Also Known by: Africander, Afrikaner, South African common goat

 

The Boer is an improved indigenous breed with some infusion of European, Angora and Indian goat breeding many years ago. Several researchers agree that the indigenous populations were probably from the Namaqua Hottentots and from southward migrating Bantu tribes. The name is derived from the Dutch word "boer" meaning farmer and was probably used to distinguish the native goats from the Angora goats which were imported into South Africa during the 19th century. The present day Boer goat appeared in the early 1900's when ranchers in the Easter Cape Province started selecting for a meat type goat.

 

The South African registry was established in 1959. Since 1970 the Boer goat has been incorporated into the National Mutton Sheep and Goat Performance Testing Scheme making it the first goat breed involved in meat production performance testing.

 

The Boer goat is primarily a meat goat with several adaptations to the region in which it was developed. It is a horned breed with lop ears and showing a variety of color patterns. The Boer goat is being used very effectively in South Africa in combination with cattle due to its browsing ability and limited impact on the grass cover. Producing weaning rates in excess of 160% the Boer goat doe is a low maintenance animal that has sufficient milk to rear a kid that is early maturing. The mature Boer Goat buck weighs between 110-135 kg (~240-300 lbs) and does between 90 and 100 kg (~200-225 lbs).

 

Performance records for this breed indicate exceptional individuals are capable of average daily gains over 0.44 lb/day (200 g/day) in feedlot. More standard performance would be 0.3-0.4 lbs/day (150-170 g/day). The ovulation rate for Boer goats ranges from 1 to 4 eggs/doe with an average of 1.7. A kidding rate of 200% is common for this breed. Puberty is reached early, usually about 6 months for the males and 10-12 months for the females. The Boer goat also has an extended breeding season making possible 3 kids every 2 years.

 

Registries and Breed Associations

 

Australia

Boer Goat Breeders' Association of Australia Ltd

C/- ABRI
University of New England
Armidale, NSW 2350
Phone: (02) 6773 5177
Fax: (02) 6772 1943
Email: boergoat@abri.une.edu.au  

 

Canada

Canadian Boer Goat Association
PO Box 314
Lancaster ON K0C 1N0 Canada
Phone: (613) 347-1103
Fax: (613) 347-1105

 

Canadian Boer Goat Association

PO Box 314
Lancaster ON K0C 1N0 Canada
Phone: (613) 347-1103
Fax: (613) 347-1105

 

Denmark

Meat Goats in Denmark
C/o Susanne Saltoft
Godthåbsvej 6
DK - 8766 Nr. Snede
Denmark
Phone (+45) 75 77 04 17

 

South Africa

Boer Goat Breeders' Society of South Africa
P O Box 282
SOMERSET EAST 5850
Secretary: Mrs M Fick
Phone: +27 (0424) 32130

 

United States

The American Boer Goat Association
1207 S. Bryant Blvd, Suite C.
San Angelo, TX 76903
Phone: (325) 486-ABGA (2242)
Fax: (325) 486-BOER (2637)

International Boer Goat Association
P.O. Box 1045 Whitewright, TX 75491
Phone: 1 (877) 402-4242
e-mail: theibga@tstar.net 

 

 

References

Brochure, American Boer Goat Association

 

Brochure, Select Genes Ltd., PO Box 494, Irene 1675, Republic of South Africa. Phone: -27-12-6671129 Fax: -27-12-6671827

 

Mason, I.L. 1988. World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds. Third Edition. C.A.B International. 348 pp.