Feral Goat Control Victoria

Feral goats in Australia have a negative economic impact, primarily through competition with livestock, land degradation, and disease transmission. While they also represent a commercial resource through harvesting for meat and other products, the overall economic impact is estimated to be significant, with losses to livestock farming exceeding $25 million annually.

Control Methods

Ground shooting with centerfire rifles Thermal / Nightvision

Economic & Enviromental impacts

Economic impacts

Feral goats compete directly with domestic livestock (sheep and cattle) for pasture, forage, and water. This competition can reduce the productivity and profitability of pastoral and agricultural industries, especially during droughts when resources are scarce.
Feral goats can damage fences by pushing through or under them, requiring costly repairs for landholders.

Enviromental impacts

Feral goats are voracious eaters, consuming a wide variety of plants including native herbs, grasses, shrubs, and even the bark of trees. Intensive grazing removes protective groundcover, leaving the soil exposed and vulnerable.
They selectively feed on palatable native plants, especially seedlings and young plants. This prevents the regeneration and recruitment of new plants, threatening the long-term survival of certain species, including many trees and shrubs. Over time, this can lead to the local extinction of susceptible plant species
Their presence and wallowing can contaminate water sources used by livestock, potentially reducing water quality and availability