Over 60 pastoralists have gathered in Broken Hill to hear the latest in on-farm research and market development at the Making More from Merinos forum.
The forum, hosted by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), features presentations on breeding feeder lambs, managing pastures with satellite images and ewe nutrition in rangelands.
One of the major issues for the industry and producers into the future is mulesing, and AWI Program Manager Animal Health and Welfare, Dr Scott Williams says the future looks positive.
"AWI is optimistic it will have at least two products available before the industry phase-out of 2010. Mulesing clips that tighten the breech and tail skin appear promising, and are to be commercialised in 2007," says Dr Williams.
"Trials of an intradermal injection are also progressing well, providing consistent, repeatable and effective results. For the longer-term, we're working on projects to provide fly insecticides and possibly biological control agents; as options for blowfly control."
When it comes to monitoring business success, David Heinjus, National Co-ordinator of the Bestprac program says you can't manage what you can't measure.
Over 180 pastoral sheep, beef and wool businesses in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and West Australia are involved in the Bestprac program.
"Bestprac is a change management project that aims to improve the profitability and environment of pastoralists through practical business management systems. This involves pastoralists measuring the performance of their operations," says Mr Heinjus.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
