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| Source: backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com |
Savanna Goats are a high-quality white meat were developed
from native South African goats.
For years various south African farmers bred what was then
known as white Boer goats for a number of years in South Africa. One of the
advantages of these white goats was the fact that the white color is dominant
over most other colors. The other reason is that there is a big demand for
white goats for slaughter purposes for various reasons.
Savanna Goats were developed from
these white Boer goats by the Cillier family of Douglas, South Africa. In 1957,
Mrs. Cillier's Griqua servants presented her with the gift of a white buck
goat. She purchased five indigenous does with white in their color pattern to
breed to him and then selected for white coloration, parasite resistance, and
meat production.
Savanna Goats were imported into the United States the late
1990s. When Savanna Goats were first imported breeders noted that the
half-Savanna kids got up faster after birth and nursed quicker than other goat
breeds.
Savanna Goats closely
resemble Boer Goats except in coloration – you can have any color that you
want, as long as it’s white. They have excellent reproduction, muscular
development, good bones, and strong legs and hooves. Although they have white
hair, they are selected for totally black pigmented skin, horns, hooves and all
bare skin areas to avoid injury by strong ultra-violet rays.
Savanna goats are not seasonal breeders and mating can
usually be done at any time that will ensure enough feed is available at
kidding. They are a very fertile and fecund breed, and a high twinning rate is
generally achieved, even under less than optimal conditions.
Savanna wethers have a good growth rate and are an early- to
medium-maturity type that produces carcasses with good confirmation.
The does have very good mothering ability and great milk
production and produce fast-growing kids. Best of all, they require very little
handling and care due to their disease resistance and limited hoof problems.
Overall,
Savanna Goats are hardy and are ideal for low maintenance input operations and
can be crossed with Boer Goats and other meat and dairy breeds to increase
hardiness and meatiness. Plus Savanna
Goats produce plenty of delicious, mild-tasting meat.
About Savanna Goats
