Improving Consistency of Lamb Supply – South Australia

Summary

The South Australian Lamb Industry is sharing in the national buoyancy of the lamb industry, but some businesses in the processing, wholesaling and retailing sectors are experiencing unsatisfactory margins due to their clients perceived unwillingness to pay the true value of the product. A further rationalisation in this sector, based on increasing supply shortages appears inevitable. The lamb skin market has returned to long time average demand and returns with premium skins returning well above average. Major effort has focused on:

The Prime Lamb Expo at Mt Gambier in April 2001.

Assisting new and established groups with their annual workplan.

Planning to introduce a catalogue of genetic description for the Naracoorte First Cross Ewe Sale.

A continual focus on the importance of lamb finishing systems, both irrigation and feedlotting to ensure we get heavy lambs for export.

An increase in quality of communication between lamb groups through:

Quarterly SA Lamb Newsletters

SA lamb Industry Update 2000 (April 2001).

More contact with lamb group coordinators

An increase in communication throughout the industry through:

Monthly SA Lamb Column in the Stock Journal

More frequent use of ABC Rural Radio

Meat quality, in particular, grass seeds was focus on through a 4 week feature in the Stock Journal by the SA Lamb Grass seed Working Group.

LAMBPLAN workshops in the South East for local lamb groups and Wesfarmers Landmark agents.

Planning for a number of regional seminars in August to ensure producers have the right building blocks in place to ensure their businesses capitalise on the exciting opportunities in the lamb industry

Planning for the Australian Lamb Industry Convention.