Meat and Livestock Australia

26 Livestock As 2017 drew to a close, Rick’s belief that high prices and declining seasons were resulting in a reduction in rangeland goats in the region was confirmed. The annual aerial goat survey indicated a 33 per cent population decline (McLeod, 2017). This has resulted in a significant shift in Gates Goats from being 80 to 90 per cent trading to an even 50:50 split (by income) between trading and growing out goats. There has also been a resultant decline in total number of animals sold, from 150,000 in 2011 to 115,000 in 2016. The increase in growing goats has primarily been facilitated by purchasing Slamanon, allowing some diversification within the industry. Rick observes that small goats gain around 0.65 kg per week, being sold at 28 to 30 kg liveweight. Due to the poor season seen across the region in 2017, Rick sold 25,000 underweight goats to other producers to grow out in order to reduce the pressure on his properties. While Gates Goats does not set out to breed goats, holding animals to be grown out does result in some reproduction. Rick does not intend to move into goat breeding. Marketing Within the trading operation, goats purchased that are greater than 22 kg are traded immediately, with anything less than 22 kg moved to the grow-out herd. Trading goats is reliant on being able to put together a load to meet a specific market as quick as possible. Due to the low input, high turnover nature of this business, no animal husbandry activities are undertaken. The markets Rick targets fluctuate with demand and as such have seen some changes over the past five years. In 2011, the market breakdown of sales from Gates Goats was 65 per cent to abattoirs for export, 15 per cent live export, 15 per cent domestic consumption and five per cent domestic re-stockers. More recently, this has been 65 per cent to abattoirs for export, 20 per cent to domestic re-stockers, 10 per cent to domestic consumption and five per cent to live export. This has largely been a function of high prices reducing the demand for live export goats and reducing the competitiveness of domestic meat trade buyers, and declining seasons requiring underweight goats to be sold before making saleable weights. Despite the pressures drought puts on any agricultural business, trading allows for some income to be achieved even during dry times. In contrast however, the rising prices of goats over the past five years have tightened supply and profit margins for the trading enterprise, while growing out small goats increased in profitability. This clearly displays the benefits of a business model that is able to adapt to variable climatic and market environments. Land management Maintaining groundcover is a priority for Rick to maintain soil stability and increase water infiltration when rain occurs. Stocking rates are roughly guided by one goat to 10 acres (four ha), however this is primarily determined by pasture condition. Rick begins reducing stock numbers at the point when there is no longer any green left in pasture species and will not re-introduce stock until grass butts have new growth a few inches high. As Rick outlines that the condition of Burndoo and Slamanon is similar to that of 2002, he states that they will soon completely destock and revert solely to trading. In doing so, waters are controlled to reduce kangaroo access; a grazing pressure that Rick estimates has reduced his production capacity by 20-25 per cent in recent years. Despite the dry conditions, Rick prefers to sell stock rather than feed them. He will provide hay for trade goats being held short term, but will completely destock animals being grown out. As a general trend, Rick believes there has been an improvement in land condition over the 20+ years he has run a goat enterprise on Burndoo. He cites an increase in grass diversity and abundance, and reduction in invasive native scrub (INS). Rick puts this down to the more even, dispersed grazing patterns of goats, where Merinos would graze into the prevailing southerly wind and water in large mobs. Goats also browse, shifting some grazing pressure from pasture species targeted by sheep onto shrubs and more woody species. Since introducing goats there has been an 80 per cent reduction of INS on Burndoo. Goats have eaten hopbush, only leaving behind turpentine which is being treated through chemical means. Prattley® scale and auto-draft unit, with custom made adjustable race