Why our locally bred goats are gaining global popularity

There are over 650 registered members with the South African Boer Goat Breeders' Association focusing on three distinct breeds: the Boer goat, the Savanna and the Kalahari Red. Association secretary Chantelle Smit spoke to Sabrina Dean about these breeds.

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The South African Boer Goat Breeders' Association (SABGBA) is the umbrella organisation for three separate goat breeds, namely the South African Boer goat, the Kalahari Red and the Savanna. What are the main goals of the association when it comes to the ongoing development and preservation of these breeds?

The association’s main goals are to protect the genetic identity and history of the Boer goat, improve the breed, support breeders, expand markets and educate.

This is done through the preservation of breed purity and genetic integrity. To preserve breed purity and genetic integrity, we maintain and enforce the official breed standard to ensure the Boer goat retains its distinct characteristics (for example, conformation, pigmentation, muscling and temperament). We oversee a rigorous animal registration and pedigree verification system, often via SA Stud Book.

We prevent crossbreeding dilution and ensure the breed’s global identity remains strong and recognisable, and we also preserve foundation bloodlines that represent the core traits of the original Boer goat.

We also strive for continuous genetic and phenotypic improvement by promoting selective breeding for performance traits such as growth rate, fertility and mothering ability, carcass quality, and disease and parasite resistance. We also encourage objective performance recording, such as Best Linear Unbiased Prediction evaluations and weight recording, and support innovative breeding programmes and the use of modern tools like artificial insemination and embryo transfer.