New R&D to focus on goat sustainability

Australia’s goat industry is set to follow the lead of the beef and sheep industries in building on its sustainability credentials to help access premium domestic and international markets.

Applications to develop a plan for a Goat Industry Sustainability Framework are currently being reviewed by the Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee (GIRDAC).

It is one of two research, development and adoption (RD&A) priority areas GIRDAC has identified for the industry.

The other priority is an analysis to identify future RD&A investments at domestic and international levels relevant to Australian production systems.

Goat Industry Sustainability Framework

Launched in February 2017 and April 2021 respectively, the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework and Sheep Sustainability Framework are world-leading strategies which utilise evidence-based metrics to measure industry performance against identified priorities including animal care, environmental stewardship, consumer and community wellbeing and financial resilience.

It is anticipated that a Goat Industry Sustainability Framework will follow a similar approach.

The Australian goat industry exports 31% of the world’s goatmeat to a range of international markets. Domestically, the industry includes rangeland harvested and conventionally farmed goatmeat, fibre and dairy.

With domestic meat production growing 38% year-on-year in 2022, the goatmeat sector is well-positioned to accelerate industry growth while simultaneously building on foundational sustainability credentials.

Across the goat industry supply chain there is a heightened need for a focus on sustainability credentials including social licence and environmental stewardship.

As a growing sector, the goat industry can capitalise on sustainability credentials by designing metrics which not only address the key requirements for a sustainable industry but simultaneously progress industry priorities.

This twofold process will accelerate the growth of the industry while providing producers opportunities to access premium domestic and international markets.

Goat Productivity

GIRDAC is also reviewing applications to conduct a gap analysis to identify future RD&A investments at domestic and international levels relevant to Australian production systems.

This study will encompass R&D activities in the goat productivity sector that achieve outcomes in line with the priorities of GIRDAC.

The MLA Goat Productivity program provides services and best practice information to help Australian producers secure a future as innovative, profitable and resilient world leaders in goat production. The program delivers a range of resources, tools and engagement opportunities for goat producers to equip them with knowledge to improve their business.

The Australian goatmeat sector is fast-growing in terms of producer uptake and value. However, harvested rangeland and managed goat enterprises are vastly different production systems that have unique management requirements.

To date, RD&A for the goatmeat sector in Australia has focused on collecting baseline genetics, nutrition, survival and other relevant production data to provide insight into the industry’s current state of play.

MLA and GIRDAC are pursuing future strategic investment opportunities for extension and adoption activities for the goatmeat sector, which will be key to unlocking the potential of Australian goat producers.