Australia – Goat slaughter at highest level in six years
Red meat promotions body Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has said that, according to numbers published by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS), weekly goat slaughter numbers recently reached their highest levels since 2017.
With 49,920 head, a surge in numbers was seen from New Sout Wales where 14,842 were sent to slaughter, representing a 645% increase on the corresponding week in 2022.
With strong goat population growth periods recorded recently, as was seen similarly in 2017, producers have been able to harvest rangeland goats in “big numbers”.
Due to the increased supply, “over the hooks” (OTH) prices saw a 65% reduction compared to those registered a year ago.
It was noted that the published numbers for goats came a week after lamb slaughter numbers also reached a peak with a four-year high perhaps signalling “a much-needed improvement in processor labour availability”
