Taking in the global view

Eye-opening discussions

“As part of the programme we were given an online project. I joined Canada and Australia to compare challenges surrounding animal welfare. Over several late-night Zoom calls we discussed access to pain relief and pressure on painful practices such as castration, docking and mulesing.

“The part I found most interesting was that Canada and Australia both use tailing rings infused with anaesthetic. The Canadian product, Lidoband, is effective for up to 42 days. It has been backed by Australian research on Merino lambs and Canadian research on castration of calves.

“The topics covered by the other groups were anthelmintic resistance, the wool industry and inspiring the next generation.”

What amazed and impressed me on farm

“Last August we met in person in Adelaide, South Australia where we spent three days visiting sheep farms and three days at Australia’s largest sheep conference, LambEx.

“On our first stop, Kangaroo Island, what stood out for me is how the island is still recovering from the largest bush fires they’ve ever seen, in what they call ‘the black summer’ of 2019/20. Fire spread to over half the island and killed nearly 60,000 head of livestock – a number I’m not sure most of us in UK can even comprehend. Recovery is still ongoing but the incredibly resilient island community have worked together to rebuild homes, farm buildings and fences and the diverse landscape is starting to bounce back.

“Whilst on the island we visited Jamie Heinrich’s farm, Ella Matta Pastoral. They breed White Suffolks, Poll Merinos and maternal composites. Ella Matta was the first registered White Suffolk stud in the world – they’ve bred the black pigment out of Suffolks to improve wool quality. I soon realised how important wool production and wool quality was to Australian sheep farmers. Wethers are kept for up to four years to help manage grazing and because there is an important income from the wool. The   dedication to genetic improvement and sustainability on Jamie’s farm was seriously impressive.

“I was also impressed by the strict biosecurity. No live animals have been brought onto farm since 1999. Instead they artificially inseminate 1,000 ewes a year to produce replacements. But despite that, in 2024 they were locked down with foot rot (a notifiable disease in South Australia) which they deduced was brought in on someone’s boots at their annual ram sale. They lost thousands of Australian Dollars and it brought home to me just how important biosecurity is on farm.

“Not long after I returned home, our farm was put under movement restrictions due to a positive bluetongue case. Like Jamie’s farm, the biggest implications from the lockdown came from not being able to sell breeding stock. However, the lack of sales has allowed us to put more ewe lambs to the tup this year which will increase selection pressure on our replacements and drive genetic improvement. So we’re turning the challenge into an opportunity.

“Our next stop on the tour was Thornby Feedlot. Finishing around 108,000 lambs per year makes this Australia’s largest lamb feedlot. The sheer scale of what they do stuck with me. The Thornby Feedlot hosted the LambEx carcass competition which involved 15 lots of 50 lambs, from different farms and different breeds. The lambs were run on the same diet under the same conditions for 70 days then measured on various meat and wool quality traits and combined using economic weightings. The winners of the competition were announced at the LambEx conference. This competition was unlike anything I’ve seen in the UK and gives Australian sheep farmers a way to put their genetic profile to the test and be recognised for lamb growth and eating quality with no breed parameters, simply measuring what makes a profitable lamb.

“We then visited Inverbrackie Border Leicester Stud, a stud using performance recording and breeding values to advance their flock and add value. At Collinsville Merino Stud we saw how they selected for type/looks and added value through the show ring. We toured Michell Wool Scouring Plant, where I got a better understanding of wool cleaning process. And at Anlaby, South Australia’s oldest Merino station, we learned about the brand they’ve built around selling luxury merino wool products globally.

“For the final part of the trip we attended the LambEx conference. This was an amazing event to finish the trip. The whole conference had an optimistic feel despite the pressure the Australian sheep industry is under at the moment. We heard from speakers across the supply chain and attended the launch of Australia’s sustainability framework. We also got the opportunity to represent the UK on a panel discussion comparing challenges and opportunities the sheep industry is facing around the world.

“One of my favourite parts of our time in Adelaide was one conference morning, when Fat Farmers, a rural mental health charity, hosted a 5k run. Their goal is to encourage rural communities to get together, be active and boost mental health. The run was really well attended and such a great way to start the day. It was also very cool running along the river Torrens under hundreds of fruit bats as the sun came up – a real once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“With thanks to all my sponsors:

NSA, British Wool, The AF Group, Brown & Co, Westover Veterinary Centre, Pharmweigh, Anglia Quality Meat and Sugarloaf Clothing.”