NEW South Wales producers are calling for support from peak marketing bodies to catapult kangaroo meat to the same price highs of rangeland goat and ensure numbers are better managed.
In recent years, the price of rangeland goat, once considered a pest for some producers, has spiked considerably with over-the-hook indicators for MLA in August reaching 560c/kg, up more than 52c/kg in past months.
It prompted a motion to pass at a NSW Farmers meeting to lobby MLA to become involved in the kangaroo meat industry and market it domestically and internationally.
But, MLA is primarily funded by levies on the sale of cattle, sheep and goats, meaning any kangaroo work would require legislative changes.
“Any proposals to change or expand the scope of MLA’s charter and operations would be a matter for industry (through the red meat Peak Industry Councils) in consultation with the Australian Government,” a spokesperson said.
There were almost nine million red and grey kangaroos in the Western Plains region in 2017, according to NSW Government figures, with about six million in 2010.
Wentworth producer Jim Maynard operates a 46,000 hectare sheep, cattle and cropping property, Kerribee Station, and likened the current kangaroo numbers to a “mice plague”.
He said kangaroos were currently a wasted resource and the increased numbers during the dry times meant they were depleting through starvation.
“If we ran our livestock like that, we would be prosecuted,” he said.
“When goats were considered a pest 15 years ago, when MLA became involved, they became a real asset, probably one of the highest priced meats around.
“Kangaroos have always been a subject that everybody throws their hands up and don’t have any answers. I’m getting on in years and I’m determined to try and do something for the west. I see the kangaroo problem as the one being side stepped too many times.”
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the management of animals like kangaroos was primarily the responsibility of state governments and land managers, but the Australian government supported the industry.
“It is important to me that all agricultural industries have an opportunity to remain viable,” he said.
“That’s why the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is continuing to work closely with Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health’s (DAH) to regain market access for kangaroo meat and meat products to Vietnam.”
The Land contacted the NSW government for comment. In August, the state government relaxed red tape surrounding kangaroo management regulations from August.
But, Mr Maynard said, easier licensing rules and higher culling limits weren’t the answer.
“It’s necessary to do it at times but within that creates problems, is it amateurs going out? Which should not happen, but it’s creating some anxiety by the people that are looking after animal welfare,” he said.
According to Australian government figures, about 4000 tonnes of kangaroo meat is exported from Australia each year, accounting for three per cent of the total kangaroo population.
Mr Maynard said they wanted to see an expansion to the current kangaroo meat industry and support to find extra markets around the world.
Gaining a ‘social licence’ for such a bold move was the prohibiting factor, he said.
“We would need support from the federal government, we would need support from the NSW government to a certain degree,” he said.
“We would also need to take on the industry that is established and is trying to do it and expand that and get competition into the industry.
“A base of five or six million, we know the kangaroo species are quite able to respond to seasonal conditions. When they get to 17 million, they are really competing very heavily with other enterprises.”