Current Issues

Sheep numbers offer opportunity – Breed more merinos

With the national flock numbers at around 72 million head, there is significant opportunity for woolgrowers to benefit. The versatile merino ewe is in demand for both wool and lamb production. Recent gross margin analysis by NSW DPI shows merino ewe production for both wool and lamb performing better than other grazing enterprises.

Link: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/farm-business/budgets/livestock

 
Carbon – Wool is part of the solution
Wool is part of the solution to reduce excess carbon in the atmosphere. Wool fibre is actually 45% Carbon. Wool and sheep production systems are based on grass production, which consumes Carbon Dioxide and utilises it to store significant amounts of carbon. If grazing systems store soil carbon and have a positive impact on the world’s emissions, wool growers should be rewarded.
 
Animal welfare – Do good & get credit for it
There have been significant advances in animal welfare during the past decade. We need to be continually proactive in communicating the progress that we are making in ‘best practice’ animal welfare, natural genetic advances and integrated pest management systems that use less chemicals and promote sustainability.
 
Research & Marketing – Must work together
Growers have indicated they want a better balance between funds spent on Research and Marketing. It is hard to imagine success and growth in lamb and sheep meat sales without both Marketing and Research being available and used as tools to improve the industry. AWI must be a leaner organisation with lower running costs and more spent on important projects.
 
Growers need to maintain control of their industry
Wool growers are in charge of their destiny with the democratic right elect Directors of AWI. Growers continue to support independent and skilled Directors with a commercial focus. Government appointed “skills based” Directors will not be accepted by growers.
 

 

 
 
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