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The Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA) is the nation's peak body representing and promoting the national and international interests of lamb and sheepmeat producers in Australia.
Our goal is to deliver professional policy development and lobbying outcomes that enhance the integrity, profitability and sustainability of the Australian Sheepmeat industry.
The Council consists of nine Councillors (sheepmeat producers) who represent each sheep producing state of Australia, and who are supported by a small team of staff based at the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) House in Canberra
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Sheepmeat Council of Australia's new Annual Muster publication provides a snapshot summary of SCA's work undertaken throughout the year on the issues affecting sheepmeat producers’ profitability.
Articles from industry and state farming organisations highlight the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for an industry with an off-farm value of $4.3 billion dollars (consumer expenditure plus export value).
Sheepmeat Council's 2010 Annual Muster will promote the sheepmeat industry to key stakeholders, including Industry affiliates, federal and state government ministers, embassies, media and trading partners.
Limited hard copies are available - to be on this list to receive your FREE copy email
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SCA's e-newsletter, issued every few months, keeps you up to date on the Council's activities and the big issues at the national level affecting you as a sheepmeat producer.
Keep in the loop and subscribe for FREE now!
Issue 4 of SCA's e-newsletter is now available and outlines changes to the National LIvestock Identification Scheme (Sheep & Goats).
SCA's e-newsletter is distributed to 9,500 sheep producers nationally.
National Livestock Identification (Sheep & Goats) - Changes from 1 July 2010
What are the Changes?
From 1 July 2010 all movements of sheep and goats to a property with a different Property Identification Code (PIC) will need to be recorded on the NLIS database. This includes movements to agistment properties, regardless of who owns or leases those properties. Owners will not need to record a mob-based movement on the database if they buy or sell sheep through a saleyard, send them direct to an abattoir, feedlot or export depot, or exhibit them at a show, as it will be done for them.
Australia is well situated as a producer of high quality sheepmeat, with a practical and low cost traceability system in place. However, in order for the system to work at its best, accurate data must be entered into the database and this requires producers to fill in their NVDs accurately and in full. Sheepmeat Council encourage all sheep producers to take extra care in filling out NVDs so that the current system can work to meet traceability requirements and help to protect valuable export markets and businesses from the effects of an emergency animal disease or food safety issue.
Read further about NLIS changes/find state contact
Inquiry into research and development corporations
In February 2010, the Australian Government instructed the Productivity Commission to conduct an inquiry into the research and development corporations model. SCA has provided information to the inquiry on behalf of the Australian sheepmeat industry.
View SCA's submission to the Productivity Commission.
Further information about the inquiry is available from the Productivity Commission’s website.
Sheepmeat Council Meetings
February: 22 - 24, Canberra, ACT - read meeting summary
May: 3 - 4, Canberra, ACT - read meeting summary
August: 3 - 4, Perth, WA - read meeting summary
Annual General Meeting, 15-16 November, Tasmania
New Animal Welfare Standards & Guidelines for Sheep
The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep, initiated by the Federal Government, is a set of new Standards (legislated and enforceable = must) and Guidelines (non-legislative = should) supporting sheep welfare at the farm level in Australia. Sheepmeat Council is ensuring that the sheepmeat industry is tightly engaged throughout the development of the Standards and is consulting directly with state farming members to ensure the best possible outcome for sheep producers.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION PHASE - your input counts
Sheepmeat Council strongly encourages your input in the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep during the public consultation phase. A date has not yet been set for public consultation, however, SCA will publish the date here as soon as it becomes available.
Learn more about the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep
National Livestock Identification (Sheep & Goats) - Changes from 1 July 2010
What are the Changes?
From 1 July 2010 all movements of sheep and goats to a property with a different Property Identification Code (PIC) will need to be recorded on the NLIS database. This includes movements to agistment properties, regardless of who owns or leases those properties. Owners will not need to record a mob-based movement on the database if they buy or sell sheep through a saleyard, send them direct to an abattoir, feedlot or export depot, or exhibit them at a show, as it will be done for them.
Australia is well situated as a producer of high quality sheepmeat, with a practical and low cost traceability system in place. However, in order for the system to work at its best, accurate data must be entered into the database and this requires producers to fill in their NVDs accurately and in full. Sheepmeat Council encourage all sheep producers to take extra care in filling out NVDs so that the current system can work to meet traceability requirements and help to protect valuable export markets and businesses from the effects of an emergency animal disease or food safety issue.
Read further about NLIS changes/find state contact
 Sheepmeat Council represents the Australian sheepmeat industry overseas
Sheepmeat Council’s President, Kate Joseph, recently travelled to Europe to represent Australia’s sheepmeat industry at the first ever world congress of sheep producers. Australia is sharing its expertise with overseas trading partners in an effort to increase the world consumption of sheepmeat. Growing competition from other products around the globe makes working together and sharing skills in marketing and breeding even more important.
Learn about the International Sheepmeat Forum for Producers and Industry attended by Ms Joseph in Brussels.
TRI-LAMB Group
Sheepmeat Council President, Kate Joseph recently arrived back from the US fulfilling the goal of resigning a new memorandum of understanding between United States, New Zealand and Australian lamb industry peak bodies. This agreement is important in keeping lamb on the shelves of our key market, the United States. Read further about this visit and the TRI-LAMB group.
Sheepmeat Industry Overview 2010
Read the latest sheepmeat industry snapshot
Climate Change Policy
The CPRS legislation has been delayed for 3 years.
Despite this, the Sheepmeat Council will continue to work with the National Farmers' Federation in lobbying for changes to the International Accounting rules that govern Australia's actions. Currently, the International Accounting rules do not recognise producers' positive contribution on-farm, including the full carbon cycle and agriculture’s ability to sequester carbon.
Read further about SCA's views on the Government's CPRS.
Learn more about producers' positive contribution to the environment
Copenhagen (COP 15) - Latest news from Copenhagen
The National Farmers' Federation, of which SCA is a member, is lead a delegation to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark (7-18 Dec). The conference included the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the fifth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 5). Read more about the NFF delegation to Copenhagen.
Red Meat Industry Strategic Plan
MISP3 represents a single view of the Australian red-meat and livestock industry. This plan provides a roadmap for the period 2010-2015. Download an electronic copy or alternatively, hard copy versions are available by contacting Red Meat Advisory Council.
Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women
The Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women (FAAW) is a national, independent, non-profit organisation whose mission is to enable women, living and working in rural communities in Australia, access to leadership training and experience. For further information visit: http://www.faaw.org.au.
Nuffield Scholarships open
The next round of applications for Nuffield Scholarships is now open. The scholarships are awarded annually and aim to increase practical farming knowledge, management skills and techniques. The Nuffield scholarships give Australian citizens the opportunity to study international farming practices.
State Farming Organisations
If you are a member of your State Farming Organisation (SFO) and they are a member of SCA, then you have an opportunity to have your say on the national issues that affect you. You have a say through your SFO and the Councillors who represent your views as an SCA delegate. To strengthen the Council's influence over those issues that matter most to you, we need you to be engaged in the discussion. SCA encourage you to join your SFO today and have your say on the issues that affect you as a sheepmeat producer.
Locate your State Farmer Organisation - join now and have your say
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