SEASON NOT BEST FOR WOOL GROWTH

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 8

SEASON NOT BEST FOR WOOL GROWTH

CLIMATIC conditions ranging from drought last autumn to an abundance of feed in the late spring and summer do not seem to have been favourable for wool growth, judging by the standard of wool forward for the fourth Christchurch sale which will be held in the Repertory Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday.

There are fewer top lines than usual for this sale. Colour is fairly widespread in the clip, which is of course not surprising. following the trend of the weather over the last few months, and there seems to be a much higher proportion of cotted wool than is usually seen at this time of the year. Nevertheless the spokesman for one wool selling firm said that the wool had really opened up surprisingly well considering the season and could, on average, be described as being of good average style. The offering next week will total 53.283 bales, compared with 61.286 for the three-day sale held last February. This year the sale will again be a two-day affair with 27,246 bales being offered on Wednesday and 26.037 bales on Friday. The entry is now almost all from main shearing and is mainly of ewe fleece with an odd wether clip. It is drawn from the plains And foothills cf Canterbury, from the hagh country. Marlborough and Nelson, and the West Coast, and there is a small entry from the Chathams.

The high country wools have opened up relatively better than the' wool off the lower country and there are one or two choice clips amongst them. It is. however, noticeable that the flow of Merino

wool is falling off as on suitable country the trend to the halfbred goes on unabated There are comparatively few super lots among the halfbred and Corriedale style wools. In the main they are of average to good length and style with some colour and even a little dust and seed in them. Sheep in North Canterbury are reported to be clipping a lighter fleece this season and with this has gone some falling off in stylishness. At this sale there is provision for about 1000 bales of lambs’ wool to be offered. Lambs have enjoyed a favourable season from a feed point of view and in most cases this wool is fairly well grown, of good length and fairly bright, but according to one firm there is still plenty of room for improvement in preparation of this wool. Some growers' lines do not seem to have been picked over. The season has not been a good one for oddments and there is more dry yolk stain and colour than usual and they are carrying more condition. In one respect, however, the rains have helped. They have tended to clean some, of the wool and yields are reported to be good as a result Drier conditions recently on the West Coast have allowed shearing to reach a more advanced stage, so that more wool, including second shear, is to hand from this district than usual. Details of the offering are:— Wednesday: Dalgety and Company. 13.301 bales: New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Ltd., 5177 bales; New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association Ltd., 8768 bales; total, 27,246 bales. Friday: National Mortgage and Agency 'Co. Ltd. and H. Matson and Company. 12.123 bales: Pyne, Gould. Guinness Ltd., 13,914 bales; total, 26,037.