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SA Breed Standards - 1994
NOTE: THE SA BREED STANDARDS ARE UNDER REVIEW AND WILL BE CHANGED SOON (IT IS REPORTED THAT THE NEW SA STANDARDS WILL MORE CLOSELY MATCH THE ABGA STANDARDS)
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ABGA Breed Standards - 2001
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ABGA Breed Standards - 2003
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EXPLANATIONS & DEFINITIONS:
FLOCK GOAT: A flock goat is a Boer goat which does not
comply with the stud standards, but has no cull faults.
EXPLANATION OF BREED STANDARDS: In applying
standards, there are many aspects which cannot be fully
defined. In such cases the inspector or judge must use his
discretion. In spite of the breed standards being clear and to
the point, it is never the less necessary to supply additional
information in respect of certain descriptions. The major part of
the body of the goat must be white to make it conspicuous and
to facilitate the rounding up of goats in dense terrain. A
pigmented skin on the hairless parts, e.g. under the tail, round
the eyelids and mouth etc., is absolutely essential, because it
offers resistance to sunburn which may result in cancer. A
pigmented skin is also more resitant to skin disease. A loose,
supple skin is essential for adaptability to climatic conditions.
In South Africa, which is a warm and sunny country, an animal
with a loose skin and short hair is better adapted. In addition, a
skin of this kind provides additional resistance to external
parasites.
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND TYPE: In appearance it is a
goat with a fine head, round horns bent backwards, a loose,
supple and pleated skin (especially in rams) with different body
parts well fleshed and in perfect balance. The ewe must be
feminine, wedging slightly to the front, which is a sign of
fertility. The ram, never the less, appears heavier in the head,
neck and forequarters. The upgraded boer goat is an animal
with symmetry, with a strong, vigorous appearance and enough
quality. In the ewe there is strong emphasis on femininity; in
the ram one of masculinity.
FERTILITY:
a.Shows: An ewe must have lambed at 6 tooth age
already or must visibly be with young or she will be
culled.
b.Auctions: 6 tooth and older ewes must visibly be with
young or be certified in writing as pregnant by a
veterinary surgeon or the ewe will be culled.
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OVERVIEW: In describing those traits that constitute
"standards" for the Improved Boer Goat, we are leaning
heavily on the standards which have evolved during the
development of this breed over the past 70 years in
South Africa. The standards that they have developed
have the explicit objectives of improving the breed for
economic production.
The South African Boer Goat is recognized breed in its
country of origin, and many experts throughout the world
consider this to be the premier goat meat producing
breed. Three selection criteria have contributed to this
recognition:
1.Large form size
2.High carcass yield grades
3.Uniform visual appearance
Visual uniformity exists not only in the color patterns that
the animal carry, but also in the uniform stature and yield
grades. The lack of one or more of these traits in other
breeds that have been used for meat production has held
back the development of the meat goat industry in the
US and abroad.
The South African Boer Goat was developed by natural
selection practices of the breeders in Africa, under the
often stressful conditions of the African environment.
These breeders demanded that only the best,
commercially viable animals be recognized as superior.
On July 4, 1959, the South African Boer Goat Breeders
Association was formed. One of the first undertakings
was to establish breed standards that have been
introduces and assisted in improving the Breed.
Information available from the South African Boer Goat
Association indicated that five types of Boer goats are
recognized in South Africa. These include:
1.THE ORDINARY BOER GOAT - which is an animal
with good meat conformation, having short hair and a
variety of color patterns, including brindle, gray, dark
brown and white. Occasionally animals have brown
heads and necks.
2.LONG HAIR BOER - heavy coat, matures later and
said to have coarse meat. Long hair reduces value of
skins, making this type undesirable.
3.THE POLLED BOER GOAT - is naturally hornless,
with conformation that is usually less than desirable.
4.THE INDIGENOUS BOER GOAT - which has long
legs, a variable and poor conformation and a variety of
color patterns. This line has not been highly selected or
managed.
5.THE IMPROVED BOER GOAT - This type has
been the primary line which breeders have been selected
for. The specific desired traits which have been stressed,
and form the basis of the breed standards include: good
conformation, rapid growth rates, high fertility and
fecundity, color and type uniformity, and hardiness and
adaptability to varied environmental conditions.
The improved Boer Goat is the only line or type which
the South African Boer Goat Association will register as
a breeding quality animal. The South African Boer Goat
Association does not maintain or use pedigrees to
register goats. Trained inspectors assess animals by
viewing them personally, crediting all characteristics to
the whole.
The ABGA provides the following standards as a guide
to owners and breeders of Improved Boer Goats in the
US. These standards describe what an Improved Boer
Goat should be, citing the most desirable traits as making
up the ideal individual. When evaluating an animals value
and desirability, the best balance of all the standards
should be sought after. In summary, the animal who
possessed the greatest conformity to the breed standards
when viewed as a complete package, is the best
representative of the Boer breed as it was developed to
be.
The ABGA registry has been developed to document
and maintain bloodlines through pedigree only. Owners
and/or breeders should use the standards to evaluate
animals when establishing desirability and value. Only
animals who meet or exceed these standards will be
eligible to advance to performance evaluations and
ultimately attain recognition in the Ennobled book
certified by the ABGA beginning September 1, 1994
(criteria for performance evaluation is being developed).
IMPROVED BOER GOAT STANDARDS
Overall Quality, Size, Appearance and Type.
The overall objective is for a goat to have suitable size
with maximum meat yields, good structural conformation
which meets environmental and production requirements,
high adaptability to environmental conditions and
production requirements, high adaptability to
environmental conditions and high fertility.
Ideally, this is an animal with short glossy hair with fine
luster. The major portion of the body should be white
with dark coloration around the head and pigmented skin
in hairless areas around the head and under the tail to
reduce sunburn, cancers, and skin diseases. A loose,
supple skin helps the animal adapt to wide climatic
conditions, and possibly provides resistance to external
parasites.
In general appearance, a Boer goat has a dark head and
horns which curve backwards. Animals should be strong,
vigorous, and symmetrical, with well balanced muscling.
Bucks should be masculine and well proportioned, but
not overly developed in the head, neck and forequarter,
making it out of proportion with the rest of the body.
Does should be feminine, yet strong, and have a slightly
more angular chest than bucks. They should be able to
breed easily and have the conformation and constitution
to easily raise fast growing kids.
Overall, the ideal is rapidly growing, well proportioned
goat of suitable size with the ability to maximally produce
prime cuts of meat to meet consumer demands. A
desirable relationship between the length of leg and
depth of body should be achieved at all ages with kids
and young goats being slightly longer in the leg.
FAULTS: Cull characteristic or defects which decreases
the value of the goat for breeding purposes and will
ultimately affect an animals eligibility for Ennobled
status.
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Overall Quality, Size, Appearance and Type
The overall objective is for a goat to be of suitable size
with maximum meat yields, good structural conformation
which meets environmental and production requirements,
high adaptability to environmental conditions high fertility.
Ideally, this is an animal with short glossy hair with fine
luster and a loose supple skin. The major portion of the
body should be white with dark coloration around the
head and pigmented skin in hairless areas around the
head and under the tail to reduce sunburn, cancers, and
skin diseases.
In general appearance, a Boer goat has a dark head and
horns that curve backwards. Animals should be strong,
vigorous, and symmetrical, with well-balanced muscling.
Bucks should be masculine and well proportioned. Does
should be feminine, yet strong. They should be able to
breed easily and have the conformation and constitution
to easily raise fast growing kids.
Overall, the ideal is a rapidly growing, well-proportioned
goat with the ability to maximally produce prime cuts of
meat to meet consumer demands. A desirable
relationship between the length of leg and depth of body
should be achieved at all ages with kids and young goats
being slightly longer in the leg.
FAULTS: Cull characteristic or defects which decreases
the value of the goat for breeding purposes.
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HEAD:
A strong head with large soft brown eyes andwithout an untamed look. A strong slightly curved nose,wide nostrils, strong well-formed mouth with well-fittedjaws. Up to two tooth must show a 100% fit. Four tootholds and older may show 6 mm protrusion. Permanentteeth must cut in the correct anatomical place. Theforehead must be prominently curved, linking up withthe curve of nose and horns. Horns should be strong, ofmoderate length, and placed moderately apart with agradual backward curve. Horns have to be as round andsolid as possible, and colored darkly. Ears are to bebroad, smooth, and of medium length, hangingdownwards from the head. Too short ears areundesirable.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Concave forehead, horns too straight or too
flat, pointed jaw, ears folded (lengthwise),
stiff protruding ears, too short ears, too
long lower jaw, short bottom jaw, and blue
eyes.
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A.HEAD
A prominent, strong head with brown eyes and a gentle
appearance. Nose with a gentle curve, wide nostrils, and
well formed mouth with well opposed jaws. Two tooth
(1-1.5 years of age) can have no over or under-bite; the
jaws must be perfectly opposed. Four tooth and older
(the second pair of permanent incisors erupt at 1.5 to 2
years of age) animals can have 1/4 inch overbite. All
permanent front teeth (goats have four pairs of front
teeth in their lower jaw, with the fourth pair erupting at
about 4 years of age) must be in the anatomically correct
positions. The forehead must be prominent, and form an
even curve, linking the nose and horns. Horns should be
strong, of moderate length, positioned well apart, and
have a gradual backward curve before turning outward
symmetrically. Horns should be as solid as possible and
dark in color. Ears should be broad, smooth, of medium
length and hang downwards. Short ears are
unacceptable. Disbudded or dehorned animals should
have that noted on their registration papers and should
not be discriminated against in the show ring.
FAULTS: Concave forehead, straight horns, jaws
protruding or too short, jaw too pointed, overshot or
undershot jaws, blue eyes.
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A. HEAD
A prominent, strong head with brown eyes and a gentle
appearance. Nose with a gentle curve, wide nostrils, and
well-formed mouth with well-opposed jaws. There can
be no over- or under-bite; the jaws must be perfectly
opposed and teeth must be in the anatomically correct
positions. The forehead must be prominent, and form an
even curve, linking the nose and horns. Horns should be
strong, of moderate length, positioned well apart, and
have a gradual backward curve before turning outward
symmetrically. Horns should be as round and solid as
possible and dark in color. Ears should be broad, smooth
and hang downwards. Short ears are unacceptable.
Disbudded or dehorned animals should have that noted
on their registration papers and should not be
discriminated against in the show ring.
FAULTS: Concave forehead, horns too straight or too
flat, horns too close, jaw too pointed.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Any extreme occurrence of
the above undesirable traits. Overshot or undershot jaw,
blue eyes, ears folded lengthwise, teeth not in correct
anatomical positions.
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NECK & FOREQUARTERS:
A neck of moderate length in
proportion to the length of the body, full and well
fleshed and well-joined with the forequarter is essential.
The breastbone should be broad with a deep and broad
brisket. The shoulder should be fleshy, in proportion to
the body and be well-fitted to the withers. The withers
should be as broad and as well-fitted as possible (not
sharp). The front legs should be of medium length and
in proportion to the depth of the body. The legs should
also be strong and well placed, with strong pastern
joints and well-formed hoofs which are as dark as
possible.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Neck too long, too thin, or too short, and
shoulders too loose.
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B.NECK AND FOREQUARTERS
Neck of moderate length and in proportion with body
length. Forequarters full, well fleshed, and limbs well
jointed and smoothly blended. The breast should be
broad with a deep broad brisket. Shoulders should be
fleshy, well proportioned with the rest of the body and
smoothly blended and fitted into the withers. Withers
should be broad and well rounded and not sharp. Legs
should be strong, well placed of medium length and in
proportion with the depth of the body. Pastern joints
should be strong, and hoofs well formed and tight and as
dark as possible.
FAULTS: Neck too long, too short, or too thin; shoulders
too loose, any structural foreleg, muscle, bone, joint or
hoof deformities or abnormalities.
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B. NECK AND FOREQUARTERS
Neck of moderate length and in proportion with body
length. Forequarters full, well fleshed, and limbs well
jointed and smoothly blended. The breast should be
broad. Shoulders should be fleshy, well proportioned with
the rest of the body and smoothly blended and fitted into
the withers. Withers should be broad and well rounded
and not sharp. Legs should be strong, well placed and in
proportion with the depth of the body. Pastern joints
should be strong and hooves well-formed and as dark as
possible.
FAULTS: Neck too short or too thin; shoulders too loose,
any structural foreleg, muscle, bone, joint or hoof
deformities or abnormalities to include but not limited to
knock knees, bandy legs, hooves pointing outward or
inward, splay toes, buck knees, hollow legs, straight or
weak pasterns.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Any extreme occurrence of
the above undesirable traits.
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BARRELL
The ideal is a long, deep broad barrel. The
ribs must be well sprung and fleshed, and the loins as
well filled as possible. The goat should have a broad,
fairly straight back and must not be pinched behind the
shoulders.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Back too concave, too slabsided, too
cylindrical, or pinched behind the shoulder.
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C.BODY (barrel)
Body should be long, deep and broad. Ribs must be well
sprung and muscled. Loins should be well muscled, wide
and long. The top line should be straight and the shoulder
well rounded.
FAULTS: Concave or swayback; chest too cylindrical or
flat, shoulders weakly attached; poor muscling through
the back and loin.
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C. BODY
Body should be boldly three-dimensional: long, deep and
wide. Ribs must be well sprung. Loins should be well
muscled, wide and long. The top line should be straight
and strong and the shoulder well rounded with an
abundance of muscle from shoulder through hip.
FAULTS: Concave or swayback; chest too narrow or
shallow or flat; shoulders weakly attached; inadequate
muscle through the back and loin, pinched heartgirth.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Any extreme occurrence of
the above undesirable traits.
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HINDQUARTERS
The Boer goat should have a broad and
long rump, not sloping too much, well fleshed buttocks
which are not too flat, and have fully fleshed thighs. The
tail must be straight where it grows out of the dock and
then swing to either side.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS: A
rump which hangs too much or is too short.
A too long shank or flat buttocks.
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D.HINDQUARTERS
Rump broad and long, with a gentle slope. Britch and
thighs well muscled and rounded. Base of the tail must
be centered, straight and curved upwards to one side.
Legs should be strong and the leg should have a straight
axis from the hip through the hock, fetlock and pastern.
Hoofs should be well formed and as dark as possible.
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D. HINDQUARTERS
Rump broad and long with a gentle slope. Britch and
thighs well muscled and rounded. Base of the tail must
be centered and straight. The remainder of the tail can
curve upward or to one side. Legs should be strong and
the leg should have a straight axis from the hip through
the hock, fetlock and pastern. Hoofs should be
well-formed and as dark as possible.
FAULTS: Weak pasterns, straight pasterns, rump too
steep, sickle hocked, cow hocked, post legs.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Any extreme occurrence of
the above undesirable traits.
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LEGS
Emphasis should be placed on the legs, which
should be strong (of good texture) and well placed. Too
fleshy legs are undesirable. Strong legs imply hardiness
and a strong constitution, which are absolutely essential
characteristics of the Boer goat.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Knock knees, bandy legs, and legs that are
too thin or too fleshy. Weak pasterns and
hoofs pointing outwards or inwards.
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Addressed in "Hindquarters", above)
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Addressed in "Hindquarters", above)
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SKIN & COVERINGS
A loose supple skin with sufficient
chest and neck folds, especially in the case of rams, is
essential. Eyelids and hairless parts must be pigmented.
The hairless skin under the tail should have 75%
pigmentation for stud purposes, with 100%
pigmentation being the ideal. Short, glossy hair is
desirable. A limited amount of fur will be tolerated
during the winter months.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Covering too long and course, or too furry.
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II. SKIN AND COVERING
Skin loose and supple, with sufficient folds over the neck
and chest, especially in bucks. Eyelids and other hairless
areas must be pigmented. Hairless areas around anus
should be at least 75% pigmented; 100% is ideal. Short
glossy hair is desirable. A limited amount of winter down
or under coat will be tolerated during winter, especially in
colder environments.
FAULTS: Hair too long or too coarse
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II. SKIN AND COVERING
Skin loose and supple. Eyelids and other hairless areas
must be pigmented. Hairless areas around anus should be
at least 75% pigmented; 100% is ideal. Short glossy hair
is desirable. A limited amount of winter down or under
coat will be tolerated during winter, especially in colder
environments
FAULTS: Hair too long or too coarse.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Not enough pigment. Any
extreme occurrence of the above undesirable traits.
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SEXUAL ORGANS:
EWES should have well-formed udders, firmly
attached with no more than two functional teats on
a side. Permissible defects: a) If there is no
indication that the teat is separating, but there are
two milk openings, this is acceptable. b) Double
teats: the front 50% should be split.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL
DEFECTS: Bunched, calabash, or
double teats.
RAMS should have two reasonably large,
well-formed, healthy and equal sized testes in one
scrotum. A scrotum with no larger split than 5 cm
is permissible. The scrotum must be at least 25
cm in circumference.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL
DEFECTS: Too small testes, or a
scrotum with more than a 5 cm split.
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III. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
The does should have well formed udders and good
attachment and no more than two functional teats per
side. Ideally, all goats should have a single functional teat
on each half of the udder. A split teat with two distinctly
separatedts and openings with at least 50% of the body
of a teat separated is permissible. The bucks should have
two large well formed equal sized testes in a single
scrotum. The apex of the scrotum with a split no longer
than 2" is acceptable. Scrotal circumference increases
up to maturity and varies slightly between the breeding
and non-breeding season, and with usage. Large scrotal
circumferences are inheritable and are directly related to
high libido and fertility in other species. One should use
approximately 9 3/4" as bottom cut off point at 8 months
of age and/or 100 pounds. Adult bucks 2 years old or
older should measure at least 11 ½" but preferably 12 ½"
or larger.
FAULTS: Udder and teat abnormalities or defects, other
than those specified above; small or abnormal testes,
scrotal splits larger than 2".
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III. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
DOES
Does should have well formed udders with good
attachment and no more than two functional teats per
side. It is most important that the udder is constructed so
that offspring are able to nurse unassisted.
FAULTS: Udder and teat abnormalities or defects to
include but not limited to split teats, cluster teats, fishtail
teats, oversized or bulbous teats, pendulous udder.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Split teats, cluster teats, fishtail
teats. Any extreme occurrence of the above undesirable
traits.
BUCKS
Bucks should have two large well-formed, functional,
equal sized testes in a single scrotum with no more than a
2" split in the apex of the scrotum.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Single testicle. Testicles too
small. Abnormal or diseased testes; excessive split.
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QUALITY: This is achieved with short glossy hair and a
fine luster.
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(No Standard)
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(No Standard)
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SIZE: The ideal is an average sized, heavy goat with
maximum meat production. A desirable relationship
between length of leg and depth of body should be
achieved at all ages. Lambs (kids) should tend to be
longer in the leg.
CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS:
Goats too large, or too small (pony).
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(No Standard)
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(No Standard)
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COLORING
The ideal is a white goat with a red head and
ears, and fully pigmented. The blaze must be evident.
Shadings between light red and dark red are
permissible. The minimum requirement for a stud
animal is a patch of at least 10 cm in diameter on both
sides of the head, ears excluded. Both ears should have
at least 75% red coloring and the same percentage
pigmentation.
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IV. COLORATION
The ideal Boer Goat is an animal with red hair on the
head and ears and white on the remainder of the body,
and has fully pigmented skin. A face blaze must be
evident. Hair coloration varying from light to dark red or
brown is permissible. Hair coloration of the head is most
desirable if it extends down to an imaginary line
connecting the point anterior to the shoulder blades and
the point of the brisket. Although this is the ideal, 50%
non coloration of the head/neck are acceptable. Ideally,
the ears should be 90% colored and pigmented.
FAULTS: Skin too lightly pigmented (less than 50%
coloration of the head and neck are combined).
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IV. COLORATION
The traditional Boer Goat is an animal with red hair on
the head and ears and white on the remainder of the
body but other colorations are not to be discriminated
against in the show ring. Each side of head (excluding
ears) should have a patch of color surrounding eyes of a
minimum 4" diameter. Each ear should have a minimum
of 75% coloration.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Not enough pigmentation. Not
enough color on head or ears.
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THE FOLLOWING IS PERMISSIBLE FOR STUD
PURPOSES:
Head, Neck and Fore-quarters: A total red coloring is
permissible not further than the shoulder blade and on the
shoulder it must exist no lower than level with the chest
junction.
Barrell, Hindquarter and Belly: Only one patch not
exceeding 10 cm is permissible.
Legs: The term "legs" is taken to mean that portion below an
imaginary line formed by the chest and the underline. Patches
with maximum of 5 cm in diameter are permissible.
Tail: The tail may be red, but the red color may not continue
onto the body for more than 2.5 cm.
Red Hair And Covering: Very few red hairs are permissible at
the 2-tooth stage.
Pigmentation: Discriminate against too light pigmentation.
Flock Goat: At least 50% of the color on a flock goat must be
white; the other 50% must be red. Under the tail the flock goat
must be at least 25% pigmented. Rams may not be more than
25% red.
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(ABGA has no "Stud" or "Flock" designation)
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(ABGA has no "Stud" or "Flock" designation)
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