Rural

AUSTRALIA produced the most lamb on record in the 2022 calendar year, with the past quarter recording the most lamb meat ever produced in a quarter at 149,385 tonnes, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) - four per cent more than the previous record set in June 2018.

We are all well aware of the affect the shortage people – especially skilled ones – is having on dairy farms in south-west Victoria.

MORTLAKE agents yarded 825 cattle on Monday, a decrease of 370 on the previous week’s offering.

HAMILTON agents yarded 2800 lambs and 230 sheep at Wednesday’s market, representing a slight increase in numbers to the previous week.

VICTORIAN farmers and industry advisers have discussed the impact of the high rainfall, storms and floods last Spring and early Summer in an online video released by the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH).

Just to be clear – we are discussing sheep. What you choose to do in your own time and place is for you – but this is about sheep.

FEATURE breed for the Hamilton & Western District Sheep Show at Sheepvention 2023, the Suffolk, did not disappoint in terms of the number entered and of quality exhibits.

VICTORIA’S next generation of sheep shearers are kick-starting their careers with access to more affordable training and technology-based learning, thanks to a State Government initiative.

TREVOR and Kathy Mibus, Glenara Merinos, Dunkeld, continue their reign, winning Supreme Champion Merino Ram again this year with their ultrafine wool ram sired by a new bloodline from Conrayn Merinos in New South Wales.

NUMBERS increased by 175 head at Mortlake on Monday for a total yarding of 1080.

HAMILTON agents could only manage 1800 lambs and 700 sheep at Wednesday’s market, being less than half of last week’s offering, relating perhaps to recent price reductions and coinciding with Hamilton Sheepvention happening this week.

COMBINED agents yarded 225 cattle at Friday’s Hamilton market with stronger competition on all grades.