Goat industry kicking goals
24 August 2017
Goat producers are raising the industry’s profile with a sustained ‘charm offensive’.
In recent months, industry members have helped organise and participate in some very well attended field days and information forums, as well as take part in a series of informative videos and media interviews. Here’s a sample of some of the activity:
Victorian Anglo Nubian and Angora producers Bev and Ken Stent coordinated the highly successful Bendigo Goat Fest in June with more than 850 attendees. The event was open to existing and potential producers, as well as the general public, and included informative presentations from those in the industry.
Isobel Palmer of Tambookie Boer goat stud in Western Australia stared in a short video which explains the changes taking place to strengthen Australia's red meat integrity system from 1 October 2017.To watch the video click here.
At the Nyngan Ag Expo in August, Boer goat producers Joel Smith and Craig and Jo Stewart donated their time to help promote the industry at the MLA goat information booth. Interest from existing and potential producers was high, along with some good media coverage.
Goats recently starred on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes program with rangeland producers Dan and Sally Muenster taking the film crew on a mustering trip. The story finished with the producers enjoying some delicious goatmeat. You can watch the episode here.
Rick Gates, President of the Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) and Campbell McPhee of Western Meat Exporters in Charleville, Queensland, provided some excellent coverage of the industry in the Weekly Times in August.
Collie NSW Boer goat producers Jo and Craig Stewart took home the gold medal from the 2017 Australian Food Awards for their goat chevron racks. To watch their interview with WIN News Central West, click here.
Lastly, MLA has funded a series of educational videos about the goat industry which will be released later this year. They feature existing producers from across Queensland and NSW and a mix of enterprise types. The interviews will include commentary on why producers recommend others get into the industry and why it makes sense to move away from harvesting.
Several of the videos will show producers how to calculate the volume of forage and other feed in their paddocks for goats, what fencing and infrastructure is recommended, what producers need to be mindful of in following the Fit to Load guide and uses for farmed and rangeland carcases.
MLA gives a big thanks to Fiona Lander of Tilpa NSW, Julie and Justin McClure also of Tilpa, Ross McCarthy from Dubbo Regional Council, Colin Ramsay of Quandialla NSW, Jo and Craig Stewart of Collie NSW, Brett McDonald and Cathy Zwick of Cooladdi, Queensland and Nic Perkins of Dirranbandi, Queensland for participating in the videos.
Keep an eye out in upcoming editions of Goats on the Move to view the videos.
