Goat slaughter and exports slow

Average weekly eastern states goat slaughter during September was 17,885 head, down 50% year-on-year. This large fall was mostly attributed to lower kill levels in Queensland, SA and Victoria and the wet conditions impacting transportation of goats across all eastern states.

The tight supplies have placed upward pressure on over-the-hook export goat indicators, with 12-16kg cwt goats averaging 579¢ in September, up around 100¢/kg cwt year-on-year.

The month prior, however, goat meat production in August (latest available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics) was up slightly (16 tonnes cwt) year-on-year, to 2,850 tonnes cwt. This brings the year-to-date production total 3% higher than year-ago levels, to 19,779 tonnes cwt.

Australian goat meat exports in September eased 33% year-on-year, to 1,834 tonnes swt, which saw the year-to-date volume decline 9%, to 19,086 tonnes swt. Results were mixed for shipments to the top goat meat export destinations for the month, compared to last year:

• The US fell 27%, to 1,200 tonnes swt
• Taiwan decreased 19%, to 259 tonnes swt
• Korea increased 19%, to 130 tonnes swt
• The Caribbean lifted 10%, to 124 tonnes swt
• Canada dropped 75%, to 38 tonnes swt