Displacement of the Merino ewe

Less than 30% of ewe lambs born in the short to medium term are expected to be pure Merinos which represents a major threat for the Australian wool industry. Many traditional Merino producers are choosing to transition their sheep production system towards a non-Merino ewe, rather than seek a Merino genotype. The rate of displacement and the ease of transition away from a Merino ewe is likely to be influenced by the region, environmental conditions, and enterprise mix. This project examined why Australian producers choose to transition to a non-Merino rather than improve or adapt their existing ewe base. This was a market research project which surveyed a large number of sheep producers in designated regions of Australia in order to quantify and understand the reasons behind the displacement of Merino ewes.