Expanding on your statement from a business sense:
1. Raw material production (ie dogs bred) is down, and costs are up.
2. Stock (ie racing dogs) is declining.
3. Labour costs (ie at regulator level, not clubs, has substantially increased - in Vic)
4. The regulators control infrastructure, and are addressing this - in different ways.
5. The regulators control pricing, and have fixed overall returns to participants.
6. The cost impact of changes imposed by regulators is weighted against the small scale participant.

Causes
1. a) Actions by regulator to restrict supply (New regulations implemented without an understanding of the impacts. Noting recent turnaround in direction from regulator - now encouraging breeding).
1. b) Reduced demand (industry uncertainties affecting financial viability of industry involvement as owner or trainer)

2. a) Reduced stock now arising from lag effects of decisions affecting supply. (Implications of regulator decisions on breeding and training now hitting the market).
2. b) Reduced demand (industry uncertainties affecting financial viability of industry involvement as owner or trainer)

3. a) Regulation increasing without underlying industry development. (New initiatives include development of industry skills via training, but otherwise scarce. Grading issues not addressed, prizemoney frozen, increased regulation increased participant costs, potential for significant compliance costs eg new regulatory rules proposed for Victoria.

4. Industry infrastructure was in need of upgrading, and is being covered by the regulator in different ways; track development in Victoria, possible track closures in NSW. Costs seemingly covered by industry fund utilisation and/or reduced returns to principal stakeholder (ie government) for development, but no economic viability impact assessment or guidelines for potential track closure.

5. The basis for fixing prizemoney in the context of of increased participation costs and industry uncertainty has not been justified by regulators. Adjusting the balance of prizemoney towards relative industry returns (eg wagering turnover by track) is an obvious consideration.

6. There are increased costs to participants, and potentially more significant costs to come. The weighting of the prizemoney/cost to participate ration has changed, such that the small-scale operator is being squeezed out.

It seems obvious that the industry model is flawed. There are also the anomalies that
- the regulators operate the industry and regulate the industry
- the regulators deny direct industry participant representation in governance (directly contrasts with normal business practice where industry knowledge is critical, subject to effective conflict of interest disciplines.

I am a small hobby participant, therefore, I don't know where you get the idea that I was never for the small hobby participant

With my band of 6-12 pups, broods and racers I can hardly be called anything but a hobbyist LOL

However, the industry does need to be able to survive to allow both hobby and professional breeders, owners and trainers to coexist together, not overregulate one group in preference to another

Also , there are people who want their involvement in the industry to go beyond a hobby and there should be scope for them to grow their involvement to a professional full time model that allows them to make a career out of the sport

Therefore, we need to remember that the professionals in our industry usually started as hobbyists with a passion for the sport in the first place

Once that is taken that away, the lifeblood and the soul of the sport will be removed

There no doubt in the next 2-3 years there will be a massive shortage of dogs. So if your lucky enough to have a couple of handy country dogs I'm sure you will win a few more than you would have in the past.

With the numbers dropping I know people that have been in the game all of there life and they are now breeding more then they ever have.
They see the shortage and a gap that needs to be filled.
Personally I've bought more pups since the NSW problem and I am breeding more litters (small scale) but also my personal rules have changed and I've become more stricter on what I buy, who I breed from and what I keep.

I think you have to be a lot smarter with what you breed with or the pups you buy these days.

Our breeding criteria has changed over the past 12 months We won't breed with anything unless won In town or proven broodie. Even picking stud dogs we won't use any unless proven.

For me good times a head for those who are breeding now for the future. We are hoping to have few pups hit the track in the next 12-18 months.

Totally agree.
The old saying.."one door closes, another one opens" rings true.
There will be a lot of opportunities for people with dogs in the future if you can look past the current negativity.
I'd imagine even if they were average dogs, the demand will open doors for these dogs that might not be there today.

Fortune favours the brave and the ones who dare will be rewarded.

I dont think it is all doom and gloom here in NSW as some of the doomsdayer's continually carry on about and would have you think.

Know-one likes change,particularly at such a rate as it has happened here in NSW, but we have to adapt and carry on.
Learn the new rules and abide by them..that's life and that's what's required by the authority here in NSW.

The new costs are killing me, but they wont break me, nor make me move on out of the industry.

I'm 60..trainers license since 1977 and a breeder the past 30 years here in NSW. I'm only a budget price breeder.It's been a killer for me cost wise lately. I'm not that well educated,but I have and am adapting to the new changes and regulations that are now part of racing, owning and breeding greyhounds here in NSW.

Yes it's hard, but we are still here!!

I have to say that I agree with the new breeding regulations, they wont kill us as breeders..3 litters till 8 yrs then permission to breed after that seems not that unfair to me,but may to the greedy bast##ds.

What I dont agree with is GRNSW and GRA upping the costs to us breeders and other participants that may possibly kill off the industry here in NSW.

Naming, litter registration costs, DNA kits, C3s and C5s the list goes on and I cant see what has changed to warrant such a ridiculous price hike. (Dont say GAP)

I will keep on breeding, the new rules will not break me and I dont have 2 bob to my name.

I recently bred this litter CLICK HERE

I intend to do this when she comes on very soon and have purchased the straw CLICK HERE

A couple of others I have in mind as well.

No champions! but they wont stop me doing what I love to do...Breed greyhounds!

I did the right thing and pulled my head in when they asked us to slow up a year or more ago with breeding.
I let my 3 girls miss and that has put me back about 3 to 4 years.

I wrote my letter to Mr Baird 2 years ago (before the ban) asking to help us,I wrote to him again during the ban and asked him to give us a go.

I marched proudly with my fellow New South Welshman from Hyde Park to Parliament house Sydney at 11am on 2nd August 2016.

I did my small bit to help..I have a right to voice my opinion here.

"All the winging about the inter code... Alliance and Scott etc is a totally different kettle of fish."

People coming on saying breeding is dead here in NSW doesn't help us at all IMO. I'm still breeding full steam ahead and I'm a nobody.

I think we have to adapt and get on with what we love doing..Breeding and racing dogs here in NSW.

Be brave and have ago.

Cheers.. Baz

Absolutely mate. Who dares will be rewarded

Ditto.

Darren Langley,
The tide will turn and the ones who dilly dallied will be the ones saying "I shoulda, I shoulda."
The dead wood in certain sections of the industry needs to be eliminated and replaced with professionals.
Once this happens the breeders will reap what they sowed.

You can't win lotto if you haven't got a ticket.

You can't win lotto if you haven't got a ticket.

Mick: I'd say the odds for both are about the same!

Yep, I'd agree with that, Terry.
There is only one thing that will change that...The Participants.

For anyone believing re homing will be the long term answer I beg to differ.To be sure there has been a terrific community response ,post the Industry's media focus, to adopting greyhounds underpinned by a lot of good work by the Industry/adoption agencies. However a time will come when greyhounds are not the "status pet to have" and another breed(s) will be in vogue. We are only a nation of 25 million people, unlike 165 USA citizens where a 100% adoption rate is claimed.

If you are thinking "blue skies" you need to find a way to 100% "financially" derisk ownership/post racing placement - if you can, good on you.However by the look of the actual breeding being undertaken ,most breeders can't and are responding prudently.

Whether this Industry will survive or falls on its sword is , in my opinion, solely dependent on this strategy.