Weekly Market Wrap

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With Brian Vagg, Melbourne

November 30, 2007

Market dips slightly

ON Wednesday most microns recorded good price increases of 5-10 cents per kilogram, but this was eroded on Thursday, with most types falling slightly below last week's close.

The losses on Thursday were mainly due to a less stylish selection, with many lots comprising low tensile strengths and high mid-breaks. The discounts applied to these lots are increasing significantly.

Demand remains strong for the better styled types. Skirtings and cardings only eased slightly when compared with last week's levels.

On Thursday, the eastern market indicator finished at 987c/kg, down 5c/kg on last week's close. The Australian dollar has traded at varying levels over the last seven days, with highs occurring on Thursday.

The national offering was 54,299 bales and, again, purchasing came from all sectors. The national passed-in rate was 13.2 per cent.

Next week will be the largest offering of the season and the second last sale prior to Christmas. Just over 68,500 bales have been rostered nationally. The southern region has a large offering of close to 35,000 bales.

Southern region

The market opened on Wednesday in Melbourne, where all microns recorded gains, especially the better types. This was reversed on Thursday, with a less stylish selection, higher dollar and trade knowledge that the largest sale for the season would be offered next week.

The 18.5-micron and finer types closed 5-7c/kg dearer, while 20-micron Merino fleece finished 17c/kg lower, 21-micron fell 26c/kg, 22-micron dipped 17c/kg and 23-micron wools shed 13c/kg.

Most of the Merino skirtings also closed a little easier, but support remains strong for the longer and low vegetable matter types.

Crutchings and locks were generally 5-10c/kg lower.

New AWI resources invested in sheep technologies

Geoff Lindon has joined Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to head up a new program called Sheep Technologies.

Announced as part of the company's realignment of resources to improve the delivery of products and services to woolgrowers, the program will include alternatives to mulesing, sheep genetics and all other forms of genetic benchmarking, including Merino sire evaluation.

Mulesing clip trials almost over

On-property mulesing clip trials are nearing their end.

Of the 188 on-farm trials where clips have been applied to lambs, the clips have been taken off at 159 and the final weighing has finished at 70pc of the sites.

The huge amount of data being collected on-farm will be analysed in coming months and meaningful results are not expected before March next year. Source: Rural Press

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