ABS Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities survey

Summary

The ABS will include additional sheep industry questions, concerning certain sheep breed data splits, in the Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey and Agricultural Census - continuing the expanded sheep data series collected in the ABS Agricultural Resource survey from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

The questions have the full endorsement of MLA's Lamb Forecasting Advisory Committee and are essential for the continued improvement in forecasting for the sheepmeat industry.

The ABS collected sheep and lamb data as part of the Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey and provide MLA with the outputs specified below. This data was required by Meat and Livestock Australia to assist with industry forecasting. The below points are the key data outputs that were covered by the report at a National and state level.

(a) Number of breeding ewes, I year or over (including maiden ewes intended for breeding) on holding as at 30 June

• Pure merino ewes

• All other breeds (including dual purpose, Dohnes and SAMMs) (by Number of lambs marked

(b) Pure merino lambs

• To merino rams

• To all other rams (including dual purpose, Dohnes and SAMMs)

​Data was provided to the client in an electronic format (excel spreadsheets) via e-mail or other means as agreed.Top level data published annually by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.