A cross between South African and Indian goats, the Boer – the Dutch word for farmer – goats were so named to distinguish them from Angora goats imported into South Africa during the nineteenth century.

The present day Boer goat appeared in the early 1900s and is generally raised as a meat goat.   

Landcorp first imported embryos of the breed into New Zealand in 1989 but the breed  did not become commercially available until the mid-1990s when they were released from quarantine. 

Boer goats gained in popularity as the price for goats’ meat rose. Many dairy goat farmers use a Boer buck over some of their dairy goat does to produce kids that reach their goal weight faster than a purebred dairy goat kid would.

However, Christine Lane has discovered they have another rather unusual use.  A naturopath, Christine has incorporated some of her Boers into her treatments.

“They are just such friendly animals, people seem to find it easier to open up to them,” Christine told Rural Living recently. “Especially Bubbles.”

Bubbles was rejected by her mother and has been hand reared by Christine.

“All animals can be used to help with healing and goats are so personable.”