Australia's largest goat processor is confident increasing demand from south-east Asia will maintain relatively high prices for the animal.

Western Meat Exporters in Charleville, south-west Queensland, slaughters about 50 per cent of Australia's goat meat exports.

Managing Director Campbell McPhee says the company is currently processing up to 16,000 goats per week.

"Last year we did a number of say around 660,000 goats for the year; this year we are aiming to get closer to 700,000 goats."

Mr McPhee explains the numbers justify the company's decision to convert the abattoir from a straight sheep plant to a goat only facility.

"We believe the goat market can only get stronger with new countries coming on board such as India - [demand from] Vietnam is increasing as is China and Korea."

Australia is the largest goat meat exporter in the world, with the United States and Taiwan the biggest customers. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 45 seconds 4 m 45 s Listen Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Australia's largest goat meat processor says the industry can only get 'stronger and stronger' ( Lydia Burton ) Download 2.2 MB

Mr McPhee says growing demand from the increasing Asian middle class, particularly in China and India, will see greater competition in the market.

"Goat prices are as strong as they've ever been."

Selling wild goats has provided a much need financial boost for some western Queensland graziers during the current drought.

"Some months you have no cash flow at all and we've been able to balance that a bit with free-range goats," says Kathy Schmidt from Wallen Station, 60 kilometres north of Cunnamulla. Listen Duration: 2 minutes 30 seconds 2 m 30 s Listen Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Grazier Kathy Schmidt says wild goats are providing much needed cash flow ( Craig Zonca ) Download 1.2 MB

"For our enterprise it's been vital.

"Cattle prices have been so dismal you can't keep paying the general day-to-day bills."

Mrs Schmidt says her family has sold hundreds of goats over the past 12 months.