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Boer goats are probably the best meat goat in the world, as measured by growth rate
and conformation. In Uganda they have been brought in by government programmes, NGOs
such as Heifer International and Send-
Savannah goats also originate from South Africa. Like Boer goats they have large pendulous (floppy) ears and a convex face (‘Roman nose’). Only a few have been introduced into Uganda. The main reason for interest in them is the suggestion that in regard to export to the middle east, white goats would be more popular than pigmented goats. Like Galla goats the skin is dark despite the white hair, making them resistant to sunlight unlike Saanen goats.
In its native South Africa, the Kalahari red is favoured in situations where goats
are susceptible to predators, because it’s colour makes it better camouflaged against
the soil. The simplest description of it is a ‘red Boer goat’, but it has a distinct
genetic heritage. In Uganda, goats with this appearance, such as the female shown
on the left, are likely to be exhibiting the recessive fully-
When Boer goats are mated with local (Small East African) goats the offspring are
often large, fast-
Some unscrupulous dealers have passed off 75%, or even 50%, Boer goats as pure. So
it is very important to understand how to spot the difference. The simplest way is
to look at the ears. The doe above shows the typical ears of a 50% -