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A popular breed for meat production, these Boer goats are bred from indigenous South African goats in the early 19th century. These animals are resilient and can withstand diseases and adverse climatic conditions and therefore they are a popular breed for dairy use. Due to their versatility, they are used on different terrains for land maintenance.

The first original breed was imported from New Zealand. USA, Australia, and New Zealand are among the major producers of Boer goats. While Mexico is popular for their large Boer goats and Argentina for the smaller ones.

These goats have a distinctive physical presentation that features brown heads and white bodies. Some may be completely brown or white or may have patches of various colors on their body. Some even feature long pendulous ears and they are noted for their fast-growing and high-fertility rate.

The above-mentioned traits make these animals of superior quality and are quite useful in commercial segments. Purebreds of this kind provide healthy red meat, which is the prime reason behind the development of the American goat meat industry.

Looking for a Boer goat for sale? Read on to know more about this dairy animal!

Features of Boer Goat

Check out the below section to learn more about the characteristics of Boer goat:

• Boer goats are bigger than Nigerian dwarfs and Pygmy.
• Weight gain/day- 0.4 pounds
• Weight of mature Boer buck- 90 to 130 kg
• Weight of mature Boer doe- 85 to 100 kg
• Average birth weight- 3 to 4 kg
• Average life span- 7 to 8 years
• Physical appearance- Red/brown head and white body
  
  Details that you need to know about Boer goat

Boer goats could be a great addition to your business. These are preferable for meat rather than milk production. Before you look for Boer goats for sale do check out the following details about these exclusive breeds.

Breeding:

• Susceptible to disease at the age of 8 and at this age the reproduction cycle ends.
• These are genetically seasonal breeders that give birth to twins if bred once a year.
• The onset of dawn is the best time for mating.
• In the USA, Canada, and China the best mating season is autumn whereas, during summer and spring the chances decline.
• Boar reaches puberty in 6 months.
• Buck becomes an active breeder in just 5 to 6 months or even in 4 months if they reach a weight of 32 kg.
• Milk production during 12 weeks of lactation- 1.8 to 2.5 kg/day.

Feeding:

As these are meat goats, these require a proper diet with adequate nutrients year-round. The feeding program includes the following:

• Start giving supplement meals 2-6 weeks of breeding.
• Feeding them entirely on grains would make them overweight which is not acceptable.
• Feed the Boer bucks with vitamin and mineral-rich food during the mating season (August and December) to maintain body weight.
• Feed the kid with milk-replacer until 8-12 weeks and when the solid food intake reaches 0.5lbs grain mix stop giving milk-replacer.
• Give mixed grain or loose mineral mix to boost the level of macro and micronutrients.
• Increase the water intake for the kids to boost their metabolism rate and absorption.
• Create specific groups of various categories depending upon age and condition to determine the feeding requirement and cater accordingly.

Housing:

• The pen depends upon the size and weight of your herd.
• Slats should be 70-100 mm wide and 25-30mm thick.
• Maintain proper fencing for their safety, as these are curious and active animals.
• Construct good water sources for proper feeding and create partitions to handle the herd properly.

Market:

The market for Boer goats has taken the meat industry by storm, especially in America. Farming Boer goats is a profitable business as it involves minimum capital investment and operation costs. The market rates and the sale would depend upon the weight. So while you look for Boer goat for sale, check the rates trending in the market for specific weights.

How to maintain a Boer goat?

Here are some points to keep in mind for proper maintenance of Boer goats:

• Though these are resistant to adverse climate, keep their shelter well-insulated and warm during summer and winters with tarp or plywood for providing a balanced temperature.
• Ensure enough sunlight and wind are circulating inside the barn.
• Though these breeds are resilient, carry out disease treatment, vaccinating, docking, or shearing for keeping healthy goats for the betterment of your business.
• Keep the barn clean and maintain the condition by creating a sloping entrance for proper drainage.
• Besides a well-ventilated barn, keep a clean trough and bedding.
  You can keep a centralized feeding system if you have a large herd.

How to select a Boer goat?

Looking for a Boer goat for sale? Then you need to know how to select one:

• Check the milk production rate.
• Examine the growth rate after weaning.
• Ensure good health conditions without any physical deformation.
• Check the feeding absorption record.
• High body weight of male kids