Boer Goats

Dutch farmers in South Africa developed the Boer breed by crossing native African goats with European dairy breeds. This effort began in the 1950s. The Boer breed has the largest number of registered goats of the meat goat breeds in the United States. There are more Spanish goats than Boer goats but they are not registered or clearly defined as to what really is a Spanish goat. Boer goats have a very distinct well defined color pattern and horn set that takes at least two to four generations of breeding to full blood Boer bucks to show up in the kids when crossed with other breeds. There is a saying in the industry that if it looks like a Boer it is a Boer. Many commercial meat goat producers have been using Boer bucks for many years and have herds that have a very high percentage of Boer, even though they are not registered. Full blood Boer goats were imported into the United States in very large numbers. The first Boer goats came from New Zealand starting in 1993. Later imports came directly from South Africa beginning with a shipment of 400 Boer goats by Jurgen Schulz which was released in 1995. These Boer goats, imported by Jurgen Schulz, became known as CODI-PCI animals. More recently Boer bucks and semen have been imported from Australia. Boer goat imports into the United States represent many different South African herds and bloodlines. The Boer breed in the United States has a very large genetic base. The American Boer Goat Association was formed in 1993. The International Boer Goat Association and the United States Boer Goat Association have gone out of business. Boer goat breeders put a lot of emphases on showing. There are many sanctioned Boer Goat shows throughout the United States. Most state fairs have sanctioned Boer goat shows. The show goat industry has invested large amounts of financial resources into improving the Boer breed. Embryo transplants are used extensively in Boer goats.