In my life time Sheep numbers in this continent have almost halved down to a paltry 71 Million, the last time Australia had so few sheep we had just come into nationhood well over 100 years ago.

Why is this....simple, we rode  sheep into the ground. Yes Australia were giants when it came to the production of wool but our leaders failed to stay ahead of the game and kept the artificial floor price set too high for a world which had moved onto plant fibers and cheap and durable synthetics. We were too slow to acknowledge that we lived on the driest continent one that required animal breeds that resisted the disease and climatic extremes that is our part of the world. The cattle industry introduces the Bos Indicus Genes in the form of Brahmans, Droughtmaster, Santa Gertrudis and the many derivatives. But the Australian sheep industry remained in the 1960's whilst other nations most notably our similarly dry cousins across the Indian Ocean in Southern Africa were busy breeding sheep for their climatic differences.

Working with Wool sheep is no easy task, in fact I'd be the first to say its a mugs game. Massive issues with disease, animal rights groups, high labour input requirements, incredible labour shortages and ofcourse the ever ominous drought and vermin issue always hanging over us.

However with the introduction of many breeds of sheep from the forward thinking famers of Southern Africa as well as Mareema sheep dogs, we are catching  up.

But is it too late?

Last week Country Fresh Closed its Wallangara Abattoirs due to lack of supply and my local Dalby sale yards yard-ed something like 40 head and many other sale yards are reducing to fortnightly sales...there just are not enough sheep out there.

I began my business  Farmer Dave Free Range Lamb due to the fact that I received well below cost of production for my lambs at the saleyards...Dalby to be exact and it was under $30 per head for prime lambs at 45kg.

Suddenly I was attending over 50 farmers markets a month and turning out up to 150 lambs per week, but I saw clearly that I had reached my potential as there just wasn't the lambs out there, I certainly couldn't keep supply up with the drought unabating.

Due to the droughts continuation I have lowered my breeding numbers by 300 ewes, to ensure comfortable stocking rates. Normally I would be desperate for stock feed and be losing stock daily, however my Dorper Sheep are fat as fools, totally thumbing their noses at the dry that would have traditional Merinos keeling over at the drop of a hat.

On top of the fact I no longer am losing stock, today I sent a truckload of my prime lambs and a batch of Hoggets off to the Warwick Saleyards for Auction and they topped $102.5 per head.

So i have full faith that sticking with sheep was a Good idea and that moving to breeds and farming practices that are more suited to this Country was an even better one;)

Setting up a business that shielded me from the low prices whilst I spent a fortune on improving my genetics was another step in the right direction.

Whilst my father has always been dead against me being a sheep producer he has given me a piece of advice that I have stood by.... 'When you see everyone Run, you Walk '...   and thanks to Australian Farmers Running from the sheep industry in droves I now have a viable future.