Meat Goats in New Zealand

December 2016 -- New Zealand is not a major producer of goat meat. Goat meat accounts for less than 1% of the volume of sheep meat. Ironically, the goat farm we visited on the North Island had Kiko goats and the farm on the South Island had Boer goats. It was ironic because the Kiko was developed on the South Island. In fact, the original plan had been to meet with the guy who developed the Kiko. He lived at the northern end of the South Island. But he got sick before our visit and the earthquake resulted in us flying from the Auckland to Dunedin (in the south of the South Island) instead of taking the ferry from the North to South Island.

Kiko doe

Hilly pastures of the North Island

Look both ways

On the South Island, we visited a farm near Cromwell that raised Boer goats. Boer goats become available to New Zealand farmers in the mid 1990's, similar to the US. One of the things I remember about this farm was learning about the rabbit problem. Rabbits are a huge pest in New Zealand, especially in the drier parts of the South Island.

He loves his goats.

Goat farm with a view

Goats on them there hills!

Greener forage

Doe with a big kid

Resting on Mom

Feral goats are common to both New Zealand and Australia. We didn't see any feral goats in Australia (we weren't in the right part of the country), but we saw feral goats in New Zealand. Despite being considered a pest, feral goats are profitable business, accounting for the majority of goat meat exports in both countries. The Kiko breed was created by breeding feral goats to dairy breed bucks.

Feral goats on the North Island

Feral goats are found mostly on steep pastures.