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) 👇

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

A quality speaker is coming to Darkan this Thursday. Come along to hear an update on the #sheepmarket from Victorian meat and livestock analyst Simon Quilty 🐑

[Compass Agriculture Alliance @CompassAgAu]

A preview of what to expect on Thursday night! Come along to hear Simon Quilty from Global AgriTends present "Where Are Sheep Markets Heading?" Non members are welcome.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🐑 The 2026 Yardstick Field Day is tomorrow! There is still time to register and come along to hear the national #sireevaluation results and get the latest on ARGT, feed efficiency and methane research.

Register at: https://t.co/Fj3v8vN3vN

[Matt Dalgleish @Meat_Watcher]

Australian sheepmeat exports improved in September, reaching 36,193 tonnes.
That was still 6pc below last year and 13pc below the five-year average.
China rebounded strongly, up 20pc year-on-year, while US demand remained weak at 41pc below last year.

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🐑 The 2026 Yardstick Field Day is on 15th October at the Katanning Research Station.

Inspect the 2025 progeny from 12 leading sires, hear national #sireevaluation results and get the latest on ARGT, feed efficiency and methane research.

Register at: https://t.co/Fj3v8vN3vN

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

Plenty of time left at the @RabobankAU Sheep Expo & Ram Sale in Katanning to see the 2025 #AMSEA Yardstick Progeny being showcased and learn what #MerinoSireEvaluation Trials are all about 🐏

Thank you @DPIRDbroadacre and @J_P_Collins for all your work managing the flock.

[Meredith_Guthrie @MeredithGuthr15]

@DPIRDbroadacre rainfall maps 1 April - 16 August. Condingup 429 mm Nyabing 89 mm. A bit more forecast in the next 8 days. #climate

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

Head down to the @RabobankAU Sheep Expo & Ram Sale in Katanning today to view all of the 2025 Drop Yardstick Progeny!

This is a great opportunity to see what the #AMSEA Yardstick #MerinoSireEvaluation Trial is all about and meet the entrants.

@DPIRDbroadacre @J_P_Collins

[Merino WA @merino_wa]

📣LAST DAY (Fri 24th July) to get your entries in for the Rabobank WA Sheep Expo & Ram Sale in Katanning for 20th and 21st of August. Let’s Show Up 🙌🐑🐏🙌

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

🐑 Where will tomorrow’s demand for #wool come from?

Join the West Australian Wool Collective to hear from leading Chinese processors, exporters & industry experts on #WoolMarkets, sustainability & opportunities.

RSVP by 21 July: Brad 0429112832 or Anita 0407081537
#WAFarmers

[The Sheep's Back @SheepsBack]

@AgoraLivestock Margins vanish fast as efficiency drops. At 7:1 FCR you’re barely breaking even—even with $11/kg. Feed efficiency is the cornerstone of feedlot profitability.

[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