By Roelof Bezuidenhout
The Boer goat could be the ideal breed for you if you are aiming for high meat production per hectare.
Pioneer breeders, using a mix of indigenous African goats, had the foresight and skill to develop what is now considered the world’s top meat goat – remarkably, in a relatively short time. Serious selection began in the early 1930s in the Eastern Cape, and in 1959 a group of farmers met in Somerset East to establish the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Association.
The indigenous goats that settler farmers obtained from local communities came in various colours and had poor conformation, but they were exceptionally well adapted to African conditions. It is believed that these goats, having evolved over centuries on the continent, migrated southwards through tsetse-free corridors, along with their owners and other livestock such as indigenous sheep and cattle.
No other purebred goat breed was ever used in the development of the Boer goat, which qualifies it as a 100% indigenous animal. South Africa now has three distinct meat goat breeds: the original white-and-reddish-brown Boer goat, the White Savanna and the Kalahari Red – each with its own characteristics.
The White Savanna was bred to perform well under harsh conditions involving intense sunlight, cold and rain. The Kalahari Red, developed in semi-desert regions, has a uniform reddish-brown coat that provides camouflage against predators and pigment that offers protection from the sun.
Today, there are several hundred Boer goat studs in South Africa, as well as numerous Kalahari Red and Savanna studs. There are an estimated 2 million Boer goats in the country, mostly in the Eastern and Northern Cape. This number is on the rise, but breeders say there is little risk of the market becoming oversupplied.
The focus in breeding
As one of few improved meat goat breeds in the world, the Boer goat is increasingly popular in other countries, where it is used to crossbreed and upgrade local goat populations to enhance meat production. Live goats are exported to countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, the UAE and Malaysia; and embryos to countries such as Australia, Brazil, the United States and Canada.
Only registered genetic material, whether live goats or embryos, may be exported. Registration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) or SA Stud Book is required to prevent the breed from being exploited or genetically hijacked by other countries or organisations. Stud breeders must also maintain accurate records of their animals and their performance.
Currently, the focus in breeding in on improving fertility. Breeders aim for kidding rates of 150% to 180%, along with hardy ewes that offer good mothering ability and sufficient milk production. Ewes typically weigh between 60 kg to 70 kg, and rams up to 130 kg.
Good flock ewes, which are relatively scarce, sell for about R1 200 each. A good flock ram starts at about R3 000. Top-quality breeding animals can fetch much higher prices, with new records being set regularly.
Boer goats offer several advantages from a farmer’s perspective:
• Unlike Angoras, Boer goats are not restricted to a specific breeding season. They can be sold live from about 20 kg – typically at about four months of age. Under optimal conditions and good management, ewes can kid every eight months.
• Ewes remain economically productive for up to 10 years, so fewer young ewes have to be kept as replacement stock.
• Trials at Omatjene Agricultural Research Centre in Namibia showed that Boer goats consume roughly 74% leaves and 26% grass, meaning they can be grazed alongside sheep or cattle without creating excessive competition for forage.
• In bushveld conditions, a mature goat can browse as high as 2 metres by standing on its hind legs.
• They are known to feed on invasive plants such as wattle and tamarisk, which are typically avoided by sheep and cattle, helping to control bush encroachment.
• Their browsing habits make them less susceptible to internal parasites, although lice and ticks can still pose a problem.
• In dry, extensive production systems, they are hardy enough to travel long distances.
• Boer goat skins are of high quality, although – as with most hides and skins – current market prices are under pressure.
Adaptable and resilient, but not without challenges
Boer goat breeders describe their animals as some of the most adaptable among all small-stock breeds. Cold and wet conditions generally don’t affect them much, except during kidding time, when extra care is needed. Newborn kids are vulnerable to hypothermia or heat stress if left unprotected in the veld.
Boer goat farmers reject the idea that goats cause veld degradation, arguing that no single species is solely to blame. The real issue, they say, is how grazing is managed.
One important consideration: Successful goat farming requires excellent fencing. These goats are intelligent, curious and full of character – which also makes them expert escape artists.
A follow-up article will explore the Boer goat’s breed standards, which are aimed at producing animals with strong economic traits.
Contact: info@boerboksa.co.za
Also read:
The Blackberry – a new goat breed and new opportunities
Giving goat farming a go
WATCH | All about goats! We chat with Mike Gcabo
This is what you must know about goats
WATCH | All about goats! We chat with Chef Andile Somdaka
 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
