Irish Boer Goats Association

What are Boer goats?

The Boer goat breed was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s and is a popular breed for meat production. The name is derived from the Afrikaans word boer, meaning farmer.
Due to selective breeding and improvement, the Boer goat has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. They also have a high resistance to disease.
Boer goats commonly have white bodies and distinctive brown heads. Some Boer goats can be completely brown (often referred to as "red").
Due to their versatility on different terrains, Boer goat are frequently used for land maintenance, especially to prevent bush encroachment. They are able to browse from plants up to 1.8 meters high, standings on their hind legs.

See the relevant Wikipedia article for more information on the breed.