2014 scanning figures Head per mob Dry Single % 297 (MPM) 10 132 155 148 300 (MPM maiden) 10 117 173 154 79 (PD-MPM cross) 4 75 Not scanned --- 405 (PD-MPM cross) 26 193 186 140 326 (PD-MPM cross) 11 122 193 156 199 (PD-MPM cross) 6 69 124 159 210 (PD-MPM cross) 9 80 121 153 TOTAL 1 816 2014 lamb marking numbers Mob % MPM 135 MPM maiden 124 (96 single, 150 PD-MPM cross 122 Overall 125 2015 scanning figures Head per mob Dry Single Twins % 313 (MPM) 2 77 234 174 303 (MPM maiden) 13 158 132 139 849 (PD-MPM cross) 34 298 517 157 302 (PD-MPM cross) 27 99 176 149 1 767 2015 lamb marking numbers Mob % MPM 144 MPM maiden 114 PD-MPM cross 129 Overall 129
get feedback on several important questions about the WA sheep industry. Over November and December 2016, the Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project invited Western Australian farm business, sheep and cropping consultants to participate in a survey regarding the sheep industry and sheep management practices. Thirty eight (roughly 50% of) invitees, representing 853 combined years’ experience in the agricultural industry, generously contributed their thoughts. Here is an early snapshot of the results. 2016 Agribusiness Survey - preliminary results Health of the sheep industry 6% of agribusiness have witnessed clients reducing sheep flock or getting out of sheep, however 50% say that flocks are maintaining and 44% have clients with increasing flocks Service delivery of respondents More than 80% of respondents promote good sheep management processes such as condition scoring, renovating pastures, utilising pasture through high stocking rates, pregnancy scanning and managing ewes to nutritional requirements to many or most of their clients 81% of agribusiness are quite or very willing to advise their clients to compare the profitability of sheep and cropping, and to invest in infrastructure to improve sheep management Needs of the industry Respondents indicate that the three top barriers to producers increasing their flock or getting back in to sheep to be the (real or perceived) long-term profitability of the sheep enterprise, the labour intensive nature of sheep enterprise and impact on lifestyle, and the risk of maintaining a higher stocking rate in variable years SIBI role in the growth of the industry In reference to the of services that SIBI provide, 95% of respondents believe that supporting producers to improve their production skills is quite or very important. More than 80% of respondents believe that increasing the use of genetic technologies and ASBVs, and improving producers business and benchmarking skills are also quite or very important activities for SIBI to be involved in 71% get sheep management information from DAFWA and 74% recommend DAFWA information and tools to clients
70% are familiar with the SIBI Project, with 27% of with a good understanding of SIBI’s objectives Among the respondents were 20 farm business consultants, seven sheep production specialists, seven finance specialists, three crop specialists and one unspecified. The results of this survey will help the SIBI management team ensure activities are well targeted to ensure maximum benefit for the WA sheep industry. No free for animal science students Murdoch University’s Animal Science students participated in a mapping the chain exercise using a burger, chips and latte with guidance from the University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Kim Bryceson was no free lunch for animal science undergraduates recently when the group was asked to map out the intricacies of the number of agrifood supply chains behind their burgers, chips and lattes. Third and fourth year undergraduates, along with Murdoch University postgraduate students, were enthusiastic when learning the concepts of agrifood chains during the inaugural introductory workshop provided by DAFWA’s Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project. The ‘Introduction to agribusiness and agrifood chains’ workshop was made possible by Royalties for Regions-funded SIBI project, as well as a University of Queensland partnership between the Business School Executive Education and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. The one-day workshop was delivered by the University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Kim Bryceson who is well for her work on supply chain modelling and risk assessment. Kim said the students responded well to the theoretical content and case studies, and applied themselves to the practical session, involved mapping out the agrifood supply chains behind the sale of burgers, chips and lattes. SIBI Senior Development Officer Justin Hardy said Murdoch’s School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Researcher and Lecturer, Dr Serina Hancock, commented that the material delivered through the inaugural workshop was a relevant inclusion to their Animal Science course. “Serina said the information gave the students a greater awareness of the intricacies of the supply chain, driven by increasing global consumer demand for consistent and traceable quality meat products,” Justin said.