Register Boer does with no pedigree through ABGA’s new Native on Appearance program. Native on Appearance Register Boer does with no pedigree through ABGA’s new Native on Appearance program. How the Approval Process Works Submit the completed application and required pictures online, via email, or by mail. A registration clerk will review each application. During the program’s first month, all decisions will be further reviewed by the Executive Director. After this probationary period, only denied applications will escalate for final review. Why “Native on Appearance” Matters This program offers breeders an accessible entry point to formal recognition while ensuring the integrity of the Boer breed remains strong. By welcoming does that meet visual standards, we’re opening the door to more participation, more diversity, and ultimately, a stronger community of breeders. What is “Native on Appearance”? Under Rule 207B, does that are otherwise ineligible for registration or pedigree record—but appear to be Boer goats—can now be evaluated for a special NOA designation. Once approved, these does will receive a 12.5% breed composition registration and a unique ABGA listing number that begins with “NOA.” Ineligible for Percentage Show - The minimum percentage to show a doe at an ABGA sanctioned event is 25%. Native on Appearance does will not meet this requirement and therefore be ineligible to show as a Percentage Doe. However, they can be exhibited in the wether dam division. It’s important to note: this program is limited to does/females only . Bucks and wethers are not eligible for NOA registration. Application Requirements The NOA application process is simple, much like a normal registration: Application Fee : $20 per animal (non-refundable) Documentation : Herd prefix, herd name, and identifiers such as tattoos, scrapie tags/federal ID, or microchips Pictures : Up to two images allowed, with at least one clear profile picture showing the full body, legs, head, ears, and horns Photos must feature only one animal and be of high quality. Blurry, distant, or group photos will not be accepted. Acceptable Profile Pictures Unacceptable Profile Pictures What Are We Looking For? While the traditional Boer goat is white-bodied with a red head, color variations are welcome. The approval committee will focus on visual traits consistent with Boer goats—without penalizing for folded ears, pigmentation issues, incorrect bites, or nonstandard teat structures. However, any significant signs of influence from breeds like Pygmy, Myotonic, Kiko, Spanish, Savannah, or Dairy goats will result in disqualification from the NOA program. Examples of Approved NOA Does Examples of Unapproved NOA Does Ready to Register? Follow the step-by-step instructions to register your NOA animals on iCompete. Download a printable version of these instructions ↓ Native on Appearance-iCompete Instructions . Download • 419KB What is “Native on Appearance”? Register Boer does with no pedigree through ABGA’s new Native on Appearance program. Registration and Standards Related Posts & Updates Mar 31, 2025 Native on Appearance Program: Expanding Opportunity for ABGA Members Register Boer does with no pedigree through ABGA’s new Native on Appearance program. Read More May 19, 2023 How to Tattoo Your Goat ABGA Member Dawn Foster of No Step Ranch in Sterling City, Texas takes us through the steps on how to tattoo your goat. Read More Mar 17, 2023 ABGA Broadens Horizons with Wether Incentive Program Ahead of National Show Discover the Boer Goat Advantage (BGA) program by the American Boer Goat Association, offering cash prizes and incentives for wether goat breeders at national and regional shows! Read More

Day 1 has come to a close! Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 has come to a close! Day 1 has come to a close! Tomorrow's show order is posted inside the show office hallway just outside the show ring. Senior Market Showmanship begins at 8am. For more information or questions, contact Rodney Wilson, National Show Chair, region.10@abga.org

The JABGA Silent Auction will begin on June 9, 2024. Silent Auction Silent Auction The JABGA Silent Auction will begin on June 9, 2024. The JABGA Silent Auction will begin on June 9, 2024 on Herd Builder Pro Auctions . For more information or questions, contact Rodney Wilson, National Show Chair, region.10@abga.org

ABGA provides an opportunity to promote & sell your products & services to over a thousand exhibitors & spectators from across the country! Vendors Vendors ABGA provides an opportunity to promote & sell your products & services to over a thousand exhibitors & spectators from across the country! Thank you to our participating vendors! KENNA CONES THE GOAT SHED For more information or questions, contact Rodney Wilson, National Show Chair, region.10@abga.org

Back to All Ambassadors 2013 Dr. Frank Pinkerton Marvin Shurley The Kearney Family Dr. Frank Craddock

Back to All Ambassadors 2022 Don Smith

The American Boer Goat Association honors and appreciates individuals who contribute to promoting the American Boer Goat Breed. 2024 Ambassador of the Breed Nominations 2024 Ambassador of the Breed Nominations The American Boer Goat Association honors and appreciates individuals who contribute to promoting the American Boer Goat Breed. Nominations for Ambassador of The Breed are now closed. Thank you for voting! The American Boer Goat Association honors and appreciates individuals who contribute to promoting the American Boer Goat Breed. Every year, our members nominate candidates for the ABGA's Ambassador of the Breed, who are then recognized at the ABGA & JABGA National Show. For more information or questions, contact Rodney Wilson, National Show Chair, region.10@abga.org

Back to All Ambassadors 2019 Coni Ross Fred Homeyer Joe Tipton Coni Ross, Fred Homeyer (right), Joe Tipton (not pictured)

Back to All Ambassadors 2020 No nominees due to COVID19

​Goat meat has grown in popularity in the US thanks to ethnic markets which center their goat consumption around religious holidays. Holiday Goat Meat Marketing Calendar Goat meat has grown in popularity in the US thanks to ethnic markets which center their goat consumption around religious holidays. Holiday Religion 2025 2026 2027 Chinese New Year Jan 29 Feb 17 Feb 6 Eid ul-Adha - Festival of the Sacrifice Muslim June 6 - 7 May 27 - 30 May 16 - 19 Muharramm/Hajra - Islamic New Year Muslim June 26 - 27 June 16 June 5 Mawlid al-Nabi - Prophet's Birthday Muslim Sept 4 - 5 Aug 25 Aug 14 Ramadan - Month of Fasting Muslim Feb 28 - Mar 29 Feb 17 - Mar 18 Feb 7 - Mar 8 Eid ul-Fitr - Festival of Fast Breaking Muslim Mar 30 - 31 March 19 - 20 March 9 - 10 Pesch (Passover) Jewish April 12 - 20 April 1 - 9 April 21 - 29 Rosh Hashanah Jewish Sept 22 - 24 Sep 11 - 13 Oct 1 - 3 Chanukkah Jewish Dec 14 - 22 Dec 4 - 12 Dec 24 - Jan1 Western (Roman) Easter Christian April 4 April 5 March 28 Easter Orthodox (Greek) Easter Christian April 20 April 12 May 2 Christmas (Western) Christian Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec 25 Epiphany, Feast of the Nativity Christian Jan 6 Jan 6 Jan 6 Many goat producers have succeeded in targeting various ethnic markets by planning their production and breeding schedules around specific religious holidays. The traditions of these holidays vary widely between different religious belief systems and can affect the preferred size, weight, sex, and harvesting method of the animals usually consumed. The holiday calendar below is a great resource for producers to plan the breeding and sale of specific animal groups for slaughter at auction or directly to the consumer. Dependent on the number of days within each religious year, the actual timing of these holidays may shift from year to year. Here’s a guide to the preferred size, weight, sexes, and animals preferred at each holiday (courtesy of Ohio State University and Cornell University ). Christian Holidays Western/Roman Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 20-40 lbs Acceptable: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 40-50 lbs Less Acceptable: Milk-fed kids weighing less than 20 lbs Eastern/Greek (Orthodox) Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 25-50 lbs Christmas: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 50 lbs and under Islamic Holidays Eid ul Adha – The Festival of Sacrifice: Preferred: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-80 lbs Acceptable: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-100 lbs Muharram – Islamic New Year: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Ramadan: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Eid al Fitr – The Breaking of the Ramadan Fast: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Jewish Holidays Chanukah: Preferred: Young milk-fed goat kids Strategic Goat Production: Aligning Breeding with Ethnic Market Demands and Religious Holidays Optimize goat production for ethnic markets by aligning breeding with religious holidays for better sales and consumer targeting. Meat and Marketing Related Posts & Updates Oct 4, 2025 USDA Quarterly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Report View the USDA National Quarterly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Report. Read More Sep 2, 2022 Goat From Farm to Table With the growing popularity of Caribbean and Indian cuisine in America, goat meat is finding its way into many more recipes. Read More May 13, 2022 Nutrition of Meat Goats Nutrition of Meat Goats. A study by Dr. David Fernandez and Dr. Chelsey Ann Ahrens of University of Arkansas. Read More

Back to All Ambassadors 2017 The Ryals Family

Back to All Ambassadors 2025 Roger McSwain I am deeply humbled to be selected as the 2025 Ambassador of the Breed. This award is truly the highest honor anyone in this industry could receive. Like those who have achieved this before me, I am very grateful to my peers for bestowing this prestigious distinction upon me. My wife Jennifer and I own and operate RM Ranch in Cherryville, North Carolina. I have been raising Boer goats and operating this ranch for the last 30 years. My family has been farming the surrounding area since the late 1800's. My father raised Limousin cattle on this very farm and taught me quite a lot as a child about breeding and genetics. In the late 1980s and early 90s I competed in training and showing horses until moving to a species that my two children, Chris and Amber, could participate with. I purchased the first set of Boer goats after my children were old enough to start showing livestock in 1995 from Jack Mauldin I was fortunate to meet Anton Ward in 1998 at the first show I attended, the North Carolina State fair in Raleigh. Anton was instrumental in my earliest understanding of the various aspects of breeding and raising Boer goats. He also introduced me to the various techniques involved in advanced reproduction. Since then, I have been actively participating in advanced reproductive technologies. I was fortunate enough to perform many of these with great pioneers in embryo transfer in the Boer goat’s breed like John and Jackie Edwards. In an effort to further my formal education in the breed, I decided to attempt to pass as a certified judge. I was extremely fortunate to be 1 of 38 people who trained and tested, to become certified judges, under the South African Judges. When I say fortunate, I mean I was one of only three people, from that group of 38, who graduated with a judging license in 2001. Since then, I was lucky to judge shows all over the country including majors such as the Fort Worth Stock show in 2015. In 2012 I traveled internationally to judge goats in Quebec Canada. In 2006 I traveled to South Africa and attended their national show. I also visited various farms where I saw the birthplace of the modern-day Boer goat. It was on these farm tours that I was able to visit Lukas Burger’s farm and see the animals used to create the last imports of frozen embryos sent to the United States. Many of the offspring from those were sent to the Powell-Holman Farm in Texas in 2007. I would later be fortunate enough to acquire some of those foundation genetics for my own herd. One of the most rewarding parts of my Boer goat journey has been the opportunity to learn from many great breeders. Some of which are true ambassadors of the Boer goat breed. Beyond that, the chance to give back, to teach and mentor new breeders has been extremely satisfying to me. Whether their goals are in the show ring, breeding, or understanding breed standards and judging conformation it is truly rewarding to help others succeed in their own Boer goat journey. “Success is shaped by those you surround yourself with. Everything we’ve achieved—whether in production, the show ring, or the sale ring—has been made possible by the support and guidance of others. Many individuals have helped forge our path, and for that, we’re truly grateful.”