Rather, it’s the lack of support shown by the 15 Australian sheep industry organisations – including Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation - after he had been assured from the outset of congress discussions two years ago that all were on board.

The WSWC, set to run from April 6-9 was canned on Monday, with “lack of support” sighted in its press release for the event's first stumbling in its 21 year history.

Quandrant director Peter Lloyd, who had been assigned as congress manager working for the World Sheep and Wool Council said the event had received “less than 100 registrations".

Mr Lloyd said he was “flabbergasted” to know why the prestigious event had failed to attract the necessary numbers and denied its price tag was the cause.

“If you strip out social functions, the business sessions came to $690, Rural Press offered a $100 rebate, which brought the price down to $590 over three days - that’s likened to a couple of visits to an accountant,” he said.

Mr Lloyd said the abrupt cancellation had Quadrant out of pocket $100,000.

Liz Foster, chair of the World Sheep and Wool Council, said without at least 200 registrations the event was not practical.

“We didn’t have the numbers so we made the decision to draw a line and call it quits before we risked running into financial difficulties,” she said.

“We still have money in the bank and can refund delegates and site holders.”

The Federal and NSW Government had both contributed $250,000 to the congress.

Ms Foster said she understood Quadrant would be repaid and international delegates – understood to be around 30 – would have the opportunity to participate in a revised tour of Australian sheep regions.

“We are disappointed as it was our hope that when we got everyone together there would be a great discussion on moving the sheep industry forward,” she said.

“It is nobody's fault and nobody could have done more work than Quadrant.”

This would have been the ninth world congress.

Prior events attracted up to 1100 delgates inlucidng 1000 at the Mexican congress in 2007.

Ben Watts, Vice president of the World Council of Sheep Breeders, said it was “to early” to call where the congress would be moved to, if at all.

No world congress employer had received any fees.