Feral pigs are wreaking havoc on sheep farms in Central West New South Wales, leading to alarming lamb survival rates. Neville Mattick, whose family has been breeding sheep in the region for 140 years, reports that fewer than 1 in 100 lambs have survived this season. This marks a drastic decline from over 100% survival in 2021, which included twins, to just 10% in 2024 and now under 1% this year.

Mr. Mattick attributes the decline to feral pigs adapting to a carnivorous diet. "They have learned to look for available protein in the environment," he said. He noted that on some days, 18 to 20 lambs were present in the paddocks, but their numbers dwindled as feral pigs invaded overnight.

A 2020 report from the National Feral Pig Management estimated that Australia could have as many as 23.5 million feral pigs, surpassing the human population. Dr. Heather Channon, the National Feral Pig Management coordinator, stated that the estimated annual cost to Australian agriculture is around $150 million, a figure she considers conservative. "We really have no way of quantifying all of the environmental impacts that feral pigs cause. It's immense, it is never-ending," she said.

Feral pigs are described as "intelligent" and "opportunistic" by Dr. Channon. They require a diet with at least 15% crude protein for optimal breeding, prompting them to seek out protein sources, including lambs. She explained that predation rates can vary and that piglets often learn predatory behavior from their mothers. "Often feral pigs, when they're predating, will consume the whole carcass so they may not leave any sign that they've been there except the lamb has gone," she said.

Mr. Mattick faces challenges in controlling the feral pig population, as the pigs have become trap-shy. He finds ground shooting disruptive to his ewes. "[Ground] shooting is too difficult, it just disrupts the ewes too much and seems to scatter them," he said.

Feral pigs reproduce quickly, with one sow capable of having up to 12 piglets per litter and two litters every 12 to 15 months. Dr. Channon emphasized the need for a significant reduction in pig populations to maintain stability. "You need to get at least 70% annual reduction in the number of pigs out there, just to keep populations stable," she said. She advocates for a combination of baiting, aerial shooting, trapping, and ground shooting to manage the population effectively.

Facing these challenges, Mr. Mattick is considering a shift in his farming operations. "We were hoping to continue in sheep, because they're a very viable animal," he said. However, he is now looking into raising cattle and exploring income opportunities through biodiversity programs and renewable energy projects. "I don't want to be the generation which fails," he stated. "It is about looking at those alternatives when one stalwart of the industry sector fades out for us and becomes unavailable, we have to diversify in another direction."