About the Herd

    The demonstration herd comes from a farm in Southern Kentucky, where approximately 100 meat goats are bred and raised annually.  All of the goats in the SIPAC herd are 50% or more Boer goat and were bred at the same farm (click here to see an article about the farm where the doelings came from), but that is all that is known about their breeding.  The demonstration herd originally had thirty doelings, two of which died in the beginning of the project due to parasites.  The doelings arrived at the SIPAC farm in September, and were all between 8 and 10 months in age.  The original purchase cost of the herd was $150.00 per goat, leading to a total of $4,200.  The herd will be maintained according to the objectives set forth by the cooperators of this project.  One of the main goals of the project is to utilize and test the FAMACHA system for controlling the intestinal parasite Haemonchus Contortus.  The goats will be treated for worms, according to the protocol described here.

    The latest addition to the SIPAC meat goat herd are two new bucks. One of these bucks was donated, while the other was purchased using SIPAC funds.  These two bucks will be used to instate a breeding program within the herd.

This buck was donated to the SIPAC herd project.

This buck was purchased by the SIPAC.

This Kiko buck was donated to the SIPAC herd

 by Chris Luton of Boulder Hill Farm.

The doelings in the pasture.

Two of the kids born on the SIPAC farm.

Learn more about Boer goats:

American Boer Goat Association

International Boer Goat Association

Standards for the Improved Boer Goat

Boer Goat Production: Progress and Perspective

The project is a cooperative effort between Purdue University and the University of Kentucky.