Victoria increases kangaroo quota as population surges to 2 million

The Andrews Government has cleared the way for Victorian kangaroo to be put on the menu, as it lifts harvesting quotas amid a population explosion.

Roo numbers have exploded, leading to a lift in Victoria’s harvesting quota to help bring the population down.

VICTORIA’S kangaroo population has surged by 40 per cent since 2018, to almost 2 million today, prompting the Andrews Government to lift this year’s harvesting quota to 95,680.

The 2021 quota is well up on last year’s 57,900, which up until now only allowed kangaroos to be processed for pet food.

But as The Weekly Times reported last month, the Government has decided to lift the ban on the state’s roos being processed for human consumption and look for opportunities to export skins.

“The changes to how products generated from the kangaroo harvesting program can be used gives more options to harvesters and processors to make use of these animals and reduce waste — and create more jobs in country towns,” Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

“While natural in the Victorian environment, overabundant populations compete with livestock for stock and feed, and damage crops and fences.”

Only trained professional shooters authorised through the harvesting program, who meet strict health and safety measures are able to supply kangaroos to abattoirs for human consumption.

Harvesters must abide by the national code of practice for the humane shooting of kangaroos and wallabies for commercial purposes.

Their vehicles and cool rooms must also be accredited through PrimeSafe.

Since October 2019, 86 harvesters and five meat processors have taken part in the pet-food-only program, with many calling for changes that allow processing for human consumption to support jobs in country communities.

Professional shooter Glenn Cole said he was delighted by the lift in quota, given last year’s quota put more than $1.25 million in harvesters pockets.

“Now we know what we’re doing and can get on with the job,” Mr Cole said.

It’s welcome news to Camperdown game meat processor Steven Castle, who for the first time can start processing Victorian roos for human consumption, rather than bringing in carcasses from interstate.

His company Castle Estate runs the only abattoir in Victoria that is registered to process kangaroos for human consumption and he intends to now focus on locally-sourced meat.

“We’ll start processing in coming weeks and don’t anticipate bringing roos in from outside Victoria (from here on),” Mr Castle said. “I’ll be branding it as Victorian Harvested Kangaroo.”

The shift to processing Victorian roos for human consumption not only delivers a clean, lean source of protein at a time of record beef prices, it adds value to a meat that up until now could only be used for pet food.

Last year shooters earned $1.25/kg (dressed weight) for roos, averaging 25kg, to pet food processors, with consumers paying $6-$7/kg for the minced meat.

In contrast prime kangaroo for human consumption ranges from $12/kg for mince, through to $22/kg for steaks.