Hopes and doubts over value on wool characteristics

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 16

Hopes and doubts over value on wool characteristics

It would be very nice for stud sheep breeders and farmers if it was possible to put figures on the importance of wool qualities like colour and bulk — figures related to price in the market place. They would then be able to do something about producing wool that the processor and manufacturer evidently want.

At a seminar held in Christchurch last week on the measurement and marketing of crossbred wool some hopes were expressed that progress might, in the not far distant future, be made in obtaining this sort of information, but on the other hand there were also some reservations about the practicability of obtaining it, in particularly a dynamic industry. Dr G. A. Wickham, from Massey University, told the seminar that there was a need for a clear price indica-. tion of the value of the various characteristics of wool, not only for the present time but for the future too. It was because of the lack of this sort of price indication that in selection in sheep breeding farmers had been placing lower and lower importance on wool quality aspects. In contrast, the extra profit that would be-obtained

if a ewe reared two lambs rather than one was readily apparent. Most recent analyses suggested that for the breeder who wished to maximise profits selection aimed at improving the number of twins reared should receive the greatest attention. It was the overwhelming factor involved in determining the profitability of sheep farming.

The use of a considerable proportion of the selection potential in improving twinning rate, however, placed a major limitation bn the ability of the sheep breeder to also select for wool traits. Selection aimed at increasing fleece weight seemed likely to have a greater impact on the sheep farmer’s, profits than selection for any other wool characteristics, but it appeared as though it was only about half as important as selecting for higher fertility.

The best way to select for fleece weight appeared to be by selection on the greasy w'eight of the fleece at hogget shearing. This was a relatively simple operation if the sheep were individually

identified, as in ram breeding flocks, provided extra labour was available to record the fleece weights. These records could then be referred to later at selection time.

A commercial farmer could also select or cull on fleece weights, but it could be a more difficult operation for him so that he might have to rely on progress in the stud flocks.

In recent times, he said that there had been very little influence of fineness on the price of the wools that they were talking about — or little or no premium for fineness — and so some farmershad tried to select.for coarser quality to achieve greater fleece weight and some improvement could be obtained, but it was not particularly efficient — it was only a third as effective as selecting for fleece weight itself.

Dr M. L. Bigham, of the Ministry of Agriculture's Whatawhata hill country research station, also agreed that the major factor influencing returns to the producer from sale of wool was

the total weight of wool which left the farm gate. In his paper he gave the seminar some rough estimates of the influence of wool traits on price, but he said that these were of minor importance compared with the price received per kilogram of wool sold. Over the range of fibre diameter from 32 to 38 microns he said that price was not affected, but a slight premium was paid for wools coarser than 38 microns. For staple length an extra 4c per kg was paid for every Icm increase in length.

Tender and cotted wools were being discounted by about 5 and 10 per cent respectively, and a differential of about 3c per kg existed between style grades, although this was somewhat variable.

Dr D. A. Ross, of the Wool Research Organisation, who was presiding over this session of the seminar, said he believed that with the introduction of wool measurement (now an integral part of the system of selling wool by sample) scientists would be able to put a definite

value on characteristics of wool. Then it would be possible for wool production scientists to make progress in the breeding of wool for particular end uses. Later he suggested that the computer would help in this process.

Dr Wickham said that a clear picture of what processors wanted in wool was not being given at present through prices and there needed to be more efficient systems of bridging that gap. But some of those attending the seminar had reservations about the practicability of this flow of information materialising. Reactions from thd‘ floor included the observations that processing needs and requirements changed over time, the trade was concerned with short term factors and the farmer should perhaps grow the sort of product that could best be produced on his country. Mr W. R. Regnault, of Massey University, said that the idea of having a flow of information down the chain was a very good one, “but I think it is perhaps too much to hope for.’’