The winners from the Tasmania Boer Goat Championships

Some of Tasmania’s highest quality stud meat goats were on public display at the recent 6th annual Yolla Co-Op Tasmanian Boer Goat Championships.

Held at the Longford Showground on Sunday, the event saw more than 30 stud Fullblood Boer goats presented by two exhibitors, Sherwood Boer Goats, Latrobe, and Four Winds Boer Goats, Wesley Vale.

Championships classes included junior, intermediate and senior bucks and does — as well as group classes — with animals assessed on structure, balance, breed type, and meat carrying capacity.

First time exhibitor Amanda McHugh of Four Winds Boer Goats said the experience was positive and rewarding for all involved.

“The Championships provided an excellent platform for breeders to showcase a selection of their stud animals to the public as well as other breeders,” Ms McHugh said.

“The opportunity to network and learn with like-minded Boer goat enthusiasts and industry experts at the post-Championships breeders’ workshop was also well worthwhile.”

Presiding over the Championships was Boer Goat Breeders’ Association of Australia (BGBAA) Level 2 Judge Geoff Mitchell, who awarded the Supreme Exhibit for best in show to a senior doe, Sherwood Stacy’s Mom, exhibited by Callan Morse.

Commenting on the event’s broad ribbon winning animals, Mr Mitchell said some would be competitive at the Royal Sydney Show, Australia’s most prestigious Boer goat showcase.

The Championships were established by Mr Morse in 2021 after he identified a need for the state’s commercial meat goat producers to view studstock and seedstock bred in Tasmanian conditions.

He said the Championships have grown in status in recent years, attracting some of the country’s most renowned breeders and industry experts to judge the event.

“The ongoing success of the Championships proves Tasmania’s meat goat industry is being considered increasingly viable by both stud and commercial producers,” Mr Morse said.

“This is likely due to industry barriers including predators, wild-harvested meat, processing challenges, and market access having far less of an impact in the state compared to mainland Australia. 
Following the Championships, a breeders’ workshop was hosted by Mr Mitchell, Ms Mitchell, and renowned Tasmanian veterinarian, Dr Bruce Jackson.

The workshop saw more than a dozen attendees connect theory to practice by assessing animals in the ring using the BGBAA breed standard.

Ms Mitchell then held a question-and-answer session on kidding management, focusing on the husbandry and nutrition requirements of does in kid, managing does with kids at foot, and guiding principles for weaning kids.

A presentation on intestinal parasite management by Dr Bruce Jackson concluded the workshop, before attendees enjoyed a chevon (goat meat) barbecue dinner and networking drinks.

Mr Morse said there were hopes to make the Championships more inclusive of the broader industry in future years.

“I am very aware not all primary producers who run meat goats are interested in being a registered breeder or showing stock. In fact, most are not,” he said.
“However, I believe the Tasmanian meat goat industry would benefit from the inclusion of commercial classes at the Championships, as well as a hoof and hook competition.

“Commercial breeders have indicated their interest in the event expanding in this way, which, with industry support, I am optimistic will occur as early as next year.”