Strict Selection The Key To Boer Goat Meat Production

Award-winning stud breeder Gerald Calitz runs a 200-strong Boer goat stud on his 70ha farm near Ventersdorp in North West. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about his breeding techniques.

- Annelie Coleman

Gerald Calitz established the Sterkstroom Boer Goat Stud in 2012 with just 15 goats, and it has since grown to 150 ewes, three stud rams and 100 kids and weaners.

Before establishing the stud, Calitz ran a commercial goat flock on his farm, which is situated near Ventersdorp in North West. Because of the property’s small size (only 70ha), it was impossible for him to enlarge his commercial flock.

He therefore decided to build a stud to add value to his operation.

“My love for goats was also a major driving force. I started by buying good-quality breeding stock at stud auctions as well as from reputable stock breeders. However, I was new in the breeding game, and needless to say, I paid a lot of school fees. For example, I spent a great deal of money on rams that didn’t take the flock in the direction I envisaged,” Calitz says.

BREEDING OBJECTIVES

His objective is to breed animals that conform to, and even exceed, the national standards as prescribed by the Boer Goat Breeders’ Association of South Africa. According to him, this is crucial in an intensive breeding operation such as his. Every goat in the flock must add value and contribute to the ultimate sustainability and profitability of the business. The stud, he stresses, cannot afford to cater for substandard performers.

Calitz concentrates strongly on feminine ewes, believing they will produce top-performing rams. Optimal meat production is the mainstay of commercial Boer goat production and, given the economic realities of agriculture today, farmers cannot afford to keep second-rate animals, he says. Commercial goat producers are in the business to sell meat, and therefore want fertile rams and ewes from which they can harvest the maximum kilograms of meat in the shortest space of time.