A number of control methods have been used to reduce feral goat numbers. These include shooting from the ground or helicopters, using Judas goats to pinpoint herds, mustering and trapping.
However mustering, trapping and helicopter shooting are the main methods used to remove feral goats at present. Helicopter shooting is particularly useful in removing goats in inaccessible areas.
Management in Pastoral Areas:
Agriculture Protection Board (APB) policy is aimed at managing feral goat numbers such that they are reduced to, or maintained at a level which ensures minimal environmental impact on the rangelands.
Agriculture Western Australia currently undertakes feral goat aerial surveys to monitor population numbers in the southern rangeland. Data results collected from these surveys and other sources are used to ensure landholders are aware of goat numbers.
With this information pastoralists are encouraged to formulate management strategies to reduce and manage feral goats to minimise their impact. Under the Board’s management policy, commercialisation of the feral goat resource is permitted under strict conditions. Pastoralists are able to muster and remove feral goats to abattoirs or export.
A waybill in accordance with the Stock (Identification and Movement) Act 1970 must accompany all movements of goats. In addition, with the approval of the Pastoral Lands Board, and under specifications set out by the APB, feral goats may be domesticated and grazed as stock. Mustered goats that are not removed or domesticated must be destroyed.
The process of domesticating feral goats involves training the animals to respect electric fences. Feral goats are held in a compound of specified design where they will encounter a plain wire electric fence.
Once goats have learned to avoid the fence, they are released into a larger grazing paddock with electric fence barriers. As a condition of domestication, goats must be identified and marked in accordance with the Stock (Identification and Movement Act 1970.
Management in Agricultural Areas:
There is a growing interest in grazing goats in the agricultural areas. However, if feral goats from pastoral areas are relocated for this purpose, permits to introduce and keep the goats are required from the Agriculture Protection Board.
These permits must be obtained before the goats arrive on the property and each consignment of feral goats must be held behind approved fencing for at least one month.
These requirements are specified to prevent the animals escaping and becoming a problem in reserves and other areas. Unmarked goats must be marked within seven days of arrival at the property, to deter theft and provide a means to trace diseased animals.
No permits are required for the keeping of domestic goats or domesticated feral goats. However domesticated feral goats con only come from pastoral properties that have been approved by the Pastoral Lands Board as domestic goat grazing enterprises as detailed above.
It is also clear that goats in general, whether domesticated or feral, behave very differently to sheep. They are very determined animals and will test fences. So farmers need to ensure that fencing is adequate to contain them.
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