Goat industry starts the year strong
11 April 2025
Key points:
- Goat slaughter has dropped due to flooding in Queensland rather than the US Government’s tariff announcement.
- The diversity of goatmeat markets is growing.
- Goat exports hit records – a sign of a healthy industry.
In the last two weeks, national goat slaughter has dropped from 75,378 to 50,786 – a decrease of 33%. The decline is a result of supply chain disruptions that have arisen from the recent rainfall events in Queensland, rather than the United States tariff regime.
The large supply of goats in rangeland areas and in paddocks is expected to see this trend of low slaughter reverse when the short-term supply chain disruptions resolve.
The strength of the goat industry is demonstrated by the Quarter 1 2025 goatmeat exports. In the first three months of 2025, Australia exported a new record of 15,019 tonnes of goatmeat.
Australian goatmeat has had exceptional growth in the following markets:
- Taiwan up 29% to 711 tonnes
- Korea up 22% to 2,013 tonnes
- Canada up 265% to 1,433 tonnes
- China up 280% to 2,812 tonnes.
The export figures show the growing diversity of export destinations for Australian goatmeat. The US remains Australia’s biggest destination for the product, however, these figures show that the industry is gradually reducing its reliance on the US.
Attribute content to: Stephen Bignell, MLA Manager – Market Information
