Category: Sheep

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

AUSTRALIA’S wool industry faces the prospect of more retail and fashion brands moving away from using wool from mulesed sheep, according to an exporter body leader. Source: Sheep Central Trend in brands rejecting ‘mulesed’ wool to continue

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation will seemingly retain the ability to determine its board nomination committee structure if constitutional changes proposed at its annual general meeting are passed. Source: Sheep Central AWI clauses to retain board nomination committee control

AUSTRALIA’S peak wool grower body WoolProducers Australia has retained its leadership and elected a new board member. Source: Sheep Central WoolProducers retains leaders and elects new director

Sheep farmers in western Queensland have found a solution to their debilitating wild dog problem, and they have renewed hope that they will be to be able to restock with after the drought. Source: ABC Livestock Wild dogs were eating this farmer’s sheep. Here’s how she stopped them

BIDDING in the forward wool market began the week ahead of cash into the first quarter of 2020, but failed to excite the sellers with sentiment and rumour suggesting a solid rally. Source: Sheep Central Early auction rally sparks forward market bidding

MERINO wool prices enjoyed a general lift across all microns at Australian auctions in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle this week. Source: Sheep Central Hand-to-mouth wool auction market to be tested

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation director Chick Olsson has made the surprising move to back New South Wales veterinarian Dr Michelle Humphries in the 2019 AWI election. Source: Sheep Central AWI-backed election candidate Humphries gets Olsson tick

PREMIUM Italian spinner and weaver Loro Piana has publicly supported a change in Australian Wool Innovation’s board, while urging AWI to comply with market requirements in animal welfare and sustainability. Source: Sheep Central Italian spinner Loro Piana calls for AWI board change

YOUNG first cross ewes sold for a Victorian record price of $388 at Rodwell’s Edenhope sale yesterday and ewe lambs made to $340. The sale was regarded as very strong… Source: Sheep Central Rodwell’s Edenhope sets Victorian first cross ewe sale record

NARACOORTE’S annual first cross ewe sale has set a new Australian record of $402 for the popular Border Leicester-Merino prime lamb mothers. Source: Sheep Central Naracoorte first cross ewes set national record at 2

BUDDING young wool industry leaders have flocked from five states to undertake Australian Wool Innovation’s biennial breeding leadership course. Source: Sheep Central AWI leadership course attracts applicants nationwide

AUCTIONSPLUS wool sales slipped back with a fall in auction prices last week, although online demand increased after AWEX auctions ceased and there are reports of increased Chinese demand. Source: Sheep Central AuctionsPlus Wool reports increased bale sales

THIS drought is changing the way sheep breeders and fatteners run their enterprises, with lot-feeding of lambs and pen-feeding of sheep playing a crucial part in keeping some enterprises afloat. Source: Sheep Central Sheep lot-feeding and confinement systems gain traction

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation’s 2019 director election could have more hinging on it than just board or cultural change at the levy and taxpayer-funded company, according to market, levy income and industry trends. Source: Sheep Central Will no change to AWI’s board culture lead to its own demise?

LEADING Victorian sheep meat industry representative Tim Leeming has called for wide producer consultation on proposed changes at Agriculture Victoria centres. Source: Sheep Central Sheep producer questions Agriculture Victoria staff changes

NEW South Wales sheep and lamb buyers have continued their online buying dominance, purchasing more than 60 percent of last week’s AuctionsPlus listings. Source: Sheep Central New South Wales and Victoria dominate online store sheep buying

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation’s 2019 director election campaign has descended into rumour-mongering, with suggestions candidates running against AWI’s preferred ‘ticket’ wanted to ban mulesing. Source: Sheep Central WoolProducers Australia rejects unfounded mulesing ban claims

BIDDING on the wool forward market was steady at the start of the week, with trading confined to the early New Year. Source: Sheep Central Risk strategy needed as wool market volatility continues

AUSTRALIAN wool growers’ selling reserves kicked in as the auction market dipped again this week, with brokers passing in 17.6 percent of the 34,084 bales offered. Source: Sheep Central Wool grower price reserves kick in as auction demand softens

A Queensland-based meat wholesale business remains in voluntary administration this week, after creditors expressed opposition to a Deed of Company Arrangement proposed during a meeting on Friday. Source: Sheep Central Lamb wholesaler stays in administration with debts over m

ITALIAN wool processor Vitale Barberis Canonico will not buy wool grown by its exclusive Wool Excellence Club members from surgically mulesed sheep or those treated with breech freeze branding from 2021. Source: Sheep Central Increasing discounts for wool from mulesed sheep ‘inevitable’

A FEAR that Australian Wool Innovation might be amalgamated with Meat & Livestock Australia has prompted an independent industry body to oppose AWI-backed candidates in the coming AWI director election. Source: Sheep Central AWI-MLA amalgamation fear prompts wool body election stance

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation director Don Macdonald believes wool growers and industry bodies have little to fear from expulsion clauses proposed for the AWI Constitution. Source: Sheep Central AWI director says little to fear with shareholder expulsion clauses

WELL-GROWN first cross ewe lambs have sold for up $374 at the Bendigo Blue Ribbon sale today, exceeding the top price for 1.5 year-old ewes at the annual breeder fixture. Source: Sheep Central Bendigo first cross ewe lambs hit 4, young ewes to 0