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General News
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In this issue
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Sheep Industry and the Economy
The recent events across world financial markets will affect all of us in some aspect of our day to day lives. Just what does all this mean for the Australian sheep industry?
With our sheep flock at historically low levels and any short term increase unlikely, supply and demand, especially for lamb, will play a big part in what this will mean for the industry in the short term. With our sheep flock below 80 million and falling, the one small positive is that the percentage of ewes in this figure is approaching 60% which will partially offset any further reduction in lamb numbers.
A number of other factors may also give some short term reprieve for sheep producers with grain prices falling and on farm retention of lower grade feed grains that potentially are destined for lamb finishing or supplementary feeding. While some areas have off loaded significant numbers of sheep after drought feed reserves were depleted, harvest has allowed many to replenish feed stocks however the dry finish has resulted in lower quality grain attracting very low prices with some grain even unsaleable. Even top quality grain has seen some disappointing returns for growers and many may rethink the economics of grain production compared to the relative security of sheep. Recent cost of production estimates for cropping are around $200/t and given the current climatic uncertainity and prices being received at silo delivery points, some turnaround in either input costs or returns is needed to keep many cropping areas viable.
So what does all this mean long term for the sheep industry?
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The falling $A is potentially the dominant factor in the Australian sheep industry. However any effect will not be seen in the short term. The current fear of recession in many developed countries has already seen reduced demand for more expensive cuts of lamb and an increase in the consumption of cheaper meat such as mince and sausages. Less consumers are dining out meaning more product purchased for home preparation, potentially a plus for the lamb industry. History has show that recession affects sales of beef the most and pork and chicken least, with lamb moderately affected, so domestic consumption will be reduced. However it is anticipated that Asia and the Middle East will not feel the full impact of any global recession and, as they are important markets for our industry, the lower $A will eventually work in our favour and result in increased sales and returns for sheep industry exports.
Increasing population growth in Asia and Africa will result in increased demand as will the increasing wealth in these countries. As living standards in these countries rise so does the demand for animal protein. Increasing population accompanied by increasing living standards leaves the Australian sheep industry well placed to supply the needs of a global demand that will outstrip supply over the next 10 years. Australia is the only sheep producing nation with any chance of meeting this increased demand.
Demand forecasts are for sheep meat exports to decrease to the US and EU markets over the next 12 months but increase to China and the Middle East. With China consuming close to 25% of world meat consumption and sheep meat the preferred animal protein, the short term outlook is promising. Supply will be the only problem we face.
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• Sheep Industry & the Economy
• BizBoost
• Lambplan looking toward 2020
• Working to 2010
• Lamb Finishing -Code of Practice
• Merino Superior sires 14
• Poll Dorset
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Bizboost
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In today's competitive environment, it is no longer just good enough to produce a good product. The secret to a highly successful business is promotion and exposure to as many potential clients as possible. Bizboost is a company that was developed for just that purpose, to assist businesses to grow and achieve their goals. Based in South Australia, Bizboost can assist in all areas of promotion including web site development, graphic design and printing. With many years experience in web design and marketing, Bizboost will tailor your promotion to suit your individual requirements in a friendly, no fuss manner and continue to provide a service well after your web site has been completed.
For more information visit the Bizboost site.
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SheepOnline
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With the launch of SheepOnline well behind us, traffic through our site has settled down to a good steady flow with businesses reporting good interest from their listing. Our analysis of web traffic has shown that visitors to our site spend a deal of time looking at all areas within the site with an equal spread of hits across all categories. The use of banner advertising has given those businesses using them, additional exposure and this clearly shows in our analysis of website traffic through our site. The ability to list much more than just a short description and a contact number has allowed businesses to list detailed descriptions of services and products and this has captured and maintained the interest of those visiting our site. The ability to set up a listing that can act like a website has also allowed businesses to use SheepOnline as an address to direct clients for more information through their own promotion and advertising. With over 80% of our population searching for information and products through the internet, the more exposure you have on the web, the better the chance of being found and consequently the greater your chances of attracting potential interest. Our site is beginning to rank well on most search engines which is good news for all using SheepOnline. SheepOnline is attracting visits from all areas of the globe. If we can be of assistance by increasing your promotion and advertising exposure, please contact us.
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Merino Superior Sires
14
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Normally released in February, the lastest list of Merino Superior sires 14 has been distributed early to allow for joining decisions to be made for the 2009 lambing. The latest report contains information on sires that will not only boost productivity but also includes sires that will assist in the genetic control of blow fly strike. Evaluated across 14 sites in all wool growing regions of Australia, sires are benchmarked for commercially important traits and up to 19 visual traits with information being collected for the past 20 years. Body and breech wrinkle is one of the visual traits observed and breeders can select for not only increased fleece weight and staple strength with reduced micron but also a lower incidence of body wrinkle.
This valuable resource allows breeders to match their sire selection to specific breeding objectives in a manner that has some very accurate and well supported data with hundreds of top sires tested over many years.
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Merino Superior Sires
 14
As this will be the final newsletter for 2008, we wish everyone a safe and happy Xmas and a successful 2009.
We thank all who have supported us in our first few months and look forward to assisting you in the new year.
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Lambplan looking to 2020
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 A revamped website and a new breeding index are the latest tools provided for Australia's lamb producers. The lamb industry has been increasingly using estimated breeding values provided by Lambplan that allows lamb producers to tailor lamb production in the areas of growth, fat and muscle. The new 2020 index also incorporates management advantages that are genetically heritable such as birth weight and internal parasite resisitance. The index it replaces, Carcase +, provided a guide to lamb producers of the overall value of a particular sire with emphasis on Growth (60%), Fat (20%) and Muscle (20%). The new 2020 index alters the emphasis on these traits to better indicate the suitability of sires for producing lambs from Merino ewes with a targeted weight of 20-24 kgs carcase weight. The advantages of using sires that rank well on this new index could be as much as $18 per lamb with a higher emphasis on early growth resulting in lambs being turned off quicker and still meeting the market specifications for fat and muscle. Recent media reports have suggested that the focus on higher growth with a focus on leaner sires has resulted in less attractive meat to the consumer with noticeably lower muscling, this new index addresses those concerns and at the same time gives some management advantages to the producer through lower birth weights and higher internal parasite resistance.The new 2020 index is obtained by calculating emphasis in the following areas.
- Birth Weight 8%
- Weaning weight (40-120 days) 24%
- Post weaning weight (80-240 days) 25%
- Fat (leanness) 9%
- Muscle 22%
- Internal parasite resistance 12%
Lamb producers should consult with their ram supplier to determine how the new index will provide benefits to their prime lamb enterprise.
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Working to 2010
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After all the dust has settled and emotions have calmed a little, the mulesing debate has hightened awareness of not just the power of animal welfare groups but the need to find alternative means of reducing flystrike within our sheep population. The deadline of 31st December 2010 is more than likely a date that will not see a great change in the manner in which the sheep industry approaches the task of mulesing, but it has generated interest in finding alternatives ranging from anesthetics, clips and intradermal injections right through to genetic solutions. Some of the alternatives being considered include pain relief through a program called Better Choices. The use of clips is receiving a great deal of ineterst and AWI is close to signing a commercial partner to commercialise this alternative. Until then, information on clipping can be obtained from AWI. Husbandry options such as double crutching, chemical applications and grazing strategies are band aid solutions to a much larger problem. Perhaps the best solution comes from the genetic perspective but it will be a long term solution that is unlikely to meet the 2010 deadline. Selecting for bare breech sheep, reduced wrinkle and plainer types will negate the need for mulesing and avoid using some of the options currently being proposed. There are flocks breeding these plainer sheep types that have not mulesed any sheep for around 5 years. However the non genetic causes of wrinkle need to be accounted for in any breeding program and these include birth type, feed availablilty and dam age. These reduced wrinkle sheep have been developed with no reduction in fleece weight or change in micron and the current ram selling season has seen a huge demand for these bloodlines. While it would seem unlikely that there will be be any large scale and magical change of a long established practice come 31st December 2010 as evidenced by a recent vote from wool producers, there are plenty of new initiatives being considered within the industry and no one can claim to have been unaware about the mulesing issue and the consequences of doing nothing to change our current practices.
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Lamb Finishing - Code of Practice
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As a major exporter of lamb product, Australia has always been considered to have a clean, green image when it comes to the finishing of lamb. With pressure looming from animal welfare groups and environmental groups, the development of a code of practice has been initiated by the Australian Lamb Finishers (ALF) and Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA).
It is anticipated that once the code has been developed, an accreditation program may be the next step which will incorporate issues such as animal health, welfare and the nutritional management of lambs prior to entering the finishing system. The development of a code of practice will provide our export destinations with an assurance that our lamb product is produced under conditions that are both environmentally sound and will satisfy all animal welfare guidelines. The first round of meetings across Australia were held in July/August providing all sectors of the industry to provide feedback and discuss the ideas put forward.
More information and draft report
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Feature Breed - Poll Dorset
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The Poll Dorset breed was developed in Australia between 1937-1954 when the flock book was closed to any further introductions. The Poll Dorset breed was derived from the Dorset Horn involving a crossing program using two poll breeds, Corriedale and Ryeland, and continual back crossing to achieve close to 100% Dorset Horn genetics. The Poll Dorset is one of the major terminal sires in the Australian prime lamb industry and, along with the White Suffolk, produce around 90% of all prime lambs. Prior to the last decade, the Poll Dorset breed sired around 75% of all prime lambs in Australia.
The initial meeting to form the Poll Dorset Association was held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, 28th September 1954 with the first annual meeting of the newly formed Association held the following year. The breed quickly became expremely popular with 1000 studs being registered within the first 12 years.
Poll Dorsets are renowned for their high growth rate and great muscling making them an ideal choice for lamb producers in all regions of Australia. Their dominance in many show rings around Australia is evidenced by the countless supreme awards that Poll Dorsets receive. Producing a tight white downs type wool, their lambs command high prices in both saleyards and over the hook sales and are ideal for crossing to either Merino or First Cross ewes.
Poll Dorset genetics have been used in the development of alternative terminal sire breeds such as the White Suffolk and Wiltipoll. Performance benchmarking rates the Poll Dorset well in all areas of carcase production, especially muscling and growth.
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