Fears of mass culling amid plummeting sheep prices as WA government considers assistance measures

Producers in Western Australia’s south say a growing backlog of sheep could lead to a mass culling like in the 1990s if nothing is done, as the state government looks at assistance measures despite earlier rejecting calls for crisis talks. 

With prices in the industry in decline, some farmers are already shooting their sheep, while others like Esperance farmer Bob Reed are struggling to sell their flock.

Mr Reed still remembers the crash three decades ago and the pain it caused as millions of animals were culled.

“You got the bullet money, just about, to take them out and dig a hole and bury them,” he said.

“It was a sad and sorry operation for anybody that took part.

“The people that did it to reduce their flock, did it because they thought that it was their responsibility … some it hurt greatly.”

The culling followed the mismanagement of the Australian Wool Reserve Price Scheme, which stockpiled hundreds of tonnes of wool and sent livestock prices plummeting.

Farmers were paid $1.80 for every sheep culled and $6 for lambs.

History repeating 

Mr Reed said he had sheep “lined up to be slaughtered and orders cancelled”.

“I still haven’t sold a single sheep. I just hope it turns around one way or another,” he said.

The backlog prompted the Nationals to call for “crisis talks” between producers, buyers, processors and the government in a bid to stem the decline. 

Opposition spokesperson for agriculture Colin de Grussa said “government interference” on a proposed federal live sheep export ban meant farmers were considering culling their flocks.

“We’re already being contacted by producers who are looking to start euthanising animals in the not-to-distant future if they can’t find a home for them,” he said.

He said talks were needed to understand the breadth of the issue facing the state’s farmers

“The government actually needs to have a clear understanding of the scale of the problem before they can even contemplate what they need to do,” Mr de Grussa said.

“That’s why it’s become incredibly urgent. Those plans need to be put in place after they understand what they’re dealing with.”

Government backtracks on talks 

WA Premier Roger Cook earlier this week dismissed the calls, saying sheep prices and a live export ban were “unrelated”.

“Over the last 18 months, there has been a decline in the strong prices we have seen for lamb nationally in recent years,” he said.

“It is wrong to say that this is somehow impacted by a government decision which has not been made and has not been implemented for another four years.”

But Minister for Agriculture Jackie Jarvis on Friday said she would explore what assistance was available for the state’s sheep producers.

“I’ve had numerous briefings from DPIRD [Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development],” she said.

“I’ve also asked the Rural Business Development Commission to look at schemes of assistance to provide advice to me on what we can do.”

Mental health under consideration 

Ms Jarvis said it would be up to farmers to decide the future of their flocks based on abattoir availability, prices on offer and feed costs.

“Some farmers may choose to shoot those older sheep, just from an economic point of view,” she said. 

“I’m more concerned about what mental health support we would have in place and I’ve actually directed DPIRD to [see], as a matter of urgency, what mental health support we’re offering.”

Mr Reed said while he hoped the industry turned a corner soon, the next generation was facing the same prospect of having to euthanise their sheep if conditions continued.

“What worries me is that if they do take that on as an issue in the near future, then it won’t be the same bloke pulling on the trigger,” he said.

“It’ll be his son, or whoever has taken over that place.

“It will be a younger person and yeah and it’ll hurt just like it hurt 30 years ago.”