Meat and Livestock Australia

Rangeland goat production inWestern NSW: Where are they now? 51 Breeding Genetics and breeding is a big part of Big Ampi Rangeland Goats, however they are quick to clarify that they are not a stud and are not concerned by any particular breed alliance. Their priority is producing meat. The first bred goats to be purchase by Big Ampi were sourced from a producer in Ivanhoe who had developed a composite goat from rangeland animals, Red Kalahri and Boer’s over many years. This transaction occurred in 2013 and involved 450 young breeding does. On the purchase of Mt Hope station, a well established herd of Cashmere- Boer cross goats was also acquired. These animals originated as a Cashmere stud that transitioned into a meat goat enterprise by crossing with Boers. They have been observed to be very productive animals and have since had an influence over the broader Big Ampi herd.The Big Ampi Rangeland Goat is made up of Kalahari Red, Cashmere, Boer and the Australian rangeland goat. While all breeds provide certain traits, the overall high level of hybrid vigor is valued. The resulting composite is aimed to exhibit high fertility, high fecundity, high feed conversion efficiency, is able to raise kids, is resistant to predators and is able to do well in an extensive rangeland setting. Despite much focus being given to breeding a superior composite goat, rangeland animals are valued for the hardiness and level of adaptation to the region. In this same sense, it was also noted that pure bred Boer goats are not necessarily the best commercial fit in the Western Division. When selecting both does and bucks to be retained for breeding, visual assessments are primarily used. As sufficient data on animal performance is captured, it will play an increasingly important role in animal selection. Bucks are also sourced externally from the Ivanhoe and Condobolin regions. When discussing breeding and genetics, concern is raised regarding the availability of stud stock suitable for a rangeland environment. Big Ampi often find that stud bucks don’t have the structural characteristics such as long legs and good feet, which are required in an extensive system. As a result, consideration is being given to developing an in-house breeding program. As unmanaged rangeland goats are still captured and grown out for sale, it is easy to compare performance to the composite animals. It is estimated that rangeland goats take up to 20 per cent longer to finish, reaching 11 months of age before achieving a 15 kg carcass. Consistent line of Big Ampi Rangeland Goat carcasses Composite buck displaying Boer influence at 18 months