Ten years ago, Taylan and Megan Atar’s goat farm in Tallarook, North Central Victoria, was overrun with Sifton bush and barely farmable.

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Today the 600 acre property is home to over 1000 Boer goats, who have transformed the landscape from pest, to pasture.

Taylan says the goat’s appetite for Sifton bush, also known as China bush, not only created more arable farm land, but completely reshaped the landscape. Boer goats in North Central Victoria are renowned as fine dining in Melbourne restaurants ( James Jooste )

“We have a weed or bush out here called China bush that stabilises the soil, so it’s a good bush, but you can’t do much with it and it doesn’t matter whether you cut it, or burn it, it just doesn’t go away.

“But the goats, I don’t know what they do to it, over the last 10 years this bush block has turned into pasture.”

It’s not the only landscape being transformed by the animals, with fine dining restaurants taking a big interest in gourmet goats to add to their menus. Victorian Boer goats are in high demand in North Central Victoria ( James Jooste )

Taylan says he works with 35 other producers from across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, to keep a constant supply feeding into Melbourne’s meat market.

“Unique restaurants have always had goat meat, but the problem has been consistent supply.

“So we have been the only body that has been able to supply the product 12 months of the year.”

Taylan says he expects the industry to keep growing with consumers becoming more specific in their taste for meat.

“The restaurants love it, diners love it and it’s a very health meat to eat.

“I think it will continue to grow.”