SEASON’S WOOL CLIP

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 14

SEASON’S WOOL CLIP

MAXIMUM WEIGHT A SHEEP IMPROVING DENSITY AND LENGTH The past year has probably been unique in that an unusually high price of wool has coincided with maximum weight of clip per sheep. The latest estimate of production for the Dominion in 1936 is 316 J million pounds of greasy wool—an average of over 91b per sheep—and the high prices ruling for all crossbred wool has made this big yield doubly welcome. It would be comforting to think that this big wool production was due solely to the employment of better breeding and farming methods, but it is to be feared that such is not entirely the ' case, writes “H.8.T.” in The New Zealand Herald. In 1930 the 'total production of wool was approximately 273 million pounds. In the following year it fell by nearly two million pounds, but thereafter steadily increased until, in 1934, the clip totalled three hundred and a-half million pounds of greasy wool. Next year, however, we fell back—at 275 J million pounds—to only three million pounds better than five years earlier. Then this season’s wool production has gone up again with a bound and, with 316 J million pounds to our credit, we have topped the highest recorded figure by a good many million pounds. Cause of Increased Clip What is of chief interest to sheepmen is the reason, or combination of circumstances, which has been responsible for an extra production of over forty million pounds of wool in one season. Certainly there has been an increase of slightly over a million in the number of sheep carried through to shearing this season, but at most they could account for only a fourth of the increased wool clip. Obviously, also, a sudden improvement in the quality of their flocks, through breeding, must also be ruled out. Better breeding does not effect such spectacular improvement, though it is certain that the average clip is steadily, if slowly, improving. There remain only weather and feed conditions as likely to have affected the past year’s clip to such a considerable extent, and there is little question that both of these played a big part. During the whole 12 months the Dominion as a whole, had abundant rain and consequently suffered no shortage of feed. This alone, would reasonably account for a large part of the increased clip, for nothing encourages sound and heavy wool growth as does an abundance of feed at all seasons; hence the greatly increased wool clips that invariably follow intelligent topdressing to secure ■ continuous pasture growth. Disappointing Progress

Another factor which undoubtedly affected the weight of this year’s clip was the delay in shearing caused by shortage of shearers, and broken weather conditions. This involved a longer than normal period between the 1935 and 1936 shearings, with a consequent extra growth clipped, as well as an increase in ‘’condition,” or yolk, in the wool. Assuming that we revert to the usual shearing date next season, the coming clip will be lighter in proportion to the shorter season. Between them, the favourable season and delayed shearing are quite sufficient to account for the recorded increase this year of one pound per sheep over the average of the last seven years. When one takes into consideration the possibilities that exist, through better breeding and feeding, of vastly increasing the average weight of clip in New Zealand, our accomplishment to date cannot be viewed with any great pride. There is little difficulty, when well-bred, Longwool sheep are properly fed, in getting an average of from 13 to 14 pounds of wool from the breeding flock, and as much or more from the woolly hoggets and wethers. Had our attention and interest not been diverted from wool to fat lamb production, I believe that, with the aid of top-dressing, we would have reached and passed this average some years ago. However, it is not yet too late to mend pur ways and devote at least as much

thought to improving and increasing our wool clip as to turning off even more and better fat lambs. Main Factors Broadly and briefly, the factors which influence the weight and quality of the fleece are density and length of staple. Density exerts the bigger influence provided length is not unduly sacrificed. The extent to which the density of the fleece can be increased has been strikingly demonstrated with the Australian Merino, and though we cannot hope to rival this with our longwools (even if it were desirable), we can employ the same methods of selection to improve our clip. Dense wool permits of less penetration of air and moisture to the sheep’s fleece, and thus protects its lustre and strength. Into the bargain close-packed wool has greater capillarity, which means that the yolk or “grease” rises more freely through the wool to its tips and preserves its strength and lustre, besides preventing cotting. Dense wool, also, has invariably a shorter and more regular crimp, resulting from a finer and thinner skin, which is better protected from variations in atmospheric temperature. Thus, both in quality and weight, everything is to be gained by securing a greater density in the fleeces of our breeding ewes. At the same time length of staple—an important factor in increasing weight, and a particularly valuable quality when spinning crossbred wool —must not be neglected. But it is quite possible to secure this desirable combination. Density and length of fleece can be vastly improved in a single season if these qualities are pronounced in the rams that are used, and the fact that we have achieved only a very slow improvement to an average of about B|lb to 91b of wool a sheep, indicates that we are not devoting reasonable attention to our wool clip.