Sheep numbers peaked in Australia in 1970 at 180 million head. By 1990 they had declined to 170 million. Last year our numbers were around 76 million. That’s a lot fewer lamb shanks. Numbers usually reflect wool and sheep meat prices as well as the swing to other production like the wheat in what was considered “marginal country” Wool prices and fat lamb prices are very depressed at the moment. Unlikely to see any expansion of numbers in the short term.
