1. The Australian Lamb Story
Rob Banks
AGBU

2. Introduction:
• Me
– PhD in Animal Breeding
– National Coordinator, LAMBPLAN (1988-1996)
– Manager, R&D (Genetics) in Meat and Livestock
Australia (1996-2006)
– Manager, R&D Southern Australia, MLA (2006-
2013)
– Director, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit
(2013-)
AGBU

3. 1. Decline
• Australian lamb – up to 1990
– By-product of wool industry
– Declining real prices
– Low consumer appeal (too much fat, too little
meat)
– Small % exports to low value markets
– Little or no R&D
AGBU

4. 1980s Market research: no-one wants this

5. 2. The change
• Australian lamb – 1990 to 2014
– Steadily rising carcase weight, real price, export
volume
– What drove this?
AGBU

6. AGBU
1980s:
- Carcase weight 17.5 kgs (38.5 lbs)
- Excess fat
Today:
-average carcase weight 22+ kg (48+ lbs)
- No change in fat (so lower %)

7. AGBU

8. 3. How the change was made
• R&D
– Genetic and non-genetic approaches to meeting
consumer demands
• Industry implementation
– LAMBPLAN
– Prime Lamb Key Program
• Coordination of R&D and marketing (domestic
and export)
AGBU

9. Genetics

10. 2
4
6
8
10
12
PWT
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Year
Meatelite
All Dorsets
Genetic gain – Poll Dorsets PWWT

11. -1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
PFATorPEMD(mm)
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Year
PEMD (All)
PFAT (All)
PEMD (ME)
PFAT (ME)
Genetic gain – Poll Dorsets PFAT, PEMD

12. Extreme Modern
Balanced Modern
Traditional
Matching genetics to markets
Fatter
Bigger

13. Non-genetic R&D and extension
• Finishing systems
– Fodder crops for heavier lambs
• Use of cryptorchids
– Initially trialled, but not taken up
• Development of new cuts
– Working with retail butchers to extract maximum
value from heavier, leaner carcases
• Supply chain alliance development
– Breeder to consumer
AGBU

14. 4. Where are we today
• Current status
– Producer returns: lamb at $4-5 per kg, $75-100
per lamb
– R&D: strong focus on eating quality, including use
of genomic testing
– Industry challenges : welfare, payment systems
– Industry Strategy
AGBU

15. 5. Key Challenges
• Whole of industry participation
– Different sectors must “lead together”
• Seek ways to generate benefits for all players
– not just one sector
– Consultation to find the changes that will achieve
this is vital
• Must be consumer-focussed
AGBU