Cadenza Boer Goat Stud - Victoria, Australia

The South African Boer Goat

Young Boer kids.

“If ever the stars reached down and touched a human being, it was the unknown man or woman who first conceived of capturing and keeping a goat instead of hunting one”.

While there is some question about the full genetic makeup of the South African Boer Goat, it is generally agreed that it is primarily the result of South African breeders taking the best of their local goats and breeding for a true meat goat.
The improvement in the breed over the past 20 years in particular, is truly outstanding and is an absolute credit to the Stud breeders in South Africa. The modern Boer Goat is a robust, fertile, and strong bodied goat that meets the market specifications for prime kid in about half the time that a feral goat will. Under good farming conditions the doe will usually raise twins and the weight of the twins together at five to six months will often nearly equal the body weight of their dam.

The history of Cadenza Boer Goat Stud

Day old doe kid.

Cadenza Boer Goat Stud was one of the first Boer Goat Studs to be developed in Australia. Commencing in 1996 with a group of animals imported from New Zealand, the stud is now recognised as one of the largest studs in the country. Only the best breeding principles are used with a focus on both the commercial attributes of the animals together with beauty and correctness of form.
The 320 acre stud is located near the Gippsland coast about three hours from Melbourne.
Currently running approximately 250 breeding stock and 150 kids, the property provides an ideal climate for breeding animals suitable for the development of farmed goat meat products. There is a strong commercial focus in the breeding with recording and assessment of bucks and does according to their ability to grow quickly and maintain body condition. In addition, Cadenza Boers is very successful in the show-ring, with many of the Cadenza stock taking home broad ribbons and promoting the stud with their substance and trueness to type.
Cadenza Boers is a member of the Boer Goat Breeders Association of Australia with the identifying stud code of CA1.

What's new at Cadenza

Young kids are carefully weaned with a minimum of stress.

The kids from 2011. The kid drop was later than usual this year and this was intentional.    It is always an issue of when to kid as it can be cold and windy during early spring and this means the kids are at significant risk to be chilled down before they get a drink of colostrum.    Kidding started here in September and the last large group end of November.    All kids are safely on the ground and approximately half the kids have now been weaned are in the kidplan system.   Growth rate of the kids is an important component in the search for superior genetics.
Coming events. The yearling does and bucks have now been classified and selections taken place for the show team for the 2012 year.     They have been run under good paddock conditions so all had the same chance.   Pictures of the best will be presented in the Bucks and Does sections.
Combined stud production auction.  This was the 8th annual production sale held in conjunction with Winfield Boers.   The sale is now over and congratulations to the buyers of Cadenza animals.   Buyers were very discerning and it was pleasing to see they were willing to bid higher for for the better quality animals. Most of the Cadenza Boers for sale were yearlings and these had all been classified and also had Lambplan performance measures included on their information sheets.   This requirement for performance measures, especially for the bucks, is an indication of an industry "coming of age".   More about these measures in the later pages of the web-site.
Cadenza CA1FD0051 is again successful being awarded Supreme Boer Goat at Berwick Show Sunday February 26 2012. Judged by Mr. Mal Morgan, this doe was awarded Grand Champion Doe, and then went on to beat the outstanding Ghin Ghin buck to take her place as Supreme Boer exhibit.

Cadenza CA1FD0051. Supreme Boer Goat at Berwick show Feb 2012. With Judge Mal Morgan.

The genetics.

Cadenza Boers has always used the very best genetics available. While there is still some of the very early influence of the genetics imported into Australia in the 1990's, since then the stud has sourced genetics from some of the very best bucks available including National Champions. Of these, Stately, Burger, and Stone Cold genetics are more recent additions. The stud also purchased argueably the best known of the Amani sires, Ozzy, who has been used quite extensively this year. The foundation strength of the does falls heavily on old Meggs. His true identification is MG FW0084, he was an imported South African embryo sired by the famous UL48. While he is still alive here, at 11 years of age, the spirit is willing but his body is starting to give out a little. He resides in the geriatric paddock with two of his favourite does, He still has legs and bone and strength that would put many bucks to shame. Notice RIP. On 21st March 2012 Meggs was humanely put down due to declining health. While his frame was still structurally sound, he had cataracts and had become totally blind, and was losing weight. A great buck and we will miss him enormously.

Ginger Meggs. Strength and correctness

Cadenza Bart. Sired by Meggs.

Yearling Bucks

Kid sired by Meggs. Correctness and strength

Doe kids sired by Meggs

The stud management

Showing is a chance to catch up with friends

Carole Axton is the Stud Manager. Carole has been breeding goats for over 25 years commencing with stud Angoras and then Stud Boers when they were released from quarantine. She is an active member of the Boer Goat Breeders Association of Australia having served on the Federal and State Boards of the Association. Carole is currently the Stud representative for the Victorian Branch of the Association. Committed to training programs, objective and subjective assessment of animals, Carole also finds time to write articles and publications that deal with Boer Goat breeding and is involved in producing the Victorian Boer Goat Breeders newsletter. Many education programs have been held at the home of Cadenza Boers including, Breeders Workshops, Information and husbandry days, and Judges Schools. Carole is also a qualified judge assessed by the Boer Goat Breeders Association of Australia. When you purchase animals from this stud, you will be sure to receive excellent advice and after service.

The training

The Stud has been involved in significant training events at the farm. A number of Breeders Workshops has been held here with the highest qualified presenters available. In addition the farm has been open for information days and husbandry workshops. Presently the stud is part of the Department of Primary Industries study of goat production issues, where any deaths are autopsied, mineral levels monitored, worm burdens and drench resistance studies undertaken. There is a philosophy for the Cadenza Stud that education and training is a responsibility for all good studs and that those with knowledge have a responsibility to offer it to others. Details of training days and events will be published on this website as they come to hand.