Description of Boer goats

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One of the most popular goat breeds is the Boer. It belongs to the category of meat, and the productivity of animals of this breed is simply amazing. The Boer goats have justifiably earned universal recognition. Like any other breed, this one must be looked after in a special way, paying attention to the issues of nutrition and breeding; it has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to find out more about all this before you start breeding goats.

Boer goats

On the territory of the post-Soviet space, goat breeding is not successful, while in other regions of the world this activity is popular among farmers and brings good profit.

The Boer goat breed was developed in South Africa at the beginning of the last century. It got this name in honor of the word "farmer" translated from the local language.

Description of the breed and characteristics

Boer goats have a number of distinctive characteristics. They can be recognized by one single sign: a brown head that stands out against the background of a white torso. But besides this, there are a number of other features:

• large body weight: an adult goat weighs on average from 110 to 10 kg, but some individuals reach 150 kg; with females of this breed, a slightly different situation develops: their average weight is in the region of 80-100 kg;
• short, smooth and silky coat;
• color characteristic of this breed: white all over the body and brown around the head and neck;
• stocky and proportionally large build;
• powerful-looking legs and no less powerful torso;
• hanging ears of large size;
• short, backward-curved horns, which are practically invisible, due to the fact that they are pressed against the body.

These are distinctive features by which the Boer goat can be easily identified.

On the territory of the post-Soviet space (Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, etc.) this breed is not widespread, but in the countries of Western Europe, South Africa and America it is very popular and has a wide range of admirers.

In addition to the distinctive external characteristics, you also need to understand the nature of these animals, because each species has its own disposition. Some are too finicky, some are completely unpretentious.

Advantages and disadvantages of Boer goats

This, as it may seem, ideal breed has its positive and negative qualities, which you should definitely pay attention to before deciding to breed animals. Of the positive characteristics, it should be noted that:

• this breed belongs to a few exclusively meat species (these individuals have enough milk only for feeding offspring in good health);
• animals have high productivity;
• rapid growth and development of young animals (at birth, the goat weighs about 4 kg, and after 3-4 months - already thirty 5 kg);
• goats have a calm and quiet disposition, in relation to the owner they are soft and friendly;
• picky about food
• Boer goats adapt well to different climatic conditions;
• easily tolerate a change of environment and conditions of detention;
• have good, persistent immunity, are practically not susceptible to diseases.

These animals also have negative traits. One of these is that the Boer goat is very fond of feasting on green grass: various shoots, leaves, etc., which can spoil the appearance of the landscape.

Another negative feature concerns the breeding of such goats: high-quality offspring can only be obtained from a high-quality goat. This makes animal breeding somewhat problematic.

There are much more positive qualities, and they more than justify the frenzied popularity of this meat breed.

Given how unique the Boer goats are, the description of their breed enables farmers to know the pros and cons of this choice ahead of time. The hope remains that in the near future Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries will pick up the trend towards the development of farming, and goat meat will become a more popular product on the market.

Features of keeping goats of the Boer breed

As in any other business, the breeding of Boer goats has its own nuances. For example, a certain air temperature or a special layout of a room for living. More about all this:

1. The air temperature in the room, which performs the function of a barn, should not fall below 5 ° C, otherwise the goats freeze and begin to get sick, their productivity decreases, and body weight decreases.
2. An obligatory procedure in caring for such animals is regular vaccination and preventive examinations by a veterinarian.
3. Individuals of the Boer breed need plentiful drink: clean, fresh and high-quality drinking water must always be in the stable to quench the thirst of animals.
4. Another important feature is the regulation of the room humidity level. It should not exceed 80%, and the average is 60-70%. With excessive air humidity, a favorable environment is created for the development of various bacteria that provoke diseases in animals.
5. The goat breeder is obliged to take care of a warm bedding for the barn. Legs are the weak point of Boer goats, so animals can easily catch a cold in the cold season if the floor is not sufficiently insulated.
6. Every year, twice a year, Boer goats require hoof trimming. Since the animal cannot walk on ordinary land in winter, the hooves are grinded from the growths that have appeared there. Pruning is done twice a year: before the start of wintering and at the end of the cold period.
7. It is necessary to regulate the length of daylight hours in winter. It should be at least 8 hours. To do this, you can create artificial lighting in the barn. You can also set up an automatic change of day and night or do it yourself each time.
8. In the warm season: in the summer, in spring and early autumn, goats should have room for walking. They need fresh green grass. If the farmer is worried about any valuable plants, then it is better to either fence off this area, or simply keep goats out of it.

A separate item is the diet. Boer goats are unpretentious in nutrition, but these animals still have some peculiarities of food intake. Highlights in the diet of Boer goats:

1. The presence of a large amount of greenery. This breed can be used to eliminate the problem of overgrowth in the area. For the refinement of a suburban area, this breed will be an ideal option.
2. In the summer, the basis of the diet should be fresh herbs with optional additives. In the cold season, hay should take the main position.
3. The animal diet should also include vegetables, roots and solid feed.
4. Such goats can be accustomed to any food, the main thing is to do it gradually and with caution, avoiding abrupt transitions that can lead to intestinal upset and a deterioration in the general physical well-being of the animal.
5. This breed, thanks to its calmness and complaisance of temperament, gets along well on the same pasture with other animals: horses or cows.

Nutrition for this type of animal is not a critical factor. They calmly relate to the change of feed, to the abundance or scarcity of raw materials eaten.It is only important that the diet includes all the necessary substances and minerals for the normal growth and functioning of the body.

Observing these simple rules, the farmer can easily cope with the care of the Boer goats. If there is a question about breeding and procreation of animals, it is worthwhile to study additional materials a little more, because the breeding of the Boer goat breed also has its own nuances.

Breeding Boer goats

The very process of crossing and breeding goats is not time consuming, Boer goats are very fertile. Females are ready for mating, starting from the 5th month of life, but for the best result it is worth waiting until the 7th and only then start the process of mixing individuals: this will ensure an easier course of pregnancy.

The gestational age itself is 5 months. After giving birth, the female needs a few extra months to restore the body, after which she is again ready to extend the genus. Based on such calculations, in 2 years from one female, you can get 3 broods of kids.

The problem of breeding this breed is to find a purebred male. Since Russia or Ukraine is not the center of concentration of farmers growing this species, the situation becomes more complicated. Purebred males can be crossed with goats of the Nubian breed: this gives a good result, but the resulting kids will already have mixed blood, which will not allow them to be crossed with females.

The uterus goat, with proper care, takes care of its offspring. The farmer, as the master of the situation, should help her as much as possible:

• make sure that the pregnancy proceeds without deviations;
• at the first symptoms of the disease, the pregnant female should be immediately shown to the veterinarian, self-treatment is not recommended;
• it is worth exploring the additional literature on caring for newborn kids.

With a strong desire, it is quite possible to find a male or female for crossing in the vastness of the post-Soviet space. Usually, the price for individuals of this breed is not too high, and the quality of the meat exceeds all expectations. According to its taste characteristics, it is a bit like veal, has a delicate taste and is highly appreciated by gourmets.

Breeding Boer goats will be an excellent solution for novice goat breeders who are taking their first steps in farming. Experienced farmers can also raise these animals, because Boer goats are among the best in terms of fertility and the amount of meat obtained. The very process of leaving is very simple, if you give your wards enough attention.