WOOL | UNITED KINGDOM
A burden on farmers’ back BY: CHRIS MCCULLOUGH
W
ool has become a major casualty of the Covid-19 era rendering it a virtually worthless commodity since global markets closed down. Thousands of tonnes of the once high in demand product have been stockpiled around the world in the hope of better future markets. Some farmers have tried in vain to find alternative markets for their wool, such as insulation in the construction industry and for mulching in gardening. Others gave up hope of finding an outlet and simply left it to rot or burned it.
Sheep farmers know their animals must be shorn for welfare reasons but when the cost of shearing is over four times the value of the wool then it becomes a huge financial burden. The cost of shearing sheep in the United Kingdom varies from £1.50 (NZ$3) to £2.50 (NZ$5) per ewe depending on the numbers presented in the flock to the shearer. For the past three years Jayne Harkness Bones has been the joint depot manager at the Ulster Wool Group in Northern Ireland. Jayne is no stranger to New Zealand as she has been involved in many wool handling competitions here over the years. Bones recognises the global demand for wool has fallen and hopes next year
witnesses a recovery in the market. “The world faces the most severe recession in its history due to the Covid-19 epidemic.” She says the global market for wool shut in February this year and has only started to open up again since June. February to May is normally the busiest selling period of the year with 44% of the annual clip sold during this period last year. As a result the parent company, the Wool Board, who sells the wool on behalf of Ulster Wool producers, has about 4.5 million kilogrammes of unsold stock out of a total 2019/2020 clip of 27 million kilogrammes. About 50% of the wool produced in Northern Ireland is sold in the UK, 25% to China and the remainder to Europe and
Glenloe Dohnes 19th Annual Sale
Thursday 10th December 2020 at Waimak Gorge and online on Yourbid (Helmsman Auction). Commencing at 3.30pm
Peter Walsh & Assoc. Ltd in-conjunction with Hazlett Ltd will offer:
40 2th Dohne Rams
Micron/Wool Micron/WoolWeights, Weights, EMA/LW, EMA/LW, Foot Foot scores scores. .
Imported Sires G 7455-11 Gullendah NSW
John Harrison 027 435 6243
Lambing % + 150% year in. At scanning average liveweight 78kgs (11 months) Ewe clip 20.5 micron average. Ram Hogget 18-18.5 micron. Pre-sale micron test average 21.9 Geoff Wright
Vendor: Richard Loe - 027 208 5185 128
027 462 0131
Country-Wide
October 2020