Baa Baa Black Sheep Have you any Wool?
Melissa Henry
Quebon Livestock, Boorowa NSW
BOOROWA www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/tourism.html
So many opportunities…
“Hopefully by showing you my career pathway it will help to get you thinking
about the type of career you can have in agriculture”
University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury Campus
• Bachelor of Animal Science
• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Consulting
Shiowu
Showing Sheep
Richmond HS Ag Show-Team
Judging Sheep
Quebec, Canada
So many opportunities!!! Overseas travel
Moholoholo, South Africa
Alberta, Canada Simmental
Youth Ambassador scholarship.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Committees
My jobs
http://www.graingrowers.com.au/
Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Boorowa
Lachlan Catchment
Management Authority Boorowa
http://www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au
Australian Sheep Industry Overview
History of Sheep in Australia
• First Fleet 1788 – meat sheep • John Macarthur interested in heavy
fleeced, fine wool sheep – Purchased from Spain – Pioneer breeder of the Australian Merino – 1801 largest sheep farmer in colony
How many sheep?
Where are the sheep?
Sheep Breeds
Wool Sheep
• Australian Merino – Ultra Fine
– Super Fine
– Fine
– Medium
– Strong
Meat Sheep • Poll Dorset • Suffolk • Texel • Border Leicester • Corriedale • Dorper
I’m a Merino. Suits from my fleece sell up to $1,000
I’m a Suffolk
I’m a Texel
I’m a Poll Dorset
I’m a Border Leicester
We’re Corriedales
Most sheep are shorn
I’m a White Dorper
I shed my wool
The Australian Wool Industry
What is Wool?
• Wool is a natural fibre grown by sheep
• Wool fibres are made of protein
• As wool grows out from the skin, it naturally forms into groups of fibres called staples.
Wool fibres are not straight – they grow with a natural crimp (wave) which gives
the wool it elasticity.
Off come the woolly jumpers
Wool Classers
Products of Wool
Careers in the Wool Industry
• Wool Producer
• Stock Handler
• Shearer
• Animal Health Officer
• Livestock Agent
• Animal Scientist
• Fibre Analyst
• Wool Classer
• Textile Designer
• Fashion Designer
We love our Lamb!
The Supply Chain The
supply chain
Careers in the Red Meat Industry
• Lamb Producer
• Stock Handler
• Shearer
• Animal Health Officer
• Livestock Agent
• Meat Buyer
• Meat Scientist
• Meat Processor
• Butcher
• Chef
• Animal Research Scientist
Sheep and the Environment
Grazing Management
Ground Cover = Healthy Soils
Effects of Climate Variation
Our farmers feed and protect our sheep through droughts
Effects of Climate Variation
And flooding rains
Biodiversity on Farms
Lots of different tree species of different ages
– supports a lot of different bird species
such as the Superb Parrot.
Biodiversity on Farms Lots of different grasses are
important Paspalum and Phalaris and native legumes
like Microlena. These grasses support a
number of animals such as sheep, cows and our native
wildlife.
Careers in the Environment Sector
• Catchment Officer
• Environmental Health Officer
• Landcare Coordinator
• Soil Conservation Earthworks operator
• Environmental Research Scientist
• Salinity Specialist
• Soil Health Specialist
• Water Resource Officer
Today we talked about …
Impact of the Australian Sheep Industry
• not only influences what we eat and wear
• Its puts a lot of money back into Australian communities.
Today we talked about …
Different sheep for different people
• different types of sheep that live in different environments and meet different markets
Today we talked about …
Career Opportunities
• There are many opportunities for you to become involved in the Australian Sheep Industry
Being part of the Art4Agriculture team is so rewarding. Our programs celebrate the immense diversity within primary
industries, our people, the range of produce and our
commitment to environmental stewardship.
Top Related