Facts & Information about Goats

General Information on Boer Goats:

learned By David Parrott

The Boer Goat was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s for meat production. Their name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning farmer. The Boer Goat was probably bred from the indigenous goats of the Namaqua Bushmen and the Fooku tribes, with some crossing of Indian and European bloodlines. They were selected for meat rather than milk production; due to selective breeding and improvement, the Boer Goat has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer Goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi-deserts. The first full-blood Boers were brought into the United States in 1993. Since that time a tremendous amount of interest in breeding Boer goats has exploded in the United States. The US breeding stock came from herds located in New Zealand and South Africa. They are noted for being docile, fast growing, and having high fertility rates. Does have superior mothering skills as compared to other goats. Mature Boer bucks weigh between 200-350 lb, and mature does between 190-225 lb. The demand for high quality, lean, healthy red meat is the one of the underlining forces behind the development of the American Boer Goat industry. The total meat goat industry value is estimated between 150 million to 400 million dollars annually. With an eager base of consumers, the demand for  for Boer Goat meat continues to grow in the United States each year.

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Hard Lesson to learn (1):
Knowing what goats to show and what goats to let go, but it is important
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Fullblood Does and Bucks
FULLBLOOD BOER GOATS
The foremost level of Boer Goat genetics is the Fullblood classification. Fullblood Boer Goats are required to originate from 100% fullblood parents either imported or American born from imported genetics. Fullbloods have 100% Boer genetics. Fullbloods goats are qualified to perticipate in Sanctioned Show Program and Ennoblement Points System.

Wilde Plum Farm sells FULLBLOOD Boer Goats, the top-of-the-line, and the only way to guarantee the best Boer Goat genetics. We have a herd that is derived from South African and New Zealand Boers.

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Purebred Does and Bucks
American Purebred BOER GOATS
The American Purebred Boer Goat classification encompasses a wide range of percentages for does and bucks. The American Purebred genetics are used in many different applications and environments. Commercial producers use Boer bucks to improve the carcass and growth capacity of their native goat herds. Other producers use the American Purebred to infuse improved traits into their herds.
The American Purebred is grouped into two classifications by percentage of the individual animal. This grouping or classification determines the level, award program and sanctioned show eligibility for the animal. The American purebred group applies to does and bucks under the following:
•     Does between 93.7 percent up to 99.9 percent are eligible for an American Purebred registration.
•     Does from the American Purebred classifications are eligible to produce registered offspring.
    •     Does between 93.7 percent up to 99.9 percent are eligible to show in Fullblood classes under sanctioned show program.
•     Bucks between 96.8 percent up to 99.9 are eligible for American Purebred registration.
•     Bucks from the American Purebred classification are eligible to produce registered offspring.
•     Bucks between 96.8 percent up to 99.9 are eligible to show in Fullblood classes under sanctioned show program.

Wilde Plum Farm sells some PUREBRED Boer Goats, from top-of-the-line, in hope to better Boer Goat genetics. We have a herd that is derived from South African and New Zealand Boers.

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Percentage Does and Bucks
American Percentage CLASSIFICATION
The American Percentage classification encompasses a wide range of percentages for does and bucks. The American Purebred genetics are used in many different applications and environments. Commercial producers use Percentage Boer bucks to improve the carcass and growth capacity of their native goat herds. Other producers use the American Percentage genetics to infuse improved traits into their herds.
The American Percentage Herdbook is group into two classifications by percentage of the individual animal. This grouping or classification determines the level, award program and sanctioned show eligibility for the animal. The percentage group applies to does and bucks under the following:
•     Does between 50 percent up to 93.6 percent are eligible for a percentage registration
•     Does from the percentage classification are eligible to produce registered offspring.
•     Does between 50 percent up to 93.6 percent are eligible to show in percentage classes under sanctioned show program.
•     Bucks between 50 percent up to 96.7 are eligible for a record of pedigree.
•     Bucks between 50 percent up to 96.7 can not produce registered offspring.
•     Bucks between 50 percent up to 96.7 can not show under sanctioned show program.

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Ennoblement
Is implemented a program to recognize the best of the best. Animals which attain registration into the Ennobled Herdbook provide breeders with visual definitions of the Breed Standards. The Ennoblement program is meant to provide a direction and an incentive for the continual improvement and growth of the Boer goat. All Wilde Plum Farm Boer goats have enobled bloodlines and we are thriving to better the breed.

FACTS & Information about Goats

1. Goats were the first animals domesticated by man in 10,000 B.C
2. The phrase Judas goat is a term that has been used to describe
a goat that is trained to herd other animals to slaughter while
its own life is spared.
3. Most goats can be found in Asia and the Mid-East.
4. Goats were the first animals to be used for milk by humans.
5. There are over 210 breeds of goats in the world.
6. There are approximately 450 million goats around the world.
7. Goats were first brought to America by Columbus in 1493.
8. Goats were regularly imported into America in the early 1900’s.
9. The female goat is called a “doe” or “nanny.”
10. The male goat is called a “buck” or “billy.”
11. A castrated male goat is called a “wether.”
12. A baby goat is called a “kid.”
13. The act of giving birth is called “kidding.”
14. The doe can have 1 to 6 kids per litter, however, 4 to 6 kids are rare.
15. Goats do not have teeth in their upper front jaw.
16. Goats have 24 molars and 8 incisors.
17. Both male and female goats can have beards.
18. Normally goats have two teats and cows have four.
19. Goats prefer browse over grass and grass to clover.
20. Goats do not eat tin cans, clothing or garbage, but are selective eaters when
provided with a well-balanced diet.
21. Male goats go through a period called a “rut” when they are ready to mate.
This period coincides with the start of the breeding season.
22. The “rut” is characterized by a decrease in appetite, obsessive
interest in the does, fighting between bucks and most notable is a strong foul-smelly
musky odor.
23. Lactating does that are kept in a pen
with a musky buck may produce milk that
taste “goaty” and can be offensive to humans.
24. Goats can be born with or without horns (polled).
25. Goats and sheep are seasonal breeders.
26. Yearlings does should be bred when they have reached 80 pounds
of body weight or when they have reached 60-75% of the adult
weight for their breed. They must also be in good body condition
and health.
27. Chevon is the French word for goat. These are animals that are
slaughtered near or shortly after weaning.
28. Goats are hollow-horned, bearded, ruminant mammals of the genus
Capra and the species Hircus. They are raised for wool, milk, and
meat in the U.S. Goats are also used to make gelatin, the manure
is used for fertilizer, they are used for research models in
biological studies, they are used to pull carts and for pack animals.
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29. Goats are bovines and are closely related to cows and antelopes.
30. The natural life expectancy for goats is around 8 to 12 years and
in some cases, goats can live over 15 years.
31. Worldwide, more people eat and drink milk from
goats than any other animal.
32. The age of puberty for female goats is between 7-10 months and
4-8 months in male goats.
33. The breeding age for male goats is between 8-10 months
34. A mature, healthy male buck can breed 20 to 40 does.
35. The length of gestation (pregnancy) in does is between 146 to 155
days.
36. The traditional breeding season for goats in the U.S. is between
late August and the early part of January, however some goats
can breed out-of-season.
37. Goats do no like to get wet and prefer to seek shelter when it is
raining.
38. Goats are more susceptible to parasites and other infectious diseases
when they are mismanaged.
39. Cabrito is the Spanish word for little goat (slaughtered one week
or shortly after birth).
40. Goats deposits less fat externally and more fat internally (around
the organs) compared to sheep and cattle.
41. Estrus (heat) is the period in which does are receptive to mating.
42. The estrous cycle is between 18-22 days in does.
43. The duration of estrus is 12-36 hours.
44. Signs, of heat include tail wagging, mucous discharge, swollen
vulva, bleating, mounting or being mounted by other goats etc.
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45. The normal body temperature for goats is between 101.7 to 104.5
degrees.
46. The heart rate of goats is between 70 to 135 beats per minute.
47. The normal respiration rate for goats is 12 to 15 breaths per
minute.
48. Goats are quite agile creatures and in some cases they can jump
over 5 feet.
49. Goats have a four chamber stomach that contains fermenting
bacteria and protozoan that aid in breaking down their food.
50. Most medications that are currently used on goats were developed
for use in other livestock species (i.e., cattle and swine).

STRUCTURE of the modern Goat

Picture found on the internet not sure where:

How to tell age of a goat by their teeth

WILDE PLUM FARM of Georgia

with Prancin' Miniature Ponies, Springin' English Springer Spaniels, Goofy Goats, and Crazy Chickens