Baa Baa Black Sheep Have you any Wool?

Melissa Henry

Quebon Livestock, Boorowa NSW

BOOROWA www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/tourism.html

So many opportunities…

“Hopefully by showing you my career pathway it will help to get you thinking

about the type of career you can have in agriculture”

University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury Campus

• Bachelor of Animal Science

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)

• Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Consulting

Shiowu

Showing Sheep

Richmond HS Ag Show-Team

Judging Sheep

Quebec, Canada

So many opportunities!!! Overseas travel

Moholoholo, South Africa

Alberta, Canada Simmental

Youth Ambassador scholarship.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Committees

My jobs

http://www.graingrowers.com.au/

Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Boorowa

Lachlan Catchment

Management Authority Boorowa

http://www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au

Australian Sheep Industry Overview

History of Sheep in Australia

• First Fleet 1788 – meat sheep • John Macarthur interested in heavy

fleeced, fine wool sheep – Purchased from Spain – Pioneer breeder of the Australian Merino – 1801 largest sheep farmer in colony

How many sheep?

Where are the sheep?

Sheep Breeds

Wool Sheep

• Australian Merino – Ultra Fine

– Super Fine

– Fine

– Medium

– Strong

Meat Sheep • Poll Dorset • Suffolk • Texel • Border Leicester • Corriedale • Dorper

I’m a Merino. Suits from my fleece sell up to $1,000

I’m a Suffolk

I’m a Texel

I’m a Poll Dorset

I’m a Border Leicester

We’re Corriedales

Most sheep are shorn

I’m a White Dorper

I shed my wool

The Australian Wool Industry

What is Wool?

• Wool is a natural fibre grown by sheep

• Wool fibres are made of protein

• As wool grows out from the skin, it naturally forms into groups of fibres called staples.

Wool fibres are not straight – they grow with a natural crimp (wave) which gives

the wool it elasticity.

Off come the woolly jumpers

Wool Classers

Products of Wool

Careers in the Wool Industry

• Wool Producer

• Stock Handler

• Shearer

• Animal Health Officer

• Livestock Agent

• Animal Scientist

• Fibre Analyst

• Wool Classer

• Textile Designer

• Fashion Designer

We love our Lamb!

The Supply Chain The

supply chain

Careers in the Red Meat Industry

• Lamb Producer

• Stock Handler

• Shearer

• Animal Health Officer

• Livestock Agent

• Meat Buyer

• Meat Scientist

• Meat Processor

• Butcher

• Chef

• Animal Research Scientist

Sheep and the Environment

Grazing Management

Ground Cover = Healthy Soils

Effects of Climate Variation

Our farmers feed and protect our sheep through droughts

Effects of Climate Variation

And flooding rains

Biodiversity on Farms

Lots of different tree species of different ages

– supports a lot of different bird species

such as the Superb Parrot.

Biodiversity on Farms Lots of different grasses are

important Paspalum and Phalaris and native legumes

like Microlena. These grasses support a

number of animals such as sheep, cows and our native

wildlife.

Careers in the Environment Sector

• Catchment Officer

• Environmental Health Officer

• Landcare Coordinator

• Soil Conservation Earthworks operator

• Environmental Research Scientist

• Salinity Specialist

• Soil Health Specialist

• Water Resource Officer

Today we talked about …

Impact of the Australian Sheep Industry

• not only influences what we eat and wear

• Its puts a lot of money back into Australian communities.

Today we talked about …

Different sheep for different people

• different types of sheep that live in different environments and meet different markets

Today we talked about …

Career Opportunities

• There are many opportunities for you to become involved in the Australian Sheep Industry

Being part of the Art4Agriculture team is so rewarding. Our programs celebrate the immense diversity within primary

industries, our people, the range of produce and our

commitment to environmental stewardship.