AU Wool Fiber Strength Alert
July 15, 2005
July 15, 2005 -- Guyra Argus in Australia, reported that all Merino wool producers should check the wool on their sheep to establish if the past two weeks of rain has created a tender break in the wool. Fine-wool producers with clips of around 18 microns need to pay special attention, as the discounts for tender wool of that micron and finer are substantial.
Over the past two weeks of rain, sheep have been cold and wet. Usually when this occurs, they tend to not eat as much, which is one of the main triggers for the wool break to occur.
To find out if there is a break starting, producers will need to yard the sheep to closely examine the wool on a number of them. If small bundles of wool, like half or a quarter of a staple release from the skin with gentle pulling, then there is likely to be the start of a break.
Once there is a wool break, there is very little to do about it through flock management or wool marketing. Like most management issues, it is better to prevent the break through adequate management rather than having to react to it.
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