 With the Non-Traditional Boer Goat, the difference is all in the genetics. The traditional phenotypical boer goat has a red (brown) head and a white body. With the genetics of the boer goat the white is the dominant gene and the red is the recessive, this is why many of the progeny are predominantly white on
an F1 (first generation or half blood) cross. Some
boers carry a double recessive (red or brown)
gene and if you mate does to a buck both carrying
the double recessive red genes, you have a good
chance of coming up with progeny which are full
red. Not all double recessive red genes can be
identified by simply looking at the goat however.
Obviously if the boer is full red, it must be carrying
the double recessive red genes. The double
recessive then become dominant over the white
genes the boer is carrying but may not necessarily
be strong enough to be dominant over a traditional
boer (white body / red head). Conversely, you may
have a buck and doe which are both color correct
and mate them. The resulting progeny may be
color correct or you may have red progeny. By
going back and studying the genetics of the sire
and dam, observing the results and studying the
genetics of future progeny, it is possible through time to identify genetic lines which carry the double recessive red genes and the
potential for full "red boers". The full red boer is more of a "niche market" product. In tropical countries, or countries with intense sun,
the red or brown boers can be desirable due to resistance to skin cancer. Typically, the full red boers are more expensive than the
traditional boers due to the limited supply and market demand. With our registration system in Canada you know the red boers are in
fact purebred by the DNA verification of our registry system.
courtesy of Ann Marie Hauck, The RAM H Breeders Ltd., Alberta Canada
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