Category: Sheep

TOOLS to optimise ewe and lamb survival and manage risk will be outlined in a webinar next week. Source: Sheep Central Ewe and lamb survival webinar is webinar focus

MOST Australian sheep producers intend to maintain or increase their breeding ewe flock without buying in over the next 12 months, a recent survey has indicated. Source: Sheep Central Most sheep producers to rebuild flocks without buying ewes

Australian meat processor Thomas Foods International has awarded a $10 million automated lamb boning systems contract to New Zealand’s Scott Technology Ltd. Source: Beef Central TFI launches m automated lamb boning project at Tamworth

SHEEP Producers Australia is seeking a full assessment and costing of a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats by the Federal Government. Source: Sheep Central National sheep electronic identification system costing call

AGRICULTURE Victoria has reminded sheep producers and contractors mulesing lambs, it is now a requirement to administer a registered pain-relief product. Source: Sheep Central ‘Mules with pain relief’ reminder for Victorian sheep flocks

WOOL sales continued online on the AuctionsPlus platform last week, despite the one-week Easter recess for physical auctions. Source: Sheep Central Wool sales continue online during Easter auction recess

JOINED Merino ewes carrying plenty of wool sold to $417 and lambs of all types were popular at firm to dearer prices in reduced offering on AuctionsPlus last week. Source: Sheep Central Joined Merino ewes sell to 7 on AuctionsPlus

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation intends to find a way around a performance review recommendation for a 10-year director term limit for at least one sitting director, even as it asks shareholders to approve the measure. Source: Sheep Central AWI to propose that 10-year director terms are not for everyone

Researchers from the University of Melbourne are calling for farmers to send in maggot samples from their sheep.  Source: ABC Livestock Got maggots? Researchers want them for sheep blowfly research

ONLINE wool bale sales increased on AuctionsPlus last week as prices lifted at physical auctions. Source: Sheep Central Fine micron preference shows in online wool sales

STRONG demand for Australian White and shedding breed ewes and for lines of in-lamb or joinable crossbred ewes featured in AuctionsPlus online sales last week. Source: Sheep Central Australian White and in-lamb crossbred ewes sell well online

NEW research on the hidden costs of difficult lamb births in the Australian sheep industry will be shared in a Meat & Livestock Australia webinar next week. Source: Sheep Central Webinar will look at hidden costs of difficult lamb births

AUSTRALIAN wool prices improved this week as exporters purchased supplies for immediate shipment before a week’s recess in auctions. Source: Sheep Central Wool indicator hits 1300c/kg as delivery deadlines loom

PEAK industry bodies have approved the first Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework and it will be launched in New South Wales this month. Source: Sheep Central Peak bodies approve Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework

PEAK grower body WoolProducers Australia has labelled the current National Wool Declaration review “premature”, as major animal welfare bodies reiterate calls for the Australian Wool Exchange to cease defining sheep freeze branding as a non-mulesed process. Source: Sheep Central ‘Premature’ wool declaration review sparks feedback

The AuctionsPlus online offer board doubled sales to 318 bales last week, with the most buyer interest shown in fine and medium Merino lines. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus Bale sales double over online wool offer board

MEAT & Livestock Australia has launched its Autumn lamb campaign, aiming to show that cooking with Australian lamb is easy. Source: Sheep Central Autumn Lamb Legends launch gives easy options

WOOL growers withdrew or refused to sell nearly a quarter of the bales catalogued bales for auctions across Australia this week. Source: Sheep Central Wool prices lift slightly as growers hold back bales

FORWARD wool trading was light and physical auctions opened with great expectations in a mixed week for the markets. Source: Sheep Central Forward wool market trading restricted to the short-term

WOOL brokers have sought a further extension of the Australian Wool Exchange’s National Wool Declaration review to allow consideration of the final peer-reviewed results from recent sheep freeze branding research. Source: Sheep Central Brokers seek further extension of National Wool Declaration review

AUSTRALIA’S wool growers could be faced with making submissions to a review of the National Wool Declaration without access to finalised research results on the sheep freeze branding process. Source: Sheep Central AWEX extends the NWD review submissions deadline to 6 April

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has spent $6.3 million in growers’ levy funds on the WoolQ Market platform over the past five years but it has failed to generate any revenue, Senate Estimates was told yesterday. Source: Sheep Central No WoolQ revenue after .3 million spent over five years

ONLINE wool buying eased last week — with 151 bales traded — as prices eased on the physical auction market. Source: Sheep Central Online wool sales settle as physical auction rates fall

AUCTIONSPLUS’ sheep and lamb offerings continued to increase last week, rising 11 percent to 107,418 head and flow of stock over the past two weeks has had a notable impact on prices, especially for the joined ewe lines. Source: Sheep Central Prices shift as AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb offerings rise

AUSTRALIA’S peak shearing contractor body is continuing a 15pc shearer rate and industry wage increase trial until a review later in the year, when New Zealand-based workers might be able to return. Source: Sheep Central Shearing rate increase continues, but would KPIs work?

FINAL preliminary results of a sheep freeze branding trial undertaken by the University of Melbourne will be fast-tracked for the Australian Wool Exchange’s National Wool Declaration review. Source: Sheep Central Sheep freeze branding trial results fast-tracked for NWD review

FORWARD wool prices were executed at a premium in light trading this week as auction prices faltered. Source: Sheep Central Forward wool trades executed at premiums to spot prices

AUSTRALIAN wool brokers passed in more clips this week as finance issues and softer demand contributed to a general weakening in wool prices at national auctions. The Australian Wool Exchange… Source: Sheep Central Wool growers hold as demand softens with larger offerings

PRELIMINARY research results indicating sheep freeze branding is a painful procedure for lambs, even when using available pain relief, have been published by the University of Melbourne. Source: Sheep Central Research finds sheep freeze branding is painful for lambs

AUSTRALIA’S largest independent wool broker, AWN, has handed full control of the business promoting the mulesing alternative, sheep freeze branding, back to its developor John Steinfort. Source: Sheep Central AWN exits sheep freeze branding joint venture

LEADING agricultural consulting firm Meridian Agriculture will host a series of seminars across the Victoria’s Western District this month to help producers maximise future benefits from recent successful seasons. Source: Sheep Central Meridian Agriculture seminar series to cover farmer options

WOOL welfare judgments should not be made on the Australian Wool Exchange’s National Wool Declaration, according to New South Wales wool grower Chick Olsson. And the Australian Wool Growers Association… Source: Sheep Central AWEX should get out of wool welfare issues says Olsson

AUSTRALIAN Wool innovation has bowed to industry and government pressure to recommend a 10-year limit on director terms, and the AWI chair, Colette Garnsey, will retire this year, potentially leaving an opening for at least one new director on the seven-member board. Source: Sheep Central Wool growers to vote on AWI director terms as… Read more »

AUCTIONSPLUS online wool sale volumes steadied last week as the physical auction price benchmark held firm. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus wool bale sales steady with market

CROSSBRED and Merino wether lamb numbers surged on AuctionsPlus last week, lifting the overall online sheep and lamb offering by 15 percent to 96,643 head. Source: Sheep Central Crossbred and Merino wether lamb numbers surge online

A PROJECT aimed at defining Australian sheep meat demand and boosting supply is being jointly funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and Animal Health Australia. Source: Sheep Central MLA and AHA join forces to rebuild Australia’s sheep flock

A REVIEW into the description of mulesing status on Australia’s National Wool Declaration will be held this month, before the completion of research into sheep freeze branding. But sheep freeze… Source: Sheep Central Call to add pain relief status to National Wool Declaration

AUSTRALIAN wool prices continued to hold steady this week on the physical auction and forward markets.   Source: Sheep Central Forward wool market trades flat to cash as auction rates hold

HAMILTON’S popular three-day Sheepvention expo will be split into two separate events in 2021, organisers have announced. Source: Sheep Central Hamilton’s 2021 Sheepvention to be split into two events

AUSTRALIA’S national wool auction price benchmark held firm this week, balanced by continued demand for quality and discounting of drought-affected and lower yielding lesser style wools. Source: Sheep Central Wool prices settle around quality in national auctions

“Vegan wool” made from cotton and weed fibres riles up Australian woolgrowers. Source: ABC Livestock Is there any such thing as ‘vegan wool’?

SHEEP on some New South Wales northern tablelands properties have been killed by barber’s pole worm infestations only two weeks after drenching, prompting a call for increased flock monitoring. Source: Sheep Central Barbers pole worm explosion prompts NSW sheep flock warning

AUSTRALIAN sheep meat and wool research and development should be “under the one roof”, according to Nuffield scholar Anthony Close. Source: Sheep Central Nuffield scholar says put sheep meat and wool ‘under one roof’

A VICTORIAN-BASED sheep shearer trainer and trainee program was helping to solve the industry’s national labour shortage and providing a model for collaborative training in other sectors. Source: Sheep Central Innovative shearer trainer and trainee program “a gamechanger”

INTERNATIONALLY respected wool market analyst Chris Wilcox will retire as executive director of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia next month. Source: Sheep Central Chris Wilcox to retire from national wool brokers’ role

CHALLENGES and solutions to maximising lambing percentages this season will be covered in a SheepConnect webinar this week. Source: Sheep Central Maximising lamb percentages is focus of SheepConnect SA webinar

WOOL buying activity eased slightly on the AuctionsPlus offer board last week as more clips were offered at national physical auctions. Source: Sheep Central Online wool buying eases as auction offering increases

WOOL growers are reaping benefits from linking with Italy’s America’s Cup Challenger, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, according to Australian Wool Innovation chief executive officer Stuart McCullough. Source: Sheep Central Italian team and AWI put wool into the America’s Cup final

SOUTH Australia’s sheep meat and wool industry will need to increase the state flock by 13 percent to 12 million sheep by 2030 to achieve the goal of the updated South Australian Sheep Industry Blueprint launched last Friday. Source: Sheep Central South Australian releases plan to grow flock size and value to 2030

THE physical wool auction and forward markets continued their sideways movement this week and all micron groups traded the week within narrow bands. Source: Sheep Central Physical and forward wool markets trade sideways

AUSTRALIA’S wool market generally held firm this week, with crossbred prices improving while Merino micron results were mixed, across the auctions in Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle. Source: Sheep Central Crossbred wool prices improve, but mixed Merino results

MERINO milk quality and its impact on ram reproductive potential is the next project of University of Adelaide researcher Bianca Agenbag. Source: Sheep Central Bianca is milking Merinos for her latest research project

PEAK wool grower body WoolProducers Australia will launch a ‘Trust in Australian Wool’ campaign on 18 March complete with its own handbook, interactive website, and links to other sites and resources. Source: Sheep Central WoolProducers confirms Trust in Australian Wool campaign launch

A DELAYED Chinese recovery from African Swine Fever, strong ongoing global lamb and mutton demand, and higher beef prices point to continued high prices for Australian sheep producers this decade,… Source: Sheep Central Sheep meat prices to track delayed African Swine Fever recovery

AUSTRALIA’S premier Merino conference MerinoLink at Wagga Wagga will return in 2021 with an extended three-day program, including an on-farm field day. Source: Sheep Central MerinoLink conference adds extra field day to 2021 program

LAMB and sheep saleyard prices are forecast to fall over the next two years, but wool prices are expected to increase, according to the ABARES Agriculture Commodities March 2021 quarter report. Source: Sheep Central ABARES forecasts small falls in lamb and mutton prices, wool to lift

A GROWER call for a designated non-mulesed wool sale in late March has been denied by the Australian Wool Exchange’s National Auction Selling Committee. Source: Sheep Central Non-mulesed wool sale moves continue despite NASC knockback

A saleyard mistake is paying back dividends for a farmer in lucrative market in specialist sheep breed, Australian White. Source: ABC Livestock ‘The Wagyu of sheep’: Buying the wrong ewe was the best decision this farmer ever made

WOOL forward markets continued to trade in premium early this week across all microns and maturities, but pulled back against modest demand and as the Australian dollar strengthened against the US currency. Source: Sheep Central Forward wool trading hit by currency movement

WESTERN Australian Merino breeder Steven Bolt has been elected as chairman of the 2021 WoolPoll Panel. Source: Sheep Central WA Merino breeder Steven Bolt to lead 2021 WoolPoll

AUSTRALIAN growers passed in almost 20 percent of the wool offered at auctions this week as the prices for all Merino lines fell this week. Source: Sheep Central Australian Merino growers hold clips as wool prices drop

A wild and ailing sheep found in Victoria, named Baarack by rescuers, yields a fleece weighing more than 35 kilograms — nearly half the weight of an adult kangaroo. Source: ABC Livestock ‘He could barely see’: Wild sheep ‘Baarack’ recovering after 35kg fleece shorn off

SLAUGHTER lamb and mutton prices generally eased in several saleyards this week as not all processors or supermarkets operated in all centres, and restocker demand and quality varied. Source: Sheep Central Less competition drags saleyard lamb prices back

TRANGIE wool grower Tim Burns has paid just $230 for the first offering of short-tailed Merino ewes in Australia and he believes he got the deal of the day. Source: Sheep Central Short-tailed Merino ewes were ‘the buy of the day’ at Parkdale

After listening to the cries of lonely Rambo, a team of five people and four dogs finally tracked down the wild, unshorn ram. Source: ABC Livestock After four years, Rambo the rogue ram has finally been caught and forced to meet his barber

ONLINE wool sales increased strongly last week as renewed demand from China also lifted physical auction prices. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus sells more fine wool as prices lift to online reserves

A LEGO woolshed has put Tahara’s Angus Dohle on the path to recognition as a designer, but he needs the help of every Sheep Central reader and their friends. After… Source: Sheep Central Angus takes shearing to LEGO land with woolshed idea

ANOTHER strong week on the spot wool auction market helped keep the forward markets in premium as hedging levels broke through some grower’s initial target levels. Source: Sheep Central Strong wool auctions put forward markets in premium

WOOL prices rose strongly this week, driven by interest from multiple buying companies, according to the Australian Wool Exchange. AWEX’s weekly report said strong spirited bidding helped to push prices… Source: Sheep Central Australian wool prices rebound with better competition

AUSTRALIAN wool grower bodies are planning international campaigns for their fibre highlighting its high quality and sustainability, industry animal welfare practices and health, disease and biosecurity systems. Source: Sheep Central Australian grower bodies plan wool awareness initiatives

TRADE lamb prices pushed well over 900c/kg in eastern states’ saleyards this week as numbers dropped in most centres and buyers competed for weight and quality. Source: Sheep Central Trade and heavy lamb prices climb as supplies wane

WOOL from sheep whose mulesing status is not declared has been discounted by up to 9c/kg recently and the price gap to non-mulesed wool is widening as the Australian auction market improves. Source: Sheep Central Latest analysis shows undeclared wool risks price discount

NOMINATIONS have opened for the 2021 Australian Wool Industry Medal, but the continuing COVID-19 pandemic is preventing presentations for all the 2020 winners from proceeding. Source: Sheep Central Nominations open for 2021 Australian Wool Industry Medal

AUCTIONSPLUS online wool sales eased last week, with most bales sold containing fine and superfine Merino fleece. Source: Sheep Central Fine and superfine wool sought from AuctionsPlus online offer board

AVERAGE prices for several Merino and first cross ewe categories dropped on AuctionsPlus last week, although scanned in-lamb Merino ewes lifted in value. The average price for the largest category,… Source: Sheep Central Aussie White ewes make 3 as some Merino and first cross ewe prices drop