A year of highs sets stage for a jam-packed 2025
11 December 2024
For Australia's goatmeat industry, 2024 has set the stage for a busy but prosperous 2025 – from market activities, to research, development and adoption programs, find out what’s in store.
A look back at 2024:
Record exports and slaughter
Australian goatmeat has broken records across the globe this year. As of November, exports for 2024 have smashed the previous Australian record of 35,778 tonnes from 2014 to hit a new high of 46,939 tonnes.
The United States (US) continues to be Australia’s largest goatmeat export market, comprising 54% of all exports this year. Rounding out the top five markets are South Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan and Canada.
The majority of exported goatmeat continues to be frozen, either as a whole carcase or in a six-way split.
In line with exports, slaughter has also hit record highs, reaching an all-time high of 74,226 goats in August. Slaughter has continued to hold steady with 63,518 goats at the end of November, well above the November 2023 figures (45,700 goats).
National Goat Roadshow
The National Goat Roadshow webinar series was a hit, reaching almost 600 screens and garnering hundreds of views on YouTube. You can watch all the previous webinars including the most recent, How goats can be part of the carbon sustainability system, on MLA’s YouTube channel (search ‘National Goat Roadshow’).
Going into Goats
MLA, in partnership with AgriFutures, relaunched the mohair production module in the Going into Goats resources. The module breaks down the basics of the industry for new producers and those who may be considering adding mohair goats to their business. To find out more, see Module 10 – Mohair production.
What’s to come in 2025:
Mandatory eID
Mandatory eID will roll out across Australia for sheep and goats from 1 January 2025. Make sure you’re prepared and aware of your roles and responsibilities by visiting Sheep & Goat eID | Integrity Systems.
Harvest Rangeland Goat LPA module
If you are LPA-accredited and want to continue with device-free movement of your harvested rangeland goats (HRGs), ensure your Harvested Rangeland Goat module is completed. The voluntary module will enable harvested rangeland goats to be moved direct to slaughter and allow mob-based HRG movements to be recorded in the NLIS database. Note accreditation in this module requires state or territory approval. Find out more about this option here.
Tag retention
MLA has been awarded funding by the Australian Government’s Livestock and Animal Traceability Development, Implementation and Improvement grant program to undertake a tag retention study. The study will take place over two years, exploring how producers are installing tags and verifying eID tag retention rates. Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved.
Research and development
The Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee have identified four investment priorities for 2025.
The investments will be informed by the results of the recent RD&A scoping analysis survey which will be released in early 2025.
Requests for tender for priority projects will be advertised soon. Stay tuned for RD&A opportunities coming in early 2025: Current tenders | Meat & Livestock Australia
