Goats

Dairy and Boer Goats

Goats are one of the oldest of domesticated animals, for thousands of years goats have been used for their milk, meat, hair, and skins, and of recent times, have gained popularity as pets.

Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, breeding males as bucks or billies; their offspring are kids. Non-breeding males are wethers.

Judging

The judging of goats consists of a process where each goat is assessed by the judge against the standard for its breed. This includes assessing it for its breed characteristics, its strengths and faults. Each goat is also assessed by the judge for its growth, size and weight for age. In the case of the milk producing dairy does, they are also assessed for the volume of milk they produce and the shape and attachment of their udder.

2012 Schedule and entry information: 2012 Boer Goat Schedule 2012 Dairy Goats Schedule

The Dairy Goats

2008 Champion Doe

There are 6 breeds of dairy goats in Australia, the Saanen, Toggenburg, British Alpine, Anglo Nubian, the Australian Melaan and the Australian Brown. Dairy goats produce an average is 4 to 5 litres of milk per day, with some does producing as much as 8 to 10 litres per day.

The dairy goats are judged in their age groups, that is milkers over 2 years of age, goatlings which are 12 months and under 2 years and not kidded, and the kid classes which are under 12 months. This is done in each individual breed group first.

The winners of each breed in each age group then compete for Senior Champion Doe, Junior Champion Doe and Champion Doe Kid. Then from these three age champions, the judge chooses the Supreme Champion of the Show. A much sought after prize.

Only does (females) are shown at Newcastle Show as it is the start of the breeding season and the bucks (males) are left at home.

All the goats shown at the show are registered pedigree stud animals. We expect approximately 8 exhibitors and around 80 dairy goats at this year’s Show.

The History of Boer Goats

2008 Boer Champions

Boer means farm in Dutch.

Boer goats come to us from South Africa. The earliest recorded goats in Africa were brought to western Uganda by the Black Nations as early as AD 1200. Boer goats were developed in Southern Africa by breeding these ‘indigenous’ stock to European imports. The point, of course, was to have a hardy, very adaptable, meat animal that could survive the varied conditions of the African landscape while still maintaining a high birth rate, high survival rate, and a marketable meat carcass. Researchers have had little luck pinning down an exact line of decent for the modern Boer goat. Early breeders include such varied and inexact groups as the "Southern Bantu" people, the Namaqua Hottentots, the Indians (from India) and Europeans. (Gail Bowman).

Boer goats were first imported into Australia in 1988.

For further information on the Boer Goat, please go to http://www.boergoatshome.com/history.php