ROLLING HILLS ACRES GOATS |
Boar Goats
Article from Goat Rancher magazine
In recent years, the Boer goat has received considerable attention in
the world and has become the main component in many goat
improvement programs in less developed countries. This interest
stems from the increase in the worldwide demand for goat meat and
from the adaptability, productivity and carcass quality of the Boer Goat.
The Boer goat name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning
farmer and was probably used to distinguish the farm goat from the
Angora goat which was imported into South Africa in the 19th Century.
The ancestry of the Boer goat is obscure at best. Several researchers
agree that the predecessors of the Boer goat probably came from the
southwest migrating Bantu tribes with a possible infusion of Indian
and European goat bloodlines. The present-day, improved Boer Goat
has adapted very well to a variety of ecosystems in its native South
Africa, ranging from hot, dry semi-deserts to humid, tropical bush.
Article from Goat Rancher magazine
In recent years, the Boer goat has received considerable attention in
the world and has become the main component in many goat
improvement programs in less developed countries. This interest
stems from the increase in the worldwide demand for goat meat and
from the adaptability, productivity and carcass quality of the Boer Goat.
The Boer goat name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning
farmer and was probably used to distinguish the farm goat from the
Angora goat which was imported into South Africa in the 19th Century.
The ancestry of the Boer goat is obscure at best. Several researchers
agree that the predecessors of the Boer goat probably came from the
southwest migrating Bantu tribes with a possible infusion of Indian
and European goat bloodlines. The present-day, improved Boer Goat
has adapted very well to a variety of ecosystems in its native South
Africa, ranging from hot, dry semi-deserts to humid, tropical bush.
Adrian and Tessa, twins born to
Jenny on February 1, 2008.
Jenny on February 1, 2008.
The Boer goat emerged in the early 20th Century when ranchers in the Eastern Cape started
breeding for a meat-type goat with good conformation, high growth rate, fertility, short white
hair, and red markings on the head and neck. The South African Boer Goat Breeders'
Association was founded in 1959 to establish standards for the emerging breed. Since 1970
the Boer goat has been incorporated into the National Mutton Sheep and Goat Performance
testing scheme, which makes the Boer goat the only known goat breed involved in a
performance test for meat production.
GROWTH, MEAT & CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS
The Boer goat is a large framed animal with mature weights between 260-380 lbs. for males and
210-265 lbs. for females. The potential for growth is outstanding. Under intensive performance
tested conditions, males averaged 80 lbs. at 3 months of age; 160 Lbs. at 8 months; 222 Lbs. at
12 months; 257 Lbs. at 18 months; and 313 Lbs. at 25 months. Females averaged 63 Lbs. at 3
months; 139 Lbs. at 12 months; 165 Lbs. at 18 months; 220 Lbs. at 24 months.
The Boer goat is capable of attaining an average daily gain of over 400 gr. or 0.88 Lbs. daily in
feed lot situations. The Boers average daily gain potential on pasture or rangeland is
outstanding and offers great possibilities for selecting to improve growth rates.
The Boer goats dressing weight percentage is over 50%. Compared to South African sheep,
the Boer goat had the higher dressing percentage with carcasses having more total tissue in
the fore arm, neck and ventral trunk, and less tissue in the hind limb.
South African scientists concluded that "Boer goats seem to yield a carcass superior to
Angora, dairy and over meat goats" and that "fat content and muscling of Boer goat carcasses
compared favorably with those of specialized mutton producing breeds".
Thus, it is not surprising that with their excellent growth and carcass qualities many well
known goat specialists listed the Boer goat as one breed that could make a major contribution
to increasing productivity of meat goats worldwide.
REPRODUCTION
A good meat goat should also be fecund and prolific. More kids born per doe will result in
greater profit margins for the producer. The ovulation rate for Boer goats ranges from 1 to 4
eggs per doe with a mean of 1.7 (plus or minus .9). A normal kidding rate of 200% is common
for the Boer goat. This is higher than most other goat breeds, thus the Boer goat can be
considered a prolific breed. This conclusion was also reached in New Zealand and Australia,
based on the number of super ovulated embryos (9) harvested from the Boer goat donor
program.
The Boer goat reaches puberty early, usually about 6 months of age for males and 10-12
months for first-mating females. The Boer goat has an extended breeding season and it is
possible to achieve 3 kiddings every 2 years.
Boer goats are good milkers, which enables them to successfully raise their multiple offspring
with excellent weight gains and with little preweaning mortality. A South African study
indicated that lactation length was 120-140 days for Boer goats and their yield was about half
that of South African Saanen, which had a lactation length of 278 days. Boer goats had a
higher butterfat (5.6%), total solids (15.7%), and lactose (61) than any other goat breeds in
South Africa. It has been postulated that for the Boer goat to attain its high preweaning average
daily gain, the doe must produce up to 5.5 Lbs./day. Actual milk production of Boer goat does
under extensive management systems is actually less, ranging from 3.3 to 5.5 Lbs./day,
depending on age of doe and lactation number. These milk yields are not impressive by dairy
goat standards but for a goat that has not been selected for milk yield, it is considered
excellent. This demonstrates the superior maternal capabilities and the ability to rear multiple
young of the Boer goat doe.
CONCLUSION
Boer goats have been developed for over 40 years through intensive breeding and selection
as a meat type animal and have also benefited from over 20 years of performance testing. This
excellent breed of meat goat has the necessary characteristics lacking in our Spanish meat
type goats. These characteristics are large size, uniform carcass, fast growth rate, fecund and
prolific, long breeding season, good browser, good milker and excellent mothers for profitable
meat goat production. Because of its large frame and faster growth rate, it will need more
nutrients to maintain and support optimum growth rates. Therefore, while Boer goats may not
be suitable for all ecosystems or affordable by all producers, there is a need to match type of
goat with feed resources a producer has available.
breeding for a meat-type goat with good conformation, high growth rate, fertility, short white
hair, and red markings on the head and neck. The South African Boer Goat Breeders'
Association was founded in 1959 to establish standards for the emerging breed. Since 1970
the Boer goat has been incorporated into the National Mutton Sheep and Goat Performance
testing scheme, which makes the Boer goat the only known goat breed involved in a
performance test for meat production.
GROWTH, MEAT & CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS
The Boer goat is a large framed animal with mature weights between 260-380 lbs. for males and
210-265 lbs. for females. The potential for growth is outstanding. Under intensive performance
tested conditions, males averaged 80 lbs. at 3 months of age; 160 Lbs. at 8 months; 222 Lbs. at
12 months; 257 Lbs. at 18 months; and 313 Lbs. at 25 months. Females averaged 63 Lbs. at 3
months; 139 Lbs. at 12 months; 165 Lbs. at 18 months; 220 Lbs. at 24 months.
The Boer goat is capable of attaining an average daily gain of over 400 gr. or 0.88 Lbs. daily in
feed lot situations. The Boers average daily gain potential on pasture or rangeland is
outstanding and offers great possibilities for selecting to improve growth rates.
The Boer goats dressing weight percentage is over 50%. Compared to South African sheep,
the Boer goat had the higher dressing percentage with carcasses having more total tissue in
the fore arm, neck and ventral trunk, and less tissue in the hind limb.
South African scientists concluded that "Boer goats seem to yield a carcass superior to
Angora, dairy and over meat goats" and that "fat content and muscling of Boer goat carcasses
compared favorably with those of specialized mutton producing breeds".
Thus, it is not surprising that with their excellent growth and carcass qualities many well
known goat specialists listed the Boer goat as one breed that could make a major contribution
to increasing productivity of meat goats worldwide.
REPRODUCTION
A good meat goat should also be fecund and prolific. More kids born per doe will result in
greater profit margins for the producer. The ovulation rate for Boer goats ranges from 1 to 4
eggs per doe with a mean of 1.7 (plus or minus .9). A normal kidding rate of 200% is common
for the Boer goat. This is higher than most other goat breeds, thus the Boer goat can be
considered a prolific breed. This conclusion was also reached in New Zealand and Australia,
based on the number of super ovulated embryos (9) harvested from the Boer goat donor
program.
The Boer goat reaches puberty early, usually about 6 months of age for males and 10-12
months for first-mating females. The Boer goat has an extended breeding season and it is
possible to achieve 3 kiddings every 2 years.
Boer goats are good milkers, which enables them to successfully raise their multiple offspring
with excellent weight gains and with little preweaning mortality. A South African study
indicated that lactation length was 120-140 days for Boer goats and their yield was about half
that of South African Saanen, which had a lactation length of 278 days. Boer goats had a
higher butterfat (5.6%), total solids (15.7%), and lactose (61) than any other goat breeds in
South Africa. It has been postulated that for the Boer goat to attain its high preweaning average
daily gain, the doe must produce up to 5.5 Lbs./day. Actual milk production of Boer goat does
under extensive management systems is actually less, ranging from 3.3 to 5.5 Lbs./day,
depending on age of doe and lactation number. These milk yields are not impressive by dairy
goat standards but for a goat that has not been selected for milk yield, it is considered
excellent. This demonstrates the superior maternal capabilities and the ability to rear multiple
young of the Boer goat doe.
CONCLUSION
Boer goats have been developed for over 40 years through intensive breeding and selection
as a meat type animal and have also benefited from over 20 years of performance testing. This
excellent breed of meat goat has the necessary characteristics lacking in our Spanish meat
type goats. These characteristics are large size, uniform carcass, fast growth rate, fecund and
prolific, long breeding season, good browser, good milker and excellent mothers for profitable
meat goat production. Because of its large frame and faster growth rate, it will need more
nutrients to maintain and support optimum growth rates. Therefore, while Boer goats may not
be suitable for all ecosystems or affordable by all producers, there is a need to match type of
goat with feed resources a producer has available.
Jimbo, a single buckling was
born to Molly on Febr 2, 2008.
born to Molly on Febr 2, 2008.
Big thanks to Jeff and Jon for
the new inside (seen above) and
outside (seen below) feeders!
the new inside (seen above) and
outside (seen below) feeders!