The MLA-conducted survey is designed to gather statistics on the current state of the nation’s lamb supply.

The information gathered by the survey will provide an up-to-date snapshot of the Australian lamb industry, including flock numbers, flock composition, and the buying and selling intentions of the nation’s lamb producers.

In an effort to improve the performance of lamb industry forecasting, MLA is replacing a single annual quantitative lamb survey with smaller and mostly qualitative surveys of lamb producers three times a year.

The data collected from the new surveys will be analysed by a newly-formed MLA Lamb Forecasting Advisory Committee in collaboration with MLA market analysts before being made public.

The advisory committee will consist of 30 members drawn from across the country and from every sector of the lamb industry.

Once compiled, the data will be available on a national, state and regional level.

MLA’s chief market analyst, Peter Weeks said the 2008 MLA lamb survey will play an important role in helping livestock producers and others involved in the industry keep a track of lamb production trends.

"The results of this survey will give those involved in the lamb industry a better understanding of the current situation and this can assist producers in making better informed on-farm management decisions," Mr Weeks said.

An added incentive to complete the survey will be the chance to win a laptop computer valued at $1,800, a GPS navigation device worth $500 or $500 worth of quality MLA publications.

The survey is being conducted online and has been emailed out to MLA members.

Those that have not received the new survey, including previous respondents to the annual MLA Lamb Surveys and non-MLA members, can call MLA on 02 9463 9290 or toll free on 1800 023 100 to access the survey.

For those lamb producers without internet access and who wish to participate can call the same numbers to request a printed copy of the survey.

The deadline for completing the survey is Friday 13 June and the results of the survey will be made available by July 2008. All submissions are confidential.

Those who take part in the survey will automatically receive a copy of the aggregated survey results.

Further lamb surveys are set to be conducted in October 2008 and again in February 2009.