Preparation of goats for export

Summary

The review has found that there has been little progress in the implementation of evidence-based standards for the export of goats since the publication of the More and Brightling (2003) report. In fact, the report seems to have had minimal impact since its publication despite being the most current and complete review of best practices for goat export. This is no doubt due in no small part to its recommendations that the export of captured feral goats be stopped. Meanwhile, the performance of the goat export industry has generally been good, with shipboard mortality rates steadily declining. This may be partly due to an increase in the sourcing of semi-managed over captured feral goats and a massive shift from sea to air exports. 
However, there have been enough reportable mortality incidents to prompt the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to stop approving shipments over ten days' duration since early 2008. Because the recommendations of the More and Brightling (2003) report have not been implemented in any systematic way, it has not been possible to validate or otherwise these recommendations, or the best practices identified in the report. Published investigations of reportable mortality incidents are of very limited value and there appears to have been no new scientific research of relevance since 2003. This review has relied heavily on the collective wisdom of industry players in its conclusions. The evidence is that both the best practices and the gaps identified by More and Brightling (2003) remain current.