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In my life time Sheep numbers in this continent have almost halved down to a paltry 71 Million, the last time Australia had so few sheep we had just come into nationhood well over 100 years ago.
Why is this....simple, we rode sheep into the ground. Yes Australia were giants when it came to the production of wool but our leaders failed to stay ahead of the game and kept the artificial floor price set too high for a world which had moved onto plant fibers and cheap and durable synthetics. We were too slow to acknowledge that we lived on the driest continent one that required animal breeds that resisted the disease and climatic extremes that is our part of the world. The cattle industry introduces the Bos Indicus Genes in the form of Brahmans, Droughtmaster, Santa Gertrudis and the many derivatives. But the Australian sheep industry remained in the 1960's whilst other nations most notably our similarly dry cousins across the Indian Ocean in Southern Africa were busy breeding sheep for their climatic differences.
Read more: Australia has ridden the sheeps back into the Ground....or has it?
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Its been a long time since I have written a blog. This is due to my extremely bad situation I have found myslef in and you know what our mothers say "if you have Nothing Good to say, Its Good to say Nothing". So I have chosen to follow this sound and proven advice.
But I wanted you to know I am alive and soon enough I will resume blogging but just now things are too difficult to write about.
One such topic is being turfed out of a farmers market...which means my exit actually leaves the very large farmers market without an actual farmer .... it is not right, but I will do everything I can to be able to live knowing I have given it my all.
Read more: You can take the Farmer out of the Farmers Markets...
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Back into the Big Brother House
Ok so I swore I wouldn't do it...but I am. This weekend I'm heading back into the compound at Dreamworld for the anti-hunger charity World Vision's 40-hour Famine...and yes I will be going without lamb, or anything else for that matter, for the whole period.
I'm a sucker for lending a hand for a good cause, so despite my better judgment when asked I really could only say yes.
So I'd love it if you could sponsor my starving and help a really good cause raise money for those who don't get to worry about cellulite and fad diets.
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I have had a lot of shit thrown my way. I last blogged about my troubles from thefts and unfair competition...and the simple difficulties of being a farmer, butcher, market stall holder among the many things I try to juggle. Well it seems just at that point where thing couldn't get any worse they did and, well, the world didn't cave in.
We were robbed again, this time a new generator, a cash float and a few thousand in lamb products. As well, our refrigerated trailer's tow hitch snapped and smashed the refrigerator condenser.
This all happened when I was away for my first break from the running of the business in seven months...as I had reached the end of my tether.
However one of the quirks of life reared its cute little head...as my entire trip away spending time with mates new and old was filled with constant comments of amazement at how well we are doing and how much incredibly splendid feedback there is out their about the quality of my lamb. So I?have picked myself up and dusted off the down and out view I had and have taken on a great piece of advice...'take a break'.
So now at least once a week I head out to Cunungra for a few hours and am learning how to play Polo. It's the perfect outlet for me. I get to gallop around like mad on a horse, swing a stick, hit goals and get massively physical with the risk of severe injury...so just like mustering cattle back home.
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It's a funny thing that the only thing I get criticised about with my lamb business is the price of my products, which last week I did somehow find amusing. I almost lost the business.
Well no, it's not like my GPS was on the blink (actually the one in our main delivery vehicle is broken ...something about 'an illegal operation') or the Refedex had flown out the window. Truth is I was going to give it away and head back to the farm.