Farmers do not want to outsource their sheep enterprise

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In many regions in Western Australia farm size is increasing and there is less labour available. To combat this many farmers are putting more priority into cropping and less effort into their less profitable enterprises such as livestock production. The resulting decrease in stocking rates makes the enterprise even less profitable. The farmers are also less likely to establish perennial pastures due to the perceived workload increase. One solution to this problem is for farmers to get a professional sheep manager to manage their sheep. The professional sheep manager would be able to manage the farmer’s sheep more efficiently and the farmer could focus on cropping.

A series of focus groups with farmers explored farmers’ willingness to use a professional sheep manager. Four groups were in Bruce Rock (n=5), Trayning (n=3), Grass Patch (n=5) and Kellerberrin (n=7) which I have called the low rainfall groups. Two groups were in Broomehill (n = 8) and Williams (n = 7) which I have called the medium rainfall groups.