Goldilocks Approach to Selecting Good Characteristics of the Ideal Boer Goat

Recently, the "Goat Rancher" magazine had an article about how much the Boer goat look had changed since they first came to the US. The article noted how quickly breeders can change the characteristics in just a few short years if their mind is set on making the change. However, the writer also made the comment that there are two completely different group of breeders with entirely different objectives as to what changes are really needed. One group is the Show Breeders and the other group is the Commercial Breeders. Many people would think that both groups would want the same thing but they would be very wrong. One smart, experienced breeder wrote that Show breeders will take any good characteristic and take it to extremes to where it is no longer a value but a negative to the breed. We believe that has been done with creating extremely wide and long animals. We have no problem with breeders developing their animals to look any way they want to but we have concerns about the potential problems with having an animal too wide and too long. Therefore we focus on following the Goldilocks rule of Not too Narrow ;Not too Wide; Not too Short; Not too Long But Just Right

Breeders of Bulldogs have proven that they can breed dogs that are extremely wide. The question we ask is WHY? If you ever watch a bulldog walking, it is extremely awkward looking and seems to add no useful value other than that is the way they want the animal to look. When you see a very wide Boer goat walking it is just as awkward looking and we see very little value in it plus it has a potential harmful affect. The same is true with an animal that is too long. The combination of too wide and too long can create a very weak back and shoulders in our opinion. For the last two years, we have gone to production sales where Boer goats that are winning in the ring are offered in the sale. We have been amazed at how many animals we now see with loose shoulders from being so wide and swayed backs from being so long. Several years ago, they would have been removed from the ring but now they are winning. A strong back and shoulders are very important in the breeding and carrying kids during pregnancy. The more problems in the shoulder and back area, the sooner the animal will break down and no longer be productive. Last week, we watched a major production sale. The breeders are well known across the industry and there are very few breeders that don't have some of the bloodlines, from these breeders, in their animals. They advertised for months about the genetics that would be in their sale. We watched for about a third of the sale before we said we did not want to see any more. Their animals use to get premium prices just because of the breeders name and the winning records of their animals. Below, are some pictures of the animals that came through the sale that we would not even consider bringing home if they were free. (click pictures to enlarge)

Our highest focus with our breeding program is for "high resistance to worms". However, we have a strong requirement for strong, straight backs and tight, muscled shoulders. We want to see our animals in motion and see little shoulder movement that is well muscled over and a straight, strong back. Below are some pictures taken of a few of our animals while they are in motion. I think you will see the smoothness AND DEPTH of the body and the extremely straight top line (STRONG BACK, STRONG BACK, STRONG BACK). Remember, a key focus on good breeding is a balanced body. If a body is balanced, no one feature will jump out yelling "look how wide or long that animal is". If one specific feature jumps out at you, it is likely not balanced and there are weaknesses in the other features.

Choctaw Chick		Shady Lady

Providence		True Heart
We believe that some show animals have become too wide and too long. We are seeing signs of more and more loose shoulders and swayed backs that are now being accepted in the show ring that several years ago would have disqualified them. However, if that is what those breeders and judges want an animal to look like, more power to them. We will continue to follow Goldilocks strategy of Not too Narrow, Not too Wide, Not too Short, Not too Long. But just right so not to weaken the rest of the features. We will worry about improving hardiness rather than a specific look.