Ruqayyah Snyder
Feral goats are an invasive species in Australia, causing economic and environmental damage through overgrazing, competition with livestock and native animals, and land degradation. They are found across Australia, except in the Northern Territory, and are most prevalent in western New South Wales, with a population of around 4.9 million as of 2020. Feral goats have a significant negative impact on island ecosystems, leading to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. They compete with native animals for food, water, and shelter and can transmit exotic diseases. While they are a pest, the commercialisation of feral goats has become a valuable industry, contributing to Australia's position as the world's largest exporter of goat meat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Locations | All states, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory (except the mainland), Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, offshore islands (Lord Howe Island, North East Island, North Goulburn Island, Truant Island, Vanderlin Island, and islands in the Archipelago of the Recherche) |
| Population | 2.6 million in 1993; 4.9 million in 2020 |
| Economic Impact | $25 million loss per year to livestock farming; $235 million export trade |
| Environmental Impact | Overgrazing, competition with native animals, soil damage, land degradation, reduction in plant biodiversity, threat to yellow-footed rock-wallaby and brush-tailed rock-wallaby populations |
| Control Methods | Hunting, aerial surveys, commercialisation, capture and sale by pastoralists, eradication on small islands and some mainland pockets |
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What You'll Learn
Feral goats are found in all states and the Australian Capital Territory
Feral goats are found in all states across Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, though they are rare on the mainland of the Northern Territory. In the 1980s and early 1990s, groups of wild goats were removed from the north and north-east of Alice Springs, and they are still absent from this region. Feral goats are also found on many Australian offshore islands, including Lord Howe Island and islands in the Archipelago of the Recherche.
Feral goats first arrived in Australia in the 18th century with European settlers, and their populations originated from escaped domestic individuals. The first feral goat populations in Australia were descended from goats that came with the first fleet in 1788. Since then, various goat breeds have been introduced to Australia for different purposes, including cashmere goats in South Australia in 1837, and angora goats and cashmere goats imported from Asia in the 1860s to start a goat fibre industry. Some herds were set free when this industry collapsed in the 1920s, and goats were also taken around Australia with settlers, railway construction groups, and miners.
Feral goats are considered invasive in Australia, causing economic and environmental damage through overgrazing, competition with livestock and native marsupials, and the degradation of soil and pasture. They are a declared pest in Western Australia under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007, and they are also a significant agricultural and environmental pest in the arid and semi-arid rangelands of western New South Wales, where they reached an estimated population of 4.9 million in 2020.
Despite the problems they cause, feral goats are also a resource, and the commercial exploitation of feral goats is an industry worth about $25 million a year. Pastoralists in Australia consider the capture and sale of feral goats to be an essential part of their business, and feral goats make up the bulk of the market for goat meat in Australia, which is the world's largest exporter.
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They are rare in the Northern Territory
Feral goats are not often found in the Northern Territory of Australia. This is due to a number of factors, including the region's climate and geography, as well as the presence of other animal species that compete with the goats for resources.
The Northern Territory is known for its tropical climate, with monsoonal wet seasons and high humidity. These conditions can be challenging for feral goats, which are better adapted to drier, more arid environments. The region's abundant water sources and lush vegetation may actually deter feral goats, which tend to favour drier, more sparse landscapes.
Additionally, the Northern Territory is home to a number of other animal species that compete with feral goats for food and habitat. For example, the region is known for its high population of water buffalo, which can outcompete feral goats for resources in wetland areas. The Northern Territory also has a significant population of wild camels, which are well-adapted to the arid conditions that feral goats typically prefer.
The absence of feral goats in the Northern Territory may also be attributed to the region's remote and sparsely populated nature. The area has limited agricultural land and a low human population density, which means fewer opportunities for feral goats to interact with humans and exploit human-modified environments.
Finally, the Northern Territory has strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of feral animals, including goats, through quarantine restrictions, movement controls, and surveillance programs.
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Western NSW has the highest population of feral goats
Feral goats are an invasive species in Australia, causing economic and environmental damage through overgrazing and competition with livestock and native marsupials. They are found across Australia and are present in all states and the Australian Capital Territory, though they are less common in the Northern Territory. Western New South Wales (NSW) has the highest population of feral goats, with an estimated 4.9 million in 2020.
Feral goats first arrived in Australia in the 18th century with European settlers, originating from escaped domestic individuals. Since then, they have spread across the country, with populations establishing from goats used to control weeds in inland New South Wales and Queensland. Feral goats are well-adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, which has contributed to their high population density in western NSW. This region provides favourable conditions for goats, with the availability of shelter, surface water, and an abundance of food sources. The mobility of goats in this region also makes control and management challenging, as they can quickly reinfest areas.
The impact of feral goats on the environment and agriculture in western NSW is significant. They cause economic losses to livestock farming, estimated at $25 million per year, excluding the costs associated with environmental degradation and pasture degradation. Feral goats compete with native animals for resources, such as food, water, and shelter, and contribute to changes in ecosystems. They are considered a serious threat to yellow-footed rock-wallaby populations due to overlap in diet and habitat.
The commercial exploitation of feral goats in western NSW has become an essential part of the local economy. The capture and sale of feral goats provide economic opportunities for pastoralists and contribute to the growing export trade of goat meat. Australia is the world's largest exporter of goat meat, with 35% of global exports originating from the country. The NSW government recognises the importance of the goat industry and has invested in initiatives like the Going Ahead with Goats project to support producers and stakeholders in the region.
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Feral goats are a threat to native plants and animals
Feral goats are an invasive species in Australia, causing significant economic and environmental damage. They are found across Australia and are particularly prevalent in western New South Wales, with a population of around 4.9 million in 2020. They are also common in the arid and semi-arid rangelands and on many offshore islands, including those with important conservation values such as Lord Howe Island.
Feral goats pose a threat to native plants and animals through overgrazing and competition for resources. They have a broad ecological niche, feeding on a variety of shrubs and trees that other species may not be able to digest. This can lead to a reduction in the biomass of perennial vegetation and subsequent land degradation, hampering the regeneration of vegetation. Feral goats have been implicated in the decline of some native species, such as the brush-tailed rock-wallaby in South Australia, due to direct competition for food, water, and shelter. They can also impact water quality through their dung and by polluting water sources with their decomposing bodies.
The indirect impacts of feral goats on native plants and animals can be just as detrimental as their direct effects. For example, the removal of feral goats from an ecosystem may lead to increases in fire frequency and the invasion of introduced grasses. This can create a favourable environment for feral goats, as they are adapted to open habitats with sparse vegetation. Additionally, feral goats can carry exotic diseases that could enter Australia, such as foot-and-mouth disease, further threatening native species.
The economic impact of feral goats in Australia is substantial, with losses to livestock farming estimated at $25 million per year. This figure does not include the costs associated with environmental damage, such as soil erosion and pasture degradation. While the commercial exploitation of feral goats provides some economic benefit, the overall negative impact of these goats on Australia's economy and ecosystem is undeniable.
Management and eradication of feral goats in Australia is challenging and often requires sustained efforts. Hunting and the use of Judas goats have been employed, but their effectiveness is limited. Understanding the relationship between feral goat density and the damage they cause is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Local eradication may be possible on small islands and in some mainland pockets, but in most areas, ongoing management is necessary to control feral goat populations and mitigate their detrimental effects on native plants and animals.
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They are commercially valuable to the Australian goat meat industry
Feral goats are an invasive species in Australia, causing economic and environmental damage through overgrazing and competition with livestock and native marsupials. However, they are also commercially valuable to the Australian goat meat industry.
Feral goats were first brought to Australia in the 18th century by European settlers, and today they are found across the country. They are most prevalent in western New South Wales, which had an estimated population of 4.9 million feral goats in 2020. The capture and sale of these goats have become an essential part of the Australian goat meat industry, with meat for export being the main product.
Australia is the world's largest exporter of goat meat, despite accounting for only 0.4% of global production. In 2023, 2,364,307 goats were slaughtered in Australia, with a value of $235 million. Of this, 35% was exported as frozen whole carcasses, and only 9% was consumed domestically. The biggest market for Australian goat meat is the United States, which accounted for an average of 60% volume share over the past five years. Goat meat is popular in Hispanic and Muslim communities as it is affordable, has low fat content, high iron levels, and no religious restrictions.
Feral goats are well-adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, which makes farming them more cost-effective as it requires little to no chemical inputs. They are also useful for controlling heavy weed infestations in difficult terrain, as they prefer to eat weeds over other pasture species. This can reduce the need for expensive and environmentally harmful herbicides.
However, it is important to note that the benefits of the feral goat industry must be weighed against the costs of their environmental impact. Feral goats have been implicated in the decline of some native species, such as the brush-tailed rock-wallaby in South Australia, and they contribute to soil erosion and pastoral degradation.
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Frequently asked questions
Feral goats are found across Australia, including offshore islands, but are rare on the mainland of the Northern Territory.
In 1993, there were about 2.6 million feral goats in Australia. This number fluctuates depending on factors like food availability, water, natural predation, hunting, and disease. In 2020, the feral goat population in western New South Wales was estimated at 4.9 million.
Feral goats are an invasive species in Australia, causing economic and environmental damage through overgrazing, land degradation, and competition with livestock and native animals for food, water, and shelter. They are considered a significant agricultural and environmental pest, particularly in arid and semi-arid rangelands.
Feral goats are declared pests in Western Australia under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007. Local eradication is typically only possible on small islands and some mainland pockets. In most areas, sustained management is required to minimise their impact. Commercial exploitation of feral goats is also a valuable industry, with pastoralists capturing and selling them.
