Australia is the world's leading goat-meat exporter, with the majority of meat originating from captured feral goats. Orders for goat meat usually exceed our capacity to supply. Unfortunately these markets depend on the low cost and erratic sources of feral goats from semi-arid rangelands. Unsupplied markets exist in all capital cities in Australia. Only some abattoirs slaughter goats.
Some markets have very specific requirements.
Specified cuts have been sold to restaurants but this trade is severely limited by the shortage of quality animals. Smallgoods manufacturing depends on a supply of boneless meat, generally obtained from the slaughter of older goats. Currently, demand for this type of goat is relatively low. In past years live goats and carcases have been air-freighted to markets in the Middle East. Restaurants and butchers prefer young animals with carcases up to 12 kg although some wholesalers prefer heavier carcases.