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Get off sheep's back, McLachlan told
10 Mar 2003
Ian McLachlan's comment last week that merino wool producers haven't achieved "anything like" the 2 per cent gains experienced by the beef cattle and dairy industries has been slammed by wool growers. Mr McLachlan, who himself runs sheep in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, claimed merino producers aren't achieving anywhere near the gains of other agricultural sectors.
But his comments have been dismissed as either "out of touch" or "stirring the pot". Wally Merriman, president of the Australian Stud Merino Breeders' Association, said Mr McLachlan might need to check his own flock. Ten or so years ago, 10 to 11 per cent of the clip was 19 microns or finer - now it's 25 per cent, and fineness has come without a lack of weight. If Mr McLachlan isn't cutting his sheep enough it's his fault, Mr Merriman stated. The genetics are out there - it's up to people to use them.
A Keith breeder in South Australia, Trevor Fiebig, said technology can only take you so far. People are working all the time with sheep, he said, and I can't see how they can really increase production that much. Another SA breeder claimed the industry was making good productivity "without being outlandish". It's harder to breed merino sheep than any other, he commented.
The Australian, 10/3/03, page 2.
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