The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently ran a 13-minute news feature with a behind-the-scenes look at rangeland goat operations, while also highlighting new challenges ranchers are facing with electronic ID tags.
About 90% of Australia’s goat meat production comes from rangeland goats, according to the Australian Goat Industry Council. Most of this goat meat heads straight for the export market, with the United States serving as Australia’s largest customer.
The ABC story shows how rangeland goats — often referred to as “wild goats” — are managed. Ranchers operate what are known as depots or stations, using water and shade to trap the goats.
Once caught, the animals are sent for harvest and then enter the goat meat export supply chain. Many depots will set traps two to three times each summer, often capturing 2,000 or more goats in just a week.
The harvested rangeland goats must meet strict requirements: they must be captured from a wild state, not born into a breeding program, and not subjected to any animal husbandry or treatment (ABC).
Managing wild goat populations this way is also part of broader efforts to protect Australia’s rangelands. Without active management, wild goats can quickly overgraze the natural grasslands, brush, and trees, leading to serious land degradation.
The video also dives deeper into Australia’s new livestock identification system, which now requires electronic identification ear tags for small ruminants (goats and sheep). The program, which went into effect earlier this year, was designed to strengthen biosecurity measures. Ranchers interviewed in the news piece discuss how these new rules add significant costs and complications, particularly for those working with rangeland goats.
While an exemption for the electronic ID tags exists for rangeland goats, it comes with strict qualifications, and even then, ranchers say it’s not without its challenges. The news segment goes into more detail on how these regulations are impacting daily operations.
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