Pembiak No. 1 Australia

Oleh ADHAM SHADAN

Dia memenangi pelbagai anugerah baka kambing Boer terbaik lantaran kambingnya yang mempunyai ketahanan yang lebih tinggi dan mampu membiak dengan baik. Dia dianggap Raja Boer.

JIM BOER di ladangnya di New South Wales, Australia.

PADA tahun 1995, Jim Boer atau nama sebenarnya Jim Mayall Gilgandra hanyalah seorang penternak kambing biasa. Berbekalkan sekawan kecil kambing komersial serta tambahan dua ekor kambing Boer betina dan seekor kambing Boer jantan, dia memulakan usaha taninya yang tidak seberapa.

Namun, penternak kecil di New South Wales (NSW), Australia ini memiliki jiwa yang besar.

Merasakan tiga ekor kambing Boer yang dibelinya itu tidak memenuhi piawaian sama ada untuk tujuan komersial mahupun perusahaan, dia bertekad bahawa sesuatu perlu dilakukan.

Usaha demi usaha dilakukan Jim, 55, untuk menghasilkan mutu baka yang lebih baik. Tanpa latar belakangkan pengetahuan sains dan ilmu genetik, anak jati keluarga peladang ini memasang strategi mencatur pembiak bakaannya sendiri.

Kini, kejayaan telah digapainya. Ladang Jimboer Boer Goat Stud yang diusahakan bersama isterinya, Lyn Mayall di kawasan barat NSW, menjadi saksi akan kegemilangannya. Ladangnya merupakan ladang kambing Boer pertama di Australia yang mendapat pengiktirafan daripada Pertubuhan Kambing Boer Afrika Selatan yang cukup berprestij seawal tahun 2004 lagi.

Afrika Selatan merupakan negara susur galur Boer, kambing bertubuh putih dan berkepala coklat itu bermula.

Bukan sekadar dinobatkan sebagai pembiak Boer nombor satu di Australia, bahkan dengan beberapa pihak di Afrika Selatan yang mahu membeli bakanya sudah cukup untuk menjawab sejauh mana Jim telah pergi dalam pencapaiannya.

BOER hasil bakaan Jim yang baru memenangi kejohanan Canberra Royal 2008.

Barang kali, dengan reputasi sedemikian, tidak hairan jika ada yang memberi gelaran kepadanya sebagai Raja Boer atau pembiak baka Boer terbaik dunia.

"Benar, saya telah menerima permintaan daripada Afrika Selatan yang mahu membeli embrio baka Boer saya. Saya menjangka akan mengeksportnya ke sana pada tahun depan," ujar Jim Boer ketika dihubungi Kosmo! baru-baru ini. Nada suaranya daripada corong telefon berbunyi tenang walaupun ketika menyampaikan sesuatu, yang pada hemat penulis, sewajarnya mengujakannya.

Siapa sangka, bermula daripada tiga ekor kambing Boer lebih 13 tahun lalu yang disifatkan beliau amat teruk kualitinya, kini 300 ekor kambing Boer yang berada pada tangannya ialah sekelompok kambing Boer dengan kualiti paling tinggi.

AHMAD TARMIZI bersama Jim Boer.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, baka-baka kambing Boernya telah diperakui sebagai baka yang sangat bagus dan amat dipandang tinggi oleh pakar-pakar penilai Boer dari Afrika Selatan sendiri seperti Jackie Jordaan, Koenie Kitze, Francois Maritz dan Izak Vorster.

Jordaan menyifatkan kunjungannya ke ladang Jim pada tahun 2005 sebagai satu pengalaman yang mengejutkan kerana ia menghasilkan kualiti baka Boer yang hebat.

Apa yang paling mengagumkannya ialah sifat feminin yang ketara kambing-kambing Boer betinanya dan kegagahan kambing-kambing Boer jantannya mencakupi segenap segi.

Vorster pula mengakui kambing-kambing Boer baka Jim adalah jenis kambing Boer paling cemerlang.

Menghadapi ujian getir seperti kemarau panjang bertahun-tahun, itu merupakan antara tribulasi besar yang dilaluinya. Memang Boer dikatakan boleh menyesuaikan diri dalam suasana kering tetapi hakikat kemarau selama tujuh tahun berturut-turut di NSW sehingga kini suatu yang amat menyukarkan.

"Memang kemarau menambahkan kesukaran. Air adalah keperluan asas semua makhluk hidup," ujarnya yang terpaksa mendapatkan sumber air dengan mengorek perigi bagi memastikan tanaman hay yang menjadi makanan Boernya sentiasa subur.

"Apa yang boleh saya katakan, kejayaan ini adalah berakar umbi daripada keyakinan, kerja keras, kejujuran dan integriti yang saya amalkan selama ini," kata bapa kepada empat orang anak ini. Anak-anaknya berusia antara 14 hingga 28 tahun.

Jim kini giat melakukan percubaan peribadi berasaskan kehandalannya dalam ilmu genetik Boer untuk perusahaan daging Boer. Ia turut dilakukan dengan sokongan pembiak baka Australia yang lain seperti Daryl dan Naree Greenaway. Setakat ini, Boer jantan terbesar yang dihasilkan ialah 140 kilogram dan Boer betina ialah 98 kilogram.

Usaha membiak baka tidak pernah terhenti dan dia selalu mengungguli pelbagai kategori dalam kejohanan Boer di Australia sejak tahun 2005 sehinggalah terbaru di Canberra Royal 2008.

"Apabila bercakap tentang membiak baka, ia bukanlah suatu yang boleh diterangkan dengan mudah begitu sahaja. Banyak perkara dan teknik yang perlu dipelajari. Saya nasihatkan kepada mereka yang mahu membiak baka kambing Boer, mempelajarinya terlebih dahulu agar kesulitan dapat dielakkan," ujarnya sambil mengakui 'praktikal hidup' merupakan gurunya selama ini.

Jim jujur mengakui matlamat utamanya selepas ini ialah untuk menyebarkan ilmu mengenai Boer kepada sesiapa sahaja yang dahagakan ilmu untuk mempelajarinya.

Pengurus ladang Agrotrus Sdn. Bhd. dari kumpulan BoerBest, di Ijok Selangor, Ahmad Tarmizi Mohamad merupakan antara insan yang pernah berhubung secara langsung dengan Jim. Dia telah berkelana ke bumi Australia dua tahun yang lalu untuk menemui Jim, individu asing yang belum pernah ditemuinya, demi menuntut ilmu Boer.

"Kepala saya asyik ligat berfikir bagaimanalah penerimaannya. Yalah, rasa rendah diri sangat sebab kita tidak tahu banyak mengenai Boer. Tetapi, perasaan itu hilang, apabila layanan mesra yang diberikan buat kita selesa.

"Apa yang boleh saya katakan, Jim seorang yang sanggup mengajar seseorang walau berada di tahap paling bawah pun. Kata-katanya banyak berdasarkan fakta dan dia bukanlah seorang yang suka mendabik dada memperkatakan kehebatannya. Dia seorang yang merendah diri," ujar Ahmad Tarmizi yang disifatkan sebagai orang Asia pertama menemui Jim di Australia.

"Saya menjadikan dia sebagai idola. Kita lihat bagaimana bermula dengan 'sifar', tanpa pelajaran tinggi dan pengetahuan yang terhad, dia boleh menjadi sebegitu sukses," ujarnya.

Jika anda masih sangsi tentang kehebatan Jim, mungkin kandungan sepucuk emel daripada seorang individu dari Afrika Selatan yang ditujukan kepada Jim mampu merungkainya. Ia lebih kurang berbunyi:

"Saya tidak akan berhenti membiak baka kambing Boer sehinggalah saya dapat menghasilkan kualiti Boer seperti anda."

Ogos ini, Jim Boer dijangka akan memberikan ceramah mengenai Boer di negara ini. Untuk maklumat lanjutan mengenai ceramah dan kursus berkenaan sila hubungi talian 016-317 5930 (Melissa), 012-941 5166 (Amat) dan 013-388 3635 (Shukor).

Mengenali Baka Kambing Boer

Boer Fullblood

FB ini adalah kambing boer yang dibawa daripada Afrika Selatan berbadan tegap. Warna kambing boer tulen keseluruhan kemerah-merahan atau hampir hitam.

Feral

Feral Kambing liar Australia. Petani di sana menangkapnya disekitar hutan dan menjualnya keseluruh dunia, termasuk Malaysia.

Boer F1

Boer FB jantan yang di kacukkan dengan kambing feral betina yang berwarna putih. Menghasilkan boer F1. Berwarna putih keseluruhan dan bentuk badan masih bercirikan feral.

Boer F2

Boer FB dikacukkan denga boer F1 menghasilkan boer F2. Ciri-ciri utamanya ialah kepala berwarna coklat tetapi agak kabur warnanya. Bentuk badannya juga masih kurang ciri-ciri boer yang berkualiti.

Boer F3

Boer F3 adalah kacukan antara boer FB dengan boer F2. Ciri-ciri utamanya ialah kepala berwarna coklat kemerah-merahan. Bentuk badan menyerupai kambing boer FB. Kualitinya

sangat baik dan banyak dibawa masuk ke Malaysia.

Boer F4

Begitu juga boer F4. Ia juga merupakan kacukan antara boer FB dengan F3. Kepalanya berwarna coklat lebih gelap berbanding boer F3. Keseluruhan kepalanya coklat kemerah-merahan dan kehitam-hitaman. Bentuk badan menyerupai kambing boer FB juga.

Boer F5 -F7

Boer F5-F7 juga di kenali sebagai Boer Purebreed Kacukan ini memperlihatkan pengaruh gen boer yang kuat.

Secara keseluruhannya, kelihatan boer purebreed hampir sama dengan boer FB. Cuma terdapat tompok-tompok putih atau tompok-tompok coklat di badannya. Warna coklat kemerah-merahan bukan hanya terdapat di kepala tetapi turut terdapat di badan. Boer generasi ini juga sangat berkualiti untuk dijadikan baka (pejantan).

HOW MANY CROSSES TILL WE REACH PURE BLOOD?

The start is to breed a FULLBLOOD RAM(SOUTH AFRICAN BLOODLINES) to any other ewe breed and the result is a first cross ( F 1) or 50%dorper

you back cross again that F1 EWE to FULLBLOOD RAM and their baby is an F2 /75% dorper

you repeat the same excersise for three more times and the results will be: F3/87.5%- then F4/93,75% , and last is the F5/ 96.875% OR A PERCENTAGE DORPER.

Goodness, the Boer Goat

From The Star... Sunday Metro, 19 Aug 2007   http://www.boervalley.com/WebLITE/applications/productcatalog/uploaded/pics/PR_009_TheStarOn19_08_2007.jpg

By renita@thestar.com.my

Care for some chevon, cabrito or capretto?

FORGET everything you’ve been taught about mutton. Contrary to what we have been told at school, goat meat is not mutton. Lamb meat is.

Goat meat is actually known as chevon, cabrito or capretto – depending on the ages of the goats when they are slaughtered.

And did you know that compared to other meat like beef, poultry and pork, goat meat is extra lean, with 3g of fat or sometimes less, and has less than 2g of saturated fat?

Eating healthy: A Boer goat munching on the Napier grass at the organic farm in Tapah.

This is especially true of Boer goat meat. Production of the Boer goat meat was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s. The word “Boer” actually means “farmer” in Dutch. Because of the manner in which they are reared, Boer goats provide meat that is naturally lean and nutritious.

Not only is it an excellent source of protein and iron, Boer goat meat also has higher potassium content, with a low sodium level.

A place that rears Boer goats is the 20-acre Highland Organic Boer Farm in Tapah, Perak. It is managed by Majestic Nature Boer Farm Sdn Bhd.

The farm rears over 2,000 Boer goats which are put on a strict 100% organic diet.

They are fed naturally grown Napier grass to ensure that they receive the optimal intake of fibre and protein.

Apart from that, they also consume clean mineral water that comes from the same source that feeds the Lata Kinjang waterfall near the farm. Considering all the above factors, this probably explains why Boer goat meat is much healthier than other red meat.

According to Majestic Nature Boer Farm managing director Yeow Joo Kwang, the Highland Organic Boer Farm provides a clean and dry environment that is crucial for the healthy growth of the Boer goats.

Fried Goat Meat in Pepper Sauce

Therefore, all the essential amino acids are present in the goat meat, with no hormonal, chemical or bacterial contamination.

Even the American Heart Association recommends the goat meat to those who suffer from heart-related problems, as the meat is high in protein, with a healthy fat ratio.

Sunday Metro was invited for a tour of the farm recently.

Coincidentally, celebrity chefs Ismail and Florence Tan were among the invited guests as well.

“When I first tried the Boer meat, it was a thrilling experience as it didn’t release some foul odour compared to other meat,” says Chef Ismail.

Gulai Kambing Berempah

“We didn’t have to marinate the meat that long either and, amazingly, it is much more tender,” says Chef Florence.

To add to the excitement, both the chefs surprised the guests by serving six different dishes of Boer meat.

On the menu were the Mint Nutty Salad, Shepherd’s Pie, Goat Meat Cumin Rice, Fried Goat Meat in Pepper Sauce, Gulai Kambing Berempah and Goat Varuval.

“We each came prepared with a recipe for the public to try out at home,” says Chef Ismail, adding that the step-by-step recipe is simple and anyone can try it at home.

“The Boer goat meat is so yummy that I even serve them in my restaurant,” adds Chef Ismail.

Yeow says that the problem most Malaysians face is that they do not know where to get the Boer goat meat.

If you would like to get your hands on Boer goat meat, Majestic Nature Boer Farm will open a special shop called Boer Goat Junction next month.

The shop will be located at No.43, Jalan SS21/60, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya or visit http://www.boervalley.com.

The World & Most Heart Friendly Red Meat

Goat meat is the today’s choice for people who want a healthier lifestyle. Not only does it provide flavour and culinary versatility, it is naturally lean and nutritious, and an excellent source of protein and iron. Compared with other popular meats, goat meat is by far the healthiest. It has the lowest fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content making it ideal for the health conscious.

Nutrient Analysis of popular meats

Meat Chart courtesy of South African Boer Goat Association

Courtesy of South African Boer Goat Association

The Economic Value of The Boer Goat

(Information from http://studbook.co.za/Society/B.Goat/value.php)

Economical farming implies profitable farming, in other words the more profit you make out of your farming enterprise, the more economical or profitable it is. The livelihood of the farmer thus depends on his farming with that animal or crop which will ensure that he receives the highest possible yield and profit in the climatic and soil conditions applicable to his circumstances. He also depends on optimal utilisation of each natural source, in such a way that the resource in question will not deteriorate as result, but will rather be improved over the long term. The Boer goat fulfils the above aims in the following ways in terms of its characteristic features:

MEAT AND PELTS OF A HIGH QUALITY

Considered in the light of the health-consciousness that prevails on a worldwide basis, the Boar goat yields lean meat of a high quality, particularly during the young stage. The meat is flavoursome, succulent, tender, extremely attractive and very tasty. Currently, the meat is much sought after for barbecue and spit roasting purposes. For this reason, goats should be marketed between the ages of 6 and 15 months, and carcasses should weigh no more than 23 kg. Older goats in good condition yield biltong (dried meat) and dried sausage of very good quality, which can definitely compete with the very best on the market.
In the light of the predilection for the Boer goat meat displayed by certain consumers in South Africa and the rest of the world, along with the characteristics required for the right type of meat for the health-conscious sector of consumers worldwide, one cannot do otherwise than predict a rosy future for Boer goat meat originating from goats of a high quality.
The results achieved by Boer goats, expressed in percentages, are very good, fluctuating between 48% and 60%. These results are narrowly linked to the age and more particularly the quality of the animals.


Ewe 15 months.

Live mass: 54 kg

Carcass weight: 29 kg

Carcass percentage: 54%


THE PELT
The pelt of the Boer goat has a low leather value in comparison with that of other small stock breeds. An endeavour should be made to breed goats with short, smooth hair, since this increases the quality of the pelt. The pelts of Boer goats are used for making the uppers of shoes, as well as for gloves and the covers of books.

HARDY AND ADAPTABLE


The Boer goat is undoubtedly one of the hardiest small stock breeds on earth, with a great capacity for adoption. It is therefore encountered in a great variety of climatic - and pasture - conditions and is consequently fit for conditions varying from extensive to intensive. The Boer goat is an excellent walker, has sturdy legs and moves easily in rugged mountainous areas and through dense bush.
During drought conditions, the Boer goat probably survives longer than most other animals without supplementary feeding or feed.

RESISTANCE TO DISEASES


The Boer goat also has an exceptional ability to withstand and resist diseases such as blue tongue, prussic acid poisoning and, to a lesser extent, enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney). As far as is known, Boer goats do not contract blue tongue at all. Their grazing habits also make them less susceptible to infection caused by internal parasites, since Boer goats prefer to graze above the ground, if such grazing is available. Such as bushveld or scrub vegetation.

FERTILITY AND KIDDING PERCENTAGE

The Boer goat is very fertile and is not seasonally bound. Furthermore, multiple births are the rule rather than the exception, with an average kidding percentage of 180.
These two important economic characteristics have made the Boer goat very popular for the following reasons:

* Because the Boer goat is not seasonally bound, the kidding season can be selected to fit in with the period when food is most plentiful; or, under intensive conditions, kidding can occur every 7-8 months.
* Its exceptionally high kidding percentage implies that the Boer goat cannot be surpassed with regard to the percentage of meat per kilogram per ewe or per hectare. This factor places the Boer goat very high on the ranking list with regard to intensive farming.



ABUNDANCE OF MILK
Growth rate is linked to sufficient milk production and good nurturing instincts in ewes with regard to their young.
An ewe has enough milk to raise two kids rapidly.

LONGEVITY
The Boer goat is able to maintain economic production up to the age of approximately 10 years. This implies that the percentage of young replacement ewes which have to be withheld, is very low.

GRAZING HABITS

Goats prefer small trees and shrubs as their basic diet, but their exceptional economic value lies precisely in the fact that they are able to utilise certain plants which are less appetising to other stock breeds.

Experiments undertaken at Omatjenne Experimental Farm in Namibia have proved that a Boer goat consumes 74 % leaves and 26% grass. As a result, it is possible to farm with cattle and Boer goats simultaneously without their being in competition with each other to any great extent, so that a maximum number of kilograms of meat per hectare can be produced. As a result of the grazing habits of the Boer goat, it can be successfully incorporated in this way in order to utilise bushes and shrubs, and thus to assist in controlling encroachment.
When one considers all these characteristics of the Boer goat along with all the space available in South Africa, as well as abroad, where Boer goats could be successfully accommodated, it is natural to assume that this industry will but grow in the future.

Boer Goat - Cross Breeding Guide

Guide to cross bred percentages.

What does F1, F2 etc mean?

F1 = ½ or 50% (50% Boer genetics + 50% *Rangeland)

F2 = ¾ or 75%
F3 = 7/8 or 87.5%
F4 = 15/16 or 93.75%
F5 = 31/32 or 96.88%
F6 = 63/64 or 98.84%
F7 = 127/128 or 99.22%
F8 = 255/256 or 99.61%
F9 = 511/512 or 99.80%
F10 = 1023/1024 or 99.90%
F11 = 2047/2048 or 99.95%

*also known as Feral (wild goats)

2.1 Boer Fullblood (FB) - adalah kambing boer keturunan asal dari Africa yang tidak dicampur dengan mana-mana baka kambing lain. Kambing ini mempunyai ciri Boer yang sebenar, iaitu cepat membesar dan membiak. Kat Malaysia harga untuk jenis ini paling kurang RM2,000 seekor.

2.2 Boer F1 - adalah anak kambing yang lahir hasil dari perkahwinan antara Boer Fullblood (FB) dengan kambing jenis lain.

2.3 Boer F2 - adalah anak kambing yang lahir hasil dari perkahwinan antara Boer Fullblood (FB) dengan Boer F1

2.4 Boer F3 - adalah anak kambing yang lahir hasil dari perkahwinan antara Boer Fullblood (FB) dengan Boer F2

2.5 Boer F4 - adalah anak kambing yang lahir hasil dari perkahwinan antara Boer Fullblood (FB) dengan Boer F3

2.6 Purebreed - adalah gelaran bagi F4 (bagi betina) dan F4 keatas bagi jantan.


GOAT TERM ( Bahasa yg sering digunakan bagi Goat Breeder )

• Buck: Male Goat


• Sire : Pejantan


• Dam : Induk Betina


• Doe: Female Goat


• Doeling: Young female goat


• Buckling: Young male goat


• Kid: Newborn


• GoatsMale offspring : Anak Jantan


• Female offspring : Anak Betina


• Wether: Castrated male goat


• Capretto: Meat that comes from kids


• Chevon: Meat that comes from adult goats

The History of Boer Goats

The History of Boer Goats

(An excerpt from the book, Raising Meat Goats for Profit by Gail Bowman.)

Boer goats come to us from South Africa. The earliest recorded goats in Africa were brought to western Uganda by the Black Nations as early as AD 1200. Boer goats were developed in Southern Africa by breeding these ‘indigenous’ stock to European imports. The point, of course, was to have a hardy, very adaptable, meat animal that could survive the varied conditions of the African landscape while still maintaining a high birth rate, high survival rate, and a marketable meat carcass.

Researchers have had little luck pinning down an exact line of decent for the modern Boer goat. Early breeders include such varied and inexact groups as the "Southern Bantu" people, the Namaqua Hottentots, the Indians (from India) and Europeans. "Boer" means "farm" in Dutch.i

By the beginning of the 20th century, however, the breed was becoming much more distinct as the ranchers in the Eastern Cape Province of Africa started breeding for a definite meat type goat with many of the Boer characteristics that we recognize today. The late Mr T. B. Jordaan of Buffelsfontein, Somerset East, stated in the first journal of the South African Boer Goat Breeders’ Association published in 1959, that his father, Mr. W. G. Jordaan, bought some goats from Mrs. Van de Venter of Somerset East. These goats were short haired and had light red heads. At the same time he bought a very large dapple-colored male goat from Mr. I. B. van Heerden of Kaalplass, Cradock. From these goats, some of the earliest breeding stock was developed.ii

On July 4th, 1959, breeding and selection became regulated by the foundation of the Boer Goat Breeder's Association (of South Africa). In the past forty years, the breed standards of this association have helped to guide and mold the Boer goat into an "improved" breed emphasizing good overall conformation, a compact and well muscled body structure, high growth and fertility rates, short white hair, darkly pigmented skin, and red markings on the head and shoulders. In 1970 the Boer goat was incorporated into the National Mutton Sheep and Goat Performance Testing Scheme, which makes the Boer goat the only known goat breed involved in a performance test for meat production.iii

In 1977, the Boer goat was imported into Germany. In 1987 Lancorp Corporation Ltd. imported Boers into New Zealand, and in 1988 they were imported into Australia. The first Boer embryos to reach the North American Continent were implanted into recipient does at Olds College in Canada. These goats stayed in quarantine until April 1993, when Boers were released into the United States and Canada. In New Zealand, three main parties were involved in the importation of South African Boer Goats: Lancorp Corporation Ltd., Embryotech Corporation, and African Goat Flock Co. In Australia the major importer was Australian Breeding Management Pty Ltd. 2

Since 1987 the Boer goat has been imported by New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Australia, Indonesia, England, India, France, Malaysia, Denmark, British West Indies, Netherland Antilles, and virtually every state in the United States.

Boer Goats: What and Why? 

I raise Boer Goats in the Northwestern United States. Why? Why not raise cattle or sheep like most people? Hopefully, this article will answer those questions and many more that you may have about the fastest growing agricultural industry in the United States: Boer Goats!

First of all, what is a Boer Goat? Boer goats are large framed animals resembling, in many ways, the Nubian goat. The most obvious difference is the size. A Boer is a large, double muscled animal. Boers are specifically meat goats. They can consistently produce more muscling in less time, and will pass this capability to their kids. Boers are to the meat goat industry what imported cattle were to the beef industry. Boers goats were developed in South Africa for their meat, hardiness and brush control abilities.

What do Boer goats look like? As I said before, they are large animals, generally white with a reddish brown head and (usually) a white blaze down the middle of the face. Solid red Boer goats are also becoming more and more popular. Mature weights between 200 and 350 pounds for males and 120 to 200 pounds for females are considered normal. They have long ears that should hang down along the sides of their faces. The leg bones and general bone structure of a Boer goat are bigger and thicker than in other kinds of goats. When you look at a Boer goat you should look for a deep, broad chest, good back, strong shoulders and heavy muscling in the rump.

Boers are hardy, adaptable and easy to handle. I use a simple three sided structure to give my goats shelter from the sun, wind and snow. However, my Boers often don't use it. They seem to be very happy lying out in the sun on 90 to 100 degree days (their skin is darkly pigmanted under the white fur to reduce the risk of sun burn). The Boers in my herd have also been known to sleep outside down to about 10 degrees, rather than curl up in the goat house with the rest of the herd. I have also noticed that Boers aren't as interested in jumping fences as dairy goats. I have found that any kind of mesh fencing or electric fence, at least 3 or 4 feet tall will confine my Boers.

There are many other kinds of animals that produce meat in the United States. Many that are widely accepted and that we are more accustomed to raising than Boer goats. So, why raise Boer goats? One reason is efficiency of feed and space. The accepted standard in the Northwest for raising cattle is one cow-calf pair per acre of good pasture. With goats, the equal comparison would be six does with two kids each per acre. Ten months after breeding, a cow is nursing a 75 pound calf. Ten months after breeding to a Boer buck, six dairy or spanish goats will have raised 12 kids (a goat's gestation period is 5 months), and the kids will have been sold. Boer cross kids reach a market weight of 50 to 90 pounds at about 5 months of age. (A weight gain of .5 pounds a day (or more) in cross bred kids is not considered unusual). If we use a market weight of 60 pounds, at $1 per pound, these 12 kids sold for $720. The same six does were then rebred 60 to 90 days after the kids were born and are now 60 days pregnant ten months after the first breeding!

At the end of 18 months, the cow should be pregnant again, and her calf is ready to be sold for $325 (in current market conditions here in the Northwest). The six does have kidded again with another 12 kids (plus the does would be pregnant again) who are now 5 months old and ready to be sold for another $720. Feed cost comparisons between one cow and six goats would vary greatly, depending on the time of year, type of pasture and area of the country. It may cost a little more to feed the six does than the single cow, but the difference in the sales ($1440 - $325 = $1115 more gross sales) certainly makes up the difference. Plus you don't need expensive squeeze chutes, and it is easier to own a buck than a bull or to artificially inseminate a doe than a cow.

If you have 10 acres, you can easily raise 60 goats or ten head of cattle. Goats, especially Boers or Boer crosses, can survive, even prosper, on poor pasture and brush that would not support cattle. Many breeders find the fact that goats will eat berry bushes, russian olive, elm or cottonwood trees, ragwort, gorse, dock, amerauthis and other weeds, to be an important factor when deciding to raise goats. Some ranchers also find it good pasture management to run goats on the pasture after their cows to clean up the weeds.

Goat meat has a lower fat content than either lamb or beef and is eaten by over 80% of the world's population. Already, the popularity of goat meat in the United Sates is rising dramatically. One reason might be the improved flavor that the Boer adds to the meat. We have found that adding just 50% Boer bloodlines to our goat meat produces a very mild and tender, light red meat that readily takes on any seasoning we have tried. Breeders have reported that their kids are ready for market sooner, and their customers will actually pay them a premium for their meat goats if they add Boer blood to their herd!

Many people raise milk goats because they love goats. But it has been said that it takes less time to feed 100 goats than to milk 10! More and more people, like myself, want to buy a small piece of land and raise a few animals, but not an animal that is going to run over me or break my foot if it steps on me. What do you do if you don't especially want to milk, can't stand the smell of pigs, the mess of rabbits, or the stupidity of sheep? Thousands of people have found meat goats to be the perfect answer.

How do you get started? There are as many answers to that question as there are breeders. A meat herd should have a Boer or Boer-cross buck or two, and as many dairy, spanish or mixed-breed does as you want to raise. I definitely recommend buying your goats from reputable breeders rather than the stock yard auctions. Most people find that the loss from diseases brought home from the stock yards more than make up for the lower prices. Your Boer or Boer cross buck should be papered. Blood lines may not be important to your meat herd, but a registration paper is your only way of being reasonably sure that you received what you paid for, or maintaining the resale value of your buck!

If you just want to raise a few breeding animals, rather than a large meat herd, my best advice is to know the breeder you are buying from! Never buy breeding stock from a truck that is just passing through! Always have a pedigree or pedigree application in your hand when you leave the ranch with your animal. Ask about disease control programs. Take a look at the condition of the whole herd, ask to see related animals that have reached maturity (if you are buying kids), and make sure that your breeder intends to guarantee your purchase should the animal turn out to be a non-breeder (a very rare situation in goats). The vast majority of breeders are in the business of raising animals because they love the animals, and are truely trying to do a great job. Find one of these to buy your breeding stock from! Boer goats are fun to raise and can be very loving animals. Enjoy