AUSTRALIA has maintained its position as the world's largest exporter of goat.
Exports have reached a record 25,911 tonnes last year, assisted by the global shortage of mutton.
Goat exports were up 5 per cent compared to 2009, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
And MLA said exports could have been much higher but except for the wet finish to the year, which made it difficult to trap and transport feral goats for processing.
MLA data showed the main destination for Australian goat was North America.
Exports to the US increased 13 per cent to 14,437 tonnes.
America's large Hispanic, African and Muslim populations use goat meat in traditional dishes and celebrations.
Canada imported an extra 57 per cent, or 1886 tonnes, while Taiwan, the second largest export destination, bought 3997 tonnes - on a par with 2009.
MLA manager of goat meat industry development Blair Brice said the increase in demand for goat meat was driven by the worldwide tightening availability of mutton - a casualty of the declining wool industry.
"The downturn in the wool industry and increase in prime lamb production both here, and in New Zealand and Argentina, has created lack of mutton world wide, increasing the demand for goat," Mr Brice said.
Much of the exported goat meat is feral animals from pastoral properties from Queensland, NSW and Western Australia, but almost one third of it is processed and shipped out of Victoria.
Goat is the most widely eaten meat in the world.
China is the largest consumer, followed by Pakistan and India - and the diaspora of these countries largely drives the demand worldwide.
The average price of Australian goat meat, over the hooks, jumped about 50 per cent last year.
Victorian goat producer Seven Hills, at Tallarook just south of Seymour, produces mainly top-end domestic meat for butchers and restaurants.
It also supplies the export market, which has included sending its first one-tonne shipment under its own label to Fiji last year.
Seven Hills producers Sue Ryan, Glenn Martin and Taylan Attar run 2500 Boer-cross goats and said domestic and international demand was outstripping supply.
"We can't get enough good quality goats to supplement our breeding program and encourage other producers to get into goats as they run very well with sheep and cattle," Mr Martin said.
