Indonesian negotiations to buy WA-bred Boer goats
26/11/97 Indonesian livestock officials from South Sulawesi have been negotiating with Western Australian goat meat producers this week to buy locally-bred Boer goats.
26/11/97
Indonesian livestock officials from South Sulawesi have been negotiating with Western Australian goat meat producers this week to buy locally-bred Boer goats.
Primary Industry Minister Monty House said the Indonesian Government officials were inspecting commercial properties at Badgingarra, Wooroloo and Collie to select Boer goats to build up breeding stock in South Sulawesi.
Mr House said the visit would help raise the profile of WA's goat industry and could see the State increase its supply of goats to Indonesia in the future.
AGWEST Trade and Market Development and Agriculture Western Australia's Meat Program were hosting the four-day visit with assistance from the Indonesian Consulate.
Mr House said the inspection of goats at leading commercial properties provided a good insight into the local goat industry.
"The visit has put the Indonesian delegation directly in touch with Western Australia's producers in the goat industry and enabled them to see first hand the production processes involved," he said.
"The group also visited the Avondale Research Centre in Beverley to discuss Agriculture Western Australia's work in assisting goat producers increase production volume using sustainable production methods."
Mr House said Agriculture Western Australia's Meat Program contributed $200,000 to projects and research supporting the development of the WA goat industry.
He said the research at Avondale would determine the most appropriate crosses of Boer goats with meat and fibre breeds to satisfy Australian and overseas market requirements for live goats and goat products.
The research would also compare the productivity of Boer goat crosses with existing goat breeds run under the same conditions and assess the difference in quality characteristics of meat and fibre.
"The Boer goat is reputed to be an ideal meat goat because of its large size, leanness and rapid growth rate. With these attributes, the Boer goat could have an important role in the Australian goat industry," Mr House said.
Media contact: Peter Jackson (08) 9222 9595
