NEW ZEALAND WOOL CLIP

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND WOOL CLIP

TWO SEASONS ANALYSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT The suggestion that the most substantial improvement in the returns of New Zealand woolgrowers would come from better feeding to raise the average grade of wool is contained in an analysis of the greasy wool production of New Zealand in the seasons 1943-44 and 1944-45, made by A. E. Henderson and P. R. McMahon, of the Wool Metrology Laboratory at Lincoln College. The paper relating to the first or these two seasons, which has been in strong demand throughout the wool trade where it is very highly regarded, has now been published in the Journal of Science and Technology. Under the war-time commandeer, New Zealand wool was broken down into 983 different types and bought at prices according to the standardised type into which it fell. The authors observe that this gave a unique opportunity of obtaining reasonably complete information on class, quality, grade, yield and price of the whole of a clip. _ The most significant differences between the two years were the results of- a better growing year in 1944-45 than in the year before. This gave a total clip nearly 11 per cent, heavier, though the number of eheep and lambs shorn increased by less than 2 per cent Othef* changes, attributable to the same cause, were that the wool was slightly coarser, and of slightly better grade in the second season. “The dependence of the New Zealand wool producer on pasture for his stock and the almost complete absence Of concentrate feeding of commercial flocks, allows season, or rather conditions for plant growth, to become the greatest single factor in causing changes in wool production.” the authors remark. “The most striking effect of any change in nutritional conditions is on quantity of wool.” The clips are divided into 31 classes under trade descriptions, and the analysis of this aspect shows that remarkably little speciality wool is produced in a country which is among the foremost wool exporters of the world. The only two classes normally regarded as specialities in New Zealand are warp Merinos, and paper felts. Of the total Merino production of 10,094 bales in the 1943-44 clip of 795,153 bales, only 373 bales, or 0.07 per cent, of the total clip, was classed as warp Merinos. Paper felts totalled 8750 bales, or 1.60 per cent, of the total clip, so that the two specialities between them accounted for less than 2 per cent, of New Zealand production. “These two types can be regarded as high grade wool in all respects,” the authors say. “The small amount of speciality wool appraised underlines the secondary place of wool in New Zealand sheep farming.” Nearly 48 per cent, of the total clip, or 380,000 bales, was classed as carding, a moderate grade only. The 1943-44 clip, which was closely typical of both except in size, included 464.527 bales of fleece wool, excluding cotts, hogget and black wool. Of this number, 24 bales were 70s count, and at the other end of the scale, 256 were 36’8. About 6? per ceuit. of the total fleece, or 311,586 bales were 48’s or 50’s. The next most important count. 56’s, accounted for 39,219 bales, or 8.44 per cent, of the total. Merinos, quarterbreds, and extra fine halfbreds of 60’s counts or finer, totalled only about 2 per cent, of the total fleece production. Almost 90 per cent, of New Zealand fleece production lies between 46’s and 56’s. Of the total greasy clip 76.9 per cent, was 50’s or below.

Uotted Fleece Cotted fleeces totalled 39,100 bales, or a little ever 7 per cent, of the total fleece. Less than 10 per »cent. of cotting occurred in wools of more than 50’s counts. The evidence showed cotting occurred especially where the plane of nuirition Was low. “On such environments coarse fleeces do not produce sufficient extra weight to comSensate for their lower price per lb, le authors state, “and if is clear tha. cotting represents a maladjustment of wool type to environment. If the environment cannot be improved to a standard which will maintain profitably the coarser types, these latter should be eliminated. It is evident that cutting constitutes a considerable economic loss to New Zealand.” The standard classification included seven style grades, ranging from super, AA, down to inferior, E. Of the fleece wool, over 60 per cent, fell within the fourth grade. Good to average, B, of which the official description is, “Good topmaking, fair to good colour, skirted, may contain odd cott and/or very slight seed.” Nineteen per cent, fell into the grade higher, 88. and nearly 18 per cent, into the grade lower, C. Almost 80 per cent, of the •total fleece, excluding cotts, double fleece and the small amount of Southdown, wag B grade or lower “B grade wools are usually graded down because they lack character,” the authors state. “B grade lines, too, are frequently slightly discoloured, and nearly always tenderness, or a definite break, is evident. Wasty tip, due to weathering or to teasing by scrub or crops, is responsible for lowering the grading of some wools. “It seems clear that increased returns would be secured most efficiently by providing better environmental conditions for wool production, and adjusting wool type to environment where changes in feed supply are not possible, or perhaps economic. Good grazing management, leading to a uniform level of nutrition throughout the year, is the first objective, and this must be considered in relation to the special requirements of ewes during the winter. Poor provision for this critical period is responsible for the majority of the breaks and the associated lower character grading. If the sheep can be kept even slightly above the level of nutrition required for maintenance of itself and its lamb, fleece weight as well as fleece character will benefit substantially. “Late shearing is responsible for a substantial amount of wool falling into a lower grade than it would otherwise merit. Breaks ,and the interruptions to normal growth which show as poor character, are almost invariably associated with the winter period and with lambing. If shearing is left until late December or January, the cheek shows in the middle of the staple with good, well-grown wool both above and below. If shearing can take place as soon as possible after wool growth starts to come away in the spring, the well-grown portion of the staple is all I in one piece and the check is much less evident, and less important to the manufacturer.”

Discussing the preparation and classing of the New Zealand clip, the authors conclude that the analysis does not show any serious fault. This is in accord with the general opinion that most New Zealand woo] clips are reasonably well prepared, and only in odd cases is a poorly prepared clip put on the market.