RSPCA Australia commissioned respected economists, ACIL Tasman, to look at the farm-level adjustments that would be required if live sheep exports from Western Australia were phased out.

This report provides reliable information about the real value of live sheep exports.

The key findings include:

• The value of live sheep exports to farmers and the economy is very small compared to other rural commodities
• Now is the time to signal a phase out of live sheep exports because the industry is already undergoing major structural reform
• Farmers are already moving away from live sheep exports and into more profitable areas such as prime lamb and cropping
• On mixed farming businesses there are many uses for sheep and the transition for farmers from live sheep to sheep meat is relatively simple
• Phasing out live sheep exports won't affect the price of lamb or mutton in the long-term
• The farm-level adjustments required to phase out live sheep exports would not be extensive compared to changes already underway in the industry.

The RSPCA believes this Report will inform a proper debate about a phase out of live sheep exports from Australia.

Read more: http://www.rspca.org.au/how-you-can-help/campaigns/live-exports/acil-tasman-report.html.