The Kalahari goat breed

A report by livestock experts says that the Kalahari goat breed is a product of South Africa.

This red-coloured goat has become widespread in many parts of the world today, although it originated in South Africa. The name Kalahari is the name of the desert that stretches the border of South Africa to Botswana and Namibia.

This type of goat is known for producing meat, while other types of goats are known for producing milk or wool.

Due to their origin, these goats can easily withstand conditions including sun, drought, cold and lice that attack cattle. This means that there is little need to vaccinate or treat Kalahari goats. Kalahari goat farmers spend very little money. Like other goats, this goat feeds on a variety of forest trees without relying on a particular type of food.

Female Kalahari goats are known to have enough udders to produce milk for rearing lambs. The way this goat’s udder sits on the body, and the amount of milk it produces are some of the main characteristics of the Kalahari goat.

Red is the most prominent colour in the beauty of Kalahari goats. A Kalahari goat gives birth three times in two years, which makes their herd grow rapidly.

Its red colour helps it hide in places with the red rocks, brown grass, and other such places. These goats have long ears that help fight insects, while their horns are not too big.

The body of Kalahari goats is very similar to the Boer goat with red heads. These goats are also widely used to breed other types of goats. The male Kalahari goat is much larger than the female goat in terms of body structure.

Research by the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa states that the genetic characteristics of the Kalahari show that it is not interbred with other goat breeds but is a genetically independent breed of goat.

Due to its size, this goat was recognised in the year 1998 after which a farmers’ association for this type of goat called Kalahari Red Club was established in 1999.

Dr. Marida Roets has done extensive research on this type of goat working as an independent researcher.

“It does not have the characteristics of another type of goat, it is an independent goat that is not associated with another goat,” explained Roets.

Farmers Wallace Kier, Ray Anderson and Peter Fith sent the embryos of this goat to Australia from South Africa. “Us sending this goat’s embryos to Australia made the farmers of that country start to recognise the Kalahari as a goat that can be bred, besides this goat has spread to other countries,” said Kier.

The arrival of these goats in Australia from South Africa caused the farmers of Australia to establish the Kalahari Red Goat Society of Australia. The beauty and red colour of this goat are always an attraction for goat breeders in South Africa and other countries.