Back to Listings
Risk management is not something you can treat as a side issue, and as Nigel says, if you are treating it as a part time job, you had better go and find a full time job. For him, that line really captures the mindset needed in modern Australian agriculture.
We see risk management as building a better animal that reduces our exposure to climate and market volatility. The sheep industry in Australia is going from good to great by breeding animals that can handle these pressures, and that is at the core of sustainable livestock production.
Compact Sheep and a Changing Industry
Mark builds on this by pointing out how weight in animals looks different today. He and Nigel were looking at a ram that was just as heavy as any other in the pen, but it looked around six inches shorter. The body shape was more compact, but the weight was still there. Mark connects this to what has already happened in New Zealand, where the sheep industry has shifted toward a more compact type of animal that is better suited to modern production systems.
He explains that the same shift is now taking place in Merinos. By selecting for fertility, early growth and a body shape that thrives under higher stocking rates, we are creating a more efficient and profitable type of sheep. These changes are vital for the future of sheep breeding in Australia and the wider Merino wool industry.
Managing Climate and Market Risk Through Better Sheep
For us, building a better Merino is the most effective form of risk management in agriculture. When sheep grow quickly, maintain fertility and carry weight in a compact frame, they allow us to run higher stocking rates without compromising condition. They also help reduce exposure to climate extremes and market swings by enabling us to turn off livestock earlier.
Risk management in Australian agriculture is often seen as financial planning or an external insurance exercise, but in our business, it starts with the genetics of the sheep. Every breeding decision we make is about stacking traits that make our flock more resilient, more profitable and more capable of handling whatever the seasons bring.
It is an exciting time in the Australian sheep and Merino wool industry because the changes we have been working toward for years are now becoming reality.
