What to look for in a boer goat!

by Anita Messer

So you want to purchase a Boer goat.  What do I look for?  Where do I look?  What makes a good doe or buck?  There are many aspects to think about when wanting to purchase a Boer doe or buck.  I will discuss a few of those aspects and try to answer some of those questions.

The first thing to think about when going on your buying search is where should I go to purchase my goats?   Ask around to people you know who have goats.  Ask them who is a reputable breeder.  Ask them who is good, honest and fair to do business with.  Once you get a good answer, call that farm and see if you can visit.  When you get to the farm, note the atmosphere of the farm.  Note the conditions in which the goats live.  Note the health of all the animals.  This lets you know how well or poor the animals are taken care of.  You can expect to some degree that there will be a few animals under the weather, but the majority should be thriving.  This is a very important aspect when thinking about an animal to purchase.  You certainly do not want to bring home any goats that are sick or carrying a disease. Some diseases are very long lasting and not worth the trip to your farm at any price. A one-time higher price for a good healthy goat is well worth more than a life-long vet bill. 

Next, check out the animal according to ABGA standards; teat structure, no folded ears, no blue eyes, check the bite of the animal, ect.  A list of these standards can be found on the ABGA website. Watch the animal walk making sure it is sound.  If it is an older doe or buck, ask to see any of it's offspring.  This can tell you what that animal is capable of producing.  Some goats may not have a very pleasing phenotype but can pass on great genetics. Please keep in mind that does should look like does and bucks should look like bucks. That is the way they are designed by God for the best animal reproduction. Feminine does make great mothers.  Masculine bucks produce feminine does. You should be able to go out in the pasture and pick the buck out very easily. 

Boer goats should have a nicely curved Roman nose. The curve of the nose should start all the way from the tip of the nose to a beautifully rounded horn set. Next look at the feet and legs. The animal should have stong pasterns and straight legs.  The animal should have a fairly straight strong top line.  They should have plenty of muscling over the top and the hind quarter.  If you are looking for a doe make sure she is feminine.  This does not mean that she looks frail.  She should still have the muscling and nice big boned.  Look at the head; it should tell you if you are looking at a doe or buck.  Looking for a buck?  He should look the biggest headed and masculine throughout. 

Trying to put all this together should help you in your selection process.  We hope you find the Boer goat that you are seeking. 

Phillip and Anita Messer

www.redgateboergoats.com

  We have personally done business with Phillip and Anita Messer.  We found them both great people and very helpful.  They have a great selection of goats both percentage and fullbloods and I can safely say that any goat purchased from them will bring a very solid base from which to build your herd to the next level!