Meat and Livestock Australia

56 4. Industry promotion and extension of best practice management. Semi-managed and managed goat enterprises provide a viable alternative to traditional livestock and goat harvesting enterprises. A move in this direction has many potential benefits to individual producers as well as the broader goat industry. This needs to be better promoted and displayed. Extension and adoption of best practice management techniques should be included in this to ensure goat enterprises are achieving optimal production, economic and land management outcomes. This requires collaboration between industry and government bodies. 5. Prepare for and respond to the risks posed by wild dogs. The emerging and/or increasing presence of wild dogs in western NSW is a common theme in these case studies. It is critical that producers are proactive in response to predation threats. This involves establishment of coordinated baiting groups, constant monitoring of dog activity and investigation of additional control/prevention measures. Collaboration is required between all government agencies, industry bodies and land managers within and outside of the goat industry. 6. Ensure industry wide NLIS compliance. A common concern raised by producers throughout these case studies was the possibility of having their NLIS responsibilities increased. This was also a consistent theme throughout the 2012 case study report. Currently operating under the mob based system, with exemptions in place for wild caught animals, producers feel any increase in their requirements would be detrimental. Reasons include WHS risks in handling non-domestic animals and the time and costs associated with tagging in a low input enterprise. By ensuring a high level of compliance to current NLIS requirements, a strong case will be made for the effectiveness of the current system. This will reduce the validity of any case for change. 7. Further explore and promote control options for INS. Most producers cited some benefit of goats in eating weed species present on their property to the point where they were controlled. An exception to this is Turpentine ( Eremophila sturtii ), a native shrub species listed as Invasive Native Scrub (INS). Turpentine encroachment was commonly raised as a concerning trend and something many were actively treating through a range of chemical means. Development and extension of information around Turpentine management would be beneficial.