Vic bucks goat meat trend

Goat meat production is on the decline across Australia, but Victoria is bucking the trend.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows a declining level of goatmeat production since 2016.

Accord to Meat and Livestock Australia, the data has goatmeat production at 4632 tonnes cwt for the quarter, a 5 per cent lift on Q1 2020, but 37 per cent below the 10-year quarter average.

NSW and WA have experienced the largest declines in recent years, with only 96 and two tonnes produced by each state respectively, with Victoria experiencing a modest uplift.

MLA says factors that can be attributed to lower production include volatile supply of rangeland goats, seasonal conditions and COVID-19 disruptions to trade.

The drop in production also highlights that producers are not harvesting as many rangeland goats as they were during the drought — allowing goat populations to rebuild.