Sheep Producers Australia endorsed in 2018 a change in the industry definition of lamb to be the same as the New Zealand definition, based on a formal, industry-wide call for feedback.

 

The new definition, as outlined in the New Zealand Lamb and Mutton Carcass Classification, is ‘young sheep under 12 months of age or which do not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear’. The decision was based on the majority of feedback provided during a nine-week public consultation phase in which 83% of respondents to an industry survey supported the change. All responses were collated by an independent service provider into a summary document.

 

In addition, Sheep Producers Australia addressed any concerns raised through the consultation in a separate policy paper.