Record Goat Meat Demand: Is It Time for Small Farmers to Take Another Look at Meat Goats?
Is There an Opportunity in Meat Goats? A recent news article from Australia caught my attention. Australian goat meat exports have reached record highs, driven by increasing demand from countries such as the United States and South Korea. Since Australia is the world's largest exporter of goat meat, this growth suggests that demand for goat meat continues to expand globally. What surprised me most was the role of the United States in driving that demand. Much of the goat meat consumed in America is imported, often in frozen form. This creates an opportunity for domestic producers who can supply fresh goat meat closer to major population centers. For small farmers looking for an enterprise that can fit on limited acreage, meat goats may deserve a closer look. A Supplemental Income Opportunity A producer with approximately 100 breeding does could potentially generate a useful supplemental income stream. Assuming an average kidding rate of two kids per doe, annual production could ...
