Sheep Producers Australia
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersForrest, ACT, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sheep Producers Australia does
Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) is the designated national peak body for Australia's approximately 20,000 sheepmeat producers, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Forrest, ACT. Operating as a non-profit membership organisation with around 19 staff, SPA coordinates collective industry advocacy on policy, market access, research and development priorities, traceability, sustainability, and producer welfare. It is funded primarily through producer levies and membership contributions, supplemented by Australian Government co-investment in specific programs.
SPA's core offerings include the Sheep Sustainability Framework (the world's first such framework for the sector, co-developed with WoolProducers Australia in April 2021), the Green Sheep Project (a three-year national sustainability and natural capital initiative launched in May 2024 with four regional delivery partners), The Future Flock (a national strategic plan launched September 2025), the Mob Mate electronic identification (eID) tag ordering platform (delivered in partnership with Leader Products), and LambEx (the biennial industry conference and wholly owned SPA subsidiary attracting over 1,400 attendees). The organisation engages members through regional field days, workshops, policy forums, digital channels, and international programs such as the Global Sheep Producers Forum.
Sheep Producers Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sheep Producers Australia
- Legal name
- Sheep Producers Australia
- Website
- https://sheepproducers.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sheep Producers Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Industry Advocacy
- NAICS
- Sheep Farming (112410), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124)
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sheep Farming (Wool & Meat) (AFAEAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Organic/Regenerative Sheep & Goat Production (AFAEAFAI)
Keywords
Where Sheep Producers Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Forrest, ACT
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sheep Producers Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Industry Levies and Membership: Sheep Producers Australia operates as a national peak industry body funded primarily through industry levies collected from sheepmeat producers and membership contributions. SPA monitors investment of producer levies, advocates on behalf of producers, engages with members, and consults with industry stakeholders to share information and solutions. The organization represents Australia's sheepmeat producers in national policy discussions, research priorities, and market access advocacy.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Sheep Producers Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sheep Producers Australia is the national peak industry body representing Australia's 20,000 sheepmeat producers. The organization advocates on behalf of producers with government and industry stakeholders, monitors investment of producer levies, engages with members, and consults with industry stakeholders. SPA delivers industry-wide programs including the Sheep Sustainability Framework, the Green Sheep Project, The Future Flock national strategy, the LambEx biennial conference, and the Mob Mate eID tag ordering platform.
Product overview
Sheep Producers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia's 20,000 sheepmeat producers. The organization operates as a membership-based industry advocacy body rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include Mob Mate (an eID tag ordering platform developed in partnership with Leader Products), The Future Flock (national strategic planning initiative), the Green Sheep Project (sustainability and natural capital program), the Sheep Sustainability Framework (industry measurement and reporting standard), LambEx (biennial industry conference), and the Global Sheep Producers Forum (international collaboration program). These programs collectively support sheep producers through advocacy, research coordination, sustainability measurement, traceability support, and industry networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mob Mate: Electronic identification tag ordering platform for sheep producers
- Sheep Sustainability Framework
- The Future Flock
- Green Sheep Project
Products and services
- Mob Mate An eID tag ordering platform for sheep producers, integrated with Leader Products to enable electronic identification tag purchases with a free applicator offered with first purchases and a streamlined registration process.
- The Future Flock A national industry-led strategic plan designed to guide the Australian sheepmeat and wool sector through change and set a profitable, resilient direction for decades to come, uniting national and state priorities with state-specific pathways.
- Green Sheep Project A three-year national sustainability initiative designed to build capability and confidence across the Australian sheep industry, equipping producers with practical tools and knowledge to respond to a changing climate and evolving market expectations, including natural capital management and measurement.
- Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF) The world's first Australian sheep sustainability framework that demonstrates sustainable practices, identifies areas for improvement, and enables better communication with customers and consumers; contains 21 priorities across four pillars: Caring for our Sheep, Enhancing the Environment and Climate, Looking after our People, our Customers and the Community, and Ensuring a Financially Resilient Industry.
- LambEx Conference The world's largest and most influential sheep industry conference, held biennially in Australia; a wholly owned subsidiary of SPA that unites the entire supply chain to explore latest developments and innovations, attracting over 1,400 attendees.
- Global Sheep Producers Forum A collaborative international initiative aimed at fostering sustainable practices in the global sheep industry, bringing together young sheep farmers from New Zealand, USA, UK, Australia, and Canada for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
- National Traceability Resources Resources and support for sheep producers regarding national traceability systems, including electronic identification (eID) implementation and compliance requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Green Sheep Project is a 3-year national project building sustainability and natural capital measurement capability across Australian sheep producers, with regional delivery partners in Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and NSW.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sheep Producers Australia
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sheep Producers Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sheep Producers Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- FarmSafe AustraliaminorSPA became a member of FarmSafe Australia, the national peak body dedicated to improving work health and safety across Australian agriculture. The membership supports SPA to promote practical wellbeing and productivity in the sheepmeat industry through enhanced health practices and safety awareness, including mental health support for farmers.
- NRM South (Tasmania)coreNRM South in Tasmania is one of four regional delivery partners for the Green Sheep Project. As the first launch site for the project nationally, NRM South helped design and implement regionally relevant projects for Tasmanian landscapes, sheep production systems, and local communities. Tasmanian demonstration sites include Kelvedon Estate and Dungrove.
- Wheatbelt NRM (Western Australia)coreWheatbelt NRM is a regional delivery partner for the Green Sheep Project in Western Australia. The organization designs and implements projects relevant to the Wheatbelt landscape, sheep production systems, and local WA sheep communities. WA has been particularly affected by the live export phase-out and faces unique industry challenges.
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA (Victoria)coreGlenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority in Victoria is a regional delivery partner for the Green Sheep Project. The organization engaged with producers at the Sheepvention Rural Expo in Hamilton, Victoria, discussing the Green Sheep Project and gathering producer feedback on natural capital management needs.
- Holbrook Landcare Network (New South Wales)coreHolbrook Landcare Network in NSW is a regional delivery partner for the Green Sheep Project. The network designs and implements regionally relevant projects for the Holbrook area, supporting sheep producers with practical sustainability and natural capital tools and knowledge.
- Gundagai Meat ProcessorsminorSPA supported Gundagai Meat Processors' successful application to the NSW Government's Livestock and Animal Traceability Development Grant program. The project turns electronic identification (eID) data into individual carcase feedback for producers, linking carcase performance back to individual animals through hook tracking and the MEQ Probe system.
- WoolProducers AustraliacoreSPA and WoolProducers Australia jointly initiated and lead the Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF), the world's first sheep sustainability framework. The two organizations share leadership of the framework, with the SSF Steering Group comprising nine people from across the Australian sheep industry supply chain. They also jointly released the SSF in April 2021.
- Australian Wool InnovationcoreAustralian Wool Innovation (AWI) provides funding and strategic support to the Sheep Sustainability Framework, along with Meat & Livestock Australia. AWI is the research and development corporation for the Australian wool industry and contributes to sustainability initiatives that span both wool and sheepmeat production.
- Meat & Livestock AustraliacoreMeat & Livestock Australia (MLA) provides funding, strategic support, and secretariat services for the Sheep Sustainability Framework. SPA participates in MLA's Red Meat Advisory Panel, helping shape national research, development, and adoption priorities for the red meat industry including sheep. SPA also partners with MLA on initiatives including the Green Sheep Project and The Future Flock.
- Global Sheep Producers ForumcoreThe Global Sheep Producers Forum (GSPF) is a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering sustainable practices in the global sheep industry. SPA is a member of the GSPF and participates in the Next Generation program, which brings together young sheep producers from Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, and Canada. SPA hosted the 2026 GSPF Next Generation delegates in Australia ahead of LambEx 2026 in Adelaide.
- ColesminorColes is a partner in the Coles Trailblazers networking event, which was co-hosted with the Global Sheep Producers Forum Next Generation program at LambEx. This partnership supports engagement between young producers and major supply chain/retail stakeholders.
- Australian National University (ANU)minorSPA partners annually with ANU to provide students with opportunities to undertake research on issues important to the Australian sheep industry. The internship program benefits the industry by developing the next generation of agricultural professionals while generating fresh analysis on emerging issues. Recent projects have covered sheep feedlotting and energy use on sheep farms.
- Australian Meat Industry CouncilcoreAMIC is the sole peak industry body representing the Australian meat industry (processors, smallgoods manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, independent retail butchers, and exporters). SPA works collaboratively with AMIC and MLA to represent Australian interests in trade matters, including responding to the US safeguard investigation under Section 201 of the US Trade Act of 1974.
- NSW Farmers' AssociationcoreNSW Farmers' Association is a State Farming Organisation (SFO) member of SPA. Dougal Gordon, the new SPA Policy Council Chair, previously held senior executive roles with NSW Farmers' Association and was most recently Group Director for Livestock at NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
- The Midfield Group Kuleah FarmminorThe Midfield Group Kuleah Farm at Woolsthorpe participated in the Green Sheep Project launch action, serving as a demonstration site connecting sheep producers and the broader supply chain with sustainability and natural capital concepts on-farm.
- Woomargama StationminorWoomargama Station in NSW participated in the Green Sheep Project launch action, connecting sheep producers and the broader supply chain with what sustainability and natural capital can look like on-farm.
- Beef + Lamb New ZealandcoreSPA CEO Bonnie Skinner engaged with New Zealand producers at Beef+Lamb New Zealand's 'Out the Gate 2026' event, showcasing Australia's sheep industry. The two industries maintain friendly cross-Tasman rivalry while collaborating on shared challenges through the Global Sheep Producers Forum. NZ and Australian sheep industries compete and admire each other's work.
- Australian GovernmentcoreThe Australian Government, through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust, provides funding support for the Green Sheep Project. The Government also co-invests with SPA in The Future Flock national strategy and provided $2m in support for LambEx 2026 and 2028 through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sheep Producers Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Australian Wool Innovation (AWI): Research, development and marketing corporation for the Australian wool industry. AWI co-funds the SSF alongside MLA and shares overlap with SPA on wool-industry sustainability and producer engagement.
- National Farmers' Federation (Australia): Peak national body representing all Australian agricultural industries. Operates one tier above species-specific bodies like SPA, providing cross-sector advocacy that overlaps with SPA's broader policy work but at lower specificity to sheepmeat producers.
- Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA): Red meat industry's R&D and marketing corporation that funds and provides secretariat services for several SPA-led programs (SSF, Green Sheep Project). Closely intertwined with SPA operationally and a key counterpart on levy investment oversight.
Direct peers
- WoolProducers Australia: National peak industry body for Australian wool producers. Direct peer and joint partner to SPA on the Sheep Sustainability Framework, sharing representation of the broader Australian sheep industry value chain (wool + meat).
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand: Farmer-owned industry body representing New Zealand sheep and beef producers. SPA and B+LNZ collaborate through the Global Sheep Producers Forum and engage across shared trade and sustainability issues, making it the closest international peer to SPA.
- National Sheep Association (UK): UK membership organisation representing sheep producers. Comparable peak-body role for a national sheep industry and a fellow Global Sheep Producers Forum participant, making it a direct international counterpart to SPA.
- Cattle Council of Australia: National peak body for Australian beef cattle producers. Closely comparable in role, structure and government engagement model to SPA, with the same advocacy, levy oversight and policy representation mandate across a different livestock species.
- Canadian Sheep Federation: National federation representing Canadian sheep producers. Similar peak-body mandate on advocacy, sustainability and producer development, and a participant in the Global Sheep Producers Forum alongside SPA.
- American Sheep Industry Association: National trade association representing the US sheep industry. Closest US counterpart to SPA in mandate (industry representation, policy advocacy, sustainability work) and a co-participant in the Global Sheep Producers Forum.
Regional players
- Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC): Australian red-meat sector advisory council on which SPA holds representation via the Red Meat Advisory Panel. Operates one organisational layer above species peak bodies and is structurally adjacent to SPA's policy coordination role.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sheep Producers Australia social profiles
Digital presenceSheep Producers Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sheep Producers Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Sheep Producers Australia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sheep Producers Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sheep Producers Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sheep Producers Australia
What does Sheep Producers Australia do?
Sheep Producers Australia is the national peak industry body representing Australia's 20,000 sheepmeat producers. The organization advocates on behalf of producers with government and industry stakeholders, monitors investment of producer levies, engages with members, and consults with industry stakeholders. SPA delivers industry-wide programs including the Sheep Sustainability Framework, the Green Sheep Project, The Future Flock national strategy, the LambEx biennial conference, and the Mob Mate eID tag ordering platform.
Is Sheep Producers Australia a public or private company?
Sheep Producers Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sheep Producers Australia founded?
Sheep Producers Australia was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sheep Producers Australia based?
Sheep Producers Australia is headquartered in Forrest, ACT, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Sheep Producers Australia make money?
One revenue line is on record: industry Levies and Membership.
Who are Sheep Producers Australia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), National Farmers' Federation (Australia) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Direct peers are WoolProducers Australia, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, National Sheep Association (UK), Cattle Council of Australia, Canadian Sheep Federation and American Sheep Industry Association. Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Sheep Producers Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sheep Producers Australia.
What industry is Sheep Producers Australia in?
Sheep Producers Australia's product category is Agricultural Industry Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAFAA, Sheep Farming (Wool & Meat), with a secondary code of AFAEAFAI, Organic/Regenerative Sheep & Goat Production. Its NAICS code is 112410 and its SIC code is 200.