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By Regina Pasipanodya

The Boer goat is a breed of goat that have some special characteristics which have made them different from other goat breeds. Boer goats commonly have distinctive brown heads and white bodies and are said to have originated from South Africa. Some goats are completely white or brown coloured. They possess long, pendulous ears like the Nubian goats and are very hardy and can adopt themselves with almost all types of weather.

Boer goats were bred for body shape, high growth rate, and fertility. Boers have large frames and produce more muscle in less time than other goats. They spend more time grazing than other goats and can graze on land that can’t support dairy goats.

Boer goats are also mild tempered, easy to raise, and are affectionate. They are the ideal breed to farm for goat meat, because of their size, and because the ease of caring for Boer goats makes them a great choice for beginners. These types of goats are among the largest goat breeds. Mature does weigh 190-230 pounds, while bucks can weigh 200-340 pounds. They average about 2.5 feet tall at the withers.

Boer does reach sexual maturity at about 5 months of age. Unlike other goats, does are polyestrous, and can breed year-round. The first kid is typically a single birth, but after that, Boer does generally average 2 kids per birth. They produce twins ~50% of the time, and triplets 10-15% of the time. The doe will naturally come into heat when she is exposed to a buck.

Boer kids will inherit the growth rate of the sire, making fast-growing Boer bucks far more valuable than average- or slow-growing ones. Under feedlot conditions, kids can gain more than .4 pounds per day. Boer goats were developed to live on land too difficult for humans to clear, and, like most goats, they forage instead of grazing. This means they prefer brush, tree leaves, and tall weeds when in pasture.