New measure of wool quality developed

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 14

New measure of wool quality developed

NZPA-AAPqSydney New measurements of wool quality introduced in New South Wales sales this year, should help Australian wool retain its competitiveness in the international textile trade, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture. The department is starting a campaign to help the state’s woolgrowers understand and use the new measurements, developed by the Australian Wool Corporation, (A.W.C.) and the C.5.1.R.0.

New South Wales is Australia’s main wool producing state with an annual clip worth on average about sAustsso million.

The Director-General of Agriculture, Mr George Knowles, said the new measurements represented the first significant breakthrough in objective wool descriptions since 1972, when the industry began considering fibre diametre, yield, and vegetable matter content.

Now, measured staple length, staple strength, and position of break will be considered.

Trials involving 14 woollen mills in Australia and overseas, indicated that these new measurements correlated closely with processing performance, he said.

Woolgrowers should submit their fleeces for objective, independent testing before sale and this information was then passed on to buyers. Buyers could be given an accurate description before buying to reduce risk and provide a more predictable product, Mr Knowles said. The measurements would also allow woolgrowers to identify problems with their wool quality and department officials would be available to suggest management changes which might overcome them. The A.W.C. and wool brokers’ associations will co-operate in the campaign, while other organisations involved include the New South Wales Livestock and Grain Producers’ Association, the Department of Technical and Further Education, and the New South Wales Wool Industry Training Committee.