The Boer goat is a standout breed with many characteristics that contribute to its profitability and value in agriculture.
The Boer goat is commonly a goat with a white body and a red head. Docile, high fertility and a fast growth rate are some of the traits that set the Boer goat apart in the purebred and commercial segments of the American meat goat industry. Mature Does can weigh between 190- 230 pounds and mature Boer bucks can weigh between 200 and 340 pounds.
The demand for high quality, lean, healthy red meat is the one of the underlining forces behind the development of the American meat goat industry. With an eager base of ethnic consumers, the demand for goat meat continues to grow in the United States each year. The importation of goat meat into the United States is estimated over 30 million dollars annually.
Here are some of its most significant features:
Exceptional hardiness allows for high resistance to disease, making it one of the hardiest livestock breeds.
The Boer goat is adaptable to a wide range of climates and grazing conditions, thriving in challenging environments.
They can survive in arid regions where other small stock cannot, even with limited access to drinking water.
With their strong legs, they are efficient walkers that can navigate mountainous areas and dense shrubbery with ease.
Boers consume browse that other livestock overlook, clearing undergrowth and maintaining vegetation balance, even in difficult terrain.
They have a long lifespan and maintain fertility up to 10 years or more.
Boer meat is in high demand in the US due to its low-fat content and healthful properties. It is equivalent to chicken in caloric value.
The Boer goat has the highest dressed weight percentage of any mutton breed.
Young Boer meat is tender and flavorful, with sufficient marbling and a pleasing texture.
Boers are bred for dominance and carry superior genetic traits for goat ranching.
The breed is also used internationally and in the US to improve other goat breeds through aggressive crossbreeding programs.
Boer skin produces high-quality leather that is in high demand and can be sold at a premium price for use in shoes, gloves, and books.
View the Anatomy of the Boer goat below.
