The commercial harvest of kangaroos in Australia is regulated by various state government agencies. They control the number of kangaroos that can be harvested annually with the view to ensuring that the harvest remains ecologically and economically sustainable. In addition to controlling the harvest quotas, some agencies impose minimum weight restrictions on harvested animals, which may assist with maintaining viable breeding populations. However, harvesting usually occurs in remote regions and carcases may be stored refrigerated for up to 10-14 d before being inspected for compliance with minimum weight restrictions. Consequently, there is concern that weight loss during cold storage, particularly in small carcases close to the minimum limit, could lead to harvesters being wrongly prosecuted or fined for breaching the minimum carcase weight licence condition. We found that for two species of kangaroo, the large eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus; liveweight 30-70 kg) and the smaller red-necked wallaby (M. rufogriseus; liveweight 10-24 kg), carcase weight loss after 10 days cold storage was negligible. There was no significant effect of species on carcase weight change after 10 days cold storage and their pooled weight change averaged just -75.0 ± 18.0 g, or 0.35 ± 0.08% of initial carcase weight. This level of weight loss was significantly different from a hypothesised weight change of zero (Z = -4.17, P < 0.001). However, after an additional four days of cold storage, average weight change in the smallest carcases (the red-necked wallabies) was not significantly different from zero (Z = -1.65, P > 0.05).

Carcase dehydration, kangaroo, marsupials, harvesting
Ampt P. and Baumber A. 2006. Building connections between kangaroos, commerce and conservation in the rangelands. Australian Zoologist 33(3): 398-409.
Building connections between kangaroos, commerce and conservation in the rangelands
, 
Australian Zoologist
, vol. 
33
 (pg. 
398
-
409
)
Anon. 2007. NSW Commercial Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2007-2011. The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Sydney.(available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au;
ARMCANZ 1997. Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Game Meat for Human Consumption. Victoria, Australia, CSIRO Publishing.
, 
Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Game Meat for Human Consumption
Croft D. 2000. Sustainable use of wildlife in western New South Wales: Possibilities and problems. Rangeland Journal 22:88-104.
Sustainable use of wildlife in western New South Wales: Possibilities and problems
, 
Rangeland Journal
, vol. 
22
 (pg. 
88
-
104
)
Dawson T.J. and Munn A.J. 2007. How much do kangaroos of differing age and size eat relative to domestic stock?: implications for the arid rangelands. Pp 96-101 in Animals of Arid Australia: out on their own? edited by C. Dickman, D. Lunney and S. Burgin S., Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW, Australia.
, 
Animals of Arid Australia: out on their own
(pg. 
96
-
101
)
Grigg G.C. 1989. Kangaroo harvesting and the conservation of arid and semi-arid rangelands. Conservation Biology 3: 194-197.
Kangaroo harvesting and the conservation of arid and semi-arid rangelands
, 
Conservation Biology
, vol. 
3
 (pg. 
194
-
197
)
Grigg G.C. 2002. Conservation benefit from harvesting kangaroos: status report at the start of a new millennium. Pp. 53-76 in A Zoological Revolution: using native fauna to assist its own survival. edited by D. Lunney and C. R. Dickman, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW and the Australian Museum, Sydney.
, 
Zoological Revolution: using native fauna to assist its own survival
(pg. 
53
-
76
)
Higginbottom K., Northrope C.L., Croft D.B., Hill B. and Freedline E. 2004. The role of kangaroos in Australian tourism. Australian Mammalogy. 26(1): 23-32
The role of kangaroos in Australian tourism
, 
Australian Mammalogy
, vol. 
26
 (pg. 
23
-
32
)
Kelly J. 2005. Kangaroo Industry Strategic Plan 2005-2010. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Barton ACT.
McLeod S. R., Hacker R. B. and Druhan J. P. 2004. Managing the commercial harvest of kangaroos in the Murray-Darling Basin. Australian Mammalogy 26(1): 9-2.
Managing the commercial harvest of kangaroos in the Murray-Darling Basin
, 
Australian Mammalogy
, vol. 
26
 (pg. 
9
-
2
)
Olsen P. and Braysher M. 2000. Situation analysis report: Current state of scientific knowledge on kangaroos in the environment, including ecological and economic impact and effect of culling. Prepared for the Kangaroo Management Advisory Committee, The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation National Parks and Wildlife Service (available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au;
Olsen P. and Low T. 2006. Situation analysis report update on current state of scientific knowledge on kangaroos in the environment, including ecological and economic impact and effect of culling. Prepared for the Kangaroo Management Advisory Committee, The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation national parks and Wildlife Service (available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au;
Pople T. 2003. Setting minimum carcase weights. The Journal of the Australian Kangaroo Industry, Number 34.
Wilson G. R. 1975. Age structures of populations of kangaroos (Macropdidae) taken by professional shooters in New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 2: 1-9.
Age structures of populations of kangaroos (Macropdidae) taken by professional shooters in New South Wales
, 
Australian Wildlife Research
, vol. 
2
 (pg. 
1
-
9
)
Wynn P., Beaton A. and Spiegel N. 2004. Meat quality of kangaroos. Publication No. 04/151, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Barton ACT
, 
Meat quality of kangaroos
Zar J.H. 1999. Biostatistical Analysis, 4th edition. Prentice-Hall IncSydney.
, 
Biostatistical Analysis
This content is only available as a PDF.