Meat and Livestock Australia

Rangeland goat production inWestern NSW: Where are they now? 41 Looking forward When asked about the future plans for his business, Tony refers back to the difficulties faced in sourcing Red Boer genetics. It may be the case that he will look to the USA to source bucks. This would be done on a live export basis rather than AI. The primary challenge Tony faces without a potential solution at hand is the continued encroachment of turpentine. Industry direction In order to achieve greater price stability Tony believes that rangeland populations need to be better controlled. This will even out the largely seasonal supply curve that is heavily influenced by summer trapping. He feels the greater competition between processors has been good for producers in achieving higher prices. Tony would like to see greater reflection of carcass quality in prices received by producers. As it currently stands, he sees breeders losing motivation to continue developing a better animal. At an on-farm level, Tony gives some advice around the need for producers to balance breeding objectives in order to produce a productive, efficient and well adapted animal. While he owes much to the introduction of Red Boer genetics, he is very much of the belief that they can’t be too intensively managed. Tony explains this by outlining the differences between red and white Boers, the later which he refers to having had ‘the goat bred out of them’. Overall, Tony is happy to be in goats and feels positive about the broader industry direction. Mixed mob of polled and horned goats