Full South African Boer Goats

All boer goats originated in South Africa, but they came to the US via different routes. Many came via New Zealand and Australia while others came as embryos via Canada. There were a few (maybe one or two loads) that came as live imports straight into the US. Many feel, know, or think they know that some were bred with the ferel animals of Australia (or was it New Zealand) with all white-bodied/red heads passed off to unsuspecting Americans as "fullbloods" back in the days when it was hard to get fullbloods. Still others feel, know, or think they know the gene pool was somewhat limited during the 5 years (or so) the animals were quarantined in New Zealand (or was it Australia), thus some of the in-breeding may or may not have been the best. Still others feel the South Africans didn't sell their very best to the Australians or New Zealanders - thus the animals that moved through there were somehow inferior; these same folks feel confident the animals that arrived here either directly or via Canada were superior.

In some parts of the country (possibly only the southeast - I don't know), you can sell a "full SA" (that is, one whose ancestors didn't visit New Zealand and/or Australia) for considerably more than a fullblood whose ancestors visited New Zealand or Australia - regardless of quality.

In our herd you can pick out the so-called "full SA" does based on their quality. This is not the case for all herds. Until 2004 there was a grand total of one ABGA ennobled animal that was not "full SA" which says something about the quality up to that time. I don't think this statistic still holds true, but the first time the controversy came up I asked - on several e-lists and at ABGA – and this was the answer I got. We were attempting to get primarily high quality "full SA" animals simply because they sell for more money in our particular area. Of course, we were also trying to get a totally fullblood - whether "full SA" or not - herd and sell off our percentages. That was our goal.

Now we're back at the drawing board. When we recently reduced our herd considerably and basically started over, we realized our percentages made great receips for our embryo program and many "commercial" farmers want percentage breeding goats for their operation; therefore, our first replacement does/doelings were percentages. But our goal with our fullbloods will remain Full South African because of their selling value in our area and because the ones we have seen are of super-quality, but we will retain a few super non-Full SA exceptions as well.

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