Goatmeat

NSW is the largest supplier of rangeland goats for processing.
NSW goatmeat production increased 41%, in line with national trends.
Goat prices outperformed lamb and mutton in 2021-22.

Rangeland goats are a key source of farm income for parts of Western NSW. The industry has seen a significant rise in output following an extended period of favourable conditions post-drought. An increasing number of producers have adopted semi-managed or managed systems. The rangeland goat population is expected to increase again as wetter, cooler weather conditions last through 2022 and producers keep does and kids on farm.

Production

Eastern States Goat Slaughter by Month²¹¹

FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022

Download data (.XLSX)

NSW goatmeat production increased 41% to 477 tonnes in 2021-22, following the national trend. NSW is a major supplier of goats to other states for processing, with Australian production increasing 47% to 24,091 tonnes. The post-drought recovery in the population allowed for higher offtake during the year, and Victorian processors were not affected by COVID-related restrictions this financial year. Slaughter numbers in NSW increased 38% to 31,002 head, while Australian goat turnoff increased 52% to 1.46 million head. For Australia, this was the highest level since 2017-18, and marginally above the 5 year average. Victoria was the largest processing state, accounting for nearly 55% of goat offtake, or 796,823 head. Queensland and South Australia were also major processors, at 422,333 head and 192,198 head respectively. Western NSW has had wetter than average and cooler than average conditions for the past two years, providing more water and vegetation to allow the rangeland goat population to increase. NSW bucked the trend in other states, with an increase in average carcase weights. Slaughter weights declined in both Queensland and Victoria, while increasing to 15.4kg per head in NSW. However, this remains below the national average of 16.5kg, and the averages in Queensland (17.6kg) and Victoria (13.4kg). Weekly slaughter data from MLA shows two seasonal factors influencing goat processing. First, lower slaughter in December, which is likely due to holidays. Secondly, slaughter is lower in May and June which often corresponds with the kidding season, however goats can mate year-round.

While NSW is currently not a major processing state like Victoria or Queensland, NSW supplies most of the Australia’s rangeland goats. Western NSW regions including Cobar, Bourke, Wilcannia and Broken Hill again supplied the largest number of goats to processors in 2022.¹³³ As the map indicates, a significant number of rangeland goats are supplied from far west NSW. Balonne and Paroo in Queensland were also significant suppliers of goats in 2021-22.

Figure 2 The number of goats supplied for processing from each NLIS region (RLPB regions in NSW) in the 2021/22 financial year¹³³

Price

Goat, Lamb and Mutton OTH Price Index²¹¹^ah

Lamb index
Sheep index
Goat index

Download data (.XLSX)

The average over-the-hook price for goats was 886 cents per kilogram carcase weight in 2021-22, up nearly 10% over the previous year. Goat prices were at their lowest level in May 2022, before reaching a peak of 920 c/kg the following month in June. Goat prices again outperformed lamb and mutton prices, remaining higher throughout the year and having the highest percentage increase of the three commodities in over-the-hook terms. Over-the-hook lamb prices averaged 803c/kg in 2021-22, and mutton averaged 605c/kg.

Goat prices have been supported by high red meat prices in the USA, the key export market. With lower US goat production in 2021, kid prices in San Angelo, Texas, reached record highs in the first quarter of 2022, up to US$406 per hundredweight, or approximately AUD$11 per kilogram.¹⁴⁷ Analysis by Mecardo indicated a close relationship between Australian and Texas goat prices.¹⁴³

Trade

NSW goat exports were $5.1 million, up 61% over the year.³⁵ This mostly occurred between September and December 2021. Australian exports increased significantly, up 80% to $299.6 million. Export volumes nearly doubled this year with higher export prices for goat meat. Australian export volumes were 21,477 tonnes, up 45% on 2020-21 levels. Australian exports to the United States were 14,077 tonnes, with a value of $204.7 million. By volume, exports to the US were 56% higher over the previous year. Demand from the US still underpins Australian goatmeat exports, as it accounted for 65% of exports in 2021-22. South Korea was again the next largest export market, with a value of $38.0 million, up 88%. Goatmeat exports to Taiwan were $16.3 million, up 17%. Australia is the world’s largest goatmeat exporter,¹⁵⁶ ahead of Ethiopia, Kenya and France. Australia is the dominant supplier of goatmeat to the US, South Korea and Taiwan. NSW and Australia did not import any goatmeat in 2021-22.

Outlook

The goat industry continues to have a favourable outlook, with a higher rangeland goat population likely to lead to higher production. Goat prices have eased off record levels in early 2022-23 to 680c/kg cwt, and are now below the five-year average. Thomas Foods International purchased the Bourke abattoir and reopened it in September 2022,¹⁴⁴ providing a new option for goat producers in NSW. With higher local processing capacity, the value of goat production in NSW is likely to increase substantially in the next financial year. In November 2021 a breeding buck sold for $21,000, setting a new record for a goat sold in Australia.¹⁴² This demonstrates confidence in the industry, and the value producers see in improving genetics in managed goat systems.

Stronger Primary Industries Strategy

Modernising NSW’s animal welfare laws

In May 2018, the NSW Government released the first-ever NSW Animal Welfare Action Plan. The Action Plan reinforces the Government’s commitment to safeguarding animal welfare and providing a strong regulatory framework to promote responsible animal ownership and care in NSW.

The Action Plan includes a commitment to streamline and modernise the current animal welfare legislative framework – by replacing existing laws that are almost 40 years old with contemporary legislation that reflects evolving animal welfare science and community expectations.

Strategic Outcome

Food Safety and Animal Welfare

The NSW Government has continued to work towards delivering on this commitment, working closely with the animal welfare enforcement agencies – RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW and NSW Police – key stakeholders and the community to ensure that the new laws are fit-for-purpose for all people who live and work with animals in NSW.

Consultation has been at the core of this work – ensuring that stakeholders and the community have the chance to have their say on the new laws. This commitment to consultation underpinned the release of the NSW Animal Welfare Reform –

Issues Paper, which sought community feedback on the issues in the current animal welfare legislative framework. The Issues Paper was open for consultation from February to June 2020, and the NSW Government received over 1,100 responses. The responses to the Issues Paper informed the development of the NSW Animal Welfare Reform
Discussion Paper, which put forward potential new policy approaches to address the issues in the current laws. The Discussion Paper was released in August 2021, and over 4,800 responses were received from a wide range of stakeholders and community members.

The near-6,000 responses received during these two rounds of consultation were used to develop the Draft Animal Welfare Bill 2022, which was released in January 2022. The Standing Committee on State Development conducted an inquiry into the Draft Bill, providing a means for the community to have their say on what the proposed new policy approaches looked like in draft legislation. The Committee handed down their first report in June 2022 for consideration by the NSW Government.