Nutritional Requirements Of Boer Goats

Boer goats are ideal animals to complement an existing sheep or cattle enterprise as an additional branch. The unique traits of these animals do not interfere with sheep or cattle farming, especially in terms of grazing. This is according to Hennie le Roux, chairperson of the Northern Cape Boer Goat Club and a seasoned Boer goat breeder in the Kalahari.

- Koos Du Pisanie

“Sheep and cattle graze grass from the bottom upwards. They start grazing everything at ground level, and then move on to shrubs and trees when there’s nothing left. Boer goats, on the other hand, graze from the top down. They pull off the topmost leaves, pods and seeds from trees or shrubs, often stretching up to 1,8m to reach the desired vegetation. This means they don’t compete for grazing. For that reason, I think Boer goats are an ideal asset for livestock farmers.”

In his experience a farmer following a grazing programme can combine one Boer goat with six sheep and two Boer goats with one head of cattle in camps where the grazing consists of a tree, shrub and grass combination, without one compromising the other’s feed supply.

Basic principles

Stephan Louw, technical advisor at Veekos in Upington, says the basic principles of nutrition for Boer goats and sheep are similar. “Boer goats are ruminants, just like sheep. Natural grazing is the cheapest and most complete diet for these animals.”

He explains that, just like any other animal, Boer goats have different requirements during different stages of their lives. “It can be divided into four production stages, namely reproduction, lactation, growth and finishing. Producers often use self-mixed concentrates, but I advise them to rather use lick concentrates to balance the animals’ diet when raw materials aren’t available. Make sure they receive the correct amount of trace minerals and protein.”

Ewe nutrition, he says, needs to ensure high milk production in order to provide lambs with good immunity. Good creep feed for lambs must have a high grain and protein content, with sufficient macro and micro-minerals and vitamins to support growth and development.

Combined farming enterprise