The Australian Merino

Queensland –Showing & Displaying • Queensland State

Sheep Show –Pair of the year –Mt Ascot stud

Tasmania –Showing & Displaying

• Georgina WallaceAustralian Association President

Artificial Insemination

Frozen Semen

Embryo Transfer

Australian sheep numbers

6Source: ABS as at 2015/16, Rabobank 2018

13.8m

10.7m

1.8m

25.9m

13m

2m

NSW38%

VIC19%

QLD3%

SA16%

WA21%

TAS3%

Breeding ewe flock

7

• October 2017 survey MLA/AWI

• Breeding ewes estimated 40m head

• 52% merino ewes mated to merinos

• 21% merino ewes mated to non-merino sires

• 27% other ewes

Merino52%

Merino Other21%

1st Cross11%

Composite7%

Shedding and

Cleanskin4%

Dual Purpose

3%

Pure Meat

2%

Second Cross

Merino0%

Australian breeding ewe flock profile by mating choice

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS

% merino ewes mated to merinos by state

Source: MLA/AWI Sheep survey, ABS, Rabobank 2018

Sometimes plentiful Sometimes desperate

Pastoral & Marginal Regions of Australia

Australian Wool Production Remains Near Century Lows

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

19

01

19

06

19

11

19

16

19

21

19

26

19

31

19

36

19

41

19

46

19

51

19

56

19

61

19

66

19

71

19

76

19

81

19

86

19

91

19

96

20

01

20

06

20

11

20

16

mkg greasy

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee

Based on a season. 2018 = 2017/18

Forecast for 2017/18345 mkg

Australian Wool Production vs Wool Production/Head

10

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

-

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Wo

ol P

rod

uct

ion

Per

hea

d (

kg)

Wo

ol P

rod

uct

ion

(m

kg)

Wool Production Average cut per head

Source: AWI, Rabobank 2018

Total Production has decreased but cut per head has risen

Australian wool clip has gotten smaller and finer

11Source: AWTA, Rabobank 2018

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200M

illio

n k

g

91-92 01-02 16-17

Distribution of Australian wool clip by micron 1991-92, 2001-02 and 2016-17

Breed More Merino Ewes campaign

South Australia – Showing, Displaying & Selling • Burra March 2018

• Judging line-up

• Elders Merino Ram of the Year - Mulloorie

Victoria – Showing, Displaying & Selling• Bendigo July 2017

Grand champion Merino (Eilan Donan) – Champion Superfine Poll Merino (Wurrook)

New South Wales - Dubbo Ram Sale 2017• Two top priced rams @ $52,500 (Eilan Donan) and $50,000 (Langdene)

Western Australia –Showing, Displaying

& Selling

• Katanning 2017• Top priced ram from Mianelup stud - $28,500

Victoria -Showing, Displaying &

Selling

• Hamilton SheepventionAugust 2017

• Top priced ram & $17,000 - Moorundie

South Australia – Showing, Displaying & Selling

• Adelaide Ram Sale

• Top price at $52,000 - Moorundie

• School wethers - carcase assessment

•Sheep Handling Equipment

Wool Fashions

• Meat Eating Quality

• Quick easy to prepare meals

Well bred – Well fed Australian commercial Merinos

Using actual figures from top producers

• High fertility – ave 100 to 130% lambs weaned• Wool cut of 8kg/hd at $12/kg from ewes• Wether lambs 26kg carcase at $6.20/kg contracted• Lambs shorn and $26/hd for wool• Ewe residual value of $130 or higher• This unit valued at around $450

Major changes over last 50 years

Swing to dual purpose & polled MerinosMore evenness in type over wider environs

Dual purpose Merinos & Poll Merinos

50% wool 50% carcase

Higher Fertility• Lambing percentages increasing with plainer bodied & more open faced sheep• Merino average Australia wide lambing - 87%• Many flocks over 100% & up to 130% lambs weaned

Youth Initiatives – Our future• Associate judges

Youth Initiatives – Our future• Sponsored participation – Angus Ashby & John Dalla sponsored to attend this Conference

As we come to the back end of this presentationThanks to all who contributed photos & charts for this presentation: Rabobank, Poimena Analysis,

Superior Selections, Fairfax Media (Farm Weekly, Queensland Country Life, Stock Journal), Stud Stock Sales, News Ltd (Weekly Times), Andrew Michael & Tourism SA, plus archival Stock photos.

Gracias Uruguay