward curving horns, downward hanging ears (lop), and strong, sturdy legs. Show boer goat males can weigh up to 160 kg and female boer goats can often reach as much as 110kg.

To be qualified to participate in goat shows, most Boer goats need to be registered with USBGA, CMGA, IBGA or ABGA. While Boer goats are primarily bred for their meat or for show purposes, they are known to also make very good pets.

How Much is a Boer Goat?

If you are planning to get a Boer goat either for meat or show purposes, you can check out the American Boer Goat Association for a list of registered breeders on their website. You can also get other pertinent information about Boer goats via ABGA. The price of Boer goats usually varies depending on the breeder, but purebred Boer goats usually range between $150 to 400$.

What is the Best Feed for Boer Goats?

Just like any livestock, boer goats need to be fed regularly to keep their body healthy and strong. Alfalfa hay is said to be the most common hay used to feed goats. Alfalfa hay has all the protein a goat needs to stay healthy and strong. Typically, boer goats need to eat 2-3 pounds of hay a couple of times a day.

What is the Life Expectancy of Boer Goats?

Thanks to the high resistance of boer goats, their bodies remain sturdy against common diseases and parasites, they are very desirable for farmers who produce goat cheese and goat milk products. Boer goats typically die because of old age and not due to sickness or other health conditions. However, there is some evidence that the breed may be relatively more susceptible to internal parasites when grown in warmer, humid regions in the U.S.

Boer goat bucks are expected to have a lifespan between 8 to 12 years while does are known to live longer, around 12 to 20 years.

How to Keep Boer Goats Healthy

The best way to keep the costs of goat feeds down is to feed Boer goats with high-quality pasture. According to veterinary experts, introducing high protein legumes and good pasture management such as rotational grazing, farmers can ensure that they do not need to feed Boer goats grain during drought or winter.

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