Rangeland Goat
Goatmeat is the most widely consumed meat in the world, mainly due to the few, if any, religious taboos limiting goatmeat consumption.
The rangeland goat is a composite breed of goat which has become naturalised throughout Australia’s rangelands and in other areas which offer natural protection against predators. These goats have effectively adjusted to the environment to the extent that they no longer bear any strong resemblance to the original breeds of domesticated goats introduced with European settlement.
- Australia is a relatively small producer of goatmeat but is the world’s largest exporter of goatmeat.
- Traditionally, Australian bush goats (rangeland goats) and Boer goats are used for meat production.
- About 90% of goatmeat production is produced by rangeland goat enterprises.
- Goatmeat is extremely low in fat and a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
- There are few, if any, religious taboos limiting goatmeat consumption. In fact, goatmeat is an important component of the traditions of the Hindu and Muslim faiths.
- The largest producers of goatmeat are the largest consumers, but not the largest importers or exporters. These countries are China, India and Pakistan.
- The two largest markets for Australian goatmeat exports are the US and Taiwan (DAFF 2011-12). Demand in the US is generated from the wide diversity of traditional goat eating cultures represented within the US population i.e. the Hispanics are the largest minority group in the US.
- The largest markets for Australian live goats are Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (ABS 2011-12).
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