Boer goats

Description

The Boer goat was developed in South Africa through crossing Afrikander, South African Common, indigenous Bantus, European, Angora, and Indian blood. Boer goats are medium to large, 75-80 cm in height at the shoulders. Male and female Boer goats weigh up to 130 and 80 kg, respectively, with most animals weighing between 75 and 90 kg and 50 and 60 kg for males and females, respectively. The coat color is white with red or brown on the head and neck. The hair is short and shiny. Boer goats have horns and large drooping ears.

The Boer goat is a meat breed but milk and skin are also important products. The breed has good meat conformation, possessing superior rib, body length and muscling.Carcass yield ranges 48-60%. Boer goats are also known to be fertile with up to 50% of births being twins. Kids weigh 3-5 kg at birth and can reach 40-50 kg at six months of age.

Some preliminary work has been done in Ethiopia to improve local goats through the use of Boer goat semen. Arsi-Bale goats were inseminated with Boer goat semen at Hawassa University to produce F1 crosses.Somali goats were also inseminated with Boer goat semen at Haramaya University to produce crossbreds.