Sheep Industry Business Innovation legacies

Page last updated: Thursday, 27 July 2023 - 4:13pm

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The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recently completed the Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project.

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Background

The SIBI project supported the sheep industry by:

the establishment of dedicated sheep meat supply chains
increasing business and technical skills of producers and processors
maximising producers and processors’ business efficiency, productivity and profitability

As the SIBI project has now concluded, knowledge gained through the project lives on through project legacies:

Confidence that sheep are a profitable component of a farming business
The SIBI project has increased investment in sheep as a component of the farming business, through research into business models, productivity and profitability.
Understanding the sheep industry value chain
SIBI improved stakeholder awareness of the complexity, value and sophistication of the sheep industry value chain. The project invested into supply chain development by working across all areas of the supply chain.
Building stronger relationships within industry
Stronger industry relationships have been built across all levels through training courses, industry events and field days. A key component of this legacy was the development of relationships with Aboriginal farmers, creating positive social impacts and increased business opportunities.
Increase professional capacity of the sheep industry
A project priority was to grow and develop the professional capacity of the sheep industry. This was achieved by encouraging new entrants into the industry through the sheep supply chain course, SIBI post graduate scholarships and stakeholder professional development courses.
Developing the Katanning Research Facility (KRF) as a national sheep research centre
SIBI invested into both people and resources to establish a facility available to be utilised by the broader industry. DPIRD remains committed to the continuous development of the KRF as a leading research facility. This work will continue to attract future research and increase collaboration between State Government and industry partners.

Confidence that sheep are a profitable component of a farming business

SIBI has increased industry confidence that sheep production is a long term, high value and competitive, component of Western Australian farming.

Reports commissioned by SIBI illustrate increased confidence to undertake, renew or increase investment in sheep:

‘The cost of getting back into sheep’ report was prepared as a financial analysis of increasing flock sizes or establishing a new sheep enterprise in high rainfall areas of Western Australia
‘Opportunities for producers to expand their sheep enterprise’ identified opportunities for expansion of flock numbers in the context of changing markets
‘Comparative analysis of Gross Margins for grain and sheep enterprises in the central and high rainfall regions of the Western Australian Wheatbelt’ provided insights for farmers into gross margin outcomes comparing key cereal and oilseed enterprises with sheep enterprises
‘Price Signals required to alter the seasonal turn-off of lamb’ explored the costs and benefits associated with changes to lamb production to ensure a more even supply year-round.
Financial management webinars were delivered to producers to assist participants gain financial intelligence in mixed farming enterprises involving sheep. At the conclusion of the webinars, producers were left with an understanding of how financial information can be used to inform business decisions, align short term decision-making to medium and long-term goals, and self-benchmark.

Case studies of labour saving technologies in the sheep industry gave important insights on how technology can be applied by producers to maximise returns in their sheep farming businesses. This analysis can be used by producers to make decisions on adopting technologies in their enterprise.

Understanding the sheep industry value chain

SIBI improved stakeholder awareness of the complexity, value and sophistication of the sheep industry value chain by recognising the importance of sheep industry knowledge and understanding in building the industry’s future. The project invested into supply chain development by working across all areas of the supply chain.

SIBI led a delegation of WA sheep producers and industry representatives on a sheep meat tour of China. The tour looked at retail and food service channels in China and Inner Mongolia, providing participants with insights into the complete supply chain and regional market requirements. Following the tour, delegates delivered findings on supply chain requirements and market opportunities to fellow producers and the broader WA sheep industry.

The Sheep Meat Value Chain Training Program was delivered to students pursuing a career in the sheep industry. The program focused on sheep meat supply chains and markets and featured sheep industry guest speakers. Participants were introduced to supply chain thinking in a unique ‘walk the chain’ experience, along with knowledge of the challenges and opportunities unique to the WA sheep meat industry.

Reports commissioned by SIBI will contribute to the project’s legacy of better long-term understanding of the sheep industry value chain in WA. These include:

• ‘Western Australia’s sheep meat supply chain – supplier profile and behavioural segmentation’

• ‘Stakeholder engagement for the Moojepin merino meat value chain’

• ‘Prices, patterns and profitability of feedlots: investor-ready feedlot report’

• ‘Lamb backgrounding for WA’, and

• ‘Sheep flagship project – supply side opportunities’

Building stronger relationships within industry

Industry relations have been strengthened across all levels through training courses, industry events and field days by bringing together producers and stakeholders. This work has highlighted the importance of strong industry relationships and collaboration to promote the Western Australian sheep sector.

These events included sheep research open days in 2017 and 2018 at DPIRD’s Katanning Research Facility, participation in ‘It’s Ewe Time’, and sponsorship of LambEx 2018.

SIBI also supported industry by funding the Sheep Alliance of WA as the peak leadership body and advocate of change management for the WA sheep industry. The Sheep Alliance was formed to prepare a whole-of-supply chain response to the decline in WA sheep population, drive sheep business profitability and drive sustainable industry growth.

SIBI co-funded the appointment of a supply chain manager at processor V&V Walsh. The role has seen benefits through increasing the understanding of issues impacting the competitiveness of the sheep industry and by building enterprise and supply chain innovation technology.

SIBI worked in partnership with Noongar Land Enterprises (NLE) members to support the development of sheep enterprises and Indigenous sheep meat product on Noongar-managed farms. The Lifetime Ewe Management training provided opportunities to connect with other NLE sheep producers and build a network of technical support and industry mentors.

Increase professional capacity of the sheep industry

Recognising the importance of increasing the professional capacity within the sheep industry, SIBI offered initiatives aimed at building the skills and knowledge of established industry participants as well as students.

Initiatives for producers included a new technology pilot group that brought together mixed-enterprise farmers who had implemented devices and systems to improve the efficiency of labour, breeding and traceability in their sheep enterprises.

A program of university scholarships and internships was established by SIBI to support individuals pursuing further study addressing key industry questions. The scholarships recognise the value in supporting research to solve sheep industry issues across the supply chain and to build broader industry capacity.

SIBI’s Sheep Meat Value Chain Training Program (2017 and 2018 ), provided an opportunity for students looking to pursue a career in the sheep industry, and built understanding of the concepts and technologies relevant to sheep meat supply and value chains.

SIBI’s dry age mutton research project aimed to define potential market opportunities, optimal processing protocols and to standardise the guidelines for regulation of dry aged mutton. In collaboration with the University of Melbourne and MLA, this project worked with chefs and training institutions to demonstrate the tenderness and flavour characteristics of dry-aged mutton, and determine the foodservice opportunities for the product.

Other investments by SIBI in enhancing the skills of producers and industry professionals included programs such as the Lifetime Ewe Management program, the Lamb Survival Initiative and a genetics extension program. These projects increased the business and technical skills of producers and service providers to the sheep industry, enhancing overall industry capacity.

Developing the KRF as a national sheep research centre

SIBI invested into both people and resources to establish a leading research facility available to be utilised by the broader industry. This work will continue to attract future research and increase collaboration between State Government, academic institutions and industry partners. The KRF is now positioned as an industry-leading facility for professional knowledge that will inform the future of the sheep industry locally and throughout Australia.

KRF operates as a working farm ensuring research undertaken has commercial relevance and is applicable to stakeholders within the sheep industry.

Key trial work undertaken at KRF includes:

• Sensory detection of dam pedigree using blue tooth sensors to determine lamb pedigree

• Sensory detection of feed intake using accelerometers to develop a movement signature for feed intake

• A two phase maternal ewe study, redefining feeding standards regarding intake capacity and energy use for maternal ewes

• The Genetic Resource Flock, providing insight into hard-to-measure traits not able to be measured in commercial flocks, and

• A Breech Strike Resource Flock, evaluated and characterised for production and breech strike resistance.

Key technologies have been built into the management of the KRF, including remote monitoring cameras on tanks and troughs to make it easier to check livestock water supply.

Contact information

Julia Smith

+61 (0)8 9368 3449

Email Julia Smith

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