- Have you spotted anything unusual?
- Managing rams for joining
- Sheep and lamb market summary for 2021
- Want health data from your sheep at slaughter?
- Upcoming Leading Sheep events
- Upcoming events
- eBulletins and podcasts
1. Have you spotted anything unusual?
Report it, even if you’re not sure. Pests and diseases can spread quickly over large distances and are a major threat to Australia’s livestock and poultry industries which can impact access to export markets and undermine livelihoods. Report sightings of exotic and invasive pests and diseases to limit their spread in Queensland.
If you suspect a notifiable animal disease, call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Good biosecurity practices can help prevent pest and disease incursions, and invasive weeds establishing on your property. The Farm Biosecurity website offers a range of free on-farm biosecurity information and resources.
Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility. All Queenslanders have a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014 to ensure you do not spread a pest, disease or contaminant. Visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website for more information on your GBO and how it applies to your activities.
(Photo credit: Animal Health Australia)
2. Managing Rams for joining
The importance of good ram management is often underestimated. Check teeth, horns, feet, prepuce, penis, testes and condition score at least eight weeks prior to joining to ensure that you have time to treat any issues and give your rams time to recover. By doing this, you give your rams the best possible start to the joining season.
Check out Leading Sheep’s ‘the five T’s checklist’ for more information.
Visit the Business Queensland website for information on managing rams for successful sheep breeding.
Check out this video by Central West Local Land Services and Sheep Connect NSW on how to check a ram’s testicles.
(Photo credit: Central West Local Land Service)
3. Sheep and lamb market summary for 2021
Moderate growth across most lamb categories over the 2021 season was seen, with price increases mostly between 5-10%.
The restocking intent was strong in 2021 with the lowest sheep turnoff ratio (STR) on record, at 8.7%. An STR below 14% indicates flock rebuilding. This suggests that a flock rebuild of nearly 8% might be expected, taking the nation flock back towards 70 million head this year.
A growing market for Australian sheep meat exports this year has been the USA. Solid growth prospects continues to be seen in South East Asia and China. Meanwhile, the emergence of a free trade agreement with the UK (post Brexit) could open up more opportunities for the Australian sheep meat sector in coming years.
It is expected that the global demand for sheep meat will continue to outweigh supply, which is good news for Australian sheep producers.
For more details see the Thomas Elder Market report here.
If you prefer to listen to market reports, check out the AgWatchers podcast which dives into the what, why and how of agricultural markets.
4. Want health data from your sheep at slaughter?
The National Sheep Health Monitoring Project monitors sheep in abattoirs for a range of health conditions. These conditions reduce farm profit through productivity losses or increased meat processing wastage.
Sheep producers can use this information to improve their flocks’ productiveness and fine tune their animal health programs.
Some of the conditions monitored include arthritis, bruising, cheesy gland, grass seeds, hydatids, liver fluke, pleurisy, pneumonia and sheep measles, among others.
To get involved:
- Send your sheep to an abattoir participating in the NSHMP.
- Log on to MLA’s Livestock Data Link to access your results.
For more information visit Animal Health Australia’s website. To discuss your animal health program contact Leading Sheep Extension Officer Louise Moore at louise.moore@daf.qld.gov.au.
5. Upcoming Leading Sheep events
- Friday 25th March: Leading Sheep MeatUp Forum, Longreach. More details here.
6. Upcoming events
- Friday 28-30th January: Stanthorpe Show POSTPONED to 23-24th April, see website for more details.
- Monday 31 January-4th February: Farming from your phone, Miles, Dirranbandi, St George and Roma POSTPONED
- Friday 4-5th February: Allora Show CANCELLED
- Wednesday 9th February: Grazing Fundamentals EDGE, Miles CANCELLED
- Friday 11-13th February: Clifton Show POSTPONED
- Friday 18-19th February: Killarney Show POSTPONED
- Wednesday 23rd & 24th March: Goondiwindi Region Agribusiness Summit, Goondiwindi. Delivered by Macintyre Ag, contact Louie Carroll on 0428 738 125 or email admin@macintyreagalliance.com
- Monday 6th & 7th June: Business EDGE, Blackall. Delivered by Ian McLean, more info here.
- Thursday 9th & 10th June: Business EDGE, Roma. Delivered by Ian McLean, more info here.