Live Export Resumption Offers Boon To Sheep Farmers
March 30th, 2009
David Carter is talking up the potential benefits of the lifting of the moratorium on live sheep exports from NZ from 2010. He claims it could give NZ a viable sheep meat industry. “It’s exciting.” He believes the trade will boost prices. “This will tend to drive the whole market up.” However, the extent to which the potential of live sheep exports can turn around the sheep industry as a whole will depend on potential returns. Aust exports, which topped $A321m last year, returned less than $100 per head gross, far less than the $150 per head target Fedfarmers believes is necessary.
Awassi Breed. The solution may lie in part in the fat-tailed Awassi sheep. These are favoured by Saudi Arabia and other Middle East nations being bred in Hawke’s Bay under a programme co-ordinated by David Brownrigg through a venture called Challenge Livestock Partnership. Middle Eastern markets favour carcasses in the 8-12 kg range. The Awassi breed is favoured for its lean meat and milk, commanding premium prices. Aust’s exports are mainly lower value merino.
Information War. Carter’s enthusiasm is having to be slightly tempered in order not to inflame concerns stirred up by animal rights activists and the Green Party. “The first thing is to have the debate so that welfare concerns have been covered.” He says part of this process will be countering “misinformation” from Green MP Sue Kedgley, who claims jobs will be lost in meat processing and NZ’s reputation could be tarnished. “Only a viable sheep industry will ensure jobs are safe.”
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