Boer Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Breed Information

The Boer goat is a breed of goat that is usually used for meat production. They were developed in South Africa in the early 1900s. Their name is derived from the Dutch word “Boer” which means farmer. These goats can be easily distinguished from the other goat breeds because of their larger sizes, white colored bodies with brown heads and ears.

Now that you know about them. I will share some more information with you down below in order for you to learn more about them. Read on to find out.

History

In the early 1900s in South Africa, Dutch farmers that were living there crossbreed indigenous goats of South Africa to the goats that can be found in Europe and India. Through the years of crossbreeding them, they developed a good quality meat goat breed, which they called Boer goat.

The pure breed Boer goats was brought and introduced in the United States in 1993. Since then, they have become the most popular goats to be used for meat production now.

Origin

The Boer goats originate in South Africa, where they are used for meat production.

Boer Goat Characteristics

• Boer goat size is large.
• Their bodies are stocky.
• Their color is usually white with brown head and ears. But they can also be completely white or brown in color.
• They also have long pendulous ears like Anglo Nubian goats.
• They have brown eyes.
• They have horns that curving backwards.
• Their legs are big and strong.
• Adult bucks and adult does height is around 30 inches.
• Adult bucks weight is 200-340 pounds, while the adult does weight is about 190-230 pounds.
• They are fast growing goats.
• They have a high fertility rate.
• Their hardiness is good.
• They have good mothering skills.
• They can adapt to different types of climates and environments.
• Their temperament is usually docile, gentle, and good mothers.

Facts

• They can be domesticated.
• They originated in South Africa.
• Their name is derived from the Dutch word “Boer” which means farmer.
• They are one of the best goats for meat production.
• Their gestation period is 150 days.
• Their lactation period is short.
• Their milk production per day is 1.8-2.5 liters of milk.
• Their milk fat content is 6.4-9.4%.
• Their milk is very creamy and rich.
• The average duration of their heat cycle is 21 days.
• Their maturity age is 5 months.
• Their breeding age is 10-12 months.
• They can breed year-round.
• They can always have twins and triplets when they give birth.
• Their average weight in 6 months is around 66-88 pounds.
• Their average weight in 1 year is around 110-132 pounds.
• They have a lifespan of 8-20 years.
• Their usual diet is hays, plants, grains, weeds and grasses.
• They can gain more than 0.44 pounds per day when they are fed with proper amounts of food.
• They are frequently used in removing invasive plants.
• They are popular to use in goat shows.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• They are easy to handle.
• They can bring you more money when you sell them for meat.
• They can adapt to different types of climates and environments.
• They are able to browse or graze some food during bad weather.
• Their hardiness is good.
• They have a high fertility rate.
• They always produce twins and triplets when they give birth.
• They have good mothering skills with their kids.
• They grow fast.
• Meat tenderness.

Cons

• They need a lot of food.
• They need a lot of space in order for them to live.
• They don’t produce a large amount of milk.
• They likely get harmed by internal parasites.

Uses

Boer goats are usually used for meat production because this is where they are good at, but they can also be used for their milk and for their skin.

Breed Profile Information

Breed Name	Boer Goat
Other Name	None
Breed Purpose	Meat Production
Uses	Meat, Milk, Skin, and Show Goats
Size	Large
Height	Adult Bucks and Adult Does Height is around 30 inches
Weight	Adult Bucks 200-340 pounds, Adult Does 190-230 pounds
Horns	Yes
Climate Tolerance	All Climates
Colors	White with Brown Heads and Ears, but They Can Also Be Completely White or Brown in Color
Life Expectancy	8-20 years
Temperament	Docile, Gentle and Good Mothers
Good for Stall Fed	Yes
Milk Production Per Day	1.8-2.5 liters/day
Milk Fat Content	6.4-9.4%
Growth Rate Per Day	0.44 pounds per day
Rarity	Common
Country/Place of Origin	South Africa

Final Thoughts

Do you want to raise goats for meat production? Boer goats can be your option. We all know that Boer goats are good for meat production. If you are interested in these goats, you can buy them at the price of $100-$350 for unregistered ones and for registered ones you can buy them at the price of $300-$2000. Don’t forget when you are buying them, you need to choose the healthy ones in order for you to avoid buying sick Boer goats.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are Boer goats so expensive? Boer goats are so expensive because these goats are large, and their meat is tasty. That’s why many people are looking at them. Another reason is that, the demand of Boer goats has increased and the supply of them is limited. Then, the price goes up due to limited supply of them.

What is the average size of a Boer goat? The average size of Boer goat is 30 inches in height with a weight of 190-340 pounds.

How much is a Boer goat worth? Boer goat is worth around $100-$350 for unregistered ones, while for the registered ones they are worth around $300-$2000.

What are Boer goats used for? Boer goats are mainly used for meat production. This is where they are good at.

Is Boer goat meat good? Boer goat meat is good. They are one of the best quality goat meats out there. Their meat is usually tasty and tastes like sweeter than beef or pork.

What is the Boer goat known for? Boer goat is known for their meat.

Are Boer goats good pets? Yes, Boer goats can also be good pets because of their good behavior. In fact, they are usually used for goat shows. But due to their larger size, sometimes they avoid them to keep as pets.