We have several breeds of animals at Glencoe B&B – our pet friendly accommodation Tasmania – and one I really enjoy are the goats because they are such characters. We have a small herd of Boer goats.
The Boer goat was developed in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the early 1900s for meat production – the name Boer is an Afrikaans Dutch word meaning farmer. The Boer goat was probably bred from the indigenous goats of the Namaqua Bushman and the Fooku tribes, with some crossing of Indian and European bloodlines being possible. The aim was to produce a hardy, adaptable meat goat that could survive the varied harsh climatic conditions of the African landscape.
They were selected for meat rather than milk production through improved breeding. The Boer goat has a fast growth rate with excellent qualities making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi-deserts. However, they can also do well in most climates like our cooler climate here in Tasmania.
Boer goats have white bodies and distinctive brown heads, and like the Nubian goat they possess long, pendulous ears. Boers can also be solid red or white in colour. They are noted as having superior mothering skills compared to other goats, as they have such a great temperament.
Boer goats are notoriously calm and docile. Each goat has a distinct personality and has a name to match. Our does are Josephine (also called Piglet), Myrtle – named by a guest after moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter – Tilly, Berta and Loulou. They love being around people and are often found sitting on the dirt and rock mound in their paddock; they will definitely call out to you and come running if they see you approaching. They will stand at the fence staring at you, then will look up to the tree and then back to you asking for some branches to eat. They also like to smile at you showing their teeth.
They love eating brambles, branches off trees and are good at clearing up areas. When we fix the fence in the back paddock there is a blackberry patch that we will put them in to clear out. They are a bit spoiled and prefer lucerne to regular hay, on top of always wanting their goat pellets. They all run to their feed bins waiting for their treats. Shortly, the girls will be visited by a lovely red buck, as I am hoping to get a solid red doe in next year’s kids.
We are also in the process of building a new goat barn for them. The barn will be large enough for hay storage, seven individual stalls with a water and feed area, and plenty of room to move around. The goats are for meat, and we have already had the pleasure of experiencing how good the meat is from our goats. Our guests have enjoyed some lovely meals here at Glencoe…such as slow-roasted Greek goat shoulder. You would be surprised how tender and juicy the meat is. As with all animals, if they are cared for well, the result can be seen in the high quality of the product.
Come and book to stay here in our pet friendly accommodation Tasmania. It’s extremely relaxing and close to places like Sheffield and Cradle Mountain etc.
You should come and see our animals.
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