Boer Goat

The Boer goat is known by different names, including Africander, Afrikaner, South African common goat, and Boerbok.

It is a meat goat breed that developed in South Africa in the 1800s, with genetic influences from European, Angora, and old Indian goats.

The name “Boer” comes from the Dutch word for “farmer” and was probably used to set these goats apart from Angora goats, which were brought to South Africa in the 1800s.

The modern Boer goat changed over time, especially in the 1900s when farmers started carefully breeding them for certain qualities. In 1959, breeders created the Boer Goat Breeders’ Association (Boerbok Telersvereniging) in Somerset East.

Boer goats have been part of the National Mutton Sheep and Goat Performance Testing Scheme since 1970, making them the first goat breed to be tested for meat production.

Characteristics

General Appearance: Male and Female

This goat breed has a well-built body with all parts in good proportion.

Female Boer goats look more delicate and slightly narrower at the front, which is a sign of good fertility. Males have a larger head, thicker neck, and stronger front body, but they also need to have well-developed muscles in the back legs.

Boer goats have a well-balanced and sturdy body, showing strength and energy. Males appear powerful and masculine, while females have a more refined and feminine look.

Color

They have a white coat with red-brown markings.

Their head, ears, and sometimes part of the neck are deep red-brown or reddish-brown. The body, legs, and tail are mostly white.

Some Boer goats may have small red-brown spots on their body, but the classic pattern is a solid white body with a dark-colored head.

The red-brown color cannot cover more than 5% of the body or create a mottled look. The head, neck, and shoulders are not included when measuring this percentage.

There are Red Boer goats and Black Boer goats, though they are less common than the traditional white-bodied, red-headed Boer goats.

The Red Boer goats have a solid red coat instead of the usual white body with a red head. The Black Goer goats have black markings instead of red, and some may be mostly black with white patches.

Both red and black variations are recognized by some breed registries, but the traditional white and red pattern is the most common and preferred for breeding standards.

Skin and Coat

Their skin is loose and flexible, with visible folds on the chest and neck in males. The eyelids and hairless areas are pigmented. The bare skin under the tail has at least 75% pigmentation, with full pigmentation preferred by 12 months old. The coat is short and shiny.

Head

This goat has a strong head with large, soft brown eyes that do not look wild or aggressive. The nose is slightly curved and sturdy, with wide nostrils.

The mouth is well-formed, and the lower jaw and upper jaw fit together correctly. The forehead has a slight curve that connects to the curve of the nose and horns. The ears are broad, smooth, and of medium length, hanging down on the sides of the head.

Teeth

The goat can have 6, 8, or more teeth. Those with 6 teeth must have a good bite, while in those with 8 or more, the lower jaw may stick out by up to 6mm.

Horns

This breed has horns in both sexes.

The horns are strong, medium in length, and set apart, curving gently backward. They are also round, sturdy, and dark in color.

Neck and Forequarters

In females, the neck starts deep from the chest, blends well with the shoulders, and is wide where it attaches to the body, rising gracefully to the throat area, showing a refined look.

In males, the neck is thicker, more muscular, and develops loose skin folds as they mature, which gives them a strong and masculine appearance.

The chest bone is wide and strong, while the brisket is deep and broad. The shoulders are balanced and blend into the body. The withers are wide, well-shaped, and not too sharp.

Barrel

The barrel is long, deep, and broad. The ribs are well-rounded and covered with muscle, while the loins are as full as possible. The back is wide and fairly straight, without narrowing behind the shoulders.

Hindquarters

The goat has a wide and long rump with well-muscled buttocks. The thighs are also fully covered with muscle. The tail grows straight from the dock and may curve slightly to either side.

Legs

The front legs are medium in length, matching the body depth. They are sturdy and well-placed, with strong pasterns and well-shaped hooves.

Young goats have longer legs, but as they grow, their bodies become deeper.

Testicles

Does have a well-shaped udder that is firmly attached, with teats placed correctly.

Bucks have two healthy, well-formed, and evenly sized testes in a single scrotum. A scrotum split of up to 2.5 cm is allowed. By 12 months of age, the scrotum measures at least 25 cm in circumference.

Size

This goat breed is medium-sized, with males reaching 37 in (94 cm) in height and females growing up to 31 in (78 cm).

Lifespan

The Boer goat lives 9 to 12 years, which is a good lifespan for a meat goat.

But in general, lifespan is not a concern for this breed because they are raised for meat production rather than longevity. Since lifespan does not impact their main purpose, it is not a major factor and is acceptable for a meat goat breed.

Growth Rate

How fast do they grow?

This breed grows faster than most other goat breeds.

Under good diet and care, it can gain an average of 0.3 to 0.4 lb (150 to 170 g) per day. In feedlot conditions, the daily weight gain can reach 0.44 lb (200 g).

Weight

The birth weight is around 7.7 to 9.9 lbs (3.5 to 4.5 kg).

At puberty, weight ranges from 53 to 70 lbs (24 to 32 kg), with an average of 62 lbs (28 kg) for goats on a low-energy diet. For those on a high-energy diet, weight ranges from 53 to 84 lbs (24 to 38 kg), with an average of 68 lbs (31 kg).

A fully grown Boer buck weighs between 240 and 300 lbs (110 to 135 kg), while adult does weigh between 200 and 225 lbs (90 to 100 kg).

Slaughtered Time

The slaughter age for Boer goats is around 7 to 8 months, as they typically reach a healthy weight of 77 to 99 lbs (35 to 45 kg) by this time.

The Boer goat has the highest dressing percentage among all mutton breeds.

The average dressing percentage for this breed is 55%, meaning that a 88 lb (40 kg) goat would yield 48.5 lbs (22 kg) of meat after processing.

Temperament

Boer goats have a calm and friendly temperament, making them easy to handle and enjoyable to work with. They are also intelligent, which helps in training and management.

They do not show aggression if handled properly, keeping in mind their field of vision and the herd structure they are used to.

Boer goats are very social and love being around others, often staying close to their herd without respecting personal space.

At the same time, they are curious and playful, sometimes showing a funny side. Like all goats, they may try to jump over fences, but if trained from a young age, they learn to behave well, and this does not become a problem.

When it comes to feeding, they have a strong natural instinct for grazing and browsing. Boer goats spend a lot of time grazing, and when left to roam in a natural environment, browsing makes up about 60% of their diet.

Meat

The meat is lean, but it still has some marbling in a balanced amount, which helps maintain the flavor while still being a healthy red meat alternative.

It contains less fat and cholesterol than beef and lamb, yet it still has a rich and satisfying taste.

Since it is leaner, it is best cooked slowly at low temperatures to keep it tender and juicy.

Raising

Feeding

If you’re thinking of raising this breed, you should know that they need a simple but balanced diet.

Their main food should be forage, which includes grass, hay, and browse like leaves, shrubs, and branches. These should make up a significant portion of their diet. Other good forage options include alfalfa and clover hay, which provide high nutritional value due to their protein content.

This breed does well on forage alone, although they may not grow as fast compared to when they are given grains.

If you want them to grow faster, you can supplement their diet with grains, such as corn, barley, oats, and protein supplements like soybean meal or goat pellets for pregnant, nursing, or young goats. Just be sure to offer small amounts to avoid any health problems.

Also, make sure to provide clean, fresh water and mineral blocks for their overall health.

What to Avoid Feeding Them:

• Too many grains
• Toxic plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, or oleander
• Moldy hay

Environment

Pasture-based environments, free-range environments, and semi-intensive ones with partial access to pasture are all good for this breed.

In pasture-based systems, both the goat and the soil benefit as the goats help maintain soil health through natural grazing.

In free-range systems, Boer goats have the chance to graze freely for most of the day and browse for treats. Although this system requires more land, it is great for small and medium-sized Boer herds.

Even in larger paddocks or fields, where goats have less time grazing, they can still thrive if they are given additional feed like grains or hay during certain times of the year.

Overall, each of these systems can work well depending on your goals and resources. Boer goats thrive in environments that provide plenty of forage and let them roam and behave naturally, but they can also be managed in more controlled, intensive systems if needed.

Climate and Shelter

Since they originate from South Africa, these goats can be raised easily in warmer climates as they have a short coat and are used to hotter temperatures. You can provide them with a shade structure for when they need it to avoid heat stress.

They can also adapt to other climates, such as more moderate or colder ones. However, keep in mind that they do not have a thick coat like some other breeds, so they are more vulnerable to extreme cold. In colder areas, it’s important to give them shelter from the wind and provide adequate bedding to help them stay warm.

How many goats per acre?

On good pasture, you can raise 4 to 6 goats per acre. However, if the land is less fertile or lacks proper nutrition, you should adjust the number to 1 to a maximum of 3 goats per acre.

If you provide additional feed, like hay or grains, you can raise more goats on the same acre, since they won’t depend solely on the land for food.

Breeding

Boer goats are very convenient for farming as they are polyoestrous, meaning they can breed at any time of the year.

Boer goats reach puberty early, usually around 6 months for males and 10-12 months for females.

For females, it is important to note that the age of puberty depends on when they are born. Those born in mid-summer (around January) reach puberty at an average of 157 days and are weaned by the time of the natural autumn breeding season. Does born in late winter (around August) reach puberty later, with an average of 191 days. At puberty, the average weight of does is between 24 to 32 kg, with 28 kg being typical for those on a low-energy diet and 31 kg for those on a higher-energy diet.

The natural breeding season typically happens in April and May, which is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. During this time, breeding activity is at its highest, while it slows down in late spring and early summer, around November to January.

The heat period lasts for about 21 days, with its peak lasting only 30 to 45 hours. The ovulation rate for Boer goats can range from 1 to 4 eggs per doe, with an average of 1.7 eggs per doe.

The gestation period averages around 148 days, and the postpartum period can last from 30 to 80 days. During the last weeks of pregnancy, a doe should gain between 15.4 to 22 lbs (7 to 10 kg).

If needed, here is a Goat Gestation Calculator & Calendar

Goats can be managed to give birth three times in every two years, with births occurring in the following ratios: 25% single, 59% twin, 15% triplet, and 1% quadruplet births.

In terms of milk production, Boer goats are good mothers and produce milk for about 120 days during the lactation period. The average milk yield is typically between 1.5 to 2.5 kg per day, with a milk composition of 7.7% fat and 4.3% protein.

The weaning age for Boer goats is typically 3 to 4 months for males and 4 to 5 months for females.

Health Issues

They have good hardiness, but they can still become sick with some of the common goat health issues, such as parasites, joint and hoof problems, heat stress, and urinary calculi if they are fed high-grain diets. Additionally, kidding complications can occur, especially in first-time mothers or if the pregnancy involves twins or triplets.

Advantages

• Fast growth rate
• High meat yield
• Good meat quality
• Early maturity
• Adaptability
• High reproductive rates
• Social and easy to handle

Disadvantages

• Vulnerability in cold weather
• Prone to health problems
• Possible kidding complications in first-time mothers
• Require lots of space
• Need training to avoid jumping over fences

References

• The American Boer Goat Association ^link
• British Goat Society ^link