You’ll find with a little research that many people have differing views on what makes the best meat goat. There are numerous breeds and hybrids of meat goats. goat forming is a good business for milk and meat production and can earn good profit. Boer Goats. Some of the more popular goat breeds for meat are: 1. Boer goats were bred in South Africa for meat and selected for their superior body shape, high growth rate, and fertility. Some dairy goats also suitable for meat production. They have white body with colored head and backward curved horns. Most are white but can have a variety of colors as well. Best Meat Goat Breeds. Indian Goat Breeds: Indian Goat Breeds Information. The remaining are either meat breeds or fibre-producing ones. Breeders formed a club in 1999. Kikos breed was first grown in New Zealand. Note that the characteristics listed are what the breed is known for, but within each breed there is a great deal of individual variation. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Meat Goat Breeds of South Africa ©Marinda Louw. Certain breeds, particularly Boer, have been developed with an eye toward meat production. Meat Goat Breeds; Creating a Goat Kidding Kit; Raising Goats: A Beginner’s Guide; Nigerian Dwarf Goats; Do you raise Nubian goats? Boer Goat. Alpine Goats They mostly breed in September and end in January. Boer – Originating in South Africa, these white with reddish brown goats are the most popular goat for meat in the United States. Its name comes from an Afrikaans word boer, which means farmer. Boer goats were first seen in South Africa in the year 1900. Best Goats for Meat Goat meat can be highly nutritious, although it’s one of the lesser popular varieties in North America. Reaching slaughter maturity in about 90 days, they can reach a size of about 190 to 230 pounds for does and 200 to 340 pounds for bucks. They have a full coat of straight, medium/long hair with males sporting a full beard and cape-like mane. Introduction of Indian Goat breeds: Having a large population and growing meat lovers day by day provided the option to go for commercial goat farming throughout India. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Generally, the dwarf goat breeds of Asia and Africa which are short in size are exclusively considered as a meat goat. It is not legal to import Golden Guernsey goats into the United States. If you want to get the most out of your goat, you need to research about the right breed that would fit your area and lifestyle. Meat Goat Breeds: This type of goats become highly meat productive. They generally produce 3.16 kg of milk that is 3.72% fat. This breed is big and muscular. Some of the more common new meat-goat crosses include: Meat Goat Breeds. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Chicken Breeds: Plymouth Rock or Barred Rock, How to Select a Livestock Guardian Dog Breed, 19 Flowering, Fruiting Trees and Shrubs From the Prunus Genus, Chicken Breeds for the Small Farm or Backyard Flock, Beginner's Guide to Choosing Chicken Breeds for Your Small Farm Flock, How to Care for Laying Hens on the Small Farm. They also tend to be docile and gentle, making them easy to raise and handle. Meat goat breeds in the world. Most of the worlds goat population is used for meat production, but in western countries, goats may be used for milk, meat, or fiber production. Meat Goat breeds. Pygmy goats breed frequently, every 9 to 12 months. While many Americans might not consider goat meat a popular meat, it is a ready source of nutrition in most places across the world. Boer does are generally very good mothers to their … Share. Because in this comprehensive guide, we list every major breeds of goat, along with this information:Country of originType of breed (dairy, meat, fiber, etc)Breed weight (for both does and bucks)Links to our guides on each breed Table of Contents: 1 […] Boer The Boer goat of South Africa owes its name to the Dutch word "boer" meaning farm and was probably employed to distinguish the farm goat from the Angora goat imported into South Africa in the 19th century (Teh and Gipson, 1993). They also tend to be docile and gentle, making them easy to raise and handle. image source. They have a fast rate of growth and tend to be hardy animals. Bred from the West African pygmy goat breed, modern pygmy goats are kept mostly as pets, but they do have some potential for meat because they have a compact and meaty body and are fertile out of season. Degeun are coloured around the head and lower legs with a black stripe along the spine. The Boerbok is considered one of the best meat goat breeds in the world and was 'developed' in South Africa. The Verata is another meat goat breed from Spain. Meat goats need a clean, dry, draft-free shelter. Breeds such as the Boer goat, Savannah and Kalahari Red are world-renowned and most sought after for their superior characteristics such as adaptability, hardiness, good maternal instincts, meat production and high reproduction rate. Red meat business is currently underexploited in the country despite the vast opportunities that exists both locally and internationally. Also known as the Boran or Somali goat, the breed has two sub-types known as Degyir and Degeun. The Boer is highly resistant to disease, and it does well in hot, dry, and semi-desert areas. Whatever market you find for your goat meat will determine what qualities you want in the kids. Fast-growing, an adult Kiko male can reach 300 pounds. Some of the more common new meat-goat crosses include: Lauren Arcuri is a freelance writer and an experienced small farmer. Interestingly, it is one of the first domesticated goat breeds in France but earlier, these goats were primarily used only for their meat. There are numerous meat producing goat breeds available throughout the world. We have brought all the points you might need to know about goats right from their birth to their fertility and temperament. Spanish goats have been replaced by Boers as the favorite meat goat in the United States, but they have found a new purpose—for controlling invasive brush plants, such as buckthorn. If you have a lot of land available, Kikos may be a more economical breed than Boers, since they prefer rough grazing territory and require little attention. This breed was developed by Onion Creek Ranch through several generations of crossing Tennessee Meat Goats™ with Boer goats. This breed was developed by Onion Creek Ranch through several generations of crossing Tennessee Meat Goats™ with Boer goats. Goats are a effective and efficient source of milk and meats. Often, dairy goat breeds such as Nubian, Alpine, Toggenburg, and Saanen are crossed with Boers to produce animals with excellent meat. These beautiful goats were originally developed in New Zealand in the early 1970’s. However, meat-goat carcasses are generally leaner and more muscular than dairy-goat carcasses and have different proportions. . Meat Goat Breeds 8- Boer Goat. They’re stocky and heavy-boned with a barrel-shaped body and short legs. Brush goats are usually genetic crosses between meat goats and dairy goat breeds. Spanish goats are polyestrous, like many other meat goat breeds. The back is fairly long and slightly curved in. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. There are around 570 goat breeds in the world, but only 69 of those are truly identified as "dairy breeds". You’ll find with a little research that many people have differing views on what makes the best meat goat. Boer goats are considered to be the largest sized meat goats anywhere in the world. With the exception of the South African Boer goat imported via New Zealand in early 1993, there are no true meat goat breeds in the United States. Selecting the right breed of meat goat isn’t very complicated in North America, mostly because the selection is quite small. Cabrito is from kids harvested within the first week of birth. Kids Productive Goat Breeds: This type of goats produce numerous baby goats per kidding. They typically grow to a mature size of 50 to 75 pounds for females and 60 to 86 pounds for males. They have straight noses with medium length ears. With a survival instinct unlike any other goat breed, they are a very popular meat breed for both the local farmer and commercial meat producer. Meat Goat Breeds. 8 Types of Goat Breeds By Adrienne Kruzer is a registered veterinary technician who has worked with a variety of animals for over 15 years, including small mammals. Although officially a meat goat, they were brought over to be used as laboratory animals, zoo exhibits, and exotic pets. Namely a cashmere type fiber, a mohair type fiber and then a … Among these goat breeds, some are very good for meat production, some are good for producing milk, some breeds produces good quality skin, some breeds are good for fiber production purpose and some breeds are also good for raising as pets. This breed was developed in England and is a composite of dairy goat breeds from India, Europe and Africa. However, other breeds of goats that are used in the production of meat are Spanish, Myotonic, Kiko, Nubian and Pygmy. An adult male goat ranges between 35-45kgs and female goat weighs 25- 35kgs. Many have now actually started trying to experiment with the breed by cross breeding to check and combined traits such as good quality meat, growth, milk production, fiber production, and longevity. Especially as they have a very rapid growth rate. 1 TOP 10 GOAT BREEDS FOR MEAT; 2 Boer Goat ; 3 Kiko Goat; 4 Spanish Goat; 5 Beetal Goat; 6 Savannah Goat; 7 Fainting Goat; 8 Kalahari Red Goat; 9 … The Nigora goat is a breed of goat that was developed by the crossing of an Angora goat and a Nigerian Dwarf goat breed. Labeled as an independent goat they will live just fine with little human interaction. Boer The Boer goat of South Africa owes its name to the Dutch word "boer" meaning farm and was probably employed to distinguish the farm goat from the Angora goat imported into South Africa in the 19th century (Teh and Gipson, 1993). Known for being versatile on different terrains, these goats are commonly used for land maintenance and controlling bush encroachment on grasslands and woodlands. Interestingly, it is one of the first domesticated goat breeds in France but earlier, these goats were primarily used only for their meat. source If you're looking for an A-Z list of goat breeds, you're in the right place! Boer. As with the ideal goats for meat, the best dairy goats will contribute to the resourcefulness of your farm with limited disadvantages. They are lively, active, intelligent and sport a coat that can have three different types of valuable fiber. are some highly meat productive goat breeds. Some breeds are dual-purpose, meaning they produce plenty of milk as well as put on weight well. An adult male goat ranges between 35-45kgs and female goat weighs 25- 35kgs Barbari breed has the ability to give 1 - 1.5kgs of milk / day. They chose the name Kalahari Red for the well-known location and the rich red color of the local sand in the savanna where the goats browsed. Goats are some of the oldest defined animals and their breeds, especially dairy goats, are also known to be one of the oldest breed standards with production records. Boer: Boer goats have long ears and hanging horns.They grow quickly and are thus ideal for meat production. Often considered multi-use breeds, miniature goats can be bred for dairy, meat, fiber, or kept as pets. Males can grow up to 300 pounds and are one of the most popular meat breeds. Often, dairy goat breeds such as Nubian, Alpine, Toggenburg, and Saanen are crossed with Boers to produce animals with excellent meat. They dress out at about 60 percent which is 10 percent higher than other large These types of breeds have very good reproductive capabilities. Large-framed, white, hardy, and able to thrive under poor conditions, the Kiko was developed in New Zealand and brought to the United States in the 1990s. Nigerian Dwarf goats have the build of a dairy breed at a smaller scale, and have shorter coats. Chevron is from older kids. This South African based goat breed has long, hanging ears and Roman nose. 4. The breed is very strong and durable, and they can survive in almost all climates. Spanish. Each goat breed has a different meat and milk production rate. The purpose of the breed was to develop a meat goat breed to meet commercial demands such as low maintenance, efficient feed utilization, good mothering skills, rapid growth, and thrifty kids. This is an educational presentation about the various breeds of meat goats. Selecting your Meat Goat Breed. A quality meat breed choice. The two main indigenous goat breeds, i.e. Name and characteristics of some highly meat productive goat breeds are described below. 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