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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

FAULTS: Hair too long or too coarse.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: Not enough pigment. Any extreme occurrence of the above undesirable traits.

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.

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".

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.

CHARACTERISTIC CULL DEFECTS: Goats too large, or too small (pony).

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.

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).

DISQUALIFICATIONS: Not enough pigmentation. Not enough color on head or ears.

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.