Boer goat
The Boer is a large, docile meat goat and the main meat breed in the United States, so registered stock is easy to find. Mature does weigh about 200–225 lb and bucks 240–300 lb, and fullbloods keep their horns. It needs pasture or brush and goat-tight fencing, and it is a meat breed, not a milk goat.
- Temperament
- Docile
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Boer right for you?
Good fit if
- You want to raise goats for meat
- You have pasture or brush and goat-tight fencing
- You want registered stock that is easy to find: the association registers more than 45,000 goats a year
Poor fit if
- You want milk for the house. The Boer is a meat breed
- You want a small or hornless goat. The standard disqualifies fullblood Boers that are naturally polled or dehorned
- You only have a small yard. A mature buck can weigh 300 lb
Appearance and varieties
A Boer is built for meat: long in the loin, deep in the body and wide along the whole topline. Mature does weigh about 200–225 lb and bucks 240–300 lb.
The head is strong, with brown eyes and a Roman nose, meaning a gentle outward curve from forehead to muzzle. The ears are smooth and hang down against the head. Horns are dark, round and strong, and curve gradually backwards before turning out.
The traditional colour is a white body with a red head, but the American standard gives no preference to any hair colour. Blue eyes, a wry face and ears folded lengthwise are disqualifications.
The association registers both fullblood and percentage Boers. Fullbloods must be horned. Percentage animals may be polled or disbudded.31
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Traditional | White body with a red head. The standard gives no preference to any hair colour, so other colours and patterns are registered and shown too.3 |
Temperament and handling
The American Boer Goat Association describes the breed as docile. Oklahoma State calls the Boer doe a low-maintenance animal with enough milk to rear an early-maturing kid.
Bucks of any breed are a different matter. Penn State notes that bucks tend to be aggressive and smell strongly during the breeding season, which is September to early January.216
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kidding rate | 200% is common1 | Two kids per doe kidding, on average. Weaning rates run above 160%. |
| Breeding season | Extended; three kiddings in two years is possible16 | |
| Daily gain | 0.3–0.4 lb a day; over 0.44 lb for exceptional animals in a feedlot1 | |
| Puberty | About 6 months for bucks, 10–12 months for does1 | |
| Gestation | 148–152 days6 | Penn State's figure for meat goats in general. |
| Weaning | Two to three months6 | Penn State's figure for meat goats in general. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Penn State's guidance for meat goats is an open shed with 10 to 12 sq ft per doe, for shelter in extremely hot or cold weather. Most Pennsylvania pasture carries about six or seven does to the acre, depending on their size.
Fencing matters more than the building. Penn State suggests five or six strands of high-tensile wire with the first, third and top strands electrified. Woven wire also works with one electric strand inside it, which stops goats climbing the fence or getting their heads and horns caught.6
Feed
Boers are browsers. Oklahoma State says they are run with cattle in South Africa because they eat brush and have little effect on the grass. Penn State says goats in general eat a higher share of brush and less desirable plants than sheep or cattle.
Penn State recommends rotational grazing: move goats every four or five days, and before the grass is shorter than 4 in. Kids being raised for holiday markets should have a high-quality creep grain and hay.16
Health
Penn State says goats are more susceptible to internal parasites than other livestock, and that parasites are the main health issue for most goat producers. Rotating pasture and not grazing it short are its first defences.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. Work out a preventive health programme with a vet who treats goats, or ask your county extension office.6
Where to buy
We could open only one dated breeder price list, so we don't quote a range.
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Boer Goat Association member sales | Breed club | Sales held by association members |
| Fern Hollow Farm | Breeder | Commercial and ABGA-registered Boers. On 9 October 2026: bucklings $300–700 and up, doelings and does $450–900 and up, with 2026 kids listed |
Similar breeds
| Breed | Doe weight | Buck weight | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boer (this breed) | 200–225 lb | 240–300 lb | ||
| Kiko | 100–180 lb | 200–250 lb | $250–$675 |
History
Boer is the Dutch word for farmer. Oklahoma State describes the breed as an improved native South African goat with some European, Angora and Indian blood from long ago. The modern Boer appeared in the early 1900s, when ranchers in the Eastern Cape began selecting for a meat goat.
The South African registry was set up in 1959. In 1970 the Boer joined that country's mutton sheep and goat performance testing scheme, which made it the first goat breed to be performance-tested for meat.
Boers were brought to the United States in 1993, and the American Boer Goat Association was founded the same year. It now has more than 7,000 members and registers more than 45,000 goats a year.12
Common questions
How big do Boer goats get?
Oklahoma State gives 200–225 lb for mature does and 240–300 lb for mature bucks.1
What are Boer goats used for?
Meat. The breed was selected in South Africa as a meat goat and is the main meat goat breed in the United States.162
Where do Boer goats come from?
South Africa. Ranchers in the Eastern Cape began selecting them for meat in the early 1900s. They were brought to the United States in 1993.12
What colour are Boer goats?
The traditional Boer is white with a red head. The American breed standard gives no preference to any hair colour, so other colours are accepted.3
Do Boer goats have horns?
Yes. Fullblood Boers must be horned to meet the standard: naturally polled and dehorned animals are disqualified. Percentage Boers may be polled or disbudded.3
How many kids do Boer goats have?
Oklahoma State says a kidding rate of 200% is common, which is an average of two kids per doe. The long breeding season makes three kiddings in two years possible.1
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Boer Goats (archived copy).
- American Boer Goat Association, History.
- American Boer Goat Association, ABGA Breed Standards, revised July 22, 2025 (PDF).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Purdue University Department of Animal Sciences, Housing for Dairy Goats.
- Penn State Extension, Meat Goat Production.
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