More yellow wool in summer
The increasing yellowness of wool through the summer months is illustrated in graphs just released by the Wool Board. The board analjfeed colour measurements from hundreds of lots sold at the Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill auctions last season. The graph is based on full fleece crossbed wools.
The “wool yellow index” is the Y minus Z measurement.
With increasing yellowness, there has been a parallel decline in brightness.
The same pattern is developing this season, although Canterbury wools have been exceptionally bright in the spring. The board also studied the influence of colour on price, using measured wools from all New Zealand centres. It found that an increase of one unit of yellowness in crossbred
fleece lowered the price on average by 4 cents a kg clean. For crossbred pieces, it was lowered an average 8 cents clean.
In the South Island centres illustrated, there was an increase of three units of yellowness between November and April.
“We will continue to graph these changes and I am sure the pattern will become completely predictable,” said the board’s national wool production manager, .Mr Lance Wiggins.
“The graph is based on the sales, so the shearing dates would be about three weeks earlier.
“Woolgrowers will come to see the value of harvesting their wool for the best colour. “As far as fibre diameter goes, we know there is nothing in it between 33 microns and 37 microns.
“The optimum length is about 4 inches (10 cms); there is little premium beyond that. “Colour depends mainly on the frequency and timing of shearing. Generally, the earlier in the season the better.”
A study of measured auction lots shows pieces that are little different in colour from fleece but selling at a discount of 60 cents and more, said Mr Wiggins. These wools should not have been skirted.
Dirty points on good fleece should be removed only if they fail to wash clean under the tap, he says. If the fleece is either very good or inferior, there should probably be no removal of the points.
“It is more important to take out the vegetable matter, cotted portions, brands and stains,” said Mr Wiggins.
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Press, 26 December 1986, Page 15
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365More yellow wool in summer Press, 26 December 1986, Page 15
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