The Australian Lamb Story

Rob BanksAGBU

AGBU

Introduction:

• Me– PhD in Animal Breeding– National Coordinator, LAMBPLAN (1988-1996)– Manager, R&D (Genetics) in Meat and Livestock

Australia (1996-2006)– Manager, R&D Southern Australia, MLA (2006-

2013)– Director, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit

(2013-)

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1. Decline

• Australian lamb – up to 1990– By-product of wool industry– Declining real prices– Low consumer appeal (too much fat, too little

meat)– Small % exports to low value markets– Little or no R&D

1980s Market research: no-one wants this

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2. The change

• Australian lamb – 1990 to 2014– Steadily rising carcase weight, real price, export

volume– What drove this?

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1980s:- Carcase weight 17.5 kgs (38.5 lbs)- Excess fat

Today:-average carcase weight 22+ kg (48+ lbs)- No change in fat (so lower %)

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3. How the change was made

• R&D– Genetic and non-genetic approaches to meeting

consumer demands• Industry implementation

– LAMBPLAN– Prime Lamb Key Program

• Coordination of R&D and marketing (domestic and export)

Genetics

2

4

6

8

10

12

PW

T

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

Meatelite

All Dorsets

Genetic gain – Poll Dorsets PWWT

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

PF

AT

or

PE

MD

(m

m)

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

PEMD (All)

PFAT (All)

PEMD (ME)

PFAT (ME)

Genetic gain – Poll Dorsets PFAT, PEMD

Extreme Modern

Balanced Modern

Traditional

Matching genetics to markets

Fatter

Bigger

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Non-genetic R&D and extension

• Finishing systems– Fodder crops for heavier lambs

• Use of cryptorchids– Initially trialled, but not taken up

• Development of new cuts– Working with retail butchers to extract maximum

value from heavier, leaner carcases• Supply chain alliance development

– Breeder to consumer

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4. Where are we today

• Current status– Producer returns: lamb at $4-5 per kg, $75-100

per lamb– R&D: strong focus on eating quality, including use

of genomic testing– Industry challenges : welfare, payment systems– Industry Strategy

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5. Key Challenges

• Whole of industry participation– Different sectors must “lead together”

• Seek ways to generate benefits for all players – not just one sector– Consultation to find the changes that will achieve

this is vital• Must be consumer-focussed