Importance of Livestock to South Australia In 2013-14, the South Australian sheep, beef cattle and goat industries had a farm gate value of $1.298 billion. This was 21.4 percent of the total value of South Australia’s agricultural production. Sheep Beef cattle Goats Welfare Sheep About 6800 South Australian sheep, lamb and wool producers farmed 11 million sheep in 2013-14, which is about 14pc of the national flock. In that time, 3.611m lambs and 1.557m adult sheep were processed, producing nearly 85,000 tonnes of lamb (carcaseweight) and nearly 41,000t cwt of lamb. This production had a farm gate value of $491.1m. South Australia’s wool clip in 2014 was 52 million kilograms. The average wool cut was 4.73kg per head and resulted in a farm gate value of $380m. At 52mkg, South Australia produces just more than 15pc of the nation’s clip. The sheep industry continues to undergo significant restructuring. In the past 15 years, the wool industry has been characterised by low wool prices, declining sheep numbers and increasing lamb returns. The fall in sheep numbers has been driven by declining demand for wool due to competition from alternative fibres and fashion and consumer preference changes. Rather than buying higher priced quality woollen goods, many consumers prefer cheaper synthetic goods that can be replaced quickly as fashions change. As a result, … Continue reading Livestock in SA