Livestock diversification in New Zealand involving goats for meat and dairy production

C.T. Horton, J.E. Dawson

Advisory Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1987, 47: 125-126

Goat farming as a form of livestock farming has developed in New Zealand since the mid 1970's. The main cause for this has been the change in the relative economics of the traditional pastoral farming industries of sheep, beef and dairy cows. Farmers have begun to recognise the husbandry and economic aspects of farming goats and have been developing techniques for profitable ventures.

Export earnings from goats approached $4 million FOB in 1983-84 but have varied considerably since with the availability of stock for slaughter, dairy goat product market fluctuations, and stock value changes.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Goats, weed control; chevon; goat skins; dairy goat

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Last Updated 03-05-1997