THEY were cautious of the response in Australia’s Merino dominated state.
But what the organisiers of the first Australian shedding sheep, or cleanskin organisation, did not bank on was packing out an Adelaide showground’s exhibition room with 230 people – 90 per cent producers - from six states of Australia and United States, South Africa and New Zealand at its first Australian symposium.
The management committee believes the enthusiasm generated at the two day symposium is indicative of an industry that has spiraled in numbers since the bulk of the shedding sheep genetics were imported into Australia 13 years because put simply “there is money to make”.
Australia has ten cleanskin sheep breeds including Damara, Damper, Droughtmaster, Meatmaster, Wiltipoll, Dorper, White Dorper, Pesian, Minis and Van Rooy.
Cleanskin sheep Australia symposium coordinator Lou Mawson said producers making money was the only way she could explain Australia’s rapid adoption of cleanskin sheep breeds which had hit the industry so hard that lack of supply had become the main hurdle handicapping growth.
“In a decade I wouldn’t be surprised if cleanskin were the most dominant breed in country,” she said.
While unsupported with figures – there has been no industry assessment of numbers to date - the bullish response was backed by producers across Australia explaining the success they have had with the breed and the building numbers.
Roma producer Adrian Tiller, Leinster Pastoral, unhappy with returns he has been making from cattle, has bought 14,000 Damara cross ewes in the past seven months and is looking to build numbers to 20,000.
Goondiwindi, QLD, sheep consultant Lloyd Dunlop said cleanskin sheep numbers were on the rise in Queensland with producers looking for a low maintenance sheep to cash in on the sheep meat boom. He noted flocks were up to 70,000 head.
Meanwhile, market demand amongst sectors of the sheepmeat industry for Dorper and Dorper-cross lambs in particular was noted at the symposium.
Among them were Paul Leonard, the livestock manager of Australia’s largest small animal processor, T&R Pastoral, at Murray Bridge, SA.
Mr Leonard said the fact that Dorper and Dorper-cross producers were paid on the same grid as top British lamb producers despite the industry being in young in age was an indication of the acceptance of the quality of the meat.
“That said there is still some decimation in the sale yards which is just ignorance.”
Denis Russell, a cleanskin seed stock producer from Parilla, South Australia, who has been involved in the industry since its infancy, said he received up to four enquires a week for breeding ewes from producers in pastoral country regions and small-scale sheep operators looking for an easy care animal to produce prime lambs.
“It would be fair to say there are millions of mainly Damara-cross and Dorper-cross sheep in pastoral regions,” he said.
Mr Russell said the ability to achieve at least a 125pc lambing twice a year and minimal handling was a major benefit of cleanskin sheep for producers in marginal country.
However, South African stud producer Clynton Collett, owner Bethulie stud where Australia’s first Dorper, Damara, SAMM, White Dorper and recently Meatmaster genetics originated from, said getting structure into the industry must now be a priority.
“It’s a very unstructured at this stage with a number of individuals working separately and this need to be drawn together or risk losing momentum.”
Cleanskin animal’s skin is considered a hide and has no commercial value to date.
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