What is the Herd Book?
The Herd Book is the database that holds the pedigree records of the Breeder member’s stock.
Members are responsible for keeping correct pedigree records.
Each member has access to the pedigree records in the database in a read only format. Each member may view their goat’s pedigree online.
Breeder members yearly dues are $30.00 per farm/ranch – household.
A breeder may have one herd-book number and have multiple breeds within the database. Each colour coat of the Boer goat is separated and named.
Multiple breeds may be added to one breeders herd. Each breeder may create a composite pedigree that is complete with all breed information. This allows a breeder to create complete composite and breed up printable pedigrees. (F1, F2, F3, etc)
Each Member may print their pedigree certificates from home. Those that have inspected ‘Stud’ stock will receive a permanent stud number that is assigned by the Meat Goat Society. This is in addition to the certificate number issued by the database.
The ‘Stud’ Book consists of stock listed in the breeder member data base that has been inspected by two ‘judges’ approved by the Meat Goat Society. Judges approved may be (ABGA) judges, Australian, and South African accredited judges and inspectors approved by the Meat Goat Society. ‘Stud’ stock will receive a permanent sealed certificate from the Meat Goat Society. Cost is $10.00 per certificate.
Flock stock may also receive a regular certificate marked ‘Flock’. This provides a pedigree that is certified by the Meat Goat Society, showing the animal has been inspected. Cost is $10.00 per certificate. These animals are correct but may have something that doesn’t follow the standard, but can produce stock that will become stud.
Click here to learn more about the process. (coming soon)
Judges may be certified by taking the Goat Producers or Boer Goat Course offered by the Meat Goat Society each year and the exam. Details are on the information page.
More info to come as we plan 2023.
What is a database, table, and record?
Database
Table
Record
The Meat Goat Society uses a relational database. A database is essentially a collection of organized information, and a relational database is a type of database that uses relationships.
This type of database defines database relationships in the form of tables. It is also called Relational DBMS, which is the most popular DBMS type in the market. Database example of the RDBMS system include MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server database.
A table contains a list of items of the same type—like people, ideas, or objects. Each base needs at least one table, and this base is tracking different types of meat goats so the base is divided into multiple tables.
Each ‘client’ Breeder Member in the Meat Goat Society has a herd book number to track their pedigree herd book information. The information contained in the table and is a client’s herd book, farm/ranch name, and general contact information, is kept up to date by the breeder member.
Each row that you see in the grid is called a record. Each record is an individual goat in a table and could be any different breed, designated by the breeder.
Each member is a client and has a herd number. Under that herd number the member may record any breed they choose, that is available in the database. This is for record keeping purposes. In this record the owner may record information under the record of each individual animal
Opportunities:
The Meat Goat Society provides each goat breeder an opportunity to have one database for their different breeds of goats. We offer each producer a chance to connect with other breeders. Our first focus is the Boer Goat in America and around the world. We provided a place for the Boer Goat breeder to improve their stock by dividing it by colour coat and working on “keep & cull” to better the quality of their stock. Adding the other breeds also allows a goat breeder to house their pedigree information in one system. In cross breeding situations, breeders receive a complete pedigree with all information included.
Colour Coat Variations:
There are many variations of the colour coat in the Boer goat family, like the Kalahari (red), Dapple, Black, Chroma, (paint), and Savanna (white). Essentially, we gave the different colour coats, of the Boer goat, a nic name. We felt it was time to provide a place to keep track of pedigrees by colour coat. The traditional white body, dark headed stock follows the ‘Boer goat’ in the coat colour standard.
We recognize the variations and feel that the breeders with colour coats should be able to compare those animals and be recognized and rewarded. ‘Show’ or ‘evaluation’, the same thing takes place in an arena. A breeder brings their best stock to be evaluated by a judge. The way an evaluation takes place for the Meat Goat Society, is a little different than a regular show. Stock is presented as natural as they can be. Cleaning and clipping the animal is acceptable. Itis also based upon the tooth rule when combining ages, and weight by classes for milk tooth stock.
Our annual National event is the Boer Goat Congress. Anyone may attend. It is open to the Nation.
Other breeds are included in the Meat Goat Society database so members may create a pedigree with multiple breeds and retain the pedigree information on the certificate. The purpose of the additional breeds listed in the data base isn’t to take place of the registry a breeder already uses. It is an opportunity to keep pedigree records in one table for all of the breeders stock and in particular, composite stock. A composite animal is a cross bred animal that does not fit the standard of any other breed and/or is a combination of multiple breeds.
This is also an opportunity for breeders of Market youth show goats, to keep a record and print a pedigree for the youth to show the animal is in their name.
The Herd Book is where all goat stock information is recorded by the membership. This is your complete herd book record. Each breeder may record all breeds they own in one database. This does not take place of individual breed associations that a breeder uses to record their stock. Please continue to utilize all methods of registering your stock.
We are not competing, we offer an opportunity to enhance your breeding and pedigree program information.
Responsibility: Each member has a responsibility to keep accurate records. The genetic value of each animal can be best used if correctly recorded in the database with DNA. To receive a Stud certificate, a DNA test is required.
Members are responsible for the accuracy of their information.
Each membership gives the breeder an opportunity to record their genetics as a individual or a family. There are a few options for membership. Individual, family, and youth. A family membership allows a youth to print certificates in their name. A youth membership is required.
- Individual memberships are for one person. Someone that does not have a spouse, could be a youth, or may a breeder that wants a herd prefix separate from a family membership.
- Youth memberships are the same as an individual membership, but discounted for the youth member. Each youth may print certificates to show ownership.
- Family memberships include the spouse and child(ren). A $20.00 annual Youth membership may be added to include stock in your child’s name, for printable certificates. This will show the family herd prefix without purchasing a youth herd book number and prefix. If your child will have their own herd, purchase a herd book number for them. If it will remain a family, an additional herd prefix is not needed.