(Changwon=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jeong-hoon = Gyeongnam Province announced on the 13th that it has established a plan for the development of the goat industry to be carried out until 2030, aiming for goat meat, represented by black goats, to be recognized as a representative health food.
The province has drawn up the development plan in response to the increasing demand for goat meat due to the 'Dog Food Termination Act', which prohibits the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for food purposes, and the growing number of farmers and retirees raising goats.
The development plan includes the construction of a black goat processing and distribution center in Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, with an investment of 1 billion 230 million won, including national funds, local funds, and self-supporting funds.
The center, to be operated by agricultural corporations raising black goats starting in 2027, will handle the entire process from the slaughter of black goats to processing and distribution.
The province will also support the improvement of breeding facilities, the dissemination of breeding technology, and the strengthening of inspections of the origin of imported goat meat to institutionally establish the goat industry and enhance its quality competitiveness.
As of last year, 2,100 farms in Gyeongnam raised 44,000 goats.