The rise of the Boer goat

Two young goat stud farmers recently paid R500 000 for the 2021 world champion Boer goat, Maserati. They spoke to Susan Marais about how the Boer goat is taking the world by storm, and about further improving the breed’s South African genetics.

FAST FACTS

Nearly two-thirds of all meat consumed globally is goat meat.

South Africa’s locally grown, highly adaptable Boer goat breed is farmed in snow (Canada), deserts (the Middle East) and high rainfall areas (New Zealand).

Goat meat perfectly matches modern-day consumers’ preference for lean, healthy meat.

There is an undeniable buzz about Boer goats, with record prices recently paid at various local production auctions.In September, two Boer goat farmers, Joubert Horn and Salmon van Huyssteen, made headlines when they teamed up to buy the 2021 world champion Boer goat ram, Maserati, from Lukas Burger Boer Goats for a staggering R500 000. The previous South African private sale record of R450 000 was set four years ago by another Burger Boer goat ram, Tolla. This is not the highest price ever paid for a Boer goat ram, however. Burger says that he has heard of Boer goats selling for more than US$46 000 (over R681 000) in the US.

Moreover, Veeplaas reported in October that Casper Byleveld, owner of the Nico Botha Boer goat stud, had bought the right to use the ram Pascal for 20 matings at a record price of R540 000 during the Take 3 Genetics Boer goat auction held in September.

Similarly, Van Huyssteen and Horn also plan on auctioning off 20 matings with Maserati during their November Xtreme Genetics auction, which will be held at the Fire and Wine Arena in Pretoria.

Van Huyssteen, who farms at Kameeldrift West near Pretoria, says that Maserati’s world champion title was one reason he had decided to buy a share in the animal. Another was the animal’s exceptional genetics.