Australian Breeding Services (ABS) was founded in 1988 by Geof and Celia Burnett-Smith, with the express purpose of collecting livestock embryos from Africa for importation to Australia.

The company collected goat and cattle embryos from Africa which were painstakingly transferred, through the quarantine system, into Australia. As Australia has a world renowned, clean, green, reputation, the quarantine process of introducing the new genetics to Australia was a slow and thorough procedure. ABS had to undergo a Scrapie Freedom Assurance Program which required five and a half years in quarantine prior to release onto Australian pastures. This quarantine period was closely monitored throughout by Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS).

Ironically, exports to other parts of the world where less stringent regulations applied, were able to be made directly from the quarantine station in the south east of South Australia.

ABS developed as an export orientated company which specialised in introducing the Boer goats to other regions of the world.

Embryos, semen and live animals have been transferred from Terraweena to numerous countries including India, Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, the US and New Zealand.

Whilst servicing the export industry, ABS, once released from quarantine in 1995, provided breeding stock to every state of Australia. So well suited to the drier regions of Australia, the Boer goats are now widely utilised in broad acre livestock production, crossbreeding with the local feral females and producing kids which display all the benefits of hybrid vigour. Adaptable by nature, the Boer goat was quickly accepted as an animal which could fit into almost any farming operation large or small. Terraweena Boers were purchased to found other studs in varied regions of the country or to be run as a diversification to main stream cattle/sheep/cropping operations.

Prior to release from quarantine in October 1995, ABS established the Boer Goat Breeders' Association of Australia (BGBAA) which is now the National Association. One of the bucks used in the original embryo collection in Africa was used for the design of the Association's logo. The industry magazine, Boer Briefs, was conceived and designed by ABS. ABS has been largely responsible for establishing the export markets which are now being served by the industry.

The company has exported large numbers of Boers to a number of countries, most particularly China and Malaysia, buying in additional animals from other breeders to fill the volume orders. As founders of ABS, Geof and Celia have been recognised by the Boer Goat Breeders' Association of Australia as being (a) Founders of the Import Industry (b) Founders of the Export Market (c) Forebears of the Stud Industry (d) Unsung Heroes for general contribution to the industry.

Terraweena Boers have been bred to survive and are known for their strong constitutions, mothering and walking abilities. They are perfectly suited to the role for which they have been bred – the establishment of Boer goat enterprises in any region of the world.

We are aware of the great responsibility we have had in establishing a new industry for Australia and, subsequently, the world. We are enormously gratified with the success of the breed and its acceptance internationally.

We would like to congratulate the South African breeders, Mr T B Jordaan in particular, who identified the potential of the ‘smooth coated ewes with light red heads' in 1918. These ewes were the founding stock of what is now one of the most exciting breeds and industries in modern agriculture.

Too numerous to mention individually, we would like to sincerely thank the breeders, financiers, quarantine department, government officials, promoters, business advisors, managers, technicians and support staff to name a few, who have allowed us to succeed in the successful establishment of the Boer goat.