Raising Boer Goats for Profit: The Ultimate Guide

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About Marc MacDonald

I’ve been raising goats for nearly 20 years now. Over those years, I accumulated a lot of information about goats and what works and what doesn’t.

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A male Boer goat in a barn yard.

If you’re looking for a complete beginner’s guide to raising Boer goats for profit, you’ve landed in the right place. In this guide we cover all the basics: where to buy your first goats, behavior, care, feeding, breeding, and more!

But first, let me ask you a question:

Did you know that over the past decade, demand for goat meat in the United States has skyrocketed? In fact, since 2014, the price of goat meat has tripled!

This is due to several factors:

  • There are no religious restrictions on goat meat, making it appealing to a growing American Muslim population
  • Chefs and restauranteurs are expanding their menus, featuring exotic meats to appeal to foodies and adventurous palates
  • Goats are typically farmed in a free-range environment, making them appeal to the growing number of consumers who want ethically sourced meat
  • Goat meat is the healthiest red meat, low in saturated fats and high in healthy, unsaturated fat
  • Goat meat is widely consumed in Central and South America, making it a food staple in the increasing Hispanic food market

However, there are very few goat farms in the United States, so most of the American goat supply is imported from Australia, an export market that was worth $213 million in 2017.

The growth in demand and increase in prices have sparked an interest in American farmers for growing goats for meat.

Because over 50% of the goat meat consumed in America is imported from Australia and New Zealand, there is also an opportunity to capitalize on fresh, local goat meat rather than frozen imported meat.

And those who want goat meat for religious purposes prefer to purchase live animals, so they can be slaughtered according to religious precepts; this is a market that cannot be met with meat imported from abroad.

This guide will explore the opportunities for raising Boer goats for profit and show you how to start a profitable goat farm, taking advantage of this ever-increasing market.

About Boer Goats

Boer Goat Characteristics

Boer goats were bred in South Africa, largely by cross-breeding indigenous goats, specifically for meat production. US breeding stock was originally imported from New Zealand in the early 1990s, and only later directly from South Africa.

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.

They traditionally have a white body with a reddish brown, convex-shaped head, and pendulous ears. They may or may not have a blaze. Both does and bucks have thick, dark horns that curl backward along the head.

Boer goats are hardy in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures. In cold climates, they develop a thicker coat.

Boer Goat Life Cycle and Breeding

goat farming

Boer 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. Does are typically bred for 3-kid crops every 2 years and can produce kids for 6 or more years.

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 have a naturally high resistance to disease, so bucks tend to live 8-12 years, and does live 12-20 years.

Boer Goat Feed and Behavior

Boer Goat Life Cycle and Breeding

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.

These eating habits make them an excellent pasture companion for other animals, because they avoid the grasses that cows and sheep naturally prefer and can pasture on land that has previously been grazed by other ruminants.

Goats also prefer hills, while cattle prefer valleys, and goats naturally control weeds and invasive plant species that would otherwise be expensive or difficult to eradicate.

The best feed for Boer goats is high-quality pasture. Good pasture keeps goats healthier, and kids will grow faster. Left to themselves, goats will naturally consume as many as 25 different plant species in a day, if available, and this diversity meets many of their nutritional requirements.

Their preference for pasture means that most Boer goats only require purchased feed during winter or during drought, reducing the cost of keeping them (we will discuss feeding and nutrition in further depth below).

Boer goats are famous for being docile and friendly, making them easy to manage, and good show animals as well as pets.

What are Boer Goats Used For?

Boer goats were specifically bred to be easy-to-raise meat animals. Their penchant for eating weeds, leaves, and brush, and their rapid growth, large size, and double muscles make them ideal meat animals. But Boer goats have a variety of uses.

Breeding

Boer goat cross-breeds are highly desirable to improve the characteristics of other goats. Even on the first cross, the size is greatly increased. Boer goats are often used as terminal sires – animals whose offspring will be sold for meat, regardless of gender.

Showing

Because Boer goats are so highly desirable, there are an increasing number of events where they can be shown. The American Boer Goat Association has a list of officially sanctioned shows and endorses events nationwide, and the meat goat division is the fastest growing segment of many 4H programs.

Improving Pasture

Boer goats can not only survive but thrive on land that is unsuitable for grazing other animals, either due to dense brush or hilly terrain. They efficiently control blackberry, thistles, ragwort, and other weeds, and improve the quality of pasture for grazing animals. Many people keep goats specifically for this purpose.

Companion Animals

Boers are docile and friendly, and many people keep them simply as pets.

Diary Animals

While Boer does will give milk, they are not the preferred breed for this purpose. They don’t produce the same volume of milk as dairy goat species, and their milk is lower in fat, making it not preferred. However, cross-breeds of Boers with dairy goats (particularly Boer-Nubian crosses) are very desirable because they retain the high quality of Boer meat with the high milk production of dairy breeds.

As you can see, Boers are versatile goats with a range of uses, making them an asset in a variety of situations.

How to Care for a Boer Goat

While goats in general are low-maintenance animals, and Boer goats are prized for being easy to care for, there are many things that your goats will need to be healthy, happy, and produce the highest quality meat.

Boer Goat Social Needs

Goats are social animals, and naturally group in herds. A single goat will be unhappy and will make a lot of noise. If you have only one goat, keep them with other animals to meet their social needs.

Boer Goat Space Needs

Goats need a minimum of 250 sq. ft./animal of space. Their natural feeding habits are to browse, moving from plant to plant, rather than graze. This browsing habit gives them the exercise they need, as well as meeting many of their nutritional needs. They will also naturally avoid eating any plant that has come in contact with goat feces or urine, which helps them avoid diseases.

When goats are confined in too small a space, or a pasture without their preferred diversity of food, they will reluctantly graze on grass, and will also eat plants that have come in contact with urine or manure. Lack of space also reduces their ability to exercise and impacts the overall health of the animal. 

Boer Goat Fencing

You will need fencing to both contain your goats, and, depending on your environment, exclude potential predators.

Boer Goats Explained

While Boer goats aren’t known for being high jumpers among goats, they will both jump and stand on their hind feet to reach the top of a fence. Kids will both climb and jump, and goats of all species will chew on fences and fencing.

This habit of standing on, chewing on, and rubbing on fencing is exacerbated if your goats are confined in pens, rather than let to pasture. Either way, your fence design and materials are extremely important.

Height

A fence for Boer goats can be as low as 4 feet high, but you may need a higher fence if you have other, higher-jumping species or crossbreeds.

Boer Goat Social Needs

The fence should be made of woven wire, not welded. Woven wire is durable enough to withstand rubbing, chewing, and pawing. Horizontal strands of barbed wire will not contain goats and may injure them.

Openings

Your fencing should have 2×4 inch openings, and not larger. Boer goats will stick their heads through larger fence openings, and then their horns will catch and they will be stuck with their heads in the fence. Even if you remove their horns, smaller fence openings are better.

Fence Posts

Posts should be 8 feet apart, at most, and corner posts should be cemented in order to withstand standing and rubbing.

Electrified Fences

Many goat owners add electric wiring to their goat fences. A strand at shoulder height (24-30 inches off the ground) prevents leaning and rubbing, and another at the top prevents standing on the fence.

Boer Goat Housing Needs

Boer goats need a sheltered space to escape the wind and wet. If you plan to keep them indoors for extended periods of time, for weeks during a cold winter, for example, they need at least 20 sq. foot/animal of space.

If your Boer goats will spend most of their time in pasture, and only come inside at night, then their space needs are reduced to about 10-12 sq. foot/animal.

Be mindful of a few factors:

  • If you use a small enclosure or shed for the goats to house in at night, remember that you may need to access this building in order to assist a sick or distressed animal; it should be large enough for you to enter and move around freely
  • Depending on the size of your herd, you will need to build at least one separate pen. You may need to periodically isolate one of your Boer goats due to illness, injury, kidding, or some other factor. Even if they mostly live in pasture, it’s smart to plan for at least one separate goat pen. You will also need to isolate does with their babies and need pens for that purpose
Boer Buck

​Housing Boer Bucks

Boers are the largest and strongest of goat breeds, and during breeding season, a buck can be difficult to contain. A 250-pound Boer buck can easily break a 2×6 piece of lumber, or injure a person, without much effort. Goats will often somehow find a way to breed through shared fences, and Boer does are polyestrous, so they will go into heat simply through exposure to a male. For all these reasons, it is necessary to contain bucks separately, until you want them to breed, but can be a challenge to do so.

To build a buck pen, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Avoid Sharing Fencing

If a willing doe is just on the other side of the fence, the buck will be highly motivated to overcome it. Creating a “buffer zone” of 20 or more feet, with does contained by a fence on their side, discourages bucks from attacking their side of a fence.

​Boer Goat Social Needs

Fence posts should be no more than six feet apart, and it’s best to use pipe instead of wood. Adding strands of electric fencing is strongly recommended.

Remember Space and Social Requirements

If your buck is to be penned for a long time, have two bucks, or add a wether, to keep each other company, and make the enclosure at large enough for two goats. Provide shelter for an isolated buck as you would for the rest of the herd.

Boer Goat Nutrition Needs

Allowing goats to pasture is good for the goats and good for the landscape, and also reduces feed cost. Remember that goats don’t prefer grass, and if they see desirable food outside of their pasture enclosure, they will work harder to overcome your fencing. Do not put their shelter too close to a fence, because they are prone to climbing onto structures and then jumping over a fence.

Goats prefer a wide range of weeds, leaves, and brush on hilly terrain. They also prefer to eat food that is above ground level, and that hasn’t been soiled. This diversity of food sources provides most of their nutritional needs and protects goats from parasites. It’s necessary to supplement feed goats:

  • If your pasture doesn’t have a diversity of nutritious plant species
  • During winter or drought, when plants are scarcer or less nutritious
  • If your goats are kidding or confined
  • If your pasture is too small for your goat herd, and they have eaten most of the plants, or eaten down to ground level.

Pasture is also the preferred food for Boer goats because it reduces the cost of raising meat goats and increases the profitability of goat farming.

Goats Require:

Added Minerals

Depending on the composition of your soil, and diversity of plant species in your pasture, crucial minerals may be lacking. Free-feeding supplemental minerals is usually sufficient, as goats will naturally select the right amounts of minerals for their needs. Mineral supplements are expensive, but goats require only trace amounts of them.

You can typically use the less expensive loose mineral supplements designed for cattle to satisfy the needs of your Boer goats. Do not use mineral supplements designed for sheep, because they lack sufficient copper for the needs of cattle and goats.

Hay

During winter, or in the case of poor-quality pasture, goats will rely on hay as their primary source of nutrition. Goats need good, “horse quality” hay. Legume hays, particularly alfalfa and lespedeza, are higher in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and are preferred by goats.

Goats do not need grain, and it is not a preferred food for them. You can also feed kitchen scraps to goats, which they will enjoy for variety.

How to Feed Boer Goats

It is important that goat food and water be elevated. Goats naturally prefer to eat from the crowns of weeds and shrubs, and food that is kept off the ground is not exposed to contamination by manure.

Feeders should be built and placed in a way that doesn’t allow goats to jump, climb, or stand on the feeders.

Goat feeders should be kept 24 inches off the ground, with a horizontal bar about 14 inches above the ground, for smaller goats to stand their front feet on when reaching for feed. This feeder design is called “flex feeders,” because they force younger goats to flex their hind muscles while eating.

Goats need access to a continual supply of fresh water, particularly in seasons where their forage is low in moisture. The water must be clean, as goats will not drink contaminated water. Each goat requires an average 4-5 liters of water a day, and twice that amount when lactating.

Great Pyrenees dogs

Predator Control

Boer goats are so large that they do not attract as many predators as smaller breeds of goats, but they are a concern nonetheless. Be attentive to the kind of wildlife in your area; coyotes and wolves will attack goats, as will bobcats and mountain lions. Kids are even more vulnerable and are a favorite prey of foxes and eagles.

Ensuring that goats are protected at night, when predators are most active, will help to protect them, as will electric fencing. Many farmers recommend using livestock dogs to add additional protection for goats, particularly in wilder landscapes.

Great Pyrenees dogs are the preferred guardian of goats, having been bred for that purpose for centuries. They are large enough to deter many predators, while also being agile enough to navigate rough terrain. These dogs are naturally nocturnal, when extra protection is required for the safety of your goats.

How to Start a Boer Goat Farm

How to Start a Boer Goat Farm

If you are ready to start a Boer goat farm and raise Boer goats for meat, here are some things to keep in mind.

Your Pasture Conditions

Do you have ample, high-quality pasture? Can you rotate pastures to keep providing good nutrition for your goats?

If not, you will need to spend more money on feed, and Boer goats are a large breed that requires a lot of food. If you plan to feed lot them, you will need to invest more in goat-formulated foods, and they will require more medical care to prevent parasites and illnesses.

Your Housing Conditions

Do you have a shed, barn, or covered enclosure where goats can get out of the rain? Is it on elevated ground, to keep the floor dry?

Can you build or create such a shelter? Can you enclose pens and pasture with goat-proof fencing?

Meat Processing & Marketing

Many facilities that readily process cattle as meat are unable or unwilling to process goats. Research where and how you will sell your goat meat. It may be possible to work directly with a butcher or restaurant in a small-scale operation.

Your method of marketing your meat will determine how large your operation can be, and how much profit you can make. Contact a local extension agent to get their recommendations for meat production and market opportunities.

Research and identify agencies and organizations that may regulate or assist you. Your state Department of Agriculture may have regulations regarding identification, sale, or transport of goats.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

The USDA, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and the American Boer Goat Association will all have relevant information and resources that will help you begin farming Boer goats.

What are your skills? Have you successfully farmed other animals in the past? Are you able to administer injections of medication, assist in difficult births, trim hooves, and other basic animal husbandry skills?

Do you have access to a local veterinarian who has experience with goats, and can identify signs of disease, distress, anemia, or poor nutrition? Is there a local university or college agriculture department where you can expand your knowledge?

Make a Business Plan

Farming Boer goats for profit is a business like any other. You will need a record-keeping system, files, and a business plan.

  • Your business plan needs to include costs for equipment, fuel, and mileage to market, labor, inventory depreciation, loan balances, etc.
  • Your production records need to include animal ID of doe and sire, sex, litter size, and birth weight. Record difficult and breech births as well
  • Your marketing plan should include realistic assessment of your competition, and of your market opportunities. Note that goat meat consumption often peaks around certain seasonal events: Easter, Ramadan, Christmas, and plan to take advantage of increased demands during those times
  • Remember that the unforeseen will inevitably happen, and there will be animal losses, medical expenses, or equipment breakdowns that you hadn’t planned for. Try to anticipate these occurrences and make contingency plans

Here is an excellent resource for making your initial business plan, because it walks you through all the factors you should consider, sets goals, and helps you calculate your initial budget:

To download this Word document, hover your mouse over the black bar, then click the arrow that’s pointing down. You can also print the document straight away by clicking on the little printer icon.

Starting your goat farm should begin with a realistic assessment of your pasture and research into local breeders and the average cost for Boer goats in your area. Determine if you will have a buck of your own, or if there is a good one nearby that you can rent.

Begin by building your fencing and enclosing your pasture with the appropriate fencing for Boer goats. Construct a shelter for the goats to use at night and in bad weather, situated several feet away from the fence, and build or buy a feeder.

It is best to start a meat goat farm with a good-sized herd of yearling does, 10 or more head, and purchase a couple of (certified) pregnant does that are well away from their due date. You will need pens for those does to kid in.

Once you have a good place for your herd to live, you are ready to go look at your first goats and bring them to their new home.

How to Choose Your First Boer Goat

The ideal size for a beginning small Boer goat herd is 25 does and 1 buck (unless you have a friendly neighbor with a good buck). It is best to get goats from a seller or breeder who you know well, so that you can know the history of the animal.

Inspect your goats before you buy them, and, if possible, visit the farm or breeder and verify that they are living in clean and healthy conditions. Beware of breeders who don’t let you see the living conditions of their goats, or only want to show you one or two penned animals and won’t let you see the whole herd.

Look for these visual signs of health and strength:

  • The hair should be smooth and glossy. Rough hair may indicate parasites or poor nutrition
  • Eyes and nose should be clear, with no discharge or mucous
  • Respiration should be clear with no coughing
  • Let the animal walk on its own. Make sure there is no limping, and that movement is free and posture is good. Hooves should not be overgrown
  • The animal should have a good structure, with developed muscles, neither too thin nor too fat

Does

Your new does should be 10-36 months old and try to have a couple experienced kidders in your new herd. Avoid older does that have never kidded, since they may be infertile.

Avoid buying pregnant does within 30 days of their due date, or 30 days after kidding, because she and the kids have lowered immunity during that time and should not be relocated. Ask the following questions, and avoid sellers or breeders who can’t answer them thoroughly:

  • Has she been bred before, and was the breeding easy or difficult?
  • Inquire if she has kidded before, and how many kids she has per birth. Was the birth easy, or was it difficult?
  • Did she display good mothering instincts and bond with her kids?
  • Does she show a willingness to nurse other kids? A doe that will nurse other kids is very desirable, due to the high frequency of multiple births in Boers
  • Did her kids grow well, and what did they weigh at weaning?
  • Did she display good mothering instincts and bond with her kids?
  • If the doe is very young, try to get this same information about her mother instead. If the doe is older, ask these questions about her daughters as well.

Bucks

While the does may be cross-bred when you buy them, the bucks should not be. You risk having the kids take after the non-Boer grandparent and lose desirable characteristics.

Furthermore, the qualities of your buck will influence your entire herd for generations to come and is an important investment in the future of your farm.

Registration

All full-blooded Boer goats are registerable. Even a half-blood Boer is registerable if the sire was a full-blood.

If a breeder can’t or won’t produce registration papers, that is cause for concern. If the buck is too young to be registered, ask for the registration for his parents.

Blood Lines

If you are raising Boers for meat, it may not be worth paying extra for prestigious bloodlines. If you are planning on becoming a breeder, bloodlines are less important.

Characteristics

Again, if your Boer buck will be part of a meat farm, coloring is not too great a concern. He should have a broad chest, long loin, and deep muscle.

Older Buck vs. Younger

An older, proven buck is a great way to ensure return on your investment. You can see some of his kids, review his records, and know what you are getting. Unfortunately, not only are these bucks more difficult to find and buy, but they are expensive, and can be large and intimidating to relocate.

Many people prefer to start with a young buck, who is more manageable, and who can be tamed and trained to live on your farm. However, these bucks are unproven, and registration, pedigree, and health should be carefully checked.

When breeding goats, remember that the doe chooses the number of kids, and the sire determines the gender. Buying proven animals gives you the knowledge and opportunity to shape the future of your herd.

Two Young Goats

Determine Your Breeding Schedule

A planned breeding schedule is important for the health of your farm, and for its profitability. Does will naturally go into heat when exposed to a buck, and fertility naturally increases in early springtime. But your breeding schedule should also be planned for the health of your herd and the capacity of your farm.

Goat meat goes into high demand around certain religious holidays (Easter, Christmas, Ramadan), and planning your breeding schedule to coincide with these demand peaks will increase your profits. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a lavish feast, and it is traditional for every head of household to slaughter a ram, but goats are often substituted for this purpose. Consult religious calendars to anticipate and plan for these demand peaks.

How to Profit from Your Boer Goat Business

How to Profit from Your Boer Goat Business

Goat meat is typically sold in 3 ways.

  • Produced as meat for sale to restaurants, at farmer’s markets, or in specialty markets. If you plan on processing goat meat yourself, you can command a higher price, but there are more costs and labor involved
  • Selling whole carcasses from the farm directly to butchers and meat buyers
  • Selling whole carcasses from the farm directly to butchers and meat buyers

The profit you can realize from a goat meat farm depends to a large degree on your path to market, which you should research during your planning phase.

Goat meat farms are most profitable when located near cities and urban centers, due to the easy access to restaurants and chefs who are interested in goat meat for their menus, and due to the proximity of minority, ethnic, and religious groups that typically eat more goat meat than Europeans.

If your goats are free-range and organic, the meat might be especially appealing to local food co-ops, butcher shops, and health-conscious consumers.

Many goat meat farmers generate demand for their product by taking samples to restaurants, butchers, farmer’s, and organic markets, and explaining the health benefits of goat meat. If you live near a Hispanic or Caribbean community, there will probably already be a demand for goat meat.

Goat meat is prized for many reasons:

  • It is lower in fat than chicken, but higher in protein than beef
  • ​Compared to other red meats, it is lower in calories, total fat, saturated fats, and cholesterol
  • ​It is high in iron, selenium, and potassium
  • ​It contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids

Raising Boer Goats

Boer Goats FAQ

How much do Boer Goats cost?

On average, Boer goats can cost anywhere from $150 – $400.

How big do Boer Goats gets?

Boers are one of the largest goat breeds. The Boer Goat Profits Guide states that Does can weigh up to 230 lbs and bucks can weigh as much as 340 lbs.

How long do Boer goats live?

Boer goats can live for 12 to 20 years if they’re properly taken care of.

What are Boer goats used for?

Boer goats are primarily used for their high-quality meat.

Boer goat maturity age

Puberty for bucks may start as early as 3 months though they are easily bred from the age of 5 to 6 months. Does attain sexual maturity from 5 to 9 months. It is important to note that when breeding a doe before it reaching the required weight and age may dent the doe’s growth and cause reproduction issues. Does can be retired when they reach 10 years.

Boer goat price in the USA

What is the cost of a Boer buck and Boer doe in the USA?

Pure breed Boer goats typically cost between $150 to $400 USD. Prices vary with different breeders. If you want to find a breeder near you, check out our directory of Boer goat breeders.

Boer goat advantages

  • They have fast growth.
  • They have high reproductive rates.
  • They are known for having quality meat.
  • Aside from producing meat, they offer goat skin which is used in the textile industry.
  • They are easier to raise than other meat goat breeds due to their personalities.
  • Does are very fertile and often have twins.
  • They have high carcass value. This makes them more profitable than other meat goat breeds.

Boer goat advantages

  • The cost of feeding these goats: They are a large goat breed and their feeding is high. You will pay more for higher supplemental feeds if you have little pasture.
  • The amount of space needed: With adequate nutrient-dense pasture, you can keep 6 to 8 goats per acre. With poor pastures you can keep 2 to 4 goats per acre. Boer goats need more space than other goat breeds.
  • They incur higher farm operational costs like housing, fence, feeding and vaccination. Breeding these goats using artificial insemination is also expensive.
  • It can be tedious as a full time farmer since your work will be fully committed 24/7 to your herd.
  • Other costs incurred are farm maintenance fees, labor, feed bills and veterinary fees.

Boer goat growth rate

Boer goats are known for their fast growth. Below is a guide on Boer goat’s growth rate until maturity:

  • At birth- an average weight of 3 to 4 kg. Males are heavier than females at birth by 0.5kg
  • At weaning- the average weight of weaning kids is about 20 to 25 kg
  • At 7 months- bucks weigh between 40 and 50 kg while does weigh between 35 to 45 kg
  • At one year old- bucks weigh between 50 and 70 kg while does weigh between 45 to 65 kg
  • Mature adult- bucks weigh between 90 to 130 kg while does weigh between 80 to 100 kg

Boer goats grow at a rate of 200g/day for the first 12 months given good feeding habits.

Boer goat weight chart by age

Body weight in Kg of Boer buck and doe at different ages

What do Boer goats eat?

What Boer goats feed depends on the pasture available. Goats are browsers and with pasture they will get all the nutrient needs they deserve. Boer goats have greater demand for nutrition so you will supplement pasture with quality hay, grain as and when necessary. Provide minerals and clean water. Also gradually introduce grains and pellets to avoid grain poisoning. You may feed 1 to 2 cups of grain per head every day depending on the age or if you have lactating does.

Boer goat breeding age

Bucks are typically active breeders at 5 to 6 months of age. Does can be bred when they have reached a body weight of approximately 40kg and at the age of 6 to 9 months.

Boer goats vs other breeds:

Savanna goats vs Boer goats

Both the Savanna and Boer goats were developed in South Africa. Below we look at the advantage and disadvantages of raising these goat breeds. They are similar goats in terms of productivity and size. What defines these two goats is the coat color. Savanna goats have a white coat while Boer goats have white coats with brown spots across the body.

Advantages

Savanna goat

Boer goat

They produce delicious chevon

They are known for sweet quality meat

They are huge breeds of goat and weigh approximately 250 pounds

They have a higher reproductive rate and weigh approximately 130kg at maturity

They are hardier compared to the Boer

They have a higher growth rate

They require low maintenance and input due to their hardiness.

Have higher carcass value than other meat goat breeds

Disadvantage

Below are some disadvantages

  • These goats are susceptible to parasites and goat diseases. Viral diseases among these goats spread rapidly and may cause even death.
  • These goats require a proper feeding schedule. The feeding schedule comes is important since a well fed goat will reap hundreds of dollars. Inadequate feeds may lead to underweight goats thus lowering your yield.
  • Cost of caring for these goats. Due to their large size, these goats need adequate pasture, feeds and farm inputs among others. They tend to be hard to raise than miniature goat breeds. So you should have saved a lot of money and time if you are to venture into Boer and Savanna goat farming.
  • Risk of being preyed on. Animals such as wild dogs, mountain lions, coyotes etc are some predators that may harm your herd.

Kiko goats vs Boer goats

  • Kiko goats originated from New Zealand. Below are some advantages of Kiko goat.

Advantage

  • They are hardy
  • They have high kidding rates.
  • They are huge and rapidly gain weight
  • They survive in any climatic condition.
  • They are lower priced than the Boer goat.
  • Have greater parasite resistance.

Disadvantage

  • They are susceptible to Pneumonia, so it is advisable to keep them under good shelter.
  • Cost of raising Kiko goats may be expensive due to necessities like shelter, fencing and feeds.
  • They may experience hoof related problems if kept under poor conditions.
  • They are prey so they should be kept away and safe from predators like stray dogs.

Boer goat cross with other breeds

  • Kiko Boer cross – what are the origins and characteristics of this cross breed?The Genemaster is a cross breed of Kiko and Boer goats. Still early in its formation, this breed was developed in New Zealand by Goatex Group LLC.

Characteristics

  • Produce greater heavier weights of top tier meat.
  • They tend to be parasite resistant due to their Kiko lineage.
  • Have rapid growth.
  • They do well in all climates.
  • They are low maintenance goats.  
  • Nubian Boer goat cross– what are the origins and characteristics of this cross breed?Nubian boer is a goat that results from breeding the Nubian dairy goat and the Boer.

Characteristics

  • They have high quality meat
  • They have a high milking ability
  • They can grow to at least 300 pounds.
  • Can be used in production of meat and milk.
  • These goats do well in pastures.  
  • Boer Spanish cross goat– what are the origins and characteristics of this cross breed?This is a goat breed developed by crossing the Spanish and Boer goats. Spanish goats came from Spain while the Boer originated from South Africa.

Characteristics

  • Boer-Spanish goats are heavier than Spanish goats.
  • They are usually horned.
  • They are hardy due to their Spanish lineage.
  • They are low input animals.
  • They are good meat producing goats.
  • They can thrive in different and difficult environments.
  • Toggenburg Boer cross goat– what are the origins and characteristics of this cross breed? The toggenburg goat is a breed that originated in Switzerland.

The Toggenburg-Boer cross posses the following characteristics:

  • They can be used in production of both milk and meat
  • They are friendly and calm animals so it is easy to handle them
  • Kids have better growth rates
  • They are hardy animals
  • They have an average weight of between 60 and 90 kg

Breeding Boer Goats

Boer goat breeding season– Boer goats are polyestrous goats and breed all year round though they don’t breed well in the off-season (April to July). Boer does cycle every 18 to 21 days in favorable environment. In the Southern hemisphere, Boer goats are least sexually active in the months of October to January. In the Northern hemisphere, sexual activities peak in autumn and declines in the spring and summer.

Boer goat breeding chart

 

BRED

BIRTH

MARKET (3 MONTHS OF AGE)

July

December(-3)

March

August

January(-3)

April

September

February(-3)

May

October

March(-1)

June

November

April(-1)

July

December

May(-1)

August

January

June(-1)

September

February

July(0)

October

March

August(-3)

November

April

September(-3)

December

May

October(-3)

January

June

November(-3)

February

To determine the due date of birth, take bred day and subtract the number listed after the month in the middle column from the day she was bred. This will give you the day due in the month listed as birth month. Eg: if she’s bred November 20th, she will be due April 19th.

How many kids do Boer goats have? Boer goats normally have twins. However if the season is favorable, triplets and quads are common. Hand rearing may be necessary if the doe has more than two kids.

Boer goat care – best practices

  • Never feed your goats contaminated food
  • Take good care of your goats for good yields
  • For commercial production, keep the kids, bucks and does separate from each other
  • Take extra care to the breeding bucks, does and the kids
  • Avoid using the same buck for mating with several does the same day
  • Vaccinate your goats timely to keep them from contracting health problems and all types of goat diseases

How to start a Boer goat farm – best practices

  • Selecting the right goats. Healthy and high performing goats and reproducing goats will make your herd grow fast.
  • The herd should have clean shelter that is not wet to keep off disease causing pests. The goats should be kept in a fenced or well structured shelter to keep predators away and protect them from harsh climatic conditions
  • Proper and healthy feeding of your herd and also clean water.
  • A farmer should also ensure providing Boer goats with a balanced diet and salt licks for maximum production.
  • You must control pests and diseases since they can slow production and lower yields.
  • Marketing. You can sell your produce at local markets or slaughter houses. You may also export your produce.

References

Conclusion

Boer goats are a highly desirable breed of goat, both directly for meet, and as a source for cross-breeds that retain the fast-growing, double-muscled characteristics of the Boer, while adding increased milk production from other breeds. 

There is a huge, and growing, demand for goat meat in America, creating many opportunities for farmers to profit from goat farming, which requires less effort and less investment than farming many other kinds of livestock. 

Many existing cattle and sheep farms are adding goats to their herd, finding that they create additional profit opportunities and increase the quality of pasture for their grazing animals, without significantly increasing overhead expenses. 

If you are inspired to start a Boer goat farm and start raising these low-maintenance, profitable animals, congratulations! You are about to embark on a fascinating journey and explore new potential in the evolving journey of American agriculture and American cuisine.

About the author

4 responses to “Raising Boer Goats for Profit: The Ultimate Guide”

  1. Jess Avatar

    Your FYI was soo helpful and interesting. I was also interested in knowing the ease of caste ration at an older age for a buck after they reach. A mature size

  2. Elia Avatar
    Elia

    I have recently developed an interest in commercial farming boar goats. Information was hard to aquire until I read this article. Thank you for the wealth of information.

  3. Benjamin Kalengo Avatar
    Benjamin Kalengo

    I need Boer goat buck for breeding am in zambia

  4. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    it’s very useful. thank you very much for this information.

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