Feral meat goats.

GOAT slaughter and export figures eased in April, consistent with normal seasonal patterns, Meat and Livestock Australia has reported.

MLA said the eastern states average weekly goat slaughter decreased 3 percent year-on-year to 33,694 head in April.

Australian goat meat exports in April eased 12pc year-on-year, to 2575 tonnes, according to Department of Agriculture and Water Resources figures.

MLA said the slight downturn in slaughter is fairly typical for this time of year, as colder conditions set in. The tighter supplies supported the export over-the-hook indicator during the month, at 526c/kg cwt, up 29pc year-on-year.

South Australia was the only state to record an increase in the average weekly kill for the month, up 19pc year-on-year, to 5899 head. Slaughter in NSW during April was 3pc lower year-on-year, to average 5271 head per week, while levels in Queensland were steady, at 13,221 head. Victorian weekly goat slaughter eased 18pc, to average 9304 head.

US goat meat shipments lift

MLA said although not enough to offset declines to other destinations, shipments to the United States lifted 10pc, to 1786 tonnes and accounted for nearly 70pc of total exports for the month.

Shipments to Taiwan fell 12pc on year-ago levels to 341 tonnes and volumes to Korea were 57pc lower at 153 tonnes. Exports to the Caribbean were down 64pc on the same time last year, at 99 tonnes and shipments to Canada decreased by nearly 50 to 74 tonnes, MLA said.

Source: MLA.