The first Sheep Producer Intentions survey gauges producers' intentions for their flocks, as well as flock numbers.

The survey was formally known as the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Sheepmeat and Wool survey. This year's survey was conducted under a new format to allow for a better understanding of the breed makeup of the national flock, along with sales channels used by producers across different states and farm sizes.

Aside from the intentions to expand, the survey showed 47 per cent of participants are expecting favourable conditions in the next 12 months and there are strong growth expectations prominent among Queensland and New South Wales producers.

Producers with 10,000 or more sheep indicated an intention to increase or maintain their flock numbers while most producers are looking to maintain breeding ewe numbers in 2023.

According to the survey, Merinos make up 40 per cent of the total lamb flock, while prime lambs make up 35 per cent.

Sentiment among those surveyed showed most producers are expecting an increase in input costs and finding skilled labour will be more difficult in the next 12 months.

Despite these concerns, producer sentiment around the sheepmeat industry is extremely positive moving forward, with a 67 per cent net positive rating among sheepmeat producers across Australia.

The survey also showed saleyards continue to be the dominant sales channel for producers, further highlighting the importance of saleyards for the industry. Fifty-eight per cent of survey participants said saleyard auctions were the main channel used, with over-the-hooks sales coming in at 23 per cent for the second most-used channel.

New South Wales had the strongest saleyard usage at 73 per cent of producers using this channel for sheep and lamb sales.

The full survey results can be viewed here:https://bit.ly/3Bx3SkF