The quantity of breeding animals required as well as increased demand for slaughter goats has resulted in good prices for appropriate goats in Australia and unprecedented interest by producers and exporters in the live goat trade. While this is to be encouraged, several important factors must be considered before committing to the trade as an exporter or producer.
Producer requirements
Australian producers have an important role to play in the presentation of animals for live export and this necessitates careful long-term planning.
Producers intending to supply the Malaysian market should be familiar with the various on-farm requirements covered in the Malaysian protocols and in the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock*. They should also be aware of the requirements placed upon exporters and work with the exporter to meet these requirements. Several of these requirements are outlined below.
Exporter requirements
Goats can only be exported to Malaysia by export operators licensed with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Producers can apply for a licence however this should not be undertaken lightly as the industry is tightly regulated. Most producers choose to work with an exporter who specialises in supplying goats to Malaysia.
Licensed live exporters are required to satisfy the conditions of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock* and meet Malaysia’s protocol requirements, as well as those of the importing customer.
Other issues that must be considered and carefully planned for before exporting goats to Malaysia or any other market are:
- The availability of registered quarantine facilities;
- The transport of the goats from the farm to the quarantine facility to ensure they arrive in optimal condition; and
- The condition of the goats prior to loading to ensure they are in optimal condition for export.
Even with appropriate planning, producers and exporters need to be aware of several potential pitfalls to supplying the live export trade. These include:
- Differing interpretation of regulations and specifications;
- Exchange rate volatility; and
- Flight or air transport delays.
The live goat trade plays an important role in underpinning livestock prices in the broader goat industry and was worth more than $11 million in 2007. The strict observance of regulations, such as those contained within the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock*, will help ensure the maintenance of world’s best practices and a bright future for the industry.
These issues will be explored in more detail in the April edition of the FEEDBACK magazine.
*The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock can be downloaded from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website:
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/export-trade/v2-1