Shaping Australia's Sheep Industry Together
A stronger, more profitable sheep industry doesn’t happen by accident
The Future Flock has brought together extensive industry consultation, economic analysis and input from the National Advisory Panel to build a clearer picture of the opportunities and challenges shaping Australia’s sheep industry over the next decade.
The Future Flock- Key Insights report brings together this work and considers what the findings collectively tell us about the future of Australia’s sheep industry. Read this first. It provides further detail on the major findings, important connections between issues, areas of opportunity and matters requiring further examination.
The Future Flock- Key Insights is supported by two detailed reports:
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The Future Flock – A Ten-Year View 2027–2036 brings together the experiences, aspirations and perspectives shared through industry consultation.
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The Future Flock – Economic Analysis examines the structural factors influencing the industry’s long-term performance, competitiveness and profitability.
Together, The Future Flock- Key Insights and supporting reports provide an important evidence base from which industry can continue the conversation about its future.
Why this matters
Australia's sheep industry is recognised as one of the best in the world. We're the largest exporter of both wool and sheepmeat globally — supplying more than half of all internationally traded sheepmeat and about a third of the world's wool exports. Around 68 million sheep support more than $11 billion in economic value and over 72,000 jobs every year.
But the industry is at an important juncture. Throughout The Future Flock consultation a consistent sentiment emerged: Australia's sheep industry enters the next decade from a position of considerable strength, but also faces significant challenges.
What we heard
Throughout the consultation, participants consistently emphasised that no single issue would determine the future success of Australia's sheep industry.
Rather, long-term performance will be shaped by how the industry responds to a series of interconnected opportunities and constraints.
While perspectives varied across regions, enterprises and sectors, several common themes emerged as critical to the industry's future:
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Business Profitability – Strengthening business performance through improved decision-making, financial acumen and the effective adoption of technology.
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Whole-of-Animal Value – Optimising the value derived from every animal, across the supply chain, to improve efficiency, profitability and market outcomes.
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Supply Chain Performance – Building a more connected and transparent supply chain, with the agility to respond to market signals and customer needs.
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Industry Culture – Developing a proactive approach to challenges, while maintaining a strong sense of autonomy and adaptability across the industry.
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Industry Unity – Creating greater alignment around a shared vision and direction for Australia's sheep industry.
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People and Capability – Attracting, developing and retaining the workforce and leaders with the skills needed to support the industry's future.
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Animal Wellbeing – Prioritising and advancing animal wellbeing as a foundation for productivity, community trust and long-term sustainability.
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Innovation and Evidence-Based Advice – Improving access to trusted information, fostering continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
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Compliance – Reducing the burden of regulatory compliance, while maintaining market access and meeting evolving community and customer expectations.
What success looks like
The Future Flock consultation participants consistently described the characteristics of a successful Australian sheep industry -profitability, scale and significance, adaptability, and autonomy.
Together, they describe an industry that is commercially strong, maintains its relevance and influence, can adapt to change, and has the capacity to shape its own future.
Where to from here
The consultation and work undertaken to-date has helped build an understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping Australia's sheep industry. It has identified conditions that influence long-term success and highlighted the significant opportunity that exists if those conditions can be strengthened.
The Future Flock will continue to evolve through industry consultation, supported by the independent National Advisory Panel, testing emerging insights, challenging assumptions and guiding development. The Future Flock will focus on working with industry to:
Co-funded & delivered by
Co-funded by
The Future Flock is a co-investment between the Australian Government and Sheep Producers Australia, drawing on partnerships throughout the supply chain.
Sheep Producers Australia has been trusted by producers and industry stakeholders to deliver industry initiatives, including stewardship of the Sheep Industry Strategic Plans (1995–2020). These provided sector-wide focus and enabled real collaboration and results.
This is a chance for Australia’s sheep industry to shape its future—building resilience, profitability and unity for decades.