The
Boer goat is undoubtedly one of the hardiest small stock
breeds on earth, with a great capacity for adoption. It is
therefore encountered in a great variety of climatic - and
pasture - conditions and is consequently fit for conditions
varying from extensive to intensive. The Boer goat is an
excellent walker, has sturdy legs and moves easily in rugged
mountainous areas and through dense bush.
During drought conditions, the Boer goat probably survives
longer than most other animals without supplementary feeding or
feed.
RESISTANCE TO DISEASES
The Boer goat also has an exceptional ability to
withstand and resist diseases such as blue tongue, prussic acid
poisoning and, to a lesser extent, enterotoxaemia (pulpy
kidney). As far as is known, Boer goats do not contract blue
tongue at all. Their grazing habits also make them less
susceptible to infection caused by internal parasites, since
Boer goats prefer to graze above the ground, if such grazing
is available. Such as bushveld or scrub vegetation.
FERTILITY AND
KIDDING PERCENTAGE
The Boer goat is very fertile
and is not seasonally bound. Furthermore, multiple births are the
rule rather than the exception, with an average kidding percentage
of 180.
These two important economic characteristics have made the Boer goat
very popular for the following reasons:
- Because the Boer goat is not
seasonally bound, the kidding season can be selected to fit in
with the period when food is most plentiful; or, under intensive
conditions, kidding can occur every 7-8 months.
- Its exceptionally high kidding
percentage implies that the Boer goat cannot be surpassed with
regard to the percentage of meat per kilogram per ewe or per
hectare. This factor places the Boer goat very high on the
ranking list with regard to intensive farming.
ABUNDANCE OF MILK
Growth rate is linked to sufficient milk production and good
nurturing instincts in ewes with regard to their young.
An ewe has enough milk to raise two kids rapidly.
LONGEVITY
The Boer goat is able to maintain economic production up to the age
of approximately 10 years. This implies that the percentage of young
replacement ewes which have to be withheld, is very low. |
