Sitting at a table with five other sheep farmers at the Coonamble Show on 15 May, Warren's Andrew McGrath dismisses the Federal Government's plan to end live sheep exports by May 2028.

"I think it's ridiculous," Andrew said. "I think it's just to keep people in the city happy and get a few votes.

"If Australia doesn't do it, then someone else will. There's obviously a market for it. There'd be other countries that'd take up the slack, which don't have the animal welfare standards that we do."

Minister for Agriculture, Murray Watt said the government made the decision to protect Australian sheep and that live sheep exports have been in decline over the last 20 years.

Mr Watt also announced $107 million to smooth the 4-year transition from live exports, which includes increasing domestic demand for sheep products.

“The community expects Australia to have the world’s best animal welfare practices,” Mr Watt said in a 11 May media release.

“I understand that some in the community will want to see the trade stopped tomorrow, and others not at all.

“This approach strikes the right balance, based on extensive industry and community consultation - including a detailed report from the independent panel, which we are releasing today.

"While live sheep exports have shrunk by $338 million over the past 20 years, our sheepmeat exports have grown by over 300% over that same period, with exports to the North Africa and Middle East region more than tripling in value over this period."

Gulargambone sheep farmer Paul Fisher is concerned the ban will redirect Western Australian sheep in the NSW market. PHOTO: River McCrossen

Andrew, like the other farmers around the table, is not involved in live export.

However, Paul Fisher from the village of Gulargambone, near Coonamble, says he expects the ban will still impact local sheep producers.

"There'll be more of the Western Australian sheep coming to the eastern states. It'll affect our market," Paul said.

"It's a compounding affect. We don't actually live export ourselves, but it's going to be detrimental."

Agriculture industry bodies walked out of the Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast on 15 May when Minister Watt addressed the event, including the National Farmers Federation.

“We turned our back to the Minister just like he turned his back on farmers,” NFF President David Jochinke said.

“The walkout represents what this government did to agriculture when it pursued this ideological agenda, disregarding the real-world implications this ban will have on farmers, communities, our trading relationships and animal welfare outcomes.

“It appears this Government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers. Perhaps if we start behaving like activists it might listen to us.

“Overseas farmers are taking to the streets to rebel against governments who won’t listen. We don’t want that here, but is that what our leaders want?

“We are putting this government on notice. We are only just getting warmed up. There’s plenty of fight in farmers.”