Produce greater heavier weights of top tier meat. Yes, cows are female. This is because the bucks records will show if he is a good breeder, the quality of his offspring, and his kids size. Bucks will do whatever it takes to cover does over shared fences. Goat Breeding Age: What's the Best Age? - Boer Goat Profits Guide They are larger than other goats, and therefore require larger living space per animal than other goats. For this reason, the design and materials used are very important. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Adding strands of electric fencing is strongly recommended. It may be possible to work directly with a butcher or restaurant in a small-scale operation. Given the weight and sheer determination of a Boer goat buck, they will break through wood and wire without much effort at all. Raising Boer goats for show requires a good understanding of the breeding process. (A very South African lifestyle. Boer does can be bred at 6 months. Produced as meat for sale to restaurants, at farmers markets, or in specialty markets. But due to their larger size, sometimes they avoid them to keep as pets. Grains are the quickest, easiest way to fatten up a goat because of the high carbohydrate content, but according to goat expert Susan Schoenian, your goat should receive no more than 1 1/2 pounds of grain per day. Logically speaking, the more kids birthed by a doe, the greater profit margins for the breeder. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I would take into account how she was fed and conformation. But they can also be completely white or brown in color. Is there a local university or college agriculture department where you can expand your knowledge? Location. The coat is white with brown heads; the ears are medium in size and match the head color, giving them perfect conformation. 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. Buying proven animals gives you the knowledge and opportunity to shape the future of your herd. Are Boer Goats Seasonal Breeders? 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. You can add weight to a goat but you can't change their structure, that's what I think is important. Because they are polyestrous, they do not wait until a specific time of year to start breeding. Talk to your neighbors and your vet before committing to a purchase to make sure the seller is someone known and recommended by people you trust. Boer kids will inherit the growth rate of the sire, making fast-growing Boer bucks far more valuable than average- or slow-growing ones. The best feed for Boer goats is high-quality pasture. They were developed in South Africa in the early 1900s. White Male African Boer Goats, 6 Month, 30 30,000/Piece. Do you have a good local vet who can advise you on all issues relating to your Boer goats? BREDBIRTHMARKET (3 MONTHS OF AGE)JulyDecember(-3)MarchAugustJanuary(-3)AprilSeptemberFebruary(-3)MayOctoberMarch(-1)JuneNovemberApril(-1)JulyDecemberMay(-1)AugustJanuaryJune(-1)SeptemberFebruaryJuly(0)OctoberMarchAugust(-3)NovemberAprilSeptember(-3)DecemberMayOctober(-3)JanuaryJuneNovember(-3)February. Goats love to stick their heads through the openings in fences. Does can be bred when they have reached a body weight of approximately 40kg and at the age of 6 to 9 months. They typically do unless they are triplets or bottle babies. I need Boer goat buck for breeding am in zambia. The meat from each animal was trimmed to remove . They will also need regular dipping to prevent tick bite fever which can be fatal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Homesteading Hippy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. It is better to either house multiple bucks together (not too many, you dont want to set the scene for a riot) or house your buck with cattle, pigs, or even chickens. A mature buck can weigh 200 to 340 pounds. Maximizing rate of gain for meat goats - Wisconsin Farmer Boer Kids Weaning Weight ?? | BackYardHerds - Goats, Horses, Sheep They do love scraps from your kitchen. Height and Weight. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You also need Boer goats to put a few extra dollars in the bank every month. . How much should a 7 month old meat goat weigh. They have large bodies, with more muscle on their bones than other goats; they have ahigh growth rate; they are also highly fertile and easy tobreedwith. Weights of 4 month old kids | The Goat Spot Forum So yes, he grew an average of .58 lb a day. But these goats are, Read More Irish Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Breed InformationContinue, Your email address will not be published. | About Us | Affiliate Disclosure | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us, Pygmy Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Breed Information, Can Cows Eat Black Walnuts? The kids are at risk of being carried off by foxes and even eagles. This will give you the day due in the month listed as birth month. Again, if your Boer buck will be part of a meat farm, coloring is not too great a concern. Boer Goat : Origin, Characteristics, Weight, Price and Uses Boer does reach sexual maturity at about 5 months of age. Depending on the composition of your soil, and diversity of plant species in your pasture, crucial minerals may be lacking. Its necessary to supplement feed goats: 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. Boer | Animal Genetics Training Resources You will need fencing to both contain your goats, and, depending on your environment, exclude potential predators. Can you enclose pens and pasture with goat-proof fencing? What Boer goats feed depends on the pasture available. Can sheep eat dog food?, Read More Can Sheep Eat Dog Food? They will also naturally avoid eating any plant that has come in contact with goat feces or urine, which helps them avoid diseases. Goat meatis the most rapidly growing meat industry in the USA. Depending on the size of the goat, whether the doe has bred successfully, whether the buck has proven to breed large healthy kids, the age of the goat, and its overall health, Boer goats sell for $150 to $500 each. So, if youre thinking about raising Boer goats on your property, make sure youve got the space for it, because theyre going to need a lot of it! 133. In fact, since 2014, the price of goat meat has tripled! They traditionally have a white body with a reddish brown, convex-shaped head, and pendulous ears. Rams are normally weaned at 12 to 15 weeks, and female kids are weaned at 15 to 18 weeks. Boer goats are often slaughtered at 3 to 5 months old, at this age they will weigh 25 to 50 pounds. They grow so fast that they are incredibly profitable for a farm. Razor or barbed wire will not keep your goats penned. Because of their energetic, curious natures, Boer goats forage rather than graze. If you want to know about it, you can read down below. I don't know the average weight of a 2 month old boer buck! Goat Owner provides access to the content on the website for informational and entertainment purposes only. I love Africa. However, there are some bucks that are ready to mate at 3 months of age. O. All full-blooded Boer goats are registerable. I noticed that you live, or did live, in Mpumalanga. READ ABOUT BEETAL GOAT Origins and characteristics of Boer goat The fact that Boer goats are hardy and can be homegrown in the USA is making the meat popular amongst people who prefer to support local businesses rather than purchase expensive imported meat. Your fence posts can be no further than 8 feet apart. Great Pyrenees dogs are the preferred guardian of goats, having been bred for that purpose for centuries. The word boer is an Afrikaans word taken from the first Dutch settlers to land in the Cape. You can also feed kitchen scraps to goats, which they will enjoy for variety. Make sure the opening between fences is no larger than 2 x 4 inches. On your homestead, you will probably want to start small. 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. Kiko Goat Info, Size, Uses, Babies, Pictures This might seem like quite a large range, but its actually much smaller than the range for Boer bucks. Do not put their shelter too close to a fence, because they are prone to climbing onto structures and then jumping over a fence. The biggest issue with raising Boer goats is their size. Their usual diet is hays, plants, grains, weeds and grasses. Education - Sheep & Goat Marketing Directory Boer goats are mainly used for meat production. Feeders should be built and placed in a way that doesnt allow goats to jump, climb, or stand on the feeders. . They are quite picky about the hygiene of their food. I do not recommend this. You need 2 (of course), 1 male and 1 female. And consider using pipe rather than wood as the goats will eat the wood. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Your email address will not be published. many of htem are 45 to 55 lbs by that time. In some ways, terrain has been a factor in how these goats have evolved and differentiated themselves. (Helpful Human Answer! 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. Horizontal strands of barbed wire will not contain goats and may injure them. Fence posts should be no more than six feet apart, and its best to use pipe instead of wood. On a practical level, this may not always be an option. Because the meat can be sold directly to consumers, a large portion of the expense, that would have gone into the abattoirs pocket, stays in the farmers pocket as he can sell directly to consumers. Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Goats. Buying an older buck is significantly more expensive than buying a young buck. Savanna Boer goat cross or mixes are way cheaper since you can buy them at about half the cost of purebred Savannas. Reply. Di-Anne Devenish Seebregts was raised in an environment where daily life consisted of hiking, environmental conservation, growing fruit and vegetables, and raising poultry for meat and eggs. The Boer Goat Profits Guide states that Does can weigh up to 230 lbs and bucks can weigh as much as 340 lbs. Does she show a willingness to nurse other kids? How Big Do Boer Goats Get? (Find Out!) - Goat Owner Theyre larger than any other domestic breed and can grow to be as large as 340 pounds. Last updated: Jan 25 2023 The Boer goat is a South African goat that got its start in the early 1900s. If you are ready to start a Boer goat farm and raise Boer goats for meat, here are some things to keep in mind. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When theyve reached full maturity, a Boer doe will usually weigh on average somewhere between 190-230 pounds. A mature doe can weigh 190 to 230 pounds. You are about to embark on a fascinating journey and explore new potential in the evolving journey of American agriculture and American cuisine. That means handling stress, getting good women's health care, and nurturing yourself. 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). They just need some activity and chatter around them to keep them calm. Does attain sexual maturity from 5 to 9 months. In addition to the leaves and bushes they like to munch on, their diet consists of: This forces them to use their hind muscles by making them stand on their hind legs to reach the food. She might be a percentage boer that they just didn't feed right for showing and didn't make weight. Both breeds are the result of crossbreeding. In winter and, before, during, and after kidding, your goats should be given horse-quality hay. Boer goat meat is good. Does will naturally go into heat when exposed to a buck, and fertility naturally increases in early springtime. Very respectable! The goat meat demand is huge! I prefer to give a break between kidding. A fast-growing buck will be a good investment for your homestead. You will need to supplement their feed if there are insufficient nutritious plants, during extreme drought, or if your herd has grown too big for their pasture and the land has become overgrazed. Good pasture keeps goats healthier, and kids will grow faster. This means that, unlike other goat species, Boer goats can breed all year round. Even a half-blood Boer is registerable if the sire was a full-blood. Boer goats are highly resistant to disease and bucks tend to live 8 to 12 years. This can happen any time of the year from January to February, July to August, and/or August to October. Raising Kiko Goats: Ultimate Guide for Beginners - Boer Goat Profits Guide Will you go to auctions or sell directly to restaurants? If you care for your goats properly, they can live for 12 to 20 years. For this reason, your corner posts should be cemented in. 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. This guide provides key facts and practical tips on women's health. Pure breed Boer goats typicallycostbetween $150 to $400 USD. A common age for breeding is between 10 and 12 months. She combined her passion for the writing word with her love of the pride that comes with not relying on others. Hello I am thinking on getting into boer goats for meat to sell. However, these bucks are unproven, and registration, pedigree, and health should be carefully checked. Is she a good milk producer? Boer Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Breed Information This just gives the animal a bit more time to grow and develop, upping the odds of a healthy pregnancy and kids. In Muslim communities, there are religious ceremonies that call for the slaughter of goats which are then consumed. Because of the hard conditions they were bred for, they are very adaptable to any environment. Home. Just do not be surprised if you come home to a goat sleeping on the back of a cow, horse, or structure. In the early 1900s in South Africa, Dutch farmers that were living there crossbreed indigenous goats of South Africa to the goats that can be found in Europe and India. Free-feeding supplemental minerals is usually sufficient, as goats will naturally select the right amounts of minerals for their needs. Copyright 2022 TheHomesteadingHippy.com. The average weight of Boer goats at six months of age ranges from 45 to 80 pounds (20 to 36 kilograms), depending on various factors such as genetics, nutrition, and overall health. The other point to note about Boer goats is that the bucks grow much, much faster than the does. They really are the sweetest and funniest animals to own. They are used to rid pesky invaders like weeds and blackberries from pastures. White African Boer Goat In Nagpur, . And does between 190-230 lbs. What condition are your pastures in? All Rights Reserved. If a willing doe is just on the other side of the fence, the buck will be highly motivated to overcome it. They tend to be parasite resistant due to their Kiko lineage. 2. Do you have a shed, barn, or covered enclosure where goats can get out of the rain? In fact, goats move in faster than the boys on the Bachelorette. You can see some of his kids, review his records, and know what you are getting. While Boer goats arent known for being high jumpers among goats, they will both jump and stand on their hind feet to reach the top of a fence. In fact, they are usually used for goat shows. 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. ), How Big Do Cocker Spaniels Get? Remember that goats dont prefer grass, and if they see desirable food outside of their pasture enclosure, they will work harder to overcome your fencing. The kids will inherit the bucks growth rate. In a word: delicious! Their meat is usually tasty and tastes like sweeter than beef or pork. Balancing feed quality to maximize weight gain is vital to amplify your nutrition investment and bring home more profit. Risk of being preyed on. Evaluation of growth and efficiency-related traits - ScienceDirect.com Boer goats have the tendency to gain weight at about the same rate as sires, so a buck from a proven fast-growing bloodline can be sold at a high price, since its offspring is also expected to be fast growers. For Boer goats, your fences should be 4 feet or higher, especially if you are housing other species together with your Boer goats. They should also get in plenty of legume hay like alfalfa and lespedeza as these are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Electric fences will also help provide a layer of protection for your goats. Boer goats will usually live for about 8-12 years, and usually reach full adulthood at somewhere from 2-3 years old. Leftover vegetable peels, carrots, potatoes, and any fruit or vegetables that are beyond fresh enough for you to eat will brighten up your goats day! Birth weights for kids can range from about 4 to 8 lbs. The problem is, putting their heads through the fence is easy enough, taking their heads out with their big horns is a whole other issue. 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. Begin by building your fencing and enclosing your pasture with the appropriate fencing for Boer goats. Puberty for bucks may start as early as 3 months though they are easily bred from the age of 5 to 6 months. Even a mature buck will generally not weigh much more than 175 pounds, compared with the ceiling of the Boer weight sitting at around 340 pounds. Boer goats were developed to live on land too difficult for humans to clear, and, like most goats, they forage instead of grazing. 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. A farmer should also ensure providing Boer goats with a balanced diet and salt licks for maximum production. Breeding with fast-growing bucks can be more lucrative than breeding with whatever buck you have. Boer goats are very low-maintenance animals that can survive in very extreme situations. Boer goats can live for 12 to 20 years if theyre properly taken care of. These goats require a proper feeding schedule. Through the years of crossbreeding them, they developed a good quality meat goat breed, which they called Boer goat. If you have only one goat, keep them with other animals to meet their social needs. On average, Boer goats can cost anywhere from $150 $400. For adoetobreed, all she needs is exposure to abuck. Be attentive to the kind of wildlife in your area; coyotes and wolves will attack goats, as will bobcats and mountain lions. Ask the following questions, and avoid sellers or breeders who cant answer them thoroughly: While the does may be cross-bred when you buy them, the bucks should not be. Get his health assessed before you commit to the purchase. AdvantagesSavanna goatBoer goatThey produce delicious chevonThey are known for sweet quality meatThey are huge breeds of goat and weigh approximately 250 poundsThey have a higher reproductive rate and weigh approximately 130kg at maturityThey are hardier compared to the BoerThey have a higher growth rateThey require low maintenance and input due to their hardiness.Have higher carcass value than other meat goat breeds, They are huge breeds of goat and weigh approximately 250 pounds, They have a higher reproductive rate and weigh approximately 130kg at maturity. Avoid older does that have never kidded, since they may be infertile. Even though they can show signs of heat at six months of age, the normal Boer goat doe breeding age is 10-12 months of age. Their usual diet is hays, plants, grains, weeds and grasses. If they can smell a doe that is in heat, good luck! . Unproven bucks (the youngsters) can be a roll of the dice. Chefs and butchers will pay premium money for free-range goats. Boer goat cross weight at 2 months old - YouTube Goat Owner is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Can be used in production of meat and milk. Their horns are straight and medium in size and curve to the back. They dont produce a large amount of milk. They labor in the sun, taking great pride in their land, and in true keeping with the spirit of the Boer goat, when they have fun, they really can cause mischief and mayhem. We all know that Boer goats are good for meat production. Concentrate goat feed chart. Because there are no religious restrictions on goat meat, it is very popular in the Muslim community.