Publication Date

10-2024

Series Number

DPIRD-144

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

City

Perth

Abstract

The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.

Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers and spread further by miners and railway gangs, who used them as a source of milk and meat. Goats were introduced into WA in the early colonial era. They were kept for a mohair industry and to provide milk, butter, and meat. They were also used for light haulage and goat racing. In 1870, 50 goats were taken to Shark Bay, WA. By 1894, there were 4500 goats in WA, and by 1905, they were reported throughout the state. Large herds grazed on sheep and cattle stations; these were dispersed when the mohair industry did not develop as hoped. Breeding groups escaped and formed feral herds on many stations. Feral goats were declared vermin in the Upper Gascoyne district in 1928, at Marble Bar and Port Hedland the following year, and Mullewa and Meekatharra in 1954.

Number of Pages

4

Keywords

Goat (Capra hircus), Feral goats, Pests, Environmental damage, Rangelands, Invasive species, Declard pests, Western Australian Organism List (WAOL)

Disciplines

Agricultural Education | Agricultural Science | Animal Sciences | Behavior and Ethology | Biosecurity | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Population Biology | Soil Science

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