|
|
|
Live sheep trade strangles merino flocks
1 Apr 2005
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics estimates the merino ewe population in Australia at around 40 million, with the national sheep flock at about 96 million head. ABARE estimates that only about 7.5 million merino ewe weaners are set to be bred this season, too few to sustain the industry and keep pace with demands of growers and the trade. This means that there will be a drop of at least three million merinos from the flock every year for several years. Meat and Livestock Australia said the reproductive rate nationwide was about 75 per cent, and that this had to return to 100 per cent. The live meat trade is the main reason for the decline. In the short term, this means prices for sheep and sheep meat are likely to rise.
Stock & Land, 01/04/05
|
|
