Australia Philately: 1989 Sheep in Australia

Vast areas of grassland and a relatively mild climate over a large proportion of the country makes Australia well suited to the raising of sheep. Australian sheep will be depicted on a set of four stamps due for release by Australia Post on 27 February 1989. The stsamp issue date coincides with the opening of the World Sheep and Wool Congress being held in Tasmania between 27 February amd 6 March 1989.

Sheep are grazed in all states of Australia, particularly numerous where rainfall is moderate. There are approximately 80,000 individual wool growing properties in Australia with flocks ranging in size from a few hundred thousand or more. Until the late 1970s Australia had more sheep than any other nation in the world, and in the early 1980s the Australian sheep population numbered 137 million. New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria are the States which the largest shee populations.

Australia is the world’s largest exporter of wool and is an important producer of fine wools used in clothing. Sheep are also bred for meat and Australians are great consumers of lamb. The export market is also important, especially in recent years to Middle Eastern countries.

Selective breeding has produced several distinctively Australian sheep. Four of the best-known Australian breeds appear on the new stamps.