7123.6.55.001 - Agricultural State Profile, Tasmania, 2004-05

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/07/2006

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Contents >> Agriculture >> Agricultural production >> Livestock >> Sheep and lambs

Sheep flocks are predominantly located in the drier eastern half of the state. In recent years, these flocks have been developed around the Merino and Comeback breeds which produce finer wools. As a result, Tasmanian-produced wool is on average one micron finer than wool produced on the Australian mainland.

Tasmania's sheep and lamb flock decreased slightly in the year ending 30 June 2005 to be at 3.1 million.

SHEEP AND LAMBS, Tasmania, at 30 June


	'000

2001	3,284.2
2002	3,379.6
2003	3,299.0
2004	3,183.4
2005	3,104.7

Source: Agriculture, Australia (cat. no. 7113.0) and Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).

At 30 June 2005, just under half of all sheep and lambs in Tasmania were found in the Northern Statistical Division (1.5 million).

SHEEP AND LAMBS, at 30 June 2005


Statistical Division					'000

Greater Hobart					^ 78.5
Southern					1,434.5
Northern					1,495.4
Mersey-Lyell					96.3

Tasmania					3,104.7

^ data subject to sampling variability between 10% and 25%
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2005 Agricultural Survey.