Boer Goat Basics | Tips from Stock Show University®

Boer Goat Basics | Tips from Stock Show University®

Written by: 2024 Sullivan Supply Summer Marketing Intern, Rebecca Burgess

Stock Show University® sat down with Bryce Shipley of Shipley Custom Clipping and talked about a few “Boer Goat Basics” that you should keep in mind all show season-long. Shipley Custom Clipping has a phenomenal track record of consistently making good ones even better, and we asked just a few things we all can do in the barn to look just as good.

Consistency is key, Rome was not built in a day, and a champion is the same way. The first question was, “What are the daily tasks for breeding goats for better hair care?” 

Shipley said — Start with keeping them clean and cool. Realize you can prevent pee stains by keeping shavings fresh and a good ventilation system. Ensure living areas have plenty of air movement to keep ammonia from building up. You, your goats, and your nose will be thankful you keep the area clean and prevent bacteria from growing. The next piece of advice is consistently blowing them out and having a regular routine each week that keeps your goats and yourself more show-ready. Washing and clipping your goat only once before your county show can turn disastrous fast, and the more goats are used to being worked on the stand or table, the better.

Time it just right — Secondly, how do you account for time before getting to the show ring? 

Suggested by Shipley — Try to account for 1 minute per head at bigger shows, but at smaller jackpots, you’re going to gage off of how fast the judge or judges are moving. Like cattle, you must count the number of heads that show before you to determine what time you will show. For example, if your animal is the 65th head in the show order, you must take 65 and multiply it by 1 minute. This will give you the total number of minutes it will take from the beginning of the show until you are in the ring.(65 × 1 = 65 minutes) Now, say the show starts at 8:00 am. It is safe to say that you will be showing around 9:15 a.m. Knowing that information, you should give yourself at least one hour before you show up to fit your dry, clean animal. Modify the time by one hour before time, depending on how many people will be helping you fit. So, for the previously used example, you need to put your clean, dry animal on the table around 9:00 a.m. Goat judges sometimes move quickly through smaller divisions, so please remember this is a good method, but it may not work for your show.

Have a Healthy Hide with Pride—The next question we had was, “What do you recommend to market exhibitors to keep goat hides healthy while continuously clipping during jackpot season? 

He said, “Again, have a consistent routine after shows. Before you leave the show barn, spray everything you and your goats would have touched that is going home with you with a fungus fighter.” Shipley highly suggests Sullivan’s Fighting Five. It takes the guesswork out of fighting those pests. After breaking down with Sullivan’s Break Away anti-residue Shampoo, you want to get all body parts extremely dry. Afterward, we continue alternating 2–3 days a week using Sullivan’s Revive Lite to keep hide health up to par (after a good soap wash or breakdown). This will help that hide retain natural oils soaps can wash out of their hide.

Fitting in and Showing out — Now, the question everyone waits for: “What are the main differences between full-fitting breeding goats and getting market goats ready?”

First and foremost, always check your show rules and regulations before clipping or fitting any goats. Some shows regulate precisely what you can and cannot do. The main difference between fitting breeding goats and market goats is mostly body hair length. Breeding goats will have longer body hair and more emphasis on overall presence and silhouette. You can utilize that hair to get the desired shape and ring look. Market goats are going to be slicker and emphasize on mass and build for a more market-ready show day look. Leg hair will still be fit the same way, but as each animal is different, it can change their presence in the ring from the ground up.