Leading Sheep
Leading Sheep is an important partnership between Australian Wool Innovation and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, with support from AgForce.
Core to the success of Leading Sheep is the guidance provided by the Leading Sheep Producer Advisory Panel (PAP) and Regional Coordinating Committees (RCC, who work with a Regional Coordinator). The PAP and RCC are tasked with providing strategic advice and local insights to the priorities and issues for Queensland woolgrowers, and how and when Leading Sheep can best deliver information, tools and workshops to assist industry.
The objectives of Leading Sheep, identified by the PAP and RCCs, include:
- Network - be an effective conduit between producers, between producers and experts, and between AWI, the Queensland Government, MLA, GgForce and producers.
- Information source – endeavour to become the go-to source of information on sheep production in Queensland.
- Extension – building on the existing network and communications to provide training opportunities that lay the foundations for change.
Leading Sheep achieves these objectives by delivering best practice management information and innovations via a range of options, such as field days and workshops, as well as online, often webinars and podcasts, to allow access to experts and advice without leaving home. The aim of these events is to increase awareness and deliver new knowledge and skills to support practice change and improve productivity and profitability.
Leading Sheep’s major priorities are identified in consultation with the Producer Advisory Panel (PAP) and Regional Coordinating Committees (RCC) and include:
- Reproduction: condition score management, predator control, weaning, preferential management of single and twin bearing ewes, individual advice for businesses, genetics, animal health and adapting relevant research to Queensland.
- Pasture: understand stocking rates and long-term carrying capacity, benefits of spelling pastures and conservative grazing, the use of tools such as forage budgets/grazing charts/decision dates and nutritional application of pasture management.
- Wool: woolgrower understanding of wool aspects of the enterprise and supply chain, marketing opportunities and the benefits of running a wool enterprise.
- Business: simple and consistent records including production records, simple tools for management applications such as stock schedules with DSE ratings/gross margin/cost of production/return on investment and definitions, key performance indicators, and a succession and business mindset.
- Other minor priorities: predators, technology, drought, networking, marketing, infrastructure, good season management, labour and regional issues.
Join the free AWI Extension QLD and Leading Sheep network and subscribe to email updates with seasonal information and upcoming workshops here.
Visit the Leading Sheep website for useful production and technical information to assist in your wool-growing business, notice of upcoming workshops and more.
Meet AWI Extension QLD and Leading Sheep staff and Producer Advisory Panel members here.
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