Coronavirus has forced the postponement of LambEx, Australia's premier sheep and lamb conference on July 1-3.
Organisers are now planning to hold the event in Melbourne from June 30 to July 2 next year.
Conference chair Georgina Gubbins said while it was disappointing for everybody involved, the decision had been made in the best interests of protecting delegates' health and our whole industry.
"Due to the current circumstances, LambEx organisers have made the decision because we have a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of all involved," she said.
"We want to ensure that when sponsors, exhibitors and delegates come to LambEx, they can book with confidence knowing that everything will proceed as scheduled and the current environment is too uncertain."
LambEx organisers are now working with the Melbourne Showgrounds to lock-in arrangements for 2021 to secure spaces to host 1100 delegates and 10,000 square metres for exhibition and networking.
"Since 2010, LambEx has grown to become a much-anticipated event and a highlight in the industry calendar. Now that industry will wait another year to attend, we're anticipating delegates will flock from all over Australia, New Zealand and internationally to make LambEx 2021 the biggest event in LambEx history," she said.
"We are viewing this as an opportunity to build on the 15 months of planning the Committee has invested to date to provide the industry with an even bigger and better event than we had originally planned."