Sheep processors and exporters unite

Meat processors and live exporters are firmly united over the need for more sheep.

General managers Greg Cross, of Fletcher International WA., and John Edwards, of Al Jabri Australia, agree that this is the year for producers to apply best management practice to increase lambing rates.

Mr Edwards said that following joining, the use of pregnancy scanning would give producers the opportunity to identify and rejoin dry ewes and that all later lambs that resulted would help boost the pool of sheep numbers available and sought after by live exporters and processors.

"This year the profitability of the sheep enterprise is all the incentive needed to adopt the recommended management practices to maximise marking rates," he said.

"If in doubt seek support from the Department of Agriculture and Food, get involved in the Lifetime Ewe Management program and put in place the recommendation for optimising lamb marking. The technology which is available is highly adoptable and profits are to be made."

Mr Cross confirmed that demand and prices for processed sheep would remain strong and encouraged producers to apply the best husbandry practices now to capitalise on the high returns while continuing to rebuild flocks for future seasons.

He was adamant that producers needed to be vigilant with vaccinations and dog worming and said good livestock handling, including transport along with well designed and maintained sheep handling facilities, were necessary to ensure all stock arrived in the best possible condition at abattoirs.