Category: Sheep

WHETHER you’re currently employed or actively searching for a new career in the lamb or wool industry, employability skills have a strong correlation to success on-the-job. Source: Sheep Central Recruitment: Employability skills job candidates need in 2020

IT was another crazy week on Australia’s spot auction wool market to open the year. Source: Sheep Central Volatility makes for light forward wool trading

SHEEP make up the bulk of more than 43,000 farm animals lost in the bushfires on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. Source: Sheep Central Almost 43,000 sheep lost in Kangaroo Island fires

MERINO wool prices improved by up to more than 100 cents a kilogram this week, as several buyers “attacked” the offering in the first Australian auctions after the annual three-week Christmas recess. Source: Sheep Central Australian wool prices rebound after three-week break

BUSHFIRE-HIT East Gippsland sheep producers will soon receive up to 30 tonnes of sheep pellets in a special donation organised by the Michael Manion Wool Industry Foundation. Source: Sheep Central Manion wool foundation organising Gippsland sheep feed

A HAND-HELD sheep condition scoring device that could play a key part in lifting reproduction to rebuild the national flock needs a commercial investor. Source: Sheep Central Sheep condition scoring tool could aid flock recovery

WOOL from sheep treated with freeze branding will be defined in an alternative ‘non-mulesed’ category under a proposal by the Australian Wool Exchange put to the industry this week. Source: Sheep Central AWEX proposes two non-mulesed categories on wool declaration

WORLD shearing record attempts will resume in 2020 this weekend with an attempt on the single-stand eight-hour Merino ewe record in Western Australia. Source: Sheep Central World shearing record attempts continue in Australia

AUSTRALIA’S wool brokers are being urged to support the initiative of Dubbo company Macdonald and Co to make National Wool Declaration a condition of sale for all grower-owned and classed clips. Source: Sheep Central Dubbo wool broker makes mulesing declaration compulsory

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation’s general manager of research, Dr Jane Littlejohn, has urged wool growers not to be silent if they needed assistance after recent bushfires. Source: Sheep Central Wool growers urged to seek assistance after bushfires

AUSTRALIA’S auction wool market finished strongly this week after trade tensions between China and the United States eased and there was more clarity around Brexit with the United Kingdom election… Source: Sheep Central Strong finish to Australian wool market for 2019

GIVING consumers a reason not to buy wool, despite the fibre’s positives, only succeeds in reducing global wool consumption, especially from Australia, according to Australian exporter leader Matt Hand. Source: Sheep Central This Hand says don’t give consumers reasons not to buy wool

MUTTON prices crashed in Australian saleyards this week amid reports of a pullback in demand by major market China and processors with ample pre-Christmas supplies ceasing buying in anticipation of a price correction and import order renegotiations. Source: Sheep Central Pre-Christmas mutton price correction might be short-lived

AUCTIONSPLUS online wool sales increased after the announcement of a United State-China trade deal last Friday. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus wool sales lift after US-China trade deal news

AUSTRALIA’S national wool auction turnover passed the $1 billion dollar value mark this week, two months later than last season. Source: Sheep Central Australian clip tops billion mark – two months later

Lambing rates in western Queensland are the best they have been in a decade, despite more than eight years of drought, and graziers say it is almost certainly due to exclusion fencing. Source: ABC Livestock Lambing rates ‘best in a decade’ thanks to cluster fencing

AUSTRALIAN superfine wool grower leader Danny Picker has renewed support for Merino flock owners to decide individual best practice animal welfare for their flocks, even above the demands of the… Source: Sheep Central Superfine wool leader backs growers’ rights and new AWI board

RECENT Western Australian analysis of the profits inherent in minimising ewe mortality has underpinned the release of an innovative flock composition tool. Source: Sheep Central WA online tool analyses flock composition profitability

SOUTH-WEST Queensland graziers are being offered loans of up to $1.3 million to help fund their share in private exclusion fencing cluster projects. Source: Sheep Central South-west QLD graziers offered loans up to .3m for exclusion fences

Taylor Dolling, Kielpa, SA Source: ABC Livestock ‘Some kids get come home from school to relax, but I get home and start working’

AUCTIONSPLUS wool sales were confined to a 25-bale line of Merino fleece wool last week as demand followed the pre-Christmas trend of auction trading. Source: Sheep Central Online wool sales hit by falling demand before Christmas

AUSTRALIAN wool growers are unlikely to get their share of a $20 million-plus distribution of funds from the liquidated grower-owned entity Graziers’ Investment Company before Christmas. Source: Sheep Central million-plus GIC distribution now expected early next year

LAMB and mutton sector resilience has failed to offset a flattening of agribusiness conditions due to seasonal conditions in the last quarter of 2019, according to the latest NAB Agribusiness… Source: Sheep Central NAB survey highlights lamb strength and drought impact

DEMAND intensified for breeding sheep on AuctionsPlus last week, with Merino ewe hoggets selling to $262 and older ewes making to $252. Source: Sheep Central Merino ewe hoggets sell to 2 on AuctionsPlus

AWEX is maintaining silence on its position on sheep freeze branding as some Merino breeders mount a campaign opposing the procedure’s recognition as a ‘non-mulesed’ classification on the National Wool… Source: Sheep Central Non-mulesed flocks act on sheep freeze branding status

NEW Zealand-based Canadian shearer Pauline Bolay has become a world record holder in an historic day in a Waikato wool shed. Source: Sheep Central Canada’s Pauline shears record 510 lambs in 8 hours

WORRIES about a possible December storm in an otherwise warm New Zealand summer has resulted in Canadian shearer Pauline Bolay’s historic world shearing record attempt being brought-forward to tomorrow. Source: Sheep Central Canadian shearer to attempt world 8-hour lamb record

THE forward wool market finally fatigued this week as buyers finally relinquished their support into the first quarter of 2020. Source: Sheep Central Forward wool market tires as pre-Christmas demand wanes

SALEYARD trade, export and restocker lamb prices slipped across the eastern states in the past week as seasonal conditions and water concerns increased sales of lighter lambs in the north and the southern sucker turn-off gained momentum. Source: Sheep Central Saleyard numbers move trade lamb price closer to mutton rate

AUSTRALIAN wool prices continued to deteriorate this week as demand was hit by a stronger dollar and increased supply, and tightening shipping deadlines leading up to the Chinese New Year. Source: Sheep Central Shipping deadlines, a stronger dollar and volumes hit wool demand

NEW Zealand sheep breeders are testing their sheep for gas to underpin the accuracy of the world’s first breeding value for methane production. Source: Sheep Central Low methane sheep in New Zealand – what a gas….

A NEW Zealander who became Australia’s only world wool handling champion is back in the shirt of her adopted nation for two test matches against New Zealand next year. Source: Sheep Central Ex-patriate Kiwi wool handler to sweep for Australia again

AUCTIONSPLUS wool bale sales stalled last week as Australia’s physical auction market took another backward step. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus wool sales stall with market drop

The sheep, lamb and goat space is bouncing along nicely, with lambs from Victoria and south-east South Australia yielding well and many being trucked to northern New South Wales and southern works for slaughter. Source: Sheep Central Chris Howie’s southern market wrap – November 2019

NEW Zealand claimed a 2-1 triumph in the trans-Tasman shearing sports test matches at Dubbo in New South Wales last Friday. Source: Sheep Central Aussie machine shearers defeat Kiwis in Dubbo test

SHEEP and lamb prices eased for most categories online last week as the AuctionsPlus offering fell to 117,118 head, a drop of 5770 head. Source: Sheep Central First cross ewe lamb and Merino ewe prices strong on AuctionsPlus

QUEENSLAND woollen garment manufacturer and Wundies creator Merino Country Australia plans to undertake early stage processing in the state with the help of a $209,200 grant. Source: Sheep Central Merino underwear Wundies creators get Qld grant boost

THE recent trend of selling inaction continued again this week, with the only forward wool trades executed ended up being at levels 30 cents over the closing spot cash prices. Source: Sheep Central Forward wool trading muted by market fatigue

AUSTRALIAN wool growers continued to resist a further slide in auction wool prices this week as buyers react to large bale offering. Source: Sheep Central Wool supply-sensitive market drops for second week

ANIMAL protection groups are maintaining their opposition to sheep freeze branding as an alternative to surgical mulesing, as growers embrace the process and plans are made to independently research its welfare impacts. Source: Sheep Central Welfare bodies oppose sheep freeze branding despite strong uptake

SHEEP Producers Australia has announced the departure today of its first chief executive officer, Graham Smith, after he served just 15 months in the position. Source: Sheep Central Sheep Producers Australia CEO departs after 15 months

FIRST cross ewe lambs have sold to a South Australia state record of $361 at the annual Naracoorte sale last week. The Naracoorte saleyard agencies of Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn &… Source: Sheep Central Naracoorte first cross ewe lambs sell to 1

ONLINE wool sales stalled last week as prices dropped across Australia’s physical auctions. Source: Sheep Central Online wool bale sales stall as auction rates drop

MOVEMBER’S simple message to talk about mental health has already had real benefits for three brothers at Avenel in Victoria and the community around them. Source: Sheep Central Three sheep-farming brothers bring Movember to Avenel

AUSTRALIAN efforts to officially recognise shearing as a sport have been backed by the mayor of New South Wales city Dubbo as it prepares to host the 2019 National Shearing and Wool handling Championships. Source: Sheep Central Dubbo set for some trans-Tasman shearing and wool handling sport

FORWARD bidding on wool remained consistent last week with a light volume traded at or around cash levels. Source: Sheep Central Light forward wool trading in uncertain market

COMPOSITE and crossbred ewes continued to sell well in AuctionsPlus sales last week, but Merinos met weaker competition. Source: Sheep Central Composite and crossbred ewes sell well on AuctionsPlus

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation’s 2019 director election has exposed an ongoing divide within the industry over animal welfare and governance, according to analysts. Source: Sheep Central AWI election exposes ongoing wool industry divide

Rescuers say they hope more than 14,000 sheep trapped inside a sinking cargo ship off Romania are still alive, in an accident which has shed light on Europe’s live export trade. Source: ABC Livestock Race to rescue thousands of sheep from sinking ship

The wool industry has shaken up Australian Wool Innovation, with woolgrowers electing two new candidates to the board and dumping former chairman Wal Merriman. Source: ABC Livestock Former AWI chairman Wal Merriman dumped from board after divisive election

AUSTRALIAN wool auction prices have faltered again, recording losses across the entire Merino range and reversing last week’s 19-cent gain in the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator. Source: Sheep Central Wool prices fail to maintain positive momentum

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has gained two new directors in a strong grower move for change that has ousted former chairman Wal Merriman in his first contested election since 2006. Source: Sheep Central Henderson and Humphries on AWI board, Merriman out

FALLING sheep numbers and lower drought-affected wool cuts are forecast to shrink Australia’s clip to 272 million greasy kilograms in 2019/20. Source: Sheep Central Australia’s wool clip forecast to go lower

PROLIFIC shearing record breaker Stacey Te Huia arrived back in New Zealand at the weekend to start the countdown to a rare Merino wether record bid in Central Otago. Source: Sheep Central Te Huia’s shearing record bid from the heart

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has shrugged off suggestions its social media support for 2019 director election candidate Michelle Humphries represented inappropriate agri-political activity. Source: Sheep Central AWI defends social media support for preferred candidate

STRONGER auction demand for wool flowed through to the online platform AuctionsPlus last week. Source: Sheep Central Stronger auction demand flows into online wool sales

REVERSING the decline in the nation’s sheep flock is an immediate priority, according to Sheep Producers Australia. Source: Sheep Central Sheep Producers Australia to focus on rebuilding flock

RESEARCH to identify a ‘gold standard’ for sheep pain relief should be fast-tracked to enable producers to effectively compare the available pain relief products, a Victorian veterinarian said this week. Source: Sheep Central RED MEAT 2019: Call to define sheep pain relief ‘gold standard’

NEW Zealand machine and blade shearers have been honing their skills in the lead up to the next trans-Tasman tests at the Australian national shearing and woolhandling championships in Dubbo later this month. Source: Sheep Central New Zealand shearers get ready for trans-Tasman test at Dubbo

DEMAND for Merino ewe lambs and young ewes strengthened on AuctionsPlus last week. Source: Sheep Central Merino ewes in demand on AuctionsPlus sales