Goat Producer Attitudinal Survey & Analysis

Summary

Through this project producers were surveyed on their attitudes to goat production in order to evaluate what hurdles the MLA On-farm Goat RD&E program and the industry in general, needed to be aware of when developing and implementing projects aimed at addressing the development and expansion of goat production. Goats have been a production option for producers over many years, but have failed to gain the attention of livestock producers to the extent that cattle and sheep have. 
This analysis investigated producer attitudes, experiences, and perceptions to goat production at several levels: producers already producing goats: what was limiting them from expanding production 
producers who previously produced goats, but have ceased production 
new producers to goat production: what motivated them to enter into goat production 
producers in current goat production areas i.e. pastoral, that do not have goats as part of their production mix​ 
producers that have never produced goats before: why they have not i.e. current livestock producers (sheep & cattle), cropping enterprises, etc. 

Results from this analysis were to assist in developing more targeted projects to deal directly with these hurdles or to manage these impediments as projects are developed and delivered. At an extension level, messages and programs were to be taylored to address the impediments and perceptions, and deliver information, tools and support to enable producers to implement goats into their production systems more easily. 
Through this project the following was undertaken: Producer focues group and telephnoe surveys followed by appropriate analysis methodology​ 
Results were analysed and reported at a State by State level 
Presentations were made to industry and MLAon the findings.