The American Boer Goat Association has been the premier registry since the Boer goat came to the United States in 1993. The ABGA office is located in San Angelo, Tx, and is flourishing with three thousand active and junior members.

One of the dreams of the first ABGA Board of Directors was to implement a program to recognize the best of the best. Policies and procedures were drafted in 1995 and approved in 1996 . Subsequent Boards, including several committees, labored for another two years in the development of the criteria and procedures for an Ennobled Herdbook. Several breeders from South Africa validated the merit of this program and contributed ideas toward its construction.

Now the cream has risen to the top in the American Boer Goat Association. After three years in the planning and two years spent developing strategy, the Ennobled Herdbook has identified four Boers who have met the strenuous criteria and earned the right to a new certificate declaring each an Ennobled Buck/Doe.

The four Boers to attain this prestigious recognition are Kaptein, Tabu, Ubora and 519. Kaptein (buck) was owned by Don Smith of Talpa, Tx, Norman Kohls of Eldorado, Tx, and Paul Payne of Robert Lee, Tx. Kaptein died a few years back, but, his progeny’s points have brought him forward into the Ennobled Herdbook. Powell/Holman (Claire Powell, Eldorado, Tx, and Sharon Holman, Sonora, Tx) are the owners of Tabu. He is now deceased, but during his lifetime he accumulated many points in the showring and now his offspring are following in his footsteps. Downen Livestock Co., Early, Tx, is the proud owner of both Ubora (buck) and 519 (doe). Ubora was bred by A. P. Venter and 519 was bred by Downen Livestock.

To obtain the distinguished title of "Ennobled" a fullblood or purebred Boer Goat must meet or exceed the following criteria. A Boer goat must pass visual inspection and earn a total of eighty (80) points, with no less than thirty (30) of these total points having been earned by combining points from at least three (3) of his/her progeny (sons/daughters) and the progeny must passed visual inspection. Non-inspected Boer goats can achieve Ennobled status through their progeny, when at least three (3) of their progeny have earned a combined total of one hundred (100) points and have passed visual inspection as certified by the ABGA Secretary. These points may be earned through the show ring or through performance tests. ABGA will be announcing more ennobled goats in the near future. There are several bucks/does that have met most of the criteria to be placed in the Ennobled Herdbook, however, their progeny have not been visual inspected.

Fullblood/purebred Boer bucks and does who attain registration into the Ennobled Herdbood provide breeders with visual definitions of the Breed Standards. The Ennoblement program is meant to provide a direction and an incentive for the continual improvement and growth of the Boer goat.

The ABGA has always been dedicated to the improvement of the breed, education of the public and the promotion of the Boer goat. The ABGA is giving their membership what they want - timely and affordable registrations, sanctioned shows, education and the promotion of the breed.