Thank you to everyone who has replied to the Sheep Industry Fund Consultation, we have received over 700 responses to date.
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To ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate, the closing date has been extended until December 31, the survey and all other documents are available on the SASAG webpage.
This consultation has prompted many discussions about how the Fund is currently being used, what it has achieved, and the work it supports in protecting and furthering our industry. The responses have highlighted some issues that I’d like to address.
Although the OJD program is one of the Fund’s biggest investments, it has slowed the spread of Johne’s disease in SA, thereby reducing the financial and animal health and welfare effects on individual flocks, and the wider sheep industry. The success of this program is recognised internationally. A decade ago SA had 100 properties under quarantine, now we have less than 50 properties known to be infected. Part of the program’s success has been the provision of vaccine to newly infected flocks for five years and neighbours assessed to be “at risk” for one year.
Our co-funded Enhanced Abattoir Surveillance program is the envy of other states. SA is the only state that provides regular, timely reports to producers on 20 conditions affecting sheep and lambs. Many of these can only be observed at slaughter but can be addressed by producers through changed management practices. In a recent producer survey two-thirds said the EAS reports had alerted them to a disease or condition that they were unaware their sheep had.
These two projects along with the other core programs supported by the Fund help to demonstrate to our major trading partners that the SA sheep production system meets their standards. Up to 10 audits are carried out annually and access to these international markets should not be taken for granted. Ineffective programs lead customers to question the welfare of livestock and quality of produce.
If you have more questions about the Fund’s investment and the contribution rate that supports its activities, contact any member of the SASAG. The group consists of one appointed ministerial representative with the remainder being active producers with experience in commercial and/or stud operations. It should be noted that any producer contributing to the Fund is entitled to nominate for SASAG industry positions.
If you haven’t already responded I encourage you to respond December 31 so that your views can be considered.
Change is vital for the Fund’s future, it’s a unique asset, owned by and operated for the benefit of South Australian sheep producers.
