"We had a good base ground of our harvested goats before we started buying others — that was important."
"The crossbreds are a lot more of a meat goat, which is what we are after because we are looking for a quick turnover of our goats," Ms Dennis said.
Once cluster fencing was in place, Mr Counsell introduced the goats and said he became impressed by their resilience.
Growing demand from export and domestic markets According to figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) 2–2.5 million goats were supplied for processing nationally in the 2017-2018 financial year.
Goat prices are holding strong in the market, and with the industry having lower production costs per animal than other livestock, returns are strong despite the drought.
Meat and Livestock Australia’s project manager for the goat industry Julie Petty said that despite the ongoing struggles in western Queensland, those turning to goats were seeing positive outcomes.
Fencing could improve goat numbers Western Meat Exporters managing director Campbell McPhee said that although the number of goats being processed had declined in western Queensland this year, mostly due to the conditions and wild dogs, more funding for cluster fencing would potentially see those numbers improve.
High demand for organic Mr McPhee said there was also an opportunity for producers to move into the organic goat meat market.
"We can definitely remain where we are pricewise — I think that’s what’s created the interest in the goat industry by more and more producers is our ability to hold those prices high and strong," he said.
"The ability of the market to attract, and continuing to attract, higher prices will remain.

She captured the moment while the pair were feeding their bulls on Sunday morning.
After posting the image on social media, the pair have been sent kind messages from their friends — who said they hoped rain was on the way.
“Heartbreaking picture so hard to take after a lifetime of hard work,” wrote one of the commenters.
“Hope it rains soon.” Ms King explained that this level drought had never been seen in the area before.
“Never seen before, first time without water.” They both live on a fourth-generation, 2000-acre cattle farm and Ms King, a farmer and army veteran, said her old man still helps with farming.
“There’s just myself and my dad,” she told Yahoo7.
Foodbank was facing the prospect of cutting services for the needy after it lost $250,000 a year when the Government redistributed the relief budget to spread funds between three providers rather than two.
“I have listened and decided to increase the Food Relief budget by $1.5 million over the next 4.5 years,” Mr Morrison announced on Twitter on Tuesday.
OzHarvest, which became the third charity to receive government support, says the redistributed funds will allow it to provide 5.6 million meals next year.
Mr Morrison has also asked Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher to place more focus on delivering food relief in drought-affected areas.

The Queensland government is investing millions of dollars to help farmers in the Australian state better manage drought and climate events with new tools, including more reliable forecasting, insurance products and customised climate information.
A Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP) has been set up which brings together climate scientists, government and non-government agencies, producers and industry leaders to work together on research projects and partnerships.
Visiting the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Queensland minister for agricultural industry development Mark Furner said the $21 million ($15.3 million) DCAP aims to assist the grazing, cropping and horticulture industries.
“USQ is delivering two DCAP projects through the Queensland Drought Mitigation Centre to better understand droughts and climate variability,” he said.
“The Northern Australia Climate Program is an $8 million ($5.8 million) partnership between the Queensland Government, USQ and Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company to help the grazing industry better manage drought and climate risks.
“The project is improving reliability of multi-week, seasonal and multi-year forecasts, and establishing a network of ‘climate mates’ to support the delivery of customised climate information and products into regional networks to help with business decision-making.
Furner said the team is working with farmers to discuss production costs if there’s insufficient rainfall or soil moisture during the fallow season.
He added: “Another local DCAP project is a partnership between the Queensland government and the Bureau of Meteorology looking at improved forecasts for the vegetable industry.
“Improving multi-week and seasonal forecasts and extreme weather events such as storms and heat waves will help improve farm, business and labour management decisions and these are being trialled in the Lockyer Valley and Granite Belt regions.
“DCAP’s projects will assist our primary producers and the agri-business sector in the Darling Downs and right across Queensland to manage the negative impacts of severe climate events and take better advantage of good seasons when they occur.”

The federal government have announced a $5 billion drought assistance package to support farmers struggling with extreme conditions in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
The Future Drought Fund, announced at the National Drought Summit on Friday, will be complimented by the $81 million Drought Communities Program which has been expanded to include 17 local council areas in South Australia.
Those council areas include the District Council of Kimba and the District Council of Cleve.
The communities program provides up to $1 million for each council in funding to support local infrastructure and other projects for communities and businesses who have been impacted by drought.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said the expansion of the Drought Communities Program to support 17 regional councils was a welcome investment with the South Australian agriculture, food and wine industries.
“This new funding injection into droughted areas will enable councils to deliver local projects that create employment and build the resilience of communities.” But the Opposition says the government must confirm that South Australian farmers who are experiencing drought will get their fair share of $5 billion investment.
Shadow Primary Industries Minister Eddie Hughes welcomed the funding package but said he was disappointed it could not be accessed until 2020.
“Minister Whetstone must receive an assurance from his colleagues that SA’s drought affected farmers will get their fair share of the $5 billion package,” he said.
“I also call on Minister Whetstone to urge the Federal Government to bring forward the relief package – 2020 is too far away.
Drought affected farmers need help now.”

Plans to dump up to 15m tonnes of salt and other waste near a creek in drought-stricken Queensland carry a “considerable” risk of water contamination, a new study has found.
Approved plans to expand a dump near the town of Chinchilla allow salt waste from coal seam gas operations to be stored fewer than 100 metres from Stockyard Creek, in the headwaters of the Murray-Darling Basin.
How can you force a company to manage beyond the lifespan of the people who run the company?
Stuart Khan, an environmental engineering professor at the University of New South Wales, has completed a study for the NSW Environmental Defender’s Office that concludes there is considerable risk of water contamination.
The responsibility for managing these risks over the long term will likely be inherited by future generations.” Khan told Guardian Australia salt “does not biodegrade in the environment and has an infinite environmental residence time”.
He said the stockpile in close proximity to Stockyard Creek would “need a management plan that runs for centuries”.
“How can you force a company to manage beyond the lifespan of the people who run the company?” he said.
Queensland cotton farmer charged with $20m Murray-Darling plan fraud Read more The company that runs the dump, We Kando, has not yet sought an assessment under the EPBC act.
Guardian Australia understands the federal Department of Environment and Energy has recently written to the company “to ensure they were aware of their obligations”.
The Lock the Gate Alliance argues the plan meets the “water trigger” that requires assessment of mining or coal seam gas developments, including associated waste management, likely to have a significant impact on a water resource.

All of New South Wales is declared drought affected, with 57 per cent of Queensland also facing the same crippling struggle.
National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson tells Steve Price they’re working with the government to improve access to the Farm Household Allowance.
An expert panel is reviewing the weekly payment.
The application process has been criticised, with the hefty amount of paperwork required being one of the reasons why farmers aren’t applying.
Ms Simson says it needs to be more accessible and is calling for it to be streamlined.
“We’re hopeful that we’re close to a solution shortly.” She also says it’s “too difficult to list” the worst affected areas.
“Definitely there are areas that have been in drought for a long time and they’re easy to list, but I think they haven’t been much in the news because they’ve just been in drought for so long.
“It’s very widespread.” Ms Simson says despite the drought, there are some pockets that will turn a crop.
She tells Steve one key factor they’re working on is water supply.
“As we get hotter, of course, water is going to become increasingly important and making sure people have running water in their houses, fresh water to drink.” Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Queensland’s former cotton farmer of the year, John Norman, 43, was charged on Tuesday with six counts of fraud involving commonwealth funds allocated for water efficiency projects under the Murray-Darling basin plan.
Norman owns an 18,000-hectare cotton aggregate outside Goondiwindi, near the New South Wales border.
Det Insp Mick Dowie said the arrests were the result of a long and complex investigation and police would allege fraudulent activity across six projects between 2010 and 2017.
One of Queensland’s largest irrigators expected to be charged with fraud Read more If found guilty, the two men face extended jail sentences.
He said some contractors’ invoices were allegedly amended either by the contractors themselves or by Norman Farming later.
“I am aware of the impact this will have on the small farming communities in the area and possible individuals.
John Norman’s immediate neighbours said they were relieved charges had been laid.
The charges are likely to ignite calls for an independent audit of the plan, already under pressure from the royal commission established by the former SA premier Jay Weatherill.
Littleproud has denied any personal conflict, saying the awarding of Healthy Headwaters grants was a state responsibility.
“Now that charges have been laid, the water minister, David Littleproud, should step aside to avoid any perceived conflict of interest,” she said.

The next two weeks will be critical for people struggling through the drought in New South Wales.
Farmers are saying they can not find feed for their livestock beyond a few days’ supply.
Figures from online livestock selling company Auctions Plus show many producers have been offloading stock.
Farmers had ignored advice about de-stocking in recent weeks, Dr Davidson said.
"At that moment the cattle would have been fine to sell at a good price but some farmers have waited too long and now the cattle are emaciated and too weak to put on a truck," she said.
There are strategies farmers can employ in that situation but Dr Davidson said some were putting off calling the local vet because of the cost.
But some farmers have been hanging onto stock and the RSPCA however is dealing with a lot of calls from the public about animals in poor condition, and calls from farmers wanting help to euthanase cattle and sheep that are too weak to transport.
He said selling now could be a good option for many.
Dr Tom Mullholland addressed farmers in drought-affected areas of New South Wales recently about the mental challenges they were facing.
"If you’re feeling irritable, stressed, depressed — you don’t want to get out of bed, you might have a hardware issue.

Scott Morrison won’t say if human-induced climate change is associated with the drought in Queensland and NSW because it doesn’t help solve practical problems.
The new prime minister visited a drought-stricken Quilpie farm in rural Queensland in his first visit in the job, but refused to say if he thought climate change was affecting the drought.
"It’s not a debate I’ve participated a lot in in the past, because I’m practically interested in the policies that will address what is going on here right and now.
"I’m interested in getting people’s electricity prices down and I’m not terribly interested in engaging in those sorts of debates at this point."
Mr Morrison said his passion for dealing with the drought came from a conversation with Nationals leader Michael McCormack in cabinet.
"Michael was really pushing that this really had to be put on our agenda and what our response was," he said.
"That had a big impact on me, Michael, and, as you know, we went through a whole range of packages that went through the budget."
"It goes on as long as the drought goes on.
"The appointment of climate change denier Barnaby Joyce as his drought envoy is a joke and a slap in the face for all in the sector who want meaningful drought policy reform," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
But Mr Morrison said the role made good use of the former deputy prime minister’s skills.

An extended drought would have a "significant" effect on the economy and food prices, says Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe.
Farmers are battling drought with the worst effects in NSW, southern Queensland and northern Victoria.
A new report by Commonwealth Bank has put the potential cost at $12 billion and warned of food price hikes.
Asked about the outlook, Dr Lowe said: "It depends very much on the scenario you paint for rainfall."
He said in 2002/03 farm output fell around 25 per cent knocking a full percentage point off Australia’s growth and leading to many rural workers losing their jobs.
As well, food prices rose by 4.5 per cent, because slaughter rates increase as droughts bite.
"The current drought is not as serious as that one and we all certainly hope it won’t be," Dr Lowe said.
In the short term, rural exports could rise as meat production increases, but at risk is an agricultural sector which accounts for up to 15 per cent of total exports.
Chief economist Michael Blythe said while drought may "take the edge" off total growth, the Australian economy was still likely to show a good result overall.
Australian Associated Press