News & Media

Wool included in 2019 sheep industry supply chain training

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Released on:
Tuesday, 22. January 2019 - 15:15

An intensive practical training program for tertiary students and young professionals interested in working in Western Australia’s sheep industries will focus for the first time on both sheep meat and wool supply chains.

The sheep supply chain training program, targeting future industry entrants, was conceived in 2017 by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and University of Queensland’s Professor Kim Bryceson.

Department sheep development officer Julia Smith said the emphasis of the original course was on the sheep meat supply chain but the program had evolved to now include the wool supply chain.  

“Participants will ‘walk through’ the sheep meat and wool value chains, from producer through to processor, retailer and exporter,” Ms Smith said.

“This experience will allow participants to gain working knowledge and to network and share ideas with senior industry practitioners and experts within the WA sheep industry.”

Starting on Monday 21 January in Katanning, department Sheep Industry Development director Dr Bruce Mullan will introduce the program, followed by presentations by Prof Bryceson focused on value adding in the supply chain and visits to a local mixed enterprise producer.

Day two will involve field trips covering reproduction technologies and meat processing, concluding with dinner involving sheep meat tasting.

Ms Smith said prior to travelling to Perth mid-week, the group would visit the Katanning Regional Sheep Saleyards to watch the sales and learn about the various aspects involved in selling sheep, such as the role of an agent, and biosecurity, traceability and animal welfare requirements.

“In Perth, participants will visit a range of industry members such as the Australian Wool Testing Authority, a wool broker and a retailer,” Ms Smith said.

“On Thursday the sessions will focus on the issue of social license and different business models, including presentations by various livestock enterprises that have a point of difference.”

The final day of the training will see participants review their learnings on what they see as the ‘current’ state of sheep meat/wool value chains and deliver a report and group presentation on their ideas for a ‘future’ state, focused on value adding, to a panel.

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