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Feral Goats
Feral goats (Capra hircus) occur in all states and territories of Australia. The main concentrations are in western New South Wales, southern Queensland, central eastern South Australia and Western Australia. Feral goats occur in a wide range of habitats although they do not do well where dingoes are present.
Feral goats compete with sheep for pasture and also contribute (along with other managed and unmanaged herbivores) to land degradation through damaging soil structure and exposing it to erosion, and overgrazing pasture plants and browsing established trees and shrubs preventing their regeneration. There is also a risk that feral goats could facilitate the spread of exotic diseases (such as foot-and-mouth disease) should such diseases enter Australia. Goats damage native plants and may compete with native animals for food, shelter and water. At the same time, feral goats represent a lucrative resource in some areas, being harvested primarily for meat.
More detailed information on feral goat management is contained in the Bureau of Rural Sciences' publication 'Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats' - Parkes, J., Henzell, R. and Pickles, G. 1996 (A$24.95).
Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats is the first book to provide a comprehensive review of the history and biology of feral goats in Australia, the damage they cause, and community attitudes to feral goat management.
Key Strategies for successful feral goat control are recommended by the authors, who are scientific experts in goat management. The strategies are illustrated by case studies.
Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats is an essential guide for policy makers, farmers, conservation reserve managers and all those interested in feral goat management.
Purchase the publication : Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats
Download the PDF document : Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats
Download the Word Document: Managing Vertebrate Pests: Feral Goats - * no images
Purchase the CD : Guidelines on Feral Goats
More information
For further information please contact Quentin Hart:
Within Australia Ph: 02 6272 3801
International Ph: +61 2 6272 3801
or email Quentin Hart