Groups revive goat industry

NZ Goats was established by Mohair NZ and Meat Goat NZ.

Although there remains much to do to rebuild the goat meat and mohair industries, goat meat leads global red meat consumption and has a lot to offer New Zealand red meat farming businesses.

This will be reinforced at the inaugural New Zealand Goats conference at Rydges Hotel, Queenstown, on the weekend of May 23 to 25.

This event is being hosted by the Federated Farmers goats industry group in conjunction with Meat Goat New Zealand and the New Zealand Boer Goat Breeders Association.

NZ Goats was established by Mohair NZ and Meat Goat NZ.

The conference is aimed at experienced goat farmers and those interested in looking further at the opportunities goat farming can offer.

Activities start with a field trip on the Friday to an angora goat farm and this will be followed by a social gathering.

On the Saturday morning the four organisations will hold their annual meetings.

The afternoon will provide an opportunity to visit one of the country's most extensive high-country Boer goat farming properties and the day will conclude with dinner at the Skyline Gondola restaurant.

The final event is the inaugural NZ Goats conference on the Sunday.

The first part of the conference will include presentations from speakers and the second part will offer the audience an opportunity to contribute to a discussion about the way forward for the sector in general and NZ Goats in particular.

To obtain a registration form or get more information, phone 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) or email dburt@fedfarm.org.nz.