The first part of the investigation included a study of the frequency of blood factors in different goat breeds from Europe and South Africa using sheep blood typing reagents detecting related red cell antigens in the goat. It appeared that the European breeds – mainly the breeds from Switzerland – differed from the Angora and Boer goats from South Africa . The next part of the investigation summarized typing of the most important goat breeds in South Africa – Angora , Boer and native goats – with locally produced goat blood typing reagents. Furthermore, other genetic markers were used and haemoglobins, albumins and transferrins were useful in the establishment of breed differences, whilst no polymorph isms could be found in the 6-PGD, PGI, PGM, acid phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase. The selection of Boer goats from the native goats did not lead to measurable differences in gene frequencies of the known genetic markers. It became clear that polymorphism like blood groups and enzyme types are less responsive to artificial selection. Preliminary breeding experiments indicate that presumably one major gene changed the exterior of the multiple-coloured native goats to the typical white bodied red headed Boer goat pattern.