The Farmers Weekly in the UK this month reported that negotiations between the Home Office and the National Association of Agricultural Contractors meant the changes would not affect foreign shearers for another year.

Under the recently updated rules, sheep shearing has been taken off the Home Office’s "shortage occupation list", but a transitional scheme will allow foreign shearers into the UK on a seasonal temporary basis this year.

The Farmers Weekly quoted NACC chief executive, Jill Hewitt, as saying the scheme meant the UK would not suffer a shortage of shearers this year and the association was working to ensure NZ and Australian shearers were able to work in the UK this spring.

National Sheep Association boss, Peter Morris, said the seasonal temporary scheme was a short-term fix.

He flagged the need for permanent changes and said shearers from Australia and NZ were essential to the UK sheep industry.

"If the government is happy to grant exemptions for the number of years that they have, they must recognise there needs to be a more permanent situation."

Foreign shearers shear about 20pc of the UK flock, but Victorian shearer, Ardy Hauraki, said the current Australian dollar-UK pound exchange rate would slow down the number of Australian shearers travelling to the UK.