The Sheep's Back

Did you miss us? The Sheep’s Back returns! We are here to give Western Australian sheep and wool producers the information you really want to know.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

Feedlotting lambs has always been a low-margin, high-volume game. 🐑
Yes, there are windows of strong returns—but only if you nail timing, efficiency & risk management. Let’s unpack the realities (and opportunities) 👇

[Steve Noa @steve_noa]

Who would have thought you could wear merino in the heat!! One of the many perceptions about wool that the industry needs to change!
#softonskin #machinewashable
#coolintheheat
#noprickle
#lightweight
#merinoisking

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

If you run sheep in Kojonup and surrounds, @DirtSouthern wants to hear from you! MUSTER is here to help Kojonup producers work out the Live Export transition on their terms. 🐑

All it takes is a quick, fully confidential survey to get started: https://t.co/Fduh5AsDjc

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

MLP Results Seminar – Perth (Pingelly MLP site)

Join AWI for a one-day industry seminar sharing the results from the Merino Lifetime Productivity project. Discover what drives lifetime sheep performance and profitability 🐑

Register here: https://t.co/K8nssWSNio

[Steve Noa @steve_noa]

We're back baby.... take #2
Will we see the same reaction as we saw 6 weeks ago when growers and brokers dragged out as much wool as they could?? Keep offerings under 30/35k we are a good chance of going higher.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

⚠️ Look out for Annual Ryegrass Toxicity this summer. Signs include tremors, collapse, convulsions or abortions in livestock.

Collect your hay or pasture samples and send them to the DPIRD Laboratory in South Perth for testing.

More info: https://t.co/lLEoP404d6

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

⚠️ Phomopsis alert for lupin growers

DPIRD staff are finding lesions on lupin pods & stems across WA.
The fungus Diaporthe toxica can cause lupinosis in livestock grazing infected stubble. Infection appears as dark lesions on the lupin pod.

Inspect crops before grazing! 🐑

[Karrawarra Pastoral @karrawarra]

As our season cut out, we trained this year’s lambs onto barley ahead of weaning. Adaptation to concentrate feeds stimulates early rumen development, improves feed conversion efficiency, and helps mitigate the growth check often associated with weaning.🌾#Highlandersheep

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

The 2025 Yardstick Field Day is underway! For the first time showcasing the ewe progeny off shears 🐑

All progeny from the 12 entrants are looking fantastic thanks to the staff at @DPIRDbroadacre Katanning.

[John Paul Collins @J_P_Collins]

Hope to see you at the @DPIRDbroadacre Katanning Research Station for our Sheep Field Day. Thursday 23 October 1 - 4:30pm. See the Yardstick 2024-drop progeny. Wethers in full wool. Ewes off-shears with fleece weight and index data. Great line up of speakers.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

Great speakers and awesome looking hoggets on display. Come along for a great day out! 🐏

#AMSEA #sireevaluation

[John Paul Collins @J_P_Collins]

Join us at @DPIRDbroadacre Katanning Research Station this Thursday 23 October 1pm - 4:30pm for the Yardstick #AMSEA merino #sireevaluation field day. Includes some great speakers. Fleece weight and index data available on 2024-drop hoggets. Register here https://t.co/mcfDdcpymO

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

Somalia’s livestock exports are booming — on track to hit $1 billion this year as Australia & Sudan pull back from Gulf markets (sheep live export ban & conflict). A major shift in global supply chains💰

Read more 👉 https://t.co/NtYLMvNqBJ

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🐑 Effective Imprint Feeding = Stronger Weaners. Train early!

✅ Feed 100g/ewe every 2nd day
✅ 6+ feeds over 2–4 weeks
✅ Aim for >90% of lambs eating
✅ Watch—they should eat, not play!

Without training, weaners can take 3 weeks to eat grain. This is fatal for lightweights.

[AAAC Australian Assoc. of Agricultural Consultants @aaac_wa]

Registrations are now open for this year's OUTLOOK Conference: The Future of Farming in WA - Ag 2025

📅 Fri 14 Nov 2025
⏰ 10am – 4:30pm
📍 Burswood on Swan, Burswood

Early bird registrations open until 31 Oct https://t.co/8ZnimmBygx

#Ag2050 #WAag #FutureFarming #Outlook2025

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🚨 SRSP Alert!

Discover the latest SRSP Sheep Reproduction RD&A articles here: https://t.co/ZjY347NZlC
The Sheep Reproduction Strategic Partnership is focused on enhancing lamb production for sheep producers in a manner that ensures both profitability and sustainability.

[DPIRD Broadacre - WA Grains & Livestock @DPIRDbroadacre]

Hey producers & researchers!👋🏼
Join us at the 2025 Sheep Field Day 🐑
📍 Katanning Research Station
📅 Oct 23, 1-4pm
Get the latest data on the Yardstick trial, learn about lamb survival, methane research & tour our feed intake facility.
🔗Register here: https://t.co/1qmtIyAci4

[Tim Leeming @paradooprime]

Didn’t quite crack 150 but bloody close. 149% lambs marked from ewe lms paddocked. 0.8% ewe mortality. 0 dystocia. 13% dry at scanning which included ewe lms from ewe lms.
Overall 160% weaned and marked over entire preg ewe flock including lms👌. Shit start but super happy.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🚀 Grant Opportunity - Farm Business Transition Program.

✅ Eligible sheep producers can receive up to $75K of funding for future costs associated with the Phase Out of Live Sheep Exports by Sea.
📅 Applications close: 1st December 2025 9:00pm AEDT

🔗 https://t.co/mxRDa8yKbA

[Cam Dimsey @CamDimsey]

A while a go there were a bunch of activist tweets that only 37 farms in WA were engaged in the Live Export of Sheep.

I could not work out where this came from, until today.

A DAFF official misspoke. They were only off by a factor of 100.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

The @DPIRDbroadacre Katanning and WA FPSB Sheep Field Day Thursday 23rd October 🐑

Great opportunity to view the 2024 Yardstick progeny in full wool! Also come and learn about the latest lamb survival and feed efficiency research.

#merinosuperiorsires