Newbie question: what does it mean?

I see ads for goats for that include a percentage. For example, just saw one that reads "50% ABGA Paint Doe" I understand the last two words refer to the goats coloring, and ABGA to the Boer association. But what does the percentage refer to? I originally thought it would indicate the % of Boer in the animal, but if that were the case wouldn't they specify what the other half of the cross was?

I see % numbers in a wide range, incl, IIRC, as high as 98%. So, what does the % mean??

In most cases I would surmise that is a fancy term for mutt. I see ads for some mixed up breeds that I think people don't know what they are, so a "percentage" sure sounds better than crossbred. Momma was a purebred, Daddy was a Some ads are for some awful looking animals that their owners have tagged with a breed name, but it is obvious the breed search would need a DNA test!

I've seen it when looking at boers for sale. Haven't seen it with other breeds... So...

@Ferguson K @ragdollcatlady

For some pure breeds, it can mean that semen was imported and used on a breed already here. the resulting offspring was then half or 50%, then bred back using semen again. If a country's livestock is forbidden to be imported because of disease, this is often the only way to get a particular breed here.

But seriously, some of these ads are really ridiculous.

Not necessarily. When dealing in meat goats you will often see % 's .
Example- Many bring in Kiko's or Spanish goats to cross into Boers. Why? Because of the Kiko's and Spanish goats ability to raise their young for high wean weights with little to no grain, also better kidding results, and better hooves, and parasite resistance.
So if you are looking for Boers but want to start a herd with %'s then you get a better price and those does are bred to purebred Boer Bucks. Each generation the percentage goes up.

You see this in Kiko's as well. Many will cross Spanish and Kikos. Helps for genetic diversity as well.

When we sell a percentage buck they cannot have papers. They are considered a commercial buck. Many that buy commercial bucks are raising their meatgoats for meat and not breeding stock.

It is advantageous to buy % goats (does) and bring in a great buck.

The New Zealand is 100% New Zealand. Even if I have a Kiko (which is derived from the New Zealand) and breed it to a NZ it will never attain the status of a NZ. It will be a PB KIKO though.

Most people will buy quality % does and breed to PB bucks and market bucks and keep does. Those does get bred to a PB buck and the % goes up and so on.

So they are often well planned and thought out breedings not just "mutts".

The dairy goat world does this as well but the are called "experimental" . They do this for genetic diversity as well as other reasons. A lower butterfat breed will be crossed with a higher butterfat breed and the same process begins.

When looking at %'s always check dam and sire to check for extra teats. Not a trait you want. Look at structure, legs, capacity etc.

Evaluating a Boer and evaluating a Kiko & Spanish will be quite different however.

Part 2

Boer x Spanish= 50/50 If selling for Boer then you would say 50% Boer

That offspring 50% bred to PB Boer= 75% Boer

That offspring bred to PB Boer= 87.5%

That offspring bred to PB Boer= 93.75 (94%) usually can be registered as Boer

Going up one more generation = 96.875

So depending on which breeds and which way you are breeding is generally how they are advertised.

Part3

Some of our old Kikos and kiko %'s
Adults and kids



Kids! and big fat wide load to the right



Good eatin'

Dams and kids and Callie our Anatolian







Can you tell who the percentages are? PB?

Sometimes an animal can be purebred, but without papers to prove it, might be eligible for a percentage registration.

The 50% does I got from @babsbag are actually 100%, the dad being registered as either a purebred or fullblood. But without papers on the dams, they are only eligible to be registered as 50%, the amount able to be shown by the sires paperwork. That might be why you see "as high as" or "actually" in an add when the paperwork may state a lower percentage. It is just the percent that can be verified by the paperwork available on the parents.

ABGA will let you register a doe at 50%.

• (50%) Part-bred American Boer Goat:
  • (i) Sire is a Fullblood or American Purebred Boer goat and the dam is of unknown ancestry or of another breed.
  • (ii) Dam is a Fullblood or American Purebred Boer goat and the sire is of unknown ancestry or of another breed.
• B. ¾ (75%) Part-bred American Boer Goat: Sire is an a Fullblood or American Purebred Boer goat and the dam is a ½ (50%) American Boer Goat.
• C. 7/8 (88%) Part-bred American Boer Goat: Sire is a Fullblood or American Purebred Boer goat and the dam is a ¾ (75%) American Boer Goat.

A buck has to be 97% Boer to considered Purebred and a doe has to be 94% Boer. Anything lower than that they are simply called a percentage if they are registered and commercial if they are not registered.

Trust me, it gets confusing at times.
http://abga.org/about-abga/rules-regulations/

As you can see there is a good bit about %'s.
Each registry will have their own rules.

IMO %'s can be a GREAT way to start out.