Goat market moves from strength-to-strength

The strength of the goat market continued to grow In May. Over-the-hook goat indicators averaged 657¢ (12-16kg cwt) for the month – up 9¢ from April and 111¢/kg cwt year-on-year.

Average weekly eastern states goat slaughter showed no signs of slowing during the month, lifting 34% year-on-year to 23,798 head. On a state-by-state basis:

• NSW average weekly goat slaughter decreased by more than half to 1,486 head year-on-year
• Queensland slaughter lifted around 1,000 head, to 7,035 head
• SA slaughter increased close to 2,000 head, to 5,884 head
• Victorian goat slaughter doubled in May, to average 9,393 head per week

Australian goatmeat exports totalled 2,626 tonnes swt in May, up 36% year-on-year (DAWR). This brings the 2017-to-date total to 15,580 tonnes swt – 18% higher than the same period in 2016. Goatmeat exports to all major destinations increased during May:

• Shipments to the US increased 31% year-on-year, to 1,711 tonnes swt
• Volumes to Taiwan lifted 37%, to 298 tonnes swt
• Exports to Korea have doubled year-on-year, to 256 tonnes swt
• Volumes to the Caribbean lifted 33%, to 149 tonnes swt
• Exports to Canada increased 70%, to 129 tonnes swt