MANILA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will import more than 3,000 heads of goat and sheep from Australia to promote long-term development of its livestock industry, Australia's top diplomat to Manila said on Tuesday.

    Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said 1,900 meat and dairy goats, and 1,200 heads of sheep are due to arrive in the Philippines over the next two months following a series of visits by Philippine breeders to farms in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria facilitated by the Australian Trade Commission.

    "The importation of Australian livestock will assist Philippine breeders improve the quality of local stock and, in particular, promote the development of the goat industry," said the envoy.

    Australia is already a known supplier of meat goats in the Philippines.

    The purchase of the dairy goats and sheep will boost existing agricultural trade between Australia and the Philippines, currently worth about 5 million Australian dollars (3.6 million U.S. dollars), Smith said.

    The imported goats will be primarily used for cross-breeding to increase meat production and to capitalize on the rising demand for goat's milk.

    Currently, Australia accounts for more than 50 percent of world goat meat exports, exporting over 75,000 goats every year, with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore being the country's largest markets for live goats.