INFORMATION

If you have been looking to get into breeding Boer and meat goats, or if you're an established breeder looking to enhance your knowledge of conformation, we've covered some information regarding Boer and Meat Goats in the following sections.

 

No matter the type and breed of goat you are rearing, Boer and Meat Goats should always have an ideally well-covered and well-muscled frame. Any goat can be used for meat production; however, carcass conformation directly ties into the yield from the carcass. For example, the yield of meat from a dairy billy may be less by percentage than a dedicated meat goat or crossbred; however, as with everything, there are pros and cons to any rearing system. For example, dairy billy kids may be cheaper to purchase than meat goats, which may help offset the reduced value of a dairy goat carcass due to meat yield.

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Even within the same breed, individual bloodlines and animals may have different meat yields and productivity levels. This is where analysis tools such as the Australian Kidplan system for EBV monitoring come into play, allowing breeders to select breeding stock on more than just what they look like, but on assessed data and metrics. Nevertheless, as a breeder, simple monitoring goals can be effective to measure productivity and performance. For example, weighing goats prior to slaughter and comparing this with carcass weights and meat yields can allow breeders to select for bloodlines that give greater returns.

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