What is a Boer goat?

The Boer goat is a meat goat that is prized for its lean meat production and high quality leather. Called the Improved Boer Goat in its country of origin, the Republic of South Africa, the Boer goat was developed solely for meat production under just about any range condition. The breed was developed to have extremely high fertility and excellent mothering ability as well as excellent carcass traits for a meat animal. Many American breeders embraced the breed when it was imported into the U.S. starting in 1993 as a way to improve existing meat goat flocks.

The Boer goat was developed by South Africian ranchers whose goal was to breed the worlds finest meat goat. South Africian Boer goats were exported to New Zealand and Australia in the 1980's where they were placed into a 5 year quarantine.

North America saw its first Boer goats in 1993 which were imported from New Zealand. These goats were the offspring from the quarantine station which had extensively used embryo transfer to increase their numbers. In addition to live imports, frozen embryos were also imported. The first direct South Africian imports arrived in 1994 when 2 shipments of live goats arrived on US soil. Frozen embryos from South Africia were imported into Canada in 1994. Many of the resulting Boer goats were imported into the US.

Multiple births, fertility reached at an early age, remarkable size, rate of growth, and lean meat make the boer goat a productive livestock commodity. Boers have a strong resistance to disease and adapt well to various climates and terrain. Their preferred diet is browse and forbs with grass being their third choice, therefore, their grazing preference complements cattle production.

The Boer goat has been crossed on a variety of goat breeds to improve their meat production.

How much a Boer goat costs depends on the age, quality and the genetics of the goat in question. Top of the line "Show Quality" animals typically bring between $3,000 and $6,000. At the other end of the scale, commercial quality animals bring $600 to $800. There are, of course, goats of all prices inbetween.

Percentage does with registration papers start at $75 and go up to $500 depending on age, how much boer influence they have, and quality.

If you have never owned or cared for goats of any breed, it would be better to start with percentage stock. Due to the high cost of fullblood stock, the learning curve would be less painful with percentage stock should things not go well for you. Boer goats are very similar to dairy or other breeds so any experience in these will have you prepared for fullbloods.

Although good quality percentage does out of fullblood bucks can be sold as registered breeding animals, percentage buck kids are commercial goats. Fullbloods are mainly breeding animals so you need to have a breeding goat marketing plan.

Commercial Boer goats can be sold by placing advertisements in local agriculture periodicals or by taking them to a local auction. Many young male percentage goats are used for 4-H and FFA wether goat show projects. If your local organizations support this type project, you can also contact your local County Extension Agent and FFA teacher.

Powell-Holman tries to breed the most structurally correct animals possible. At the same time, we attempt to add muscling by breeding our does to bucks who will complement her strong characteristics.

A small number of goats can be shipped by air in the same way a large dog would be shipped. Larger numbers can be shipped with a commercial hauler.