Posted on 02/27/2013 3:28:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
GOAT meat enjoyed an export revival last year as North American demand surged.
But it's a double-edged sword for goat producers, for while exports are up, relative value is down.
The export market is largely fed by rangeland or feral goat meat.
Total goat meat exports rose 12 per cent last year, but their $133 million value was only 4 per cent higher than the year before.
Canada took 30 per cent more goat meat and Australia's major customer, the US, upped its take by 6 per cent.
Statistics from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries show Australia exported 29,000 tonnes of goat meat last year, which was up 12 per cent on the previous year and 31 per cent on the five year average.
Most went to the US, which took 16,078 tonnes or 55 per cent of all exports followed by Taiwan, with almost 4000 tonnes.
The big mover in the past 12 months, however, was Canada, where the 2038 tonnes represented a 48 per cent jump on the five year average. Some markets did dip with Trinidad and Tobago back 3 per cent to 1887 tonnes and Korea down 11 per cent to 802 tonnes.
Boer Goat Breeders Association of Australia treasurer Geoff Mitchell said exports of goat meat were predominantly from rangeland goats, rather than farmed goats infused with Boer genetics.
"It is good to see goat exports increasing, especially with the strength of the Australian dollar," he said.
"But the cost of production for rangeland goats is very small compared to farmed goats."
Mr Mitchell said goat was the most widely eaten protein in the world, but Australian exports were limited by domestic production in the countries where goat is eaten.
"There are many countries which eat goat, but they also produce a lot of goat domestically," he said.
Almost all farmed goat in Australia is sold on the domestic market, mostly through specialist butcher shops.
"The market is growing, but is also being held back, because sometimes the lower quality rangeland goats are pushed onto the domestic market," Mr Mitchell said.
"The local market will keep growing, though, because goat is a lean, healthy meat and people want to try something different.
Goat is nasty. There is not enough barbecue sauce on the planet to make it edible.
We In Texas may disagree, a young Cabrito slow cooked on a grill is some mighty fine eating.
Uhhhhhhhh, pass on it.
Goat - along with other leanish meat - just needs to be cooked right.
I favor the many ways it’s cooked in India and Pakistan. Love a good spicy curry.
Goat eyes creep me out.
I know a fellow who used to raise goats to sell until a couple of years ago.
no advertising..just lives along the highway.
He told me pretty much all of the buyers nowadays are hispanic.
enjoy that next burrito at local Tex Mex!
What time you gonna have it ready ? Haven't eat'n cabrito roasted on a stick since The last time I was at Sam's in Reynosa ,few years ago.
I’m with you on the Cabrito . I buy my lamb and goat from a local couple that sell at our farmer’s market . Their goat cheese is also very good , along with their goat milk soap .
I think we all know who is buying the Goat meat and probably killing their own Goats.
Yeah, chupacabra.
Had it BBQ’d in Nevada several times—it was good! But goats make great pets, too, hmmm.
Well, there’s at least 4 on this thread that buy and eat goat meat.
But yes, Muslims do eat goats - along with Mexicans, many throughout Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. As well as a growing number here in the states.
The rest of my family is a bit more picky in their meat. They were all headed out for the weekend so I thought I’d pick up some meat to grill while they were gone.
The package was sitting on the counter as they were heading out. The little one looked at it and asked “What’s that?” I said “Lamb Chops for the grill.” She replied with a look of horror on her face “What’s next? Puppies?”
The Muslims think they make great sweethearts.
Disagree. The only place I ever see it is at Indian restaurants... I like it.
The best goat I ever ate was at a Mexican country cooking restaurant in Addison back in ‘83. It came right off the bone with a fork.
How many Mexicans, Africans and Indians sacrifice them to a moon god and only then eat them?
I live in California, Kern County, where we are overrun with Mexicans and yes, goat is highly desired by them.
Years ago my mom and dad had some illegals move in right behind them. One day there was a goat tied up by the front door. They killed it and bbq’d it that night.
I seem to recall eating some in New York many moons ago, and the recollection is a pleasant one.
Years ago a young farmer brought goat burgers he raised to a cookout.
The ensuing charcoal grill grease fire was the most spectacular I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing and thoroughly incinerated the meat.
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