“A once in a lifetime buck” is how Pacifica Boer Goat stud principal Tracey Woods describes Pacifica Shangaan, Best Boer Goat in Show at Sydney Royal two years in a row.
The only buck ever to be crowned back-to-back champion, Shangaan was a clear standout at the show.
The stud is near Eugowra, and Tracey and her husband Richard Zidarew run 600 breeding does at Pacifica.
They believe they have created a winning formula with their genetics.
“We are just so proud of Shangaan – he truly is an amazing buck,” Tracey said.
“He comes from a line that has great feed conversion.
“Sometimes with the does on that line, we have to cut feed out so they do not become too fat!
“Shangaan was out working the weeks before the show.
“I entered him thinking if I got him in the right condition I would take him and if I didn’t, so be it.
“About three weeks before Sydney and he just popped overnight.
“He wasn’t as big as the year before, about seven or eight kilograms lighter, but still in great condition.”
It has not been all smooth sailing for Pacifica in the lead-up to this year’s show with the dry weather slowing down native pasture regeneration.
“Pasture is non-existent at our place at the moment,” Tracey said.
“We have been hand-feeding for the past six weeks or so and are going through hay like you would not believe.”
What they are doing is definitely working, though, with the four-year-old Shangaan in a class of his own.
“His muscling and the amount of meat he carries stands him out from the rest,” Tracey said.
“The amount of muscle he carries for his length is exceptional. Normally animals his length do not carry that amount of muscle.
“He has a massive amount of meat on his back end and across his loin and shoulders.
“His coat quality is superb – you can see every single muscle when he walks.
“I can’t expect to breed another buck that looks like him, but I would love to.”
Pacifica is hosting a workshop for breeders and interested parties on May 26 to highlight the differences in visual assessment against a scanned assessment.
