The Measured Goats project will provide an invaluable source of information for commercial producers and buck breeders. This multi-party co-investment will make a significant contribution to improving the adoption of KIDPLAN breeding values and hence the rate of genetic gain in the Australian goatmeat industry. The project supports the industry's direction towards increasing national supply and export value, transitioning harvest enterprises to managed production systems, improving farm profit, and meeting consumers’ preferences.

The Measured Goats project is a collaborative Research and Development project co-funded by NSW DPI, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the Commonwealth Government through the MLA Donor Company (MDC). This project is supported by Western Local Land Services (WLLS), Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee (GIRDAC) and Goat Industry Council Association (GICA).

Buck Nomination Form

Get involved in the project by nominating a buck to be purchased from your stud. His progeny will be benchmarked against other bucks’ progeny from other meat breeds.

Buck nomination form: Click here.

Want to learn more about the buck nomination process, including the selection criteria, terms, and what benefit it will have to your business? Click Here

Industry Benefit

Development of Benchmark for Key Goatmeat Production Traits: Three breeds (Rangeland, Reds, Boer) will be managed together at the Condobolin Agricultural Research and Advisory Station in Central NSW.

High quality data will be recorded on important traits for profitability such as growth traits, reproduction, carcase and faecal egg count. New traits will also be recorded such as horn/poll status, coat colour, temperament, and conformation.

All animals will be genotyped for pedigree.

This will provide genetic linkage to the KIDPLAN database for breeders who are interested in becoming involved.

Support Sustainable Genetic Improvement of Goatmeat Breeds: Multiple opportunities for involvement within the project will be available to goat producers to improve knowledge, skills, and confidence regarding implementing genetic improvement strategies within herds.

Design and Management

The project will include crossbreeding which will provide valuable information to goat breeders looking to use cross breeding in their production systems.

The project was designed in partnership with industry representatives from: NSW DPI, AGBU, GICA, GIRDAC, WLLS and MLA.

Adoption and Extension: Through collaboration with our industry partners, the project establishes a strategic direction for genetic improvement in the goatmeat sector underpinned by the structures and resources required to support this direction. The project provides pathways for industry change by supporting seedstock and commercial producers to upskill, establish breeding objectives and implement practices for genetic improvement in their herds.

Project Updates

Stay up to date with what's happening in the Measured Goats project!

• July 2024 Edition

Project team:

• Tom Granleese (project lead)
• Gordon Refshauge
• Trudie Atkinson
• Tracie Bird-Gardiner
• Glenn Orman
• Nicole Leighton
• Mick McKenzie
• Milton Smith
• Kieran Smith (Western LLS)
• Sam Walkom (AGBU)
• Daniel Brown (AGBU)

Project value: $3.8m