Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Currently exported to 55 countries, and the list continues to grow.

Just a point about kangaroos that are shot for commercial use - they have to be gutted within a certain period and then left to hang until an inspector, typically a specialised veterinarian, checks out (I think) the heart and lungs which have been left in each carcass. It is only after the 'roo gets a posthumous clean bill of health that it can proceed down the path to human consumption.

I have met a couple of 'roo shooters who couldn't stomach the meat anymore, even though they liked it before becoming professionals. It seems it is only us amateurs that have a choice of whether or not to gut when it comes to kangaroos.

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A lot of it comes down to personal taste.

The french eat quite a bit of horse but that is illegal here in Australia. I think it may even be illegal to kill your own and eat them.

The germans and many other european nations love gamey meat which is probably why they like kangaroo. Certainly is the reason I do.

The pigs I get around here often have a fishy taste which is weird to say the least when hogging into a leg of roast pork. Some of my friends like it my wife certainly doesn't but the sausages and small goods we have made from the meat everyone likes.

Well maybe not the "oafully good sausages" which are a mix of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, etc. cut with 25% meaty trimmings, bits scraped off the head plus any fat we can find to add in on top (they tend to be very lean so often not much fat for sausages ). All stuffed into a length of small intestine and then fried for those who like an intense flavour or boiled for a milder flavour.

So is it just Charlie that is invited to dinner or can the rest of us come?

You are welcome to join me at my table for a meal of australus any time, Stuart, and we can 'chew the fat' re aquaponics.

Oops! There won't be any fat because 'roo meat is basically fat free (and very low in cholesterol).

Will there be beer?

Wine, red and white, and home brewed ginger beer.

Kangaroo meat?? Have you tried your butcher? even Woolies sells it in NSW.


Speaking of what Aussies hunt- it was once suggested that I was the Chocodile Hunter, whilst perusing the confectionary in a shop at Winslow AZ

The only roo meat I've seen in the supermarkets are labelled as pet food only.

For those that know me, I have shot, cleaned and tagged more roos in a weekend than most will do in their lifetime. Its not uncommon to drop 5 ton in a 3 night shoot. This is at a licenced profesional level and the animal is dealt with in the same manner all the way through, stored in refridgerated trucks at the station and then transported to town when full. Its a booming export industry I agree... and almost every last piece of it goes to pet food, well at least ours does and every other profesional shooting outfit in this area that I know of. A small minority of it is shot for human consumption but this is mainly due to the reasons PJ pointed out, its a very strict process and another set of licences and more often than not... not very cost effective.

I know a lot of people eat the crap but it will never be as big as cattle, pigs and sheep.. which was my comparison. We also have shot wild horse and camel on the station which are equally crap to eat.

Just my opinion.

Gees Charlie - I feel sorry for the ute!

I buy my roo from my local IGA in WA. would much prefer to pick up a whole one for the freezer though.

Wild game is really big in the paleo movement which is massive in the US and gaining ground here. The fatty profile of wild caught herbivores is far superior to grain fed and for that reason I believe it is a growing industry.

As for its taste, you need to experiment. I have made it for game likers and fussy kids. For the fussy kids I mask the flavour and cook very well. For the game fanciers I leave rarer and have sweet, tart condiments.

The guys in the states pay in excess of $40 per kg for roo and even then are excited if they can get it.

Personally I like it sometimes, but others I just can't stand the smell and won't cook it.

I don't want to buy it Its expensive.

I just had a Kangaroo jump acccross my kitchen garden, a guy down the road was attacked by one which chased him into his wood shed where fortunately he had tools to defend himself.

I buy roo a fair bit from the supermarket.. Take it home open it, smear on some dijon mustard, sprinkle with lots of fresh thyme, pour in lots or red wine, leave it for a few days to a week... Yum....

Maybe I just need to come over to PJL's and Joels for a kangaroo dinner.... those recipe's do sound appetising.

I doubt that, it's culture and emotions IMO
from that same article they had a note on the subject cut/paste :

Taboos of the table

Australians' hang-up about eating their most distinctive local meat is not particularly surprising, given the deep irrationality of human food choices.

Most people in the West, for example, will eat shrimps but not insects, pork but not dog, and beef but not horse meat.

History is littered with examples of societies that suffered because they wouldn't change their eating habits, like the mediaeval Norse community on Greenland, who starved to death because they refused to eat fish and seal like the natives, but insisted on maintaining a tradition of cattle farming that was unsuited to their fragile northern habitat.


cheers