Goat indicators advance into uncharted territory
04 January 2016
Over-the-hook indicators for export goats have moved into uncharted territory, reaching 500¢/kg cwt in September based on data from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS). Prices for goats, which in the past have tracked the price of mutton, are now edging closer to current lamb prices. The average September export over-the-hooks indicator (12-16kg cwt) was 471¢/kg cwt, up 40% year-on-year.
Average weekly eastern states goat slaughter reported by NLRS lifted 10% year-on-year in September, to 36,072 head. The rise was attributed to slaughter levels in NSW nearly doubling year-on-year, to 4,398 head, while slaughter in Queensland increased 24%, to 17,793 head. SA slaughter levels also lifted, to 6,474 head, while Victoria registered a 31% decline in goat slaughter, to 7,407 head, although it has begun to gather momentum in October.
Australian goatmeat exports totaled 2,747 tonnes swt in September, down 7% year-on-year. The lower exports were mainly due to Japan taking no product and Hong Kong and South Korean shipments reducing significantly in September.
Goatmeat exports to the US were firm at 1,637 tonnes swt, while shipments to Canada lifted 31%, to 154 tonnes swt. Exports to China have risen significantly above year-ago levels, to 173 tonnes swt, while volumes to Taiwan were 66% higher, at 319 tonnes swt.
