The Boer goat is a meat goat breed developed in South Africa in the early 20th century. The breed is the most widely raised meat goat in the world, known for its rapid weight gain, high fertility, and superior carcass quality. Boer goats are the standard against which other meat goat breeds are measured.
The Boer goat was developed in South Africa by indigenous farmers and later refined by European settlers. The breed's name is derived from the Dutch word "boer," meaning "farmer." The breed was first exported to other countries in the 1980s and was imported to the United States in 1993. The American Boer Goat Association was founded in 1993.
Boer goats are large, muscular animals with does weighing 60 to 80 kilograms and bucks weighing 100 to 130 kilograms. The standard color is a white body with a red head and neck, though other color patterns exist. They have a long, broad body with heavy muscling in the loin and hindquarters. Boer goats are known for their rapid growth rate, good feed conversion, and high fertility. They are adaptable to various climates.
Meat production is the primary purpose of Boer goats. Their rapid growth and superior carcass quality make them ideal for commercial and homestead meat production. Boer goats are commonly used in crossbreeding programs to improve meat characteristics in other breeds.