No 71, pages 72,74.
Trials show increasing the liveweights of young sheep before summer can improve wool growth.
Reducing liveweight loss during summer can improve staple strength. Shearing near the point of the break can reduce the number of mid-staple breaks and result in a higher staple strength. Increasing the liveweight of weaner sheep before summer may bring significant gains to the wool cheque through improved wool growth and quality. Profitability for wool growers can be dramatically affected by the staple strength of wool with tender wool resulting in the clip being discounted at auction. Price penalties for tender wool have varied in recent years, but it is expected staple strength and other raw wool measures will be used increasingly to determine wool prices and will affect the competitiveness of wool.