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Four indigenous veld goat types
I
ndigenous goats arrived in
South Africa with migrating
tribes and are found in the
specific areas where the
different ethnic groups
settled.
The general appearance of
these goats tends to support
theories that they originated
in different ecosystems.
The Indigenous Veld Goat
(IVG) was officially registered
as a breed in 2006 and a
breeders' society was established.
The concept of an indigenous
goat breed makes most
people think of the redheaded Boer Goat, which was
developed in South Africa
during the previous century.
The Boer Goat is famous
throughout the world as a
hardy meat goat, with a high
resistance to disease and an
ability to adapt well to hot,
dry semi desert conditions.
However, this breed is the
result of selective breeding
which drew on a variety of
goats found locally, particularly in the Eastern Cape.
According to the Indigenous
Veld Goat Society there are
four distinct eco types of
indigenous goat. These do not
include the Boer Goat.
An ecotype is a genetically
distinct population of plants,
animals, or other organisms
that is found in a particular
habitat, but still within a
species.
The ecotypes are:
K Nguni type goats (Mbuzi) –
multi-coloured with semi
pendulous ears;
K Eastern Cape Xhosa –
multi-coloured with lob ears
K Northern Cape, Lob Eared,
Speckled (Skilder) Goats
Continued on page 41
Indigenous Veld Goats of the multicoloured Nguni type.
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