ISSUE 88 SEPTEMBER 2021

PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION

www.wool.com

07 10 26
DEFENCE FORCE WOOL’S ECO CHALLENGE COVID ADVICE
DRESSED IN WOOL IN EUROPE FOR WOOLGROWERS
 08 ANDY MURRAY WEARS 50 E
 LIMINATING THE
WOOL AT WIMBLEDON CATCH AND DRAG
EDITOR
Richard Smith
E richard.smith@wool.com

Australian Wool Innovation Limited

A L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks,
OFF-FARM ON-FARM
Sydney NSW 2000
GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 3 Letter from the new AWI Chairman 26 COVID – advice for woolgrowers
P 02 8295 3100 4 WoolPoll 2021 27 COVID – advice for in the shed
E info@wool.com W wool.com
AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 5 AWI’s Review of Performance 28 FeralScan up-to-date pest monitoring
SUBSCRIPTION 6 AWI consultation forums 30 Making More From Sheep education
Beyond the Bale is available free.
To subscribe contact AWI 7 ADF dressed in wool 31 Natural Capital Accounting
P 02 8295 3100 E info@wool.com
8 Andy Murray takes wool to Wimbledon 32 Land stewardship benefits confirmed
Beyond the Bale is published by Australian 10 Wool’s eco rating challenge in the EU 34 Lifetime Ewe Management
Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company
funded by Australian woolgrowers and the 11 Devold’s reversable base-layers 35 Sheep reproduction advice on video
Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help
increase the demand for wool by actively 12 “Buy better, buy wool” campaign 36 Merino Lifetime Productivity
selling Australian wool and its attributes 38 Genetics update
through investments in marketing, innovation 13 Natural dyes for a natural fibre
and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 14 Hedrena’s Aussie wool apparel 40 AWI breeding publications

COPYRIGHT 15 Custom tailoring with InStitchu 42 Flystrike management advice

Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. 43 AWI flystrike publications
16 Limestone Coast wool quilt range
Reproduction of the material is encouraged.
However prior permission must be obtained 17 Knitting yarns in big demand at Nundle 44 Annual flystrike management plan
from the Editor.
18 International Woolmark Prize explained 46 Pneumonia in lambs
DISCLAIMER 48 Hi-tech to prevent shearing injuries
To the extent permitted by law, Australian 21 International Woolmark Prize2021
Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability 50 Modular sheep delivery unit
for loss or damage arising from the use of,
22 Wool education is tops in China
or reliance on, the information contained in 23 Wool education shows value in Japan 52 Shearer and wool handler training
this publication.
The Woolmark symbol is a certification mark 24 Latest wool fashions at regional shows 52 Preparing sheep for shearing
registered in many countries.
© 2021 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 24 Perfect Perendale wool bags 53 Contamination: ‘Keep the Clip Clean’
rights reserved. 54 Hand-on stockmanship training
ADVERTISING SALES 56 Horizon scholarship
Steve Luxford, Pulse Hub Pty Ltd
P 0429 699 553 56 Breeding Leadership applications
E steve.luxford@pulsehub.com.au
Advertising is subject to terms and conditions
58 Market Intelligence update
AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
published on the ratecard, which is available 60 EMI recovering
Sheep Production,
from Pulse Hub. Marketing Consultation
Science & Technology
61 WoolQ and SustainaWOOL
ISSN Processing Innovation
1447-9680 & Education Extension
Traceability 62 Readers’ photos
63 Seasonal conditions forecast
FRONT COVER CONNECTING WITH AWI
Woolgrower Michael Taylor with his two
daughters, Nina and Lydie, on the family farm wool.com AWI E-NEWSLETTERS:
at Kentucky on the Northern Tablelands of
NSW. Michael took part in an AWI-funded To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter
Natural Capital Accounting project that has feedback@wool.com for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review
helped Michael consider the contributions that e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe
his property’s natural assets make to his farming
business. See pages 31-33 for details. wool.com/podcast
THE WOOLMARK COMPANY
Front cover, bottom right photo credit:
Maksym Belchenko twitter.com/woolinnovation
woolmark.com

facebook.com/AustralianWoolInnovation
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View Beyond the Bale online at
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(Programme for the Endorsement of
Forest Certification) paper stock.
AWI STATE-BASED GROWER NETWORKS
AWI-supported networks are present in each state.

• Sheep Connect NSW • BESTWOOL/BESTLAMB (VIC)

• Sheep Connect SA • The Sheep’s Back (WA)
• Sheep Connect Tasmania • Leading Sheep (Qld)

Find your grower network at www.wool.com/networks or call the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099.

GD4277
 UPFRONT 3

A LETTER FROM Reduced revenue

= reduced investment

AWI CHAIRMAN, These key marketing and R&D issues for the
industry, and many others, need investment.

JOCK LAURIE
But AWI has been hampered in the past
couple of years in this respect.
In 2020/21, AWI’s expenditure ($61
million) was 39% lower than it was two years
ago. This was in response to the company’s
deteriorating revenue which fell by 44%
Mr Laurie was elected by AWI shareholders to the AWI to $57 million in 2020/21. This is the lowest
annual revenue that AWI has ever had in the
Board on 20 November 2015. He was appointed as Chairman whole of its 20-year history.
of the AWI Board on 30 June 2021, following Ms Garnsey’s Our total revenue is to a large extent
resignation as Chairman. dependent on income from the wool levy,
which has more than halved during the past
two years due to the reduction in the wool
Marketing priorities levy rate from 2% to 1.5%, the unsettled EMI,
The first area of concern is the impact of and the fall in Australia’s wool production
COVID on the global market for wool. With caused by the drought.
the decline in demand for clothing due
to lockdowns, AWI held back a lot of its 120
marketing funds until a time when people
started spending again. China was the 100
first country whose economy recovered, so
we invested in a big campaign there that 80

$ millions
resulted in strong demand. Other economies
such as the UK are now recovering. It is 60
absolutely crucial that we make sure that
wool is front of mind of consumers when 40
they return to buying clothes.
COVID and growing concerns about 20
the environment have focused consumers’
0
attention on the eco-credentials of products
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
and we are doing more to increase people’s
awareness of wool’s natural, renewable Levy revenue Total expenditure
and biodegradable benefits. A worrying Other revenue
issue is the environmental impact labelling
Jock Laurie Chairman, proposals in the European Union that,
Australian Wool Innovation counterintuitively, would rate wool poorly AWI operates in a lean, efficient
in comparison to man-made plastic fibres. and transparent manner, but just like
We are putting a lot of effort in the EU to any business with a reduced income,

O n behalf of Australian woolgrowers,

I would first like to thank the immediate
past Chairman Ms Colette Garnsey for her
help ensure that wool is considered by the
authorities correctly and appropriately.
we had to make cutbacks in staffing
and projects. We are dipping into the
reserves which the company has built
contribution to the wool industry through On-farm priorities up during past years for tough times like
her role as Chairman and as a director of In the on-farm area, concerns about a lack of right now. But continued drawing down
AWI. Colette’s understanding of the industry shearers have been exacerbated by COVID, on our reserves is not sustainable in the
beyond the farm gate has been of great value with some uncertainty as we head into long term. Reduced revenue equates to
to the industry. spring. AWI already funds a lot of shearer reduced investment.
Stepping into the role of Chairman, I and wool handler training but the industry Our industry has many opportunities
feel honoured to be given the opportunity needs more. It’s very important that we but also many challenges. I assure you
to lead AWI given its critical role in get novices involved and get them trained, that I will work to ensure that AWI, your
supporting an industry I have been involved but also get them into work and give them R&D and marketing company, will operate
in all my life. I am a grazier from Walcha and support during the following few months in the interests of you the woolgrowers
Merinos are the backbone of my enterprise. so they can go from shearing a handful of of Australia that help fund AWI, and
They provide multiple income streams and sheep to getting some more competitive ensure the best possible results with the
have been very good for my family business numbers, so they can make a living. available resources.
over several generations. Flystrike management is the other big
An important part of my role as concern in the on-farm area. It is a critical
Chairman is to ensure that AWI is listening issue and we have recently approved an
to woolgrowers and other stakeholders extra $650,000 to fast-track the potential
about the issues that concern them, development of a commercial vaccine. AWI
acknowledging those concerns and making is an R&D and marketing company, so we
sure they are discussed at board level, and fund research and provide tools, options and More information
then agreeing on a plan to address the market information to woolgrowers so they
Hear more from Mr Laurie
issues. Everybody should have a voice, can make up their own mind as to how best
in Episode 190 of AWI’s
everybody should be heard and all views to manage flystrike on their property. It’s
The Yarn podcast, available at
should be taken seriously. I am listening not up to AWI to tell any grower what they
www.wool.com/podcast
and AWI is prioritising and addressing key should or shouldn’t be doing; we will support
issues for the industry. growers’ right to make up their own mind.
4 UPFRONT

Detailed information
about what level of
investment AWI can
undertake for each levy
option is included in
the Voter Information
Memorandum
being mailed out to
woolgrowers this month.

What is WoolPoll? of WoolPoll to be changed to 5 years with the When is WoolPoll?

WoolPoll is a poll of eligible wool levy payers, objective of providing greater stability in the September: Eligible wool levy payers
conducted every three years, to determine levy rate. This question is being put forward will receive their voting papers, a Voter
the levy rate paid to AWI for industry in the 2021 WoolPoll via the ballot paper to Information Memorandum (containing
research, development (R&D) and marketing. test the preference for a 5-yearly poll more details about how AWI proposes to invest
Currently the levy rate is 1.5% (of the sale widely with levy payers. the levy funds at each of the five levy
price woolgrowers receive for their shorn rate options), details about AWI’s levy rate
greasy wool).
Why vote? recommendation, plus a summary of an
At this WoolPoll, eligible woolgrowers WoolPoll is the opportunity for levy payers independent review of AWI’s performance
are asked to consider five levy rate to directly influence how much funding AWI (2018/19 to 2020/21).
options: 0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%. Eligible will receive for the ensuing period until the Monday 13 September: Voting opens.
woolgrowers can vote for one or more levy next WoolPoll to deliver R&D and marketing Voting will be by post, email, fax or online
rates in order of preference. services for the Australian wool industry. – as per the instructions that will be sent
The levy rate that receives the with the voting papers.
highest number of votes will be paid by Who can vote? Friday 5 November: Voting closes at 5pm
all woolgrowers for the next three years If you have paid $100 or more in wool levies (AEDT).
(2022/23 – 2024/25).  The levy rate takes effect over the past three financial years, you are 19 November: The WoolPoll result will
from 1 July 2022. eligible to vote in WoolPoll. For each $100 be announced at AWI’s Annual General
In the 2020 WoolPoll Review, it was of levy paid, you are entitled to one vote. Meeting. The levy rate takes effect from
suggested that an additional question be put Your voting entitlement is determined from 1 July 2022.
forward to levy payers, for the 3-yearly cycle records of your wool sales.

Have your say on the

wool levy rate
Chairman of the WoolPoll Panel, Steven of enormous change and opportunity for
Bolt, is a woolgrower from Corrigin, the Australian wool industry. I think the
WA. He is principal of Claypans Merino outlook for the wool industry is really
stud and a Director of The Livestock positive,” Mr Bolt said.
Collective.
“WoolPoll 2021 is the opportunity for
“We’re predominantly a mixed farming woolgrowers to vote on what levy rate
operation here, so we run our Merino they want for the next three years for
operation 50-50 with our cropping our industry. Your levy choice will help
operation. I’ve grown up with a real determine the level of investment within
passion for the sheep and wool industry. key areas such as market development,
I’m a third-generation sheep producer on-farm research, education
and looking forward to continue for a and training.
long time to come,” Mr Bolt said.
As Chairman of the 2021 WoolPoll Panel, “It is vitally important for all woolgrowers
Mr Bolt has been leading the efforts to – no matter where you live – to cast your
get a strong turn out by growers when vote for the levy rate you want to pay.”
voting gets under way on 13 September.
Steven Bolt, Chairman of Steven Bolt,
the WoolPoll Panel. “It is an honour and a privilege to be WoolPoll Panel Chairman
Chairman of the WoolPoll panel at a time
 UPFRONT 5

Independent
AWI
Review of
recommends Performance
2% levy Recognising the significant challenges faced by
The Board of AWI is recommending AWI and the wool industry during the past three
woolgrowers vote for a 2% levy in years, a recent independent review of AWI’s
the upcoming WoolPoll. performance concluded that “AWI’s performance
AWI Chairman Jock Laurie says has been appropriate” and the company “has
an increased levy from the current shown notable improvement”.
1.5% will deliver more industrywide
investment that benefits all
Australian woolgrowers.
“Our industry has opportunities
A WI has welcomed its most recent
independent review of performance by
Accenture Strategy. The key achievements
Mr McCullough commented: “For
woolgrowers, the report means that their
company, AWI, is being rigorously evaluated
but also many challenges and
highlighted in the report included every three years, so opportunities for AWI
that’s why we need the extra
demonstrated strength in AWI’s marketing, to do better can be identified and addressed.
investment. Without an increase
as well as its significant flexibility in “As well as being complimentary
in the wool levy, good projects that
pivoting to digital campaigns through on many things that AWI does, the most
help growers will not be acted on
COVID-19; and the improvement in AWI recent report also highlighted AWI’s positive
or delivered as quickly. It would be
Board and organisational culture, being more response to the previous (2018) review
like fighting with one hand behind
positive, constructive and collaborative. of performance.
our back,” he said.
“We appreciate having a regular review “In contrast to the 2018 review’s 509-
by an independent company because the page report containing 82 recommendations,
resulting report assists AWI to refine its this year’s review has resulted in a 60-page
processes and approach to deliver long-term report containing 14 recommendations.
profitability for Australian woolgrowers,” While we will address these new
AWI CEO Stuart McCullough said. recommendations expeditiously, the
The most recent review of recommendations in the latest review are a
performance was carried out by professional demonstration of both how seriously we’ve
More information services company Accenture Strategy, with considered these reviews and, importantly,
www.woolpoll.com.au its report (available now on the AWI website) how far AWI has come in improving its
completed in August. A summary of the performance.”
report, also prepared by Accenture, will be This review was the first review
sent to woolgrowers with their WoolPoll against five new Performance Principles
Voter Information Kit. contained in AWI’s new ten-year SFA
AWI’s Statutory Funding Agreement that was agreed in October 2020 – those
(SFA) with the Federal Government allows it five Performance Principles relate to:
to request AWI, every three years, to undergo (1) stakeholder engagement; (2) research,
an independent review of its performance development & extension (including
and make the results available to its marketing); (3) collaboration; (4) governance;
stakeholders. Such an independent review of and (5) monitoring & evaluation.
performance is a normal part of the WoolPoll Overall, Accenture’s evaluation is
The 2021 WoolPoll Panel members are:
cycle that AWI undertakes every three that AWI’s performance is meeting or part
• Steven Bolt, Panel Chair
years to inform woolgrowers prior to the meeting most of the performance principles.
• Jo Hall
WoolPoll vote. In terms of areas for improvement, the
• Kate McBride
The report noted the “significant report identified a need for AWI to clarify its
• Dianna Martin
external and internal challenges that have strategic focus, and opportunities for AWI to
• John Murdoch
affected the wool industry and AWI over improve its engagement with stakeholders.
• Daniel Rogers
the last three years”, including COVID-19 “Although Accenture’s assessment
• Mark Waters
as a major interruption to marketing and of AWI was broadly positive, a key task for
• Michael Wright
consumer purchasing and the significant them was to identify any things we can
• Don Macdonald, AWI Board
reduction in AWI’s budget. do better as a business. That’s what they
• Christopher Dobbie, Department
In summary, the report concluded: have done – and I assure woolgrowers
of Agriculture, Water and the
“Given this difficult context, AWI has shown that these opportunities for improvement
Environment
notable improvement in its performance. will be looked at closely and addressed,”
AWI has achieved several significant Mr McCullough added. 
“The Panel’s role is to encourage all
objectives with further improvement
growers to have their say,” Mr Bolt said.
possible. Overall, results from activities, More information
Contact details of the WoolPoll surveys of levy payers and interviews The full report and a summary report are
panel members are available at with AWI staff suggest that despite the available at www.wool.com/statutory-
www.woolpoll.com.au difficult backdrop, AWI’s performance has obligations
been appropriate.”
6 UPFRONT

AWI consultation
with woolgrower
representative bodies
A new method for AWI to consult with woolgrower representative bodies was
developed with industry endorsement and rolled out in 2019. Here we outline the
two consultation forums and the work that they undertake.

A WI believes to be effective, accountable

and productive, good consultation
is essential.
Chair of the WICP, Lyndsey Douglas
Agricultural communications specialist
A crucial component of AWI’s Lyndsey Douglas has been the
consultation with industry is with independent chair of the WICP since
woolgrower representative bodies. The new July 2020. Beyond the Bale asked Lyndsey
model for consultation that was rolled out about the work of the consultation forums.
in 2019 enables AWI to find out the key R&D
What have been some of the key issues
and marketing priorities of these bodies and
raised by woolgrower organisations?
the woolgrowers that they represent, while
also providing them with information on There’s a mix of macroeconomic issues
AWI activities and performance. discussed, as well as localised on-farm
In developing the new consultation challenges, ideas and suggestions, and
model, AWI sought to ensure that it was plenty of feedback from woolgrowers
inclusive of more groups, to bring feedback for AWI on projects or initiatives it has
from the varied regional and organisational invested in, based on how woolgrowers
perspectives, while ensuring there was a core value those projects.
Have the forums been successful?
group that AWI could engage more regularly
Leading up to our August meeting, panel
with on more specific issues. Success for the WICP is achieved when AWI
members conveyed the concerns of
There are two key forums through clearly hears the opinions and feedback of
woolgrowers with regard to a range of
which AWI formally consults and engages a robust cross-section of regions, sectors,
issues, from the impact of the ongoing
with woolgrower representative groups. studs, commercial producers, fine wool,
shortage of shearing contractors
broad wools and so on that make up the
AWI Woolgrower Industry through to the rating of wool under
industry. Those opinions shape marketing,
the European Commission’s Product
Consultation Panel Environmental Footprint system.
research and development decisions for
The AWI Woolgrower Industry Consultation the future of the wool industry.
Panel (WICP) comprises a core group of The meetings are a direct forum for
We’re constantly reviewing and
members from the following seven national questions to be asked and answered.
improving the efficiency of the forums.
woolgrower organisations: Topics, issues and feedback can be
1. Australian Association of Stud raised prior to or during meetings How would you characterise the forums?
Merino Breeders and both AWI Board and senior staff
Consensus isn’t necessarily the aim
2. Australian Superfine Wool are present to respond, as well as the
of these meetings. It’s about open,
Growers’ Association Department of Agriculture.
constructive and diverse input on the
3. Australian Wool Growers Association Has AWI’s provision of information issues that affect woolgrowers today and
4. WoolProducers Australia about AWI activities to the forums into the future, as well as feedback on
5. Pastoralists & Graziers Association been well received? what woolgrowers believe should be the
(PGA) – Western Australia focus of the industry RDC.
6. Broad wool representative AWI supplies the panel with a
7. Commercial Merino Ewe Competitions comprehensive business unit update The meetings are part information
Association. on a range of topics and this has been sharing, part debate, part idea generation
The WICP also includes representatives well received. It covers market analytics, but at the heart of it all is a cross
from the Department of Agriculture, Water on-farm initiatives, process innovation, section of individuals who – despite
and the Environment (DAWE) and the AWI education extension, traceability, WoolQ, their differences of opinion and their
Board, and is led by an independent chair. emerging markets, fibre science, leaning towards a particular region or
The purpose of this forum is to ensure extension networks, shearing, marketing, sector – all want to create and maintain a
a clear two-way consultation between AWI and communications, for example. prosperous and sustainable wool industry.
and organisational representatives through
to woolgrowers. WICP meetings were held
four times during the 2020/21 financial year. The WCG meets at least once a plan for woolgrowers – Wool 2030. In doing
year to coincide with key dates in AWI’s so, the WCG was joined in 2020 by next
AWI Woolgrower planning cycle, enabling industry feedback generation representatives. 
Consultation Group to be considered in the company’s decision-
The second forum, the AWI Woolgrower making. However, in 2020 the WCG met more More information
Consultation Group (WCG) is a broader frequently (some online due to the current Woolgrowers wanting to provide feedback
group comprising 28 representatives of state COVID-19 social distancing guidelines) through the WICP or WCG are encouraged
and regional production-based woolgrower because the WCG was the principal oversight to contact their member organisation.
groups, as well as the members of the WICP. body for delivering the 10-year strategic www.wool.com/consultation
 OFF 7
FARM

Royal Australian Navy (above), Royal Australian

Air Force (left) and Australian Army (below)
personnel wearing their General Duty dress
containing Australian Merino wool.

Australian
Defence Force
dressed in wool
by Farage
All female personnel in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
have an entitlement to wear a wool blend General Duty
dress produced by Australian clothing brand and Woolmark
licensee Farage.

A ustralian wool is contained in the new

General Duty dress now being worn by
female personnel in all three services of the
Farage, said it was important to produce a
dress for the ADF that was durable, practical
and comfortable.
Farage was founded in Sydney in
1998 by Joe and his wife Katy, producing
contemporary and modern tailoring,
ADF: the Royal Australian Navy, Australian “We worked with AWI’s subsidiary The with a focus on heritage, provenance
Army, and Royal Australian Air Force. It Woolmark Company on a wool blend fabric and authenticity. The brand has gained a
is a completely new item of (non-combat) comprising 40% wool along with polyester reputation for its quality and craftsmanship
clothing for the ADF, providing female and nylon, plus a little bit of elastane to give and continues to attract a growing number
personnel with the option of wearing a it that extra stretch. It is a very beautiful yet of loyal customers from across Australia.
tailored dress to present a contemporary robust fabric that is fit for purpose,” Joe said. It has a flagship store on Sydney’s
and stylish appearance. “All of the wool in the dresses is prestigious Martin Place and a store in
Renowned Australian brand Farage Australian wool, with the initial 9,000 the heritage-listed Strand Arcade on Pitt
was contracted by the ADF in 2019 for the garments manufactured onshore here in Street. However, most of the company’s
design and production of several corporate Australia, so the garments are very much retailing is via the brand’s online store at
garments, in particular the General Australian, which is very suitable given www.farage.com.au. Online sales continue
Duty dress. that they are being worn by the Australian to grow significantly, especially since the
Farage had previously designed and Defence Force.” COVID pandemic.
produced uniforms for the flight crew of The dress has been certified by The Uniforms are an important part of
the Air Force’s 33/34 Squadron, a dedicated Woolmark Company and carries the ‘Wool the business. As well as supplying the ADF,
fleet servicing our top ministers and blend performance’ logo. It is a short-sleeved, Farage designs and produces uniforms for
international delegates. scoop-necked and knee-length dress that has large and small companies; the brand has
Following successful trials of the been produced in brown for the Army, black also been the official tailor to AFL team the
General Duty dress early last year by ADF for the Navy and blue for the Air Force. Sydney Swans for the past decade. 
personnel, from across a variety of ranks, Farage has also produced a trench coat,
the garments commenced being issued to for men and women, which has been issued More information
female personnel in October. to some of the personnel in the Navy and www.farage.com.au
Founder and Director of Farage, Joe Air Force.
8 OFF
FARM

Andy Murray
takes Merino
wool to
Centre Court,
Andy Murray competing in
wool at Wimbledon, in June.
PHOTO Clive Brunskill
Wimbledon
Andy Murray competed at Wimbledon this year in a wool, primarily from Australia, provides
Merino wool blend kit, developed in collaboration with next to skin comfort and unparalleled
natural performance.
British sportswear brand Castore and The Woolmark “Wool is really starting to make
Company, which is available for tennis fans across a comeback in performance sportwear.
the world to purchase. Although leading manufacturers and
brands in this sector are already promoting
the natural benefits of Merino wool as a

I t was “Advantage Murray” at Wimbledon

this year, due to the tennis icon wearing
high-performance tennis apparel
“It is a reflection of the increased
awareness of Merino wool’s benefits at this
elite level that Castore and Andy Murray
performance fibre, we believe there is still
further significant potential for the fibre in
this sector, such as for tennis,” Stuart said.
containing Merino wool to enhance approached The Woolmark Company for Merino wool is the world’s original
athletic performance. support in developing the collection. This performance fibre. No other fibre can match
The apparel is part of a new tennis partnership presented a great opportunity to all of its natural benefits with exceptional
collection from AMC, a premium tennis develop a high-performance tennis product breathability, thermoregulation and supreme
clothing brand created by Andy Murray and also for marketing Merino wool’s softness next to the skin, helping tennis
and British high-performance sports brand technical and environmental benefits.
Castore. The collection – the AMC X Woolmark “Our involvement in the project has not
Merino Performance collection, which only resulted in buoyant consumer purchasing The AMC X Woolmark Merino Performance
collection has been certified by The Woolmark
comprises elite playing kit, training kit and of this particular wool-rich collection, but it Company to ensure its durability, performance and
hoodie – was developed in collaboration with has also increased the public’s awareness of quality. Pictured is the T-shirt from the collection.
AWI subsidiary The Woolmark Company. Merino wool’s applications
“I’ve been testing the kit for a few and benefits in high-
months now and am really happy with how performance sportswear,
it feels and performs,” said Andy just prior to which should further
the tournament. increase demand for the
“I work closely with the designers on fibre in future.”
every piece and give regular feedback; for me,
the technical performance is vital. It’s also Wool returns
very important the kit is sustainable and I an ace
like the fact it looks and feels a bit different.” This is the first time in
Andy wore the Merino wool garments the modern tennis era
during his training for Wimbledon and for that such a major player
all his matches during the 2021 tournament. as Andy Murray has worn
The collection was launched globally to wool at the Wimbledon
coincide with the tournament, which started Championships.
on 28 June. While wool was once
“The launch of this innovative kit common in sporting attire
elevates Merino wool to an entirely new in the early days of tennis,
level of performance on a global stage and the emergence of synthetic
demonstrates that Merino wool garments fibres saw a decline in
are both stylish and suited for use in an the use of wool and other
elite sporting environment and in the natural fibres. However, the development Billboards around
most intense conditions,” said AWI CEO of new manufacturing techniques combined London were
Stuart McCullough. with the emergence of superfine Merino seen during the
tournament.
 OFF 9
FARM

players keep cool and comfortable on Andy Murray, wearing a special version of the
hoodie with the word Woolmark prominently on
court. The fibre’s excellent natural the front, at the Wimbledon pre-tournament
elasticity is ideal for stretching and press conference on 26 June.
the natural odour resistance abilities
ensures players stay feeling fresher
for longer.
As well as its partnership with Andy
Aside from its supreme
Murray, Castore also has partnerships with
performance attributes, wool is a
the McLaren Formula 1 team, the West
100% natural, biodegradable and
Indies cricket team, Scottish football club
renewable fibre, making it the
Rangers, English Premier League football
perfect choice for those seeking
clubs Newcastle United and Wolverhampton
clothing that has a minimal impact
Wanderers, the London-based Saracens
on the environment.
rugby club and the Bahrain Victorious
The AMC X Woolmark road cycling team. In Australia, Castore has
partnerships with the West Coast Eagles
Merino Performance Print and digital advertising that AFL team and the Sydney Roosters and
collection featured the collection was placed on Melbourne Storm NRL teams. 
The AMC X Woolmark Merino Performance billboards located around the Wimbledon
collection comprises five wool-blend circular area of London, targeting tennis fans More information
knit garments: a polo shirt, shorts, T-shirt, travelling to the tournament. www.woolmark.com/
long sleeve ¼ zip and a hoodie. andymurray
During the development of the AMC and Castore www.castore.com/amc
collection, Castore and The Woolmark AMC is a premium tennis clothing brand,
Company, and Andy Murray himself, tested created by Andy Murray and Castore.
the fabrics for high performance attributes, Castore was founded in 2015 and has set
such as breathability and moisture out ambitious plans to take on global
management, to ensure a comfortable and sportswear giants. The company operates a
high performing kit for the athlete. digital, direct-to-consumer business model
The fabrics have been tested according that has allowed it to grow extremely rapidly
to strict Woolmark quality specifications and since launch and avoid the challenges
have been produced through a Woolmark facing many traditional brick and mortar
licensed supply chain. The products also brands. It now sells into more than 90
comply with Castore’s high-performance countries globally.
product criteria.
The collection is available to purchase
(shipping worldwide) via the Castore website
at www.castore.com/amc. The collection
is also available through retail partners
including Selfridges, Mr Porter and Flannels.

Marketing
As well as being showcased to a global
audience during Andy’s on-court matches
and interviews at Wimbledon, the collection
was featured on the home pages of the
Castore and Woolmark.com websites, their
social media channels, and the social media
channels of Andy Murray and other Castore
ambassadors such as England cricketer Jos
Buttler, British Olympic swimming champion
Adam Peaty, and England and Manchester
United footballing legend Gary Neville.
Andy Murray, wearing the
An editorial campaign resulted in wool blend long sleeve
coverage in many UK newspapers – from ¼ zip and shorts from the
the Daily Telegraph to The Sun – as well as AMC X Woolmark Merino
Performance collection, in a
consumer magazines such as GQ and textile promotional photo from the
industry trade titles. In total, the earned marketing campaign.
print, web and social coverage reached a
quarter of a billion people.

Earned editorial reach

250 million
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FARM

Wool’s
eco rating
challenge
in the EU
FAST FACTS
• By 2023, products for sale in the
European Union (EU) could be
required to include a label that
provides consumers with the
EU’s assessment of a product’s
environmental credentials.

• While this is a good initiative,

the proposed EU methodology is
flawed and needs revising so that
wool (and other natural fibres)
are on a level playing field with
synthetic fibres.

AWI is working to ensure that European Union (EU) • AWI is providing solutions to the
European Commission to help
policy makers rate wool’s environmental credentials ensure an accurate rating for
appropriately in its Product Environmental Footprinting products containing wool.
(PEF) methodology, to prevent the introduction of a poor
environmental score for wool on clothing labels across
this very important market for Australian wool.

T he European Union (EU) is putting

policies in place to introduce EU
environmental labelling on consumer
most influential market-facing reporting
system for environmental credentials,
with other markets across the world
• Fossil fuels (from which synthetic fibres
are derived) are considered ‘sustainable’
sources for textile fibres, while natural
products, including apparel products, potentially adopting similar initiatives in fibres (such as wool) are rated as less
possibly as soon as 2023. This is being done their jurisdictions. sustainable than synthetic fibres.
in an effort to guide consumers towards Discussion regarding the proposed • Renewable material sources (such as
choosing the most sustainable products. PEF methodologies is ongoing, but it is wool) are not rewarded, while non-
Although the wool industry expected that legislation will be put to the renewable sources (synthetic fibres) are
supports the intent behind the EU initiative, European Parliament to vote on by the end not penalised.
known as the Product Environmental of 2021. Labelling of textiles using the PEF • Biodegradable fibres (such as wool) do
Footprinting (PEF) project, the industry methodology is anticipated to roll out in 2023. not receive any positive scoring, and fossil
faces a major problem because the initiative fuel-based fibres (synthetic fibres) receive
in its current form will, counterintuitively,
What are the flaws no penalties for not being biodegradable.
score wool and other natural fibre in the current PEF • Microplastic pollution from synthetic
products poorly. methodology? materials does not carry any negative
“Wool is natural, renewable and Whilst the EU’s PEF project has positive scoring.
biodegradable and therefore should be well intent, the methodology remains immature • Natural fibres (such as wool) are
placed to take advantage of the increasing and doesn’t yet provide the full picture about negatively scored by including the impacts
consumer demand for more earth-friendly a textile product’s sustainability. of forming the fibre on farm (land, water,
products. But if the EU continues with the PEF is built on lifecycle assessment GHG emissions etc), while fossil fuel-
current PEF methodologies, products made (LCA) methodology which focuses on based fibres (synthetic fibres) receive no
from wool and other natural fibres are at measuring the harmful impacts of a product penalties for the formation of crude oil.
significant risk of being rated by the EU but makes no attempt to account for Furthermore, there are major
poorly compared to synthetics,” warned positive impacts. inconsistencies between the PEF and the
AWI CEO Stuart McCullough. “Consequently, the facts that wool EU’s other key environmental initiatives
“This would result in a decline in is renewable and can be grown again each such as its Circular Economy Action Plan
demand for wool products in the EU year, and that at the end of its life wool is (CEAP). The European Commission rightly
because brands and consumers will look fully biodegradable, releasing its nutrients sees product circularity as a solution to
for alternative fibre options that have more back to the soil for use again, are not scored wasteful processes like fast fashion, but
positive ratings.” positively by the EU,” Stuart said. PEF methodology has not been updated to
This is especially important for the “In addition to ignoring the positives reward the inherently circular attributes of
Australian wool industry because the of natural fibres, PEF methodology currently natural fibres, including renewability and
EU currently consumes about a quarter overlooks some of the key negatives of biodegradability.
of all Australian wool. Furthermore, synthetics – for example, it fails to account “PEF labelling arising from the current
due to the EU being the driving force of for the negative impacts of microplastics.” process is not reliable and will therefore
environmental footprinting, it is anticipated In summary, the EU’s proposed PEF severely inhibit the laudable intent of the
that the PEF project will become the labelling currently show: EU’s own CEAP. By following its current
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FARM

Devold’s reversable
base-layers
With a focus on sustainability, Woolmark licensee Devold of
Norway last month launched a range of Merino wool base-
layers that have no inside or outside, just different sides. Turn
the garment ‘inside out’ and you get a totally new garment.

D evold of Norway was founded in

1853, based on the idea of protecting
people against the elements. The company
still have all the same benefits of the wool
fibre, such as temperature regulation,
breathability, elasticity and odour resistance.
has worked with wool – a 100% natural, Developed for cold and harsh weather,
renewable and biodegradable fibre – and ideal for skiing, the super-soft fabric
throughout its 168-year history and contains microscopic air pockets that provide
today produces apparel for sports and optimal insulation.
outdoor enthusiasts. Named after Kvitegga, a mountain
The company has designed a new peak in the Sunnmøre Alps near where the
range of Merino wool base-layers, with Devold head office is still located, the base-
each garment being able to be used on layer range is made from 18.7-micron Merino
both of its sides, which reduces the need wool. The range is available in men and
for extra garments. The two-in-one women versions and comprises tops, long
function also provides the option to johns and headwear.
pack smart, reduce weight and limit the Kvitegga was a finalist in the
path, the EU risks not achieving its
number of washes. prestigious Scandinavian Outdoor Award
objective of a climate neutral, circular EU
for the Autumn/Winter 2021/22 season.
economy by 2050,” Stuart said. The base-layers are knitted in three
The range is available now in stores and
“Although current PEF methodologies col/thread jacquard patterns so that the
via the Devold online shop at devold.com. 
are a threat to wool, if the methodologies two sides of the fabric look completely
are correctly rectified, they could provide different – there are several different
significant opportunities for wool.” patterns in the range – but the garments

What is AWI doing

to improve wool’s
PEF rating?
AWI has been actively participating in the
PEF process, advocating for robust science
to underpin the PEF’s rating methods.
“It is important to secure a level-
playing field for wool by ensuring PEF
textile rules and methodologies encompass
all the environmental credentials of natural
fibres and allow consumers to make a fair
and informed choice,” Stuart said.
“On behalf of Australian
woolgrowers, AWI is working with the
International Wool Textile Organisation
(IWTO) to raise awareness of concerns with
the PEF methodology and influence EU
policy and decision makers to defer the use
of the PEF methodology on apparel labelling The reversable base-layers in Devold’s new
until its limitations have been addressed.” Kvitegga range for men and women enable
you to have to two different designs to wear
To amplify its campaigning, a in the one Merino wool garment.
coalition of like-minded partners from
global natural fibre organisations, NGOs
and others have joined forces to influence
EU policy makers about the need to
improve PEF methodology and to influence
policy and legislative development.
Stuart said AWI is engaging with the
European Commission at the highest levels
and is providing the scientific evidence to
address the PEF methodological limitations.
“Our initial meetings with
European Commission officials have been
constructive, and a solutions-focused
review of the PEF has been provided by
AWI as follow up,” Stuart added. 
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“Buy better, buy wool”

This year’s Wool Week in Australia campaign from AWI helped educate consumers
that “not all clothes are created equal”, urging them to buy better by choosing clothes
made from wool, the original eco fibre.

P romoting the natural, renewable and

biodegradable properties of wool is
an important element in most of AWI’s
Campaign drives
wool purchases
Many other commercially available
wool garments and products located on
the Woolmark.com shop page were also
marketing of Australian wool. However, Key messages and imagery from the featured on the special campaign hub page,
this year’s Wool Week campaign in campaign were located on a campaign driving traffic to even more online stores
Australia really pushed that message home, hub page on the Woolmark.com website. containing wool products that consumers
comparing these positive characteristics In addition to raising awareness of wool’s could purchase.
with the negative, polluting attributes of positive eco-credentials, an important An email and social media campaign
synthetic fibres. element of the hub page was to drive from The Woolmark Company directed
Wool Week is an annual initiative purchases of wool products at retail. consumers to the hub page. The Woolmark
of AWI and its subsidiary The Woolmark Specially photographed wool Company has more than 756,000 followers
Company. It arose from the global Campaign garments from brand partners were featured globally on Facebook and 86,000 followers
for Wool that aims to educate consumers on the hub page with links pointing to the globally on Instagram. Six high profile
about the natural benefits of wool and brands’ online stores at which consumers ‘influencers’, with a total following of more
increase sales of wool product. could purchase the products. The than 300,000 on Instagram, were engaged to
“The theme of the campaign this year brands featured included: Country Road, amplify the campaign by posting items on their
was that clothes made from wool are better Sportscraft, R.M. Williams, Oroton, Assembly social media channels about the benefits of
for the environment than clothes made from Label, Arnsdorf, Jacinta James, McIntyre wool and drive consumers to the hub page.
synthetic fibres, which are derived from Merino, Wah-Wah, ioMerino, Nagnata, The campaign achieved 5.7 million
fossil fuels and crude oil,” said AWI CEO Humphrey Law, Lindner Quality Socks, impressions, which was above target.
Stuart McCullough. Helen Kaminski and Seljak. A poster campaign was also run in
Using simple Melbourne, Canberra and
but clever imagery of Newcastle which featured
mocked-up clothing tags the educational wool care
on wool garments, the labels and a QR code to
Wool Week ‘Ready to Care’ the Woolmark.com hub.
campaign highlighted The poster campaign
the negative impacts had a reach of 3.6 million
on the environment people. 
that clothes made from
synthetic fibres have, in More information
comparison to clothes www.woolmark.com/
made from wool. Facts buybetter
used on the wool clothing
tag imagery included:
• “I won’t harm our
ocean life because I’m
made of Merino wool”
• “I’ll last a lifetime
because I’m made with
Merino wool”
• “You’d be wearing
plastic if I was
polyester”
The fact that
wool is a natural fibre
produced responsibly by
Australian woolgrowers
was another element
of the campaign, with
video clips of Australian Clever campaign imagery
woolgrowers showcasing the environmental of mocked-up clothing
credentials of their on-farm practices. tags on wool garments
emphasised the benefits
With most farms in Australia family for the environment of wool
owned and operated, it was emphasised that compared to synthetics.
Australian woolgrowers are always thinking
about their family’s next generation and how
to preserve their property’s natural resources
in the long-term. The Woolmark Company (left) and influencers (right) posted images
on social media of wool apparel alongside comments advocating
the natural benefits and eco-credentials of wool.
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Natural dyes for Natural dyes…

a natural fibre
• are created from renewable
and natural sources.

• are biodegradable in land

and marine environments.
As fashion and textile brands focus more and more on the
eco-credentials of their products, there has been renewed • provide a superior natural
interest in natural dyes, which is good news for wool as aesthetic and look.
the fibre works well with natural dyes.

E vidence of textile dyeing dates back

thousands of years to ancient Egypt and
beyond. Virtually all dyes were derived from
natural materials until the mid-nineteenth
century when the large-scale use of natural
dyes declined due to the invention and
widespread availability of synthetic dyes.
However, the demand for natural
dyes in the fashion and textile industries is
experiencing a resurgence.
Natural dyes are extracted from
natural materials such as plants, minerals
and even shells and insects.
Plant-based natural dyes include woad,
indigo, saffron and madder. Invertebrate
natural dyes include Tyrian purple, cochineal
Woolmark licensee Tintoria di 2020 International Woolmark Prize
and crimson kermes. Other naturally
Quarenga, located at Biella in Italy, has winner Richard Malone, in addition to
occurring dyestuff alternatives include
created a natural dyeing process called several other recent finalists including
bacteria derived dyestuff and bi-product
NATURALE® that uses more than 200 2021 winner Matty Bovan, used natural
dyes (such as dyes from food waste).
natural ingredients – such as flowers, dyes in their wool collections. In
Natural fibres such as wool absorb
leaves, berries and roots – to create Richard Malone’s winning collection,
natural dyes better than synthetic textile
a wide range of colours and shades extracts have been taken from the
fibres. The dyes have been proven to work
suitable for dyeing wool and other vembadam plant to produce a lilac
well with wool textiles to produce a superior
natural fibres. The wool products colour, sky blue is achieved from the
natural aesthetic quality and look.
manufactured using the dyeing clitoria plant, marigold and myrobalan
Some dye manufacturers are successfully
process have been rigorously tested was used to complement the colour
producing natural dyes in a commercially
for quality and approved under the from the karungali plant and the
usable form at an industrial scale.
Woolmark Certification Program. In wedlia plant produced luscious greens
Fabric and yarn dyed with natural
addition to having its own collection of for the collection.
dyes are contained in the latest edition of
natural dyed yarns, the company can
The Wool Lab Digital sourcing guide at
dye its customers’ own fibre, top and
www.woolmark.com/thewoollab – view the
yarn using the NATURALE® process.
‘Living’ theme. 
www.tintoriadiquaregna.it
More information
www.woolmark.com/naturaldyes

Or no dye at all!
Melbourne-based knitwear brand
McIntyre recently launched a new Items in the latest collection of
collection, known as RAW, made from Australian knitwear brand Wolfgang
untreated wool of black and brown Scout are available undyed in the
sheep from several Australian farms. wool’s natural colour. Wolfgang Scout
The wool was then blended together uses 100% Australian superfine
to achieve an ‘Expresso’ coloured Merino wool yarn sourced from
yarn, which is Woolmark-certified. the Finnigan familys’ Kia Ora Merino
No chemicals are used in the whole property at Winslow in Victoria. The
process, leaving the jumper with its rest of the brand’s knitwear range
natural lanoline smell and hand feel. is responsibly dyed using non-
hazardous, non-chrome, low impact
www.mcintyremerino.com/collections/ dyes with minimal water wastage.
raw-collection
www.wolfgangscout.com
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FARM

The Hedrena brand, which specialises in 100%

Australian Merino wool, is now owned by iconic
Australian retailer Fella Hamilton and the
Hedrena garments are available to purchase
at all Fella Hamilton stores across Australia
and online. Pictured left, the man is wearing a
short sleeve crew neck tee, while the woman
is wearing a long sleeve zip polo and interlock
roam relaxed fit pant – all made from 100%
Australian Merino wool.

Australian wool and

Australian made
Taking ownership of Hedrena last year, and
proud of its Australian-made heritage, Fella
Hamilton recently brought the production of
its Hedrena garments back to Australia.
“Not only is the fabric produced
using wool from Australian Merino sheep,
but all the garments are designed by us in
Melbourne and are locally manufactured
exclusively for us right here in Australia,”
said Managing Director and son of Fella
Hamilton, David Hamilton.
“We are very proud to be supporting

Hedrena’s
local farmers using 100% Australian
Merino wool.
“The benefits of wool for comfort and

Aussie wool
style through both warm and cool months
have meant we can sell the products all year
round. The yarn is dyed in seasonal colours
to fit back in with the rest of our range.

apparel at
“We sell a wide variety of tops from
singlets and tees to cardigans and skivvies.
Hedrena has even allowed us to venture into

Fella Hamilton
Merino wool pants, sleepwear, intimates and
menswear.”

Connecting consumers
with woolgrowers
Hedrena products continue to use high-
quality Australian Merino wool that its
customers know and love. The wool is
now sourced from wool-growing clients of
AWN through AWN’s DNA (Direct Network
Advantage) Provenance program.
Each Hedrena garment carries a QR code-
enabled DNA swing ticket. When scanned,
Made using 100% Australian Merino wool, the the QR code allows Hedrena customers to
view a short video from one of the regions
Woolmark-certified garments in Fella Hamilton’s from where wool for Hedrena was sourced,
Hedrena collection showcase quality, style and a showcasing a unique Australian wool
distinctive Australian wool provenance story. provenance story.
“The DNA program offered by AWN

F ounded in 1992 by woolgrowers Hedley

and Irena Earl on their superfine wool-
growing property near Geelong, Hedrena’s
Merino wool apparel. Hedrena products
are Woolmark-licensed and stocked in Fella
Hamilton’s 31 stores Australia wide, as well as
has given us that extra ability to share
important information with our customers.
Having a great Australian story that they
roots are strongly embedded in the world of through its mail order and online store. can follow is emotive and gives us pride in
Merino wool production. Hedrena’s founders Itself celebrating 52 years in Australian our offer,” David said.
pioneered the next to skin base-layer market fashion, the Melbourne-based and family- “In a world of synthetic fashion,
for Merino wool making beautiful soft, pure run Fella Hamilton business, named after the we provide our customers with a natural,
wool garments that are made to last. brand’s founder, has grown from a wholesale sustainable clothing choice.”
Nearly 30 years later, the Hedrena business, supplying garments to the leading
brand is owned by iconic Australian department stores of the day, to become one More information
retailer Fella Hamilton and still provides of Australia’s most iconic and successful www.fellahamilton.com.au/hedrena
women with high quality 100% Australian fashion brands. www.awn.net/dna
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FARM

Custom tailoring certified Australian Merino wool suiting

fabrics to choose from, ranging from Super

made easy
110s to Super 180s.”

Shop online or at
a showroom

with InStitchu Customers can order garments online from

the comfort of their own home, with two
straight forward options. Firstly, they can
select a product and then customise it (with
www.InStitchu.com is an Australian tailoring brand that offers the ability to choose all the details including
its customers customisable, made-to-measure apparel, the type of lapels, buttons, pockets, closure,
monogramming and more); or secondly, if
including men’s and women’s suits and casualwear crafted the customer knows exactly what they want
from Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool. then they can design a garment from scratch
using their online design tool.

C o-founded by James Wakefield and

Robin McGowan in 2012, InStitchu
(www.InStitchu.com) is an innovative
While InStitchu was initially launched
as a men’s custom, made-to-measure suiting
Alternatively, customers can visit one
of InStitchu’s 13 showrooms across Australia
brand, it last year expanded its range into (there is also one in New York), where the
suiting brand that bridges the gap between women’s custom, made-to-measure suiting customer is measured by an expert stylist,
old world tailoring traditions and the and has recently launched a customisable, can peruse hundreds of premium fabrics and
modern digital retail landscape, offering casual offering for men. customisation options as they design their
a luxury experience and products at an garment(s) down to the detail – all with a
affordable price (men’s and women’s custom, Premium Merino whisky or champagne in hand.
tailored suits from $599). wool fabrics The order is then sent to InStitchu’s
The brand provides customers with Using only premium, natural fibres, all the tailoring partner in China where the fabric
the ability to design and customise their own wool fabrics used by InStitchu are 100% is laser cut to the customer’s specific design
garments from anywhere in the world in Australian Merino wool, certified by The and measurements and constructed by one
minutes using their simple online design tool Woolmark Company. of its expert tailors.
on the InStitchu website, or alternatively in “Nothing comes close to wool as a “Everything we make is crafted to
person at one of their 13 luxury showrooms premium suiting fabric, particularly if it’s the customer’s precise measurements and
across Australia. 100% Australian Merino wool,” said InStitchu design,” said InStitchu Co-Founder Robin
Every InStitchu garment is made Co-Founder James Wakefield. McGowan. “With a combination of the best
from scratch by their expert tailors to the “All of InStitchu’s suit fabrics are fabrics in the world, leading technology,
customer’s exact measurements and design, Woolmark certified, meaning that they have and premium customer service, we provide
and is delivered to been certified through rigorous Woolmark our customers with great value and high-
the customer’s door testing to ensure the highest quality. quality garments such as 100% Australian
in just 3-4 weeks. InStitchu has hundreds of Woolmark- Merino wool suits, jackets, trousers coats
and casualwear.”
Every InStitchu order (whether placed
The InStitchu online design tool enables customers to
design a garment from scratch online or choose a product online or in a showroom) comes with the
and customise it online to their own specifications. brand’s Perfect Fit Guarantee – whereby
InStitchu will cover customer alterations
or remake their garments if they don’t fit
perfectly, free of charge.

The recent addition of a

more casual offering
The InStitchu brand has recently introduced
a selection of more casual, customisable
garments for men.
“This is a reflection of the
casualisation of the workforce and new
demand for customisable, made to measure
casualwear,” Robin said.
“Our Autumn/Winter 2021
collection includes wool sweaters,
customisable wool overcoats, jackets
and vests and our Australian
Merino wool customisable suits,
jackets and trousers – perfect
for work (at home or in the office)
and play.
“The collection, which is titled ‘Lay
Of The Land’ is rich in Merino wool, and a
celebration of our Australian landscape, our
This InStitchu turtleneck sweater worn under a farmers, and the different lives we all lead. It
custom, made-to-measure Merino InStitchu wool
suit provides a mix of classic tailoring and modern is about rugged practicality at its core.” 
fashion in a very sophisticated way.
More information:
www.InStitchu.com
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FARM

The MiniJumbuk
Warm wool quilt is
one of five quilts in
the new Limestone
Coast Wool Range.

Limestone Coast
wool quilt range
Located at Naracoorte in the heart of South Australia’s Limestone Coast, leading wool
bedding brand MiniJumbuk has recently launched a new range of quilts filled with
Dorset wool sourced from local woolgrowers.

A lthough Woolmark licensee MiniJumbuk

has been handcrafting wool bedding
products for more than 45 years, its new
“From the farmer through to the
incredible MiniJumbuk team, there is a
sense of pride seeing their raw materials,
where their wool is used, but that it is
used in a quality product produced locally
by MiniJumbuk, which strengthens the
Limestone Coast Wool Range realises care and attention to detail transformed rural community.
one of the company’s long held dreams: into premium quality bedding products There are five quilts in the Limestone
to produce premium quilts proudly filled and shipped to major cities within Australia Coast Wool range, each with a different
with fine quality wool grown locally in the and around the world. number of wool layers to suit individual
Limestone Coast. “Our farmers are delighted to partner sleeping needs. They range from the 500gsm
MiniJumbuk Managing Director, Darren with MiniJumbuk and know that their wool Thermal quilt designed for colder climates or
Turner, believes being located in a rural area is improving someone else’s life through sleepers who really feel the cold, down to the
offers a unique advantage to build relationships. better quality sleep.” 150gsm Super Cool quilt which is perfect for
“Few farmers get the opportunity to For the launch of the Limestone warm nights and hot sleepers.
see where their wool goes and the ‘paddock Coast Wool Range, MiniJumbuk profiled The quilts are all made with
to quilt’ story is an exciting aspect of the three of the farms that supply their wool MiniJumbuk’s Airlight Technology™ that
project,” Darren said. for the range. In the videos, the farmers creates warmer quilts with less weight. They
“The Limestone Coast has historically explain how the region’s Mediterranean are also naturally low allergy and come with
been a great wool-growing region, and we’ve climate ensures their sheep have a a 7-year warranty. 
sourced wool from a number of Dorset consistent source of green feed for most of
growers. Dorset wool’s characteristics the year, which helps ensure healthy and More information
of good crimp and good loft, offer a nice happy sheep. The farmers also tell how www.minijumbuk.com.au
resilient wool ideal for our quilts. pleasing it is for them to know not only

“We want to be part of the Limestone “Being a farmer within the Limestone “It’s great to see one of our products
Coast Wool Project with MiniJumbuk Coast, I think helping a business within being distributed around the world and
because it’s really good to keep our wool the Naracoorte region is a really good by a renowned business like MiniJumbuk
local because we’ve never had any idea news story because it’s helping the that has done great things promoting the
where our wool goes previously.” community throughout.” Limestone Coast worldwide.”
Will Limbert, Kerry DeGaris, Nanni DiGiorgio,
‘Tarloop’, Bool Lagoon ‘Killanoola’, Bool Lagoon ‘Sterita Park’, Lucindale
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FARM

Knitting yarns
in big demand
at Nundle
Knitting has always been popular, but lately its
uptake has seen real growth. Whether this is a
result of people looking for a home-hobby during
lockdown, or simply a desire to relax and slow
down, demand for knitting yarn is increasing – and
manufacturers such as Nundle Woollen Mill are
working hard to keep up with demand.

A bout an hour’s drive from Tamworth

in NSW, Nundle is a small town with
just under 300 inhabitants. But each year,
of the rise in demand is due
to people finding a renewed
love of the crafts of their
Did you know?
Knitting is good for relaxing
thousands of people flock there to visit grandparents and picking up Knitters have long acknowledged amongst
Nundle Woollen Mill and witness woollen knitting needles for the first themselves that knitting is an excellent form of
yarns being made on machines dating back time during lockdown. therapy – the repetition is meditative and fuses
to the early 1900s. “British gold medal function with therapy, improving the mental
Opened in 2000, it is one of only a few Olympic diver Tom Daley, who health and wellbeing for those who practice
mills left in Australia. Nick and Kylie Bradford has gained notoriety across this ancient craft. Science backs this up: A study
bought the enterprise in 2007 and have the world by knitting to relax conducted by Harvard Medical School’s Mind
expanded it into a vibrant manufacturing during breaks in competition, and Body Institute found that knitting lowers the
business and popular tourist destination. exemplifies how a new heart rate, by an average of 11 beats per minute,
“Each year we usually we get 30,000 generation is taking up knitting. and induces an ‘enhanced state of calm’.
visitors, but the numbers have grown during Being young, sporty, cool and
the global COVID pandemic to about 40,000 male, he shows how knitting
due to domestic tourists heading this way can be for everyone.”
to escape the cities and heavily populated Tasmanian woolgrowers, the Youl Having its own dye-house, Nundle
coastal areas,” Nick said. family, supply the Bradfords with their wool, Woollen Mill manufactures each of its
“While COVID has been challenging for which is then scoured at EP Robinson in yarns in about 40 colours, making it one of
many businesses, our hand knitting yarns Geelong. From there, the wool makes its way the best colour selections of dyed yarns in
have been in high demand, with online sales north to Nundle where it is transformed into the country. 
doubling since 2019. This is partly driven by an extensive range of contemporary yarns:
people increasingly interested in authentic 4-ply, 8-ply, 12-ply, 20-ply, 72-ply and Wool Vine More information
Australian made products, but a large part (equivalent to about 200-ply). www.nundle.com

KN
IT
TI FR
Get knitting with Australian wool!
NG EE
PA
TT With so many people across Australia proved popular across the world with a
Get knitting with E RN
spending more time at home, there has high volume of traffic headed towards
Australian wool! never been a better time to pick up a pair the patterns on the website.
There’s never been a better time to pick up a of knitting needles, order some Australian
pair of knitting needles, order some Australian Accompanying the hard copy version
wool yarn, and knit a present for yourself or
wool yarn and knit a present for yourself
your loved ones.
of this edition of Beyond the Bale is
This pattern for a ribbed beanie was designed or your loved ones.
by 2018 International Woolmark Prize finalist
Kathleen Kye. But don’t worry, it is suitable for
one of the five patterns, a ribbed
novice knitters! To highlight the versatility of Australian beanie designed by 2018 International
When you have finished with this pattern, pass
it on to a friend, family member or a city
cousin – and don’t forget to tell them to use
wool and help increase the demand Woolmark Prize finalist Kathleen Kye
the world’s greatest fibre, Australian wool! for yarn made from the fibre, AWI last from South Korea.
woolmark.com/knitting-patterns year brought together five International
Why not give it a go? Don’t worry, it is
Woolmark Prize alumni to release a
suitable for novice knitters! When you
SIZES MATERIALS series of exclusive knitting, crochet and
have finished with this pattern, pass it on
To fit head 52cm (54, 56, 58) • 100% Merino wool yarn, 8 Ply (DK Weight).
cut-and-sew patterns, which can all be
Check your head measurement carefully. You don’t • For the 52cm and 54cm Beanie: 100gr **
to a friend, family member or a city cousin
created from the comfort of home.
want it too tight and you don’t want it too loose. • For the 56cm and 58cm Beanie: 150gr **

– and don’t forget to tell them to use the

Read all the instructions carefully before • A set of 4mm (UK 6) double-pointed knitting
commencing your beanie. If you are unsure about a needles (DPN) or one 4mm (UK 6) 80cm circular
technique or stitch, there are many helpful YouTube Needle for the Magic Loop method.
videos that can provide additional guidance. •
•
Wool needle for sewing in ends.
Stitch Marker
The free patterns, plus links to buy related world’s greatest fibre, Australian wool!
• Row counter or row counting App.
products such as wool yarns and knitting
SKILLS REQUIRED ABBREVIATIONS needles, are available on the Woolmark. More information
com website and have been promoted
woolmark.com/knitting-patterns
• Knit and purl stitching beg = begin, beginning; cm = centimetres; K = knit;
P = purl; rep = repeat; st/s = stitch/es; stocking st = knit
on social media. The AWI initiative has
• Cast on
right side rows, purl wrong side rows; tog = together,
• Cast off
PM - Place marker, SM - Slip Marker, * = start of row
• Increases and decreases
• Working in the round
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International Woolmark Prize

It’s a lot more than a
fashion prize!
HIGH END FASHION
The International Woolmark Prize is an illustrious fashion LUXURY DESIGNERS AND
award and talent development program that generates long- PREMIUM BRANDS
term demand for Australian Merino wool by building and
strengthening the reputation of the fibre as the ultimate MIDDLE MARKET
ingredient of sustainable luxury fashion. AFFORDABLE LUXURY
RETAIL BRANDS

R elaunched in 2012 by AWI’s marketing

arm, The Woolmark Company, the
International Woolmark Prize is an award
and commercialisation.
Importantly, it generates long-
term demand for Australian
MASS MARKET
HIGH STREET
for the world’s most promising design Merino wool by increasing RETAILERS
talent. Every year, the designers develop and the knowledge of and lifetime CE
present their most innovative designs, made loyalty to the fibre amongst INFLUEN
L E D O WN
from at least 70% Australian Merino wool, to the award’s designers and TRICK
a panel of judges comprising distinguished more than 400 alumni around
industry heavyweights. the globe.
But the International Woolmark Furthermore, the
Prize program is a lot more than a fashion phenomenal interest in these awards from Connecting the world’s leading
design award. fashion communities and media globally fashion designers with Australian Merino
The program runs across an 18-month has helped put wool back on the agendas wool is extremely important due to the
cycle and provides the international of a broader range of fashion designers, enormous influence these designers have in
designers with education, mentorship, manufacturers, brands and retailers, and setting global textile trends for mainstream
networking opportunities, early-stage consequently into retail stores for consumers retail brands.
funding, global wool supply chain access to purchase.

1. Education and mentoring

T he International Woolmark Prize’s

mentoring and education program,
known as the Innovation Academy, offers
• Sourcing and collection development
support via 43 international trade
partners supporting designers with
finalists unparalleled access to partners and product ideation, development and
mentors, product development support, fibre commercial realisation of concepts.
and fabric research and development, and • 190 hours of mentoring for finalists – the
business and sustainability strategies. 2021 program offered exclusive access to
This world class program continues to 10 expert mentors and 6 industry partners.
elevate the prize with an unrivalled ‘unique • Industry Masterclasses – A new webinar
selling point’ amongst competitor programs series drawing on The Woolmark
attracting the best talent to apply. Company’s vast network of industry
The Innovation Academy program experts to provide unparalleled industry
currently services more than 600 insights and is housed on the company’s
2021 International Woolmark Prize Advisory young designers and wider industry online Woolmark Learning Centre.
Council member, supermodel Naomi Cambell representatives including retail and media.
It comprises the following activities: “The level of knowledge bequeathed
• Early-stage investment for finalists for
to us from the International Woolmark
“I have learned even more about the the research and development of their
wool collection. Prize was astonishing. Their priority was
benefits and uses of Merino; I feel we
• Innovation Academy workshop – A always to educate and develop how we
have all created something beautiful.” kick-off event with industry partners looked and worked with wool as a fabric.”
and mentors to prepare finalists for the
Matty Bovan, development of their wool collection and Charaf Tajer,
2021 winner business strategies.
CASABLANCA, 2021 finalist
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A 100% Merino wool dress by 2017 winner

Gabriela Hearst, worn by Australian model
Victoria Lee, at the launch of the Gabriela Hearst
Spring Merino collection at the brand’s flagship
store in New York in April 2019. Gabriela Hearst
was last year appointed as Creative Director at
luxury fashion house Chloé.

2. B
 uilding a network of
wool advocates
best young fashion design companies that • 6.6 additional Merino wool garments were
have been taught how to source and promote produced (on average) by alumni in their
Australian Merino wool. By taking part in Autumn/Winter 2021 collections.
the program, the alumni are imbued with a • 3.9 additional Merino wool garments were
“As a designer it’s a huge honour to be love of wool that often translates into their produced (on average) by alumni in their
subsequent collections being rich in wool. Spring/Summer 2021 collections.
recognised and I cannot wait to promote
The alumni are building resilient The International Woolmark Prize
more Merino wool in the world as businesses and taking leading roles within continues to receive the support of local
I believe it is the yarn of future.” the industry, increasing wool’s position as a fashion bodies such as the Council of
dominant fibre in major fashion companies. Fashion Designers of America and the
Gabriela Hearst, For example, in 2020, 2017 womenswear British Fashion Council as well as industry
2017 winner winner Gabriela Hearst was appointed tastemakers to identify the best talent for
as Creative Director at luxury fashion the prize.

T he International Woolmark Prize aims

to secure and build future demand
for Australian wool by engaging a large
house Chloé.
Survey results show that, following
their participation in the prize, alumni
“We’ve created great connections
which we will keep for a long time after
audience of emerging design talent with continue to advocate for wool:
the wool supply chain, at an early stage of • 84.2% of alumni promote wool’s the competition.”
their careers. eco-credentials.
The program’s alumni network is now • 74% of alumni prioritise fibre Marie-Ève Lecavalier,
made up of more than 400 of the world’s composition in their marketing. 2021 finalist

3. Driving wool sales on a global scale

“I am thrilled to be stocked in some 2017) to supporting all finalists with
of the best retailers in the world commercialising a wool-rich mainline
collection (minimum of six looks) with the
thanks to AWI.”
finalists’ international stockists.
Rahul Mishra, The number of Merino wool units
sold, wholesale value and stockists have
2014 winner
continued to increase year-on-year. In

T he Woolmark Company partners 2020, the program saw a 270% year-on-year

with the world’s leading boutiques increase in retail partners and 57% increase
and e-commerce platforms including in wholesale value showing the high demand
Farfetch.com, Matchesfashion.com, Lane for the finalists’ collections despite the
Crawford and Boon The Shop to build a COVID-19 pandemic reducing wholesale sales
robust commercialisation strategy to drive industry-wide.
awareness of Merino wool and a direct path A 2018 survey reported that 47%
to purchase. of (retailer) respondents confirmed that
The commercialisation strategy has garments created by International Woolmark
evolved from supporting International Prize designers were more desirable
Woolmark Prize winners with the resulting in increased sales, showing the
commercialisation of a capsule collection cultural relevance of the prize amongst
with exclusive retail partners (2013- millennial consumers.
Ribbed wool-blend sweater from 2020
finalist GmbH available to purchase on the
NET-A-PORTER website.

Continued on next page. 

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Continued from the previous page.

4. Increasing Woolmark and

Merino wool awareness
“This award lets us ignite the magic hosted during international fashion weeks
in Shanghai, London, New York, Paris,
of wool, so the customer sees the
Milan and Florence driving awareness for
romance in wool.” Woolmark and Merino wool in key markets.
Cumulative media results 2012-21*:
Teatum Jones, • 52 billion earned media reach
2016 winner • 247 million owned social media reach
• $235 million earned media value

T he International Woolmark Prize has

sustained its reputation as the industry’s
most sustainable and inclusive talent
* 2021 prize results are not included within
these results.

development program.
“[The most valuable thing I’ve
The PR and content strategy focuses
on profiling Australian Merino wool learned through the program is]
and the finalists, winners, ambassadors the use of Merino wool and how Photo that appeared in the international press
and commercial collections through an we can use this fabric to elevate our (including The Australian) of 2019 winners
innovative, creative lens partnering with Nicole and Michael and Colovos visiting wool-
collections above and beyond fellow growing property ‘Millpost’ at Bungendore
leading creative and events agencies. on the Southern Tablelands of NSW, during
Although this year’s award was contemporaries in our field.” their visit to Australia in 2019 to launch their
restricted to an online event (due to the winning collection at David Jones.
COVID-19 pandemic), the event strategy Charaf Tajer,
has in past years seen high-profile events CASABLANCA, 2021 finalist

5. Generating new business leads

“The International Woolmark Prize For example, International Woolmark
gives emerging talent from wherever Prize ambassadors and judges have included
Business of Fashion Editor-at-Large,
they are an incredible opportunity.”
Tim Blanks; designer Donatella Versace;
Victoria Beckham, designer Victoria Beckham; British Vogue
Editor-in-Chief, Edward Enninful OBE; Dior
designer and progam judge
Men’s Artistic Director, Kim Jones; InStyle

T he International Woolmark Prize Editor-in-Chief, Laura Brown; actor Colin

platform and ambassador program Firth; supermodel Naomi Campbell… and
has resulted in new business leads for The many more.
Woolmark Company, enabling the company
to forge relationships with some of the More information
Fashion designer Victoria Beckham and then fashion industry’s most influential media, www.woolmarkprize.com
Chair of British Fashion Council, Dame Natalie
Massenet DBE, on the judging panel of the retailers, designers and trade, to promote
2017/18 International Woolmark prize. Australian wool.

Placing the premium

credentials of Australian
wool centre stage
“Many woolgrowers rarely have the opportunity to see the end
products created by our precious fibre – especially at the stunning
level we see here tonight. Each and every designer here tonight has
done Australia’s wool industry proud. I am so looking forward to going
home and sharing this unforgettable experience with other growers.
“I would like to congratulate AWI on the initiative of the International
Woolmark Prize. The encouragement and opportunity they provide
to young designers and countless people across the fashion industry
to empower the use of our amazing, low impact, and traceable fibre
is simply outstanding.”
Woolgrower Anthea Sutherland from ‘Pooginook’, in the
Anthea Sutherland, woolgrower southern Riverina of NSW, with 2020 winning designer Richard
Malone, to whom she presented the International Woolmark
[Extract from her speech to the 2020 event audience] Prize at an event in London attended by global fashion
celebrities, influencers and media.
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2021 International
Woolmark Prize Some of the designs
from the finalists that
featured in the film of
the 2021 International
Woolmark Prize. The
design in the centre is by
winner Matty Bovan.

British fashion designer Matty Bovan won both prestigious awards at the
2021 International Woolmark Prize with his technically advanced Merino wool
collection that showcased his unique style and rich storytelling.

S elected by an illustrious panel of judges,

the United Kingdom’s Matty Bovan was
announced as the winner of both the 2021
The six designers were supported
by The Woolmark Company’s Innovation
Academy, a fast-track mentoring and
wool garments they have developed, will be
available for consumers to buy during the
upcoming northern hemisphere Autumn/
International Woolmark Prize and the Karl education program. The Innovation Winter retail season.
Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, following a Academy in 2021 comprised 10 mentors, 45
special virtual judging event held in June. trade partners and eight industry partners. Focus on sustainability
The emerging designer was praised This year, it was extended to the International With the theme ‘Less is More’, this year’s
by the judges for his technically advanced Woolmark Prize alumni network, comprising International Woolmark Prize focused on
jacquard weave designs, unique style, more than 600 members, and the wider slow and responsibly produced fashion
intricate designs which tell a story, advanced industry. A series of Industry Masterclass and craftsmanship, placing an emphasis
understanding of both knit and weave webinars was also made available. on sustainable practices, supply chain
techniques, strong colour combinations and connections and future-proofing designs
sustainable approach to local sourcing whilst shining the spotlight on
and production. Australian Merino wool as the green
“What impressed me about Matty thread in responsible fashion.
is his capacity to win both awards – for Each finalist created a
his innovation and creativity and I sustainability roadmap in partnership
really think he deserves it,” said Carine with Innovation Academy partner
Roitfeld, who was on the judging panel Common Objective and presented
and is one of the most influential traceable collections using technology
figures in fashion. “He is pure fashion, from partner Blue Bite to integrate the
he makes me dream and he reminds garment’s story into their collection
me of a young Vivienne Westwood or a via NFC Chips.
John Galliano and we desperately need
that sort of designer in the fashion Woolmark Supply
world of today.” Chain Award
Based in York, Matty Bovan This year also saw the introduction of
collaborated with local mill and Woolmark Manufacturing of Matty Bovan’s 100% Merino
custom jacquard at a local mill in Yorkshire. the Woolmark Supply Chain Award, which
licensee AW Hainsworth and Sons Ltd to was presented to the Nanshan Group, one of
produce the 100% Merino wool looks in China’s leading woollen textile enterprises,
his collection. In honour of the six finalists, Saint for its outstanding contribution as a trade
“It’s a huge honour to win these prizes Heron, the multidisciplinary platform, studio partner of the International Woolmark Prize.
and I’m so excited for where it’s going to and creative agency established by celebrity The award aims to encourage
take me – I was already so thrilled with the musician and artist Solange Knowles, enterprises that have made significant
Woolmark Prize platform and experience,” conceptualised a short film to reveal the contributions to the wool industry by
he said. finalists’ collections to consumers. The film continuously supporting young talents
features 5x Grammy Award-winning artist and devoting resources to technological
Six fabulous finalists Dionne Warwick and actress and model research and development. The Nanshan
Prior to the final, an expert Advisory Council Dominique Jackson and is available to view Group has a long-standing relationship with
was tasked with selecting the six finalists on woolmarkprize.com alongside a virtual the International Woolmark Prize, working
from more than 380 nominees. The other five showroom presenting 3D looks modeled in close collaboration for many years with
finalists for this year’s award were Bethany for each designer via Innovation Academy finalists to bring their visions to life. 
Williams (UK), Casablanca (France), Kenneth partner Hologarment.
Ize (Nigeria), LECAVALIER (Canada) and Six looks from each of their More information
THEBE MAGUGU (South Africa). Woolmark-certified collections, plus other www.woolmarkprize.com
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Wool education
is tops in China
Staff from two prominent top-makers in China, Tianyu
and Red Sun, recently received information about
the latest developments with wool from AWI staff at Staff from top-makers Tianyu (main image) and Red Sun
(smaller image) at the Wool Education Centre in Shanghai.
the Wool Education Centre in Shanghai.

Wool Education
A WI’s team of experts delivered
information on a range of topics
including an introductory wool appreciation
Centre in Shanghai
The Wool Education Centre was
course, sustainability and traceability, the opened in May 2018 at Donghua
Woolmark Licensing Program, innovations University in Shanghai to help
with Merino wool, The Wool Lab sourcing teach the next generation of textile
guide to wool yarns and fabrics, as well as professionals about Australian wool.
marketing case studies. “Donghua University is the ideal
The program was attended by 30 staff tertiary institution in China to have
from Tianyu and eight staff from Red Sun, the Wool Education Centre as its fashion and Staff from top-maker Tianyu receiving from AWI
including the sales and marketing executive textile science programs are well established an education about Australian wool.
and the frontline production teams. Tianyu and well respected in the country,” explained
and Red Sun have a greasy wool processing AWI Country Manager China, Jeff Ma.
capacity of 80,000 tons and 30,000 tons “AWI helped establish the centre to
respectively, making 28,000 tons and 16,000 enable students, designers and partners
Summer School at
tons of wool top in 2020. throughout the supply chain to explore Donghua University
Most of the attendees were of Gen-Y the benefits and possibilities of Australian AWI also recently delivered high-level
age, which illustrates how the younger wool, and learn about current trends, new courses on wool science and technology
generation is devoted to the wool industry technology and supply chain developments.” to tertiary students at the 2021 Donghua
in China and that with the right education As a research space devoted to University Undergraduate Summer
the fibre has a promising future. promoting Australian wool, the education School. The courses, which were delivered
“As a natural fibre that supports centre highlights the fibre’s unique farm-to- remotely (live-online), included a Wool
sustainable development, wool is favoured fashion journey. Students can learn all about Fibre Science course delivered by AWI’s
by more and more consumers,” commented the different stages of wool manufacturing, Program Manager, Woolmark Education
Marketing Director from Tianyu, Jane Guo. including the process of turning greasy wool Course, Dr Allan De Boos; plus a Knitwear
“We appreciate AWI and its team fibres into yarn and the latest information Design and Make course delivered by
in China for providing such professional on AWI’s fabric and textile innovations. Prof Sheila-Mary Carruthers of Heriot-
and wonderful training, from farm to “Designers are also welcome to seek Watt University (funded by AWI).
fashion, so that our young team has a more inspiration by browsing The Wool Lab Dean of the College of Textiles
comprehensive and in-depth understanding sourcing guide to discover the wide variety at Donghua University, Prof Bohong
of the entire supply chain. I believe they will of fabrics and yarns currently commercially Gu, thanked AWI for its involvement
have great passion to contribute to the wool available, as well as the trends forecasted for at the Summer School, which he said
industry in the future.” upcoming seasons,” Jeff added. helped provide, “a high-quality learning
AWI’s web-based education platform, AWI hosts workshops, exhibitions and platform for our students”.
the Woolmark Learning Centre, was also forums at the education centre for aspiring “With your participation and
highlighted for the attendees so that they designers and supply chain partners.  support, the Summer School was a great
can continue their wool education. success,” he added.
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Japan wool trip to Australia to learn more about the

education initiative
wool industry and its supply chain.”

2017 winner Kenta

Nishimura sticks

demonstrates with wool
In 2017, the judging panel chose Kenta

its long-term value
Nishimura as the winner, praised for his
thinking behind how to use Merino wool
along with his bold and creative design that
maximised the inherent benefits of the
natural fibre.
One of Kenta During his subsequent trip to
Nishimura’s designs Australia, Kenta met with key AWI staff to
made from Merino
wool that won the further broaden his knowledge of wool, and
Next Generation visited Ian, Pam and Austin McLennan’s
Award at the Bunka property ‘Connen Hill’ in the Goulburn
Fashion Graduate
University in Japan district of NSW to see first-hand the source
in 2017. of the fibre.
Kenta was so impressed with the visit,
he afterwards stated that he had a strong
will to be an ambassador for wool and to
help others to know the benefits and origin
of the fibre. And that is what he is doing
right now…
Kenta Nishimura last year
started working for Japanese
menswear brand Homme Plisse,
part of the prestigious fashion
company Issey Miyake, and he
recently reached out to AWI.
“Kenta is a true wool convert
and has asked for our help to
introduce and promote the latest
innovations in Merino wool to his
colleagues,” Samuel said.
“Following our initial
meeting with Kenta we sent
him samples for him to show his
colleagues and it seems the reaction
was very positive. The samples
include a variety of innovative
Kenta Nishimura at the Big yarns, fabrics and special finish
Merino, Goulburn, during his technologies, including some
trip to Australia in April 2017. developed by manufacturing
partners in partnership with AWI
both in Japan and abroad. We
Sponsorship of an education During Fashion Week at Bunka have also introduced their design team to
award in Japan by AWI nearly Fashion Graduate University (BFGU) back several mills.”
five years ago is beginning in February 2017, AWI sponsored a Next
Building relationships
Generation Award, with students encouraged
to show results with wool to incorporate Australian Merino wool into with wool
potentially to be introduced their graduation collections. AWI also ran a “While it is still early days and there are
into the range of leading Wool Appreciation Course and organised for no specific products lined up just yet, it is
Japanese clothing brand Japanese suppliers to provide wool fabric a great win for us as we hadn’t previously
for students to create their collections. been able to progress a relationship with
Issey Miyake. BFGU is the graduate school of the Issey Miyake, precisely because the brand

A WI fosters the development of tertiary

textile and fashion students, inspiring
and educating them in the early stage of
Bunka Fashion College which has produced
many internationally renowned fashion
designers and is currently ranked the eighth
has previously been so centered on synthetic
fibres,” Samuel said.
“This new relationship is a really good
their careers about the properties and best fashion school in the world. illustration of the long-term outcomes of
benefits of Australian wool. The aim of “AWI and BFGU established the AWI investing in educational projects.”
this education is for the students to use annual award competition to enhance BFGU Other winners of the AWI-supported
the fibre in their designs as they progress students’ understanding of the benefits of Next Generation Award include Daniel
through their professional lives. wool, and to strengthen the relationship Hirozawa (in 2018) who is now Apparel Designer
Sometimes it can be a few years between the school and the wool industry,” at the Asics global headquarters, and Genki
after a student’s graduation until they said AWI Country Manager for Japan, Ban (in 2020) who joined knitting machine
have an opportunity in their employment Samuel Cockedey. manufacturer Shima Seiki after graduation
to use wool. But it can lead to a very “The judging panel is comprised of and works at its global headquarters in its
worthwhile return on AWI’s investment teachers, industry influencers and our Total Design Center, programming and making
in education. own personnel. Winners are awarded a samples, mainly with wool. 
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Latest wool
fashions
showcased
locally
Campbell Town show in May. Pictured (top) are three wool looks from
Uniqlo; Sportscraft (knit) and Max Mara (coat); Zimmermann (coat) and SABA
(knit/skirt); and (right) a 100% wool dress from Kookaï. PHOTO: Island Light

AWI presents commercially available wool garments at the

fashion shows of regional shows across Australia, to help
showcase the fibre and build demand for the wool products.

S howcasing the latest wool apparel of some

of Australia’s greatest brands and retailers,
AWI’s Runway 101 Kit was launched nine years
Zimmermann, Kookaï, Decjuba, Glassons,
SEED and M.J. Bale, as well as a couple of
international brands available in Australia,
partners. Each year, the kit usually visits
more than 30 events, from the east coast to
the west coast, and from the largest shows to
ago and has been on tour ever since. Uniqlo and Max Mara. the some smaller, more local events.”
The runway kit was created to Recent shows at which the collection The runway kit is available for loan to
assist the organisers of regional shows to has been exhibited include Karoonda Farm suitable wool-focused events across regional
showcase great examples of wearable wool Fair (SA) and Campbell Town Show (Tas). Australia – it is contained in a robust wardrobe
fashion at their events. The readymade kit “We are pleased that our Runway 101 case for ease of storage and transport. 
includes commercially available wool outfits Kit can continue to bring the latest wool
from mainly Australian brands, as well as fashion trends to our regional communities,” More information
information and accessories to help run a said AWI’s National Events Manager, Enquiries from event organisers
fashion parade. Wendie Ridgley. interested in borrowing the Runway 101
The current kit includes 28 looks “The runway kit professionally Kit should be directed to AWI Events
from the Autumn/Winter 2021 collections of showcases wearable and commercially Project Manager Vanessa Peyton at
leading Australian designer labels including available wool products from the current vanessa.peyton@wool.com.
Country Road, SABA, Sportscraft, Witchery, collections of some of AWI’s retail and design

Perfect Perendale wool bags

R eaders of the March edition of Beyond the Bale will remember
Eve Girdwood of Ardmona in central Victoria, who for a Year 12
Product Design and Technology project, arranged the processing
of wool from her own Two Pines Perendale Sheep Stud into fabric
which she then used to create a beautiful wool coat.
With 76 metres of wonderful wool fabric left over from
the project, enterprising Eve has been using the fabric to hand
make these fantastic bags, available in navy or black. The inner
100% cotton fabric features the indigenous artwork of Lee
Nangala Gallagher and Pauline Napangardi Gallagher and the
button (navy or yellow) is made from a Corozo nut, making the
whole bag a renewable and sustainable item.
The bags are available to purchase for $60. See
@evegandfriends on Instagram for more details or to purchase.
 ON 25
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AWI WORKING TO SUPPORT

THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN
WOOL-GROWING

With the support of AWI, the Hay Inc Rural Education Program continues to help young people gain
hands-on agricultural skills and experience – see page 54. PHOTO: Mads Porter Photography
26 ON
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Woolgrowers and
COVID-19
With the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 getting a foothold in Australia during
the past few months, it is important that people in regional as well as metropolitan areas are
vigilant. Here we provide information (previously issued in June 2020) for woolgrowers on
how to help ensure that their farming operations, staff and contractors, family and friends
are as protected as possible.

W oolgrowers should be proactive and

already have plans in place to ensure
that their farming operations, staff and
to look after each other. Different people
will have different ideas about managing risk
and the level of risk involved. Try not to butt
• Could you stop team members sharing
vehicles and machinery, or could you clean
the cabs, hand rails and door handles
contractors, family and friends are as heads – make sure everyone has access to down between operators?
protected as possible. However, the following up-to-date information on coronavirus and • Can your team members adequately clean
points are useful as a guide to help ensure a good understanding of how it may impact their hands before they eat or after they
your farm’s planning has been robust. the business and the people in each team have touched shared surfaces?
The following points are not an exhaustive member's network. • How are shared / staff meals being
list. Use these points as discussion topics prepared and are there adequate hygiene
with your team, agree on actions, and then
put the actions in place. Act now!
Goods & services your practices in place?
• Consider ensuring that soap and hand
As the coronavirus pandemic is rapidly business needs sanitiser are readily available and whether
evolving, we suggest you keep up to date on • What goods (eg chemicals, fertilisers, you need protocols in place to ensure they
official government announcements. This equipment) do you rely on to keep your are used regularly and correctly. If you can’t
article should only be used as a general aid business going in the coming months? get hand sanitiser at the shop, are there other
and is not a substitute for specific advice. Consider contacting suppliers to discuss if ways you could source or safely make it?
there will be any impact on availability or • Could you replace shared hand-towels
Protecting staff to let them know what you will need. with disposable paper towels?
• What services (eg mechanics, shearers, fuel
from exposure deliveries, agents, advisors) do you require over
• Are all members of the team and their
close contacts practicing social distancing
• Employers and employees all have the coming months? Can you arrange systems of one person per 4m2?
a legal responsibility to help provide so that they can service you without coming • If you have shared accommodation, has it
a safe workplace. on farm? If they need to come on farm, are been set up to reduce risk of transmission?
• Employers and employees all have they aware of the processes you have in place • What measures could you put in
a moral responsibility to help reduce the to reduce the risk to your team? Do you know place to protect other staff in shared
spread of coronavirus throughout the their expectations around protecting their accommodation if one of them developed
community and protect health and lives. staff? Is there an alternative service provider symptoms or tested positive?
• Are all members of your team taking available in the case that the one you normally
coronavirus seriously and taking use can no longer deliver the service?
reasonable actions now? • Contact your major suppliers and services Responding as the
providers now to find out how they are situation changes
Managing visitors, trips preparing and talk to them about your and keeping the team
requirements.
off your property and • If you are a farm service provider, consider
informed
close contacts contacting your clients now to ask if they • Are you regularly accessing accurate and
have new protocols in place for property useful information in order to update your
• Consider how you manage people coming
access and to let them know about how team and your business continuity plan?
from overseas or from areas that put them
your business is responding to deliver • Is the information you are accessing from
at higher risk of having the disease. This
continuity of service and minimise risk a reliable source?
could include any city, town, or your local
of spread. • If you need to make changes to your
area.
• If team members generally pick up parts business's response to coronavirus, how
will you communicate it with your team to
or supplies, how can those purchases be Changing how you use make sure everyone is on the same page?
planned ahead to be done differently?
Could you instead get things dropped
shared spaces
off or left outside instead to reduce the & surfaces Responding to members
exposure risk?
• Would it be useful to enhance your
• Do you have shared vehicles, work spaces,
hand-washing facilities, bathrooms or
of the team being out
existing farm biosecurity measures kitchen facilities and are they set up to of action
and further restrict visitor access to reduce risk of transmission? • How would the business be impacted
your farm/business or put signage and • Are there processes in place to clean down by limited labour due to staff having to
processes in place to advise visitors of shared surfaces regularly or to reduce the self-isolate, or the closure of schools or
your protocols on arrival? need to share them? For example, think childcare? What can you do to prepare?
• How do team members and their close about things multiple people touch like • How could you respond if one of your
contacts plan to manage their personal lives door handles, taps, food surfaces, steering team members or someone they have
and trips to grocery stores? Each workplace is wheels, operating screens, switches, the regular contact with was required to
a community that will need to work together inside of vehicles, the fuel bowser. isolate or tested positive?
 ON 27
FARM

• How could you respond if a team

member displayed symptoms?
SHEARING OPERATION PROTOCOLS
• What policies are in place for sick or
'isolation' leave? If there are none IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
in place or you work with casuals,
will they feel financial pressure to The protocols were updated and issued last month by
keep working if they feel unwell? WoolProducers Australia, the National Farmers Federation and
Would putting a plan in place reduce
this risk? the Shearing Contractor’s Association of Australia.

• If you don’t feel well, don’t’ risk going to work. Let your employer know you are not well.
Supporting each other
• How could you support a team • COVID vaccination is strongly encouraged for all producers and wool harvesting staff.
member if they or their family are
• If you have questions about safe work practices, contact your Safe Work representative
required to isolate or tested positive?
in your state.
• Are there members of your team
who are not coping well due to stress • Wear face masks where possible.
or anxiety?
• How can you keep a sense of team and • Ensure sign-in procedures are adhered to.
social contact while social distancing
measures are in place? MAINTAIN 1.5 METRE
OVER-COMMUNICATE
• How could you support a farm DISTANCE BETWEEN
neighbour or a similar service PERSONNEL AT ALL TIMES Talk to staff each day
provider if their business is Shed staff considerations:
impacted and they are struggling • Remind them to practice social
to deliver their farming program or • Travelling separately in vehicles distancing and/or isolation
business services?  unless the vehicle can allow for each night in suburban jobs –
1.5 metre distancing, eg bus. recommend that people don’t visit
friends and family.
• Wool handlers waiting until the
shearer is in the catching pen • If they feel unwell do not come
before they pick-up. to work, or leave work if feeling
FURTHER Woolgrower considerations:
unwell.

INFORMATION • Only using every second

• Don’t pressure staff to work – if
they are nervous and don’t want to
The AWI website at www.wool.com/ shearing stand. work, find alternative workers.
covid-19 provides links to several • Must have own rooms in camp Contractors & woolgrower
useful resources issued by external out jobs (consider utilising other communication
organisation, including: buildings).
• Forewarn, accept and manage
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT • Meals – ensure eating areas can for lower productivity/higher
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH provide 1.5 metre distancing. costs – safety and welfare are
• COVID-19 resources prioritised over profits and time.
Considerations for woolgrowers
• COVID-19 health alert IMPLEMENT AND FOLLOW include animal welfare and
STRICT HYGIENE REGIMES additional labour costs.
POSTERS FOR YOUR
Shed staff considerations: • Plan for several months ahead.
FARM PREMISES
• Wash frequently with soap and • Plan to be restricted to ‘essential
• How to avoid infection or water, before and after eating and
spreading the virus (healthdirect) shearing only’.
after using the toilet.
• Hand hygiene (Chamber of • Encourage communications via
• Bring own soap, alcohol-based phone where possible.
Commerce and Industry WA) hand sanitiser and towel.
• Essential personnel only – do
ADVICE AS AN EMPLOYER • Don’t share cups or water bottles.
not allow people that are not
• Coronavirus and Australian • Encourage sweat band use and essential to the wool harvesting
Workplace Laws (Fair Work use of own towels – the virus process, ie visitors, children etc
Ombudsman). For employers and cannot be transmitted from an into the shearing shed, especially
employees under the national infected person through sweat older people.
industrial relations system, ie alone but can be transmitted
through coughing or sneezing.
those on the Pastoral Award 2010
for companies. • Keep gear separated – workers
to bring storage bags or tubs for WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): their gear. BECOMES UNWELL AT WORK
Advice for Employers (Safe Work
Woolgrower considerations: • Isolate as soon as possible.
Australia)
• Provide running water (no basins), • Notify relevant people including
• COVID-19 Employer Guide contractor or woolgrower.
(Australian Chamber of soap, alcohol-based hand
sanitiser and paper towel. • Follow dept of Health procedures:
Commerce and Industry)
• Ensure adequate space in eating www.health.gov.au/resources/
• Farmhub COVID-19 resources rooms to enable 1.5m distancing collections/novel-coronavirus-
(National Farmers Federation) between staff. 2019-ncov-resources
28 ON
FARM

a user-friendly website and phone app. There

are sections devoted to the key pest animals
that affect the businesses of woolgrowers:
wild dogs, foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and deer.
The WildDogScan section alone contains
more than 125,000 entries of wild dogs,
attacks, and management actions.
You can use FeralScan™ to map
pest animal activity, document problems,
upload photos, and record control activities.
Information you enter about pests in your
local area is managed securely and privately
FeralScan™ can be accessed at
www.feralscan.org.au or the app at all times. The resource uses an ingenious
can be downloaded by searching way of keeping you, your neighbours and
for ‘FeralScan™’ in Apple or community informed about current pest
GooglePlay stores.
activity through ‘private’ groups. By using

FeralScan:
FeralScan™ to record pest animal activity
in your local area, you are helping protect
agricultural production, livestock, pets,
biodiversity and communities.
Peter West, FeralScan™ national
the modern way of coordinator and invasive species specialist
with NSW Department of Primary Industries

broadcasting wild dog activity (DPI), says FeralScan™ has grown from a
simple citizen science project into a popular,
community-led monitoring and management
program with more than a quarter of a
Displaying dead wild dogs on fences and trees was once a million pest animal records. The platform
way of letting local farmers know that wild dogs were in the is now being used to inform management
area, but now these displays undermine support for wild dog decisions and pest management plan
development by community groups.
management activities. FeralScanTM offers an effective answer “FeralScan™ contains data entered by
for the 21st century. This easy-to-use and free electronic more than 25,000 people, making it the largest
resource enables farmers to record and view information community-driven pest animal monitoring
about wild dog and other pest animal activity in their local area. program in Australia,” Peter said.
“Continuous input from farmers and
other users has delivered an important

I n parts of rural Australia, an historic practice

saw the bodies of trapped or shot wild dogs
strung from trees and fences. This was done
from urban areas do not. They do not see that
the pest animals were humanely controlled
to protect our livestock, communities
resource which informs pest animal
management programs across the
country. More than 450 community and
to alert landholders in an area that wild dogs and biodiversity,” said National Wild Dog biosecurity groups now use the resource
were active but also to show which dogs had Management Coordinator, Greg Mifsud. in a strategic way to monitor pest animals,
been captured so that they could identify “These images are captured on camera keep everyone informed, plan control, and
how many were still around. In some cases, and distributed widely, which does nothing evaluate outcomes. More than 160 full-time
it was also used by trappers to demonstrate but erode our social licence to maintain wild professional pest controllers also use it to
that they were doing their jobs effectively. dog and feral animal control, something we ensure the communities they work for are
However, with more and more have worked so hard to develop. protected from pest animals.
travellers visiting regional areas, the open “Those images are being used to call Helen Lawson, sheep producer and
display of dead wild dogs hanging from trees for an end to wild dog management and Hargraves-Hill End Pest Control Group
has become an issue. Many visitors – from particularly lethal control, including the use Secretary in the Central Tablelands of NSW, is
tourists on staycations to grey nomads (many of 1080. It is a real risk to ongoing wild dog a proud FeralScan™ user.
with their own dogs) – don’t realise why the management activities across the country “We use FeralScan™ to monitor
carcasses are there and they simply see it as a into the future. wild dog activity. It automatically notifies
gruesome and macabre display. “Farmers and wild dog controllers are landholders and the local community of
With most members of the public moving away from these old practices into wild dog reports, which helps us plan and
having a camera on their mobile phones, the 21st century by recording wild dog control undertake control measures,” Helen said.
it doesn’t take long for such images to be using the WildDogScan tool in the The group has used FeralScan™ to
circulated widely amongst their friends, FeralScan™ app.” record wild dog sightings, attacks on livestock
family and on social media, often drawing and control activities across their district to
criticism and condemnations from followers. improve the effectiveness of management.
Animal rights groups are also happy to
FeralScanTM: Up-to-date It has become increasingly useful as more
use these images to try and paint farmers pest monitoring people use the resource.
in a negative light. Politicians are under FeralScan™ is a free online resource that FeralScan™ receives funding from
increasing pressure from these groups, who woolgrowers – plus other landholders, AWI, the Department of Agriculture, Water
are often from urban areas and are unaware community groups and professional pest and Environment and NSW DPI through the
of the impacts that wild dogs and other feral animal controllers – can use to record Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. 
animals have on agriculture and biodiversity. information about pest animal activity in
“While I and others fully understand their local area. More information
the historic purpose of this activity, travellers It can be accessed and works through www.feralscan.org.au
 ON 29
FARM

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Viper provides 100% rapid knockdown 2 of sheep lice and protects against re-infestation

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30 ON
FARM

Making More From Sheep

best practice education package
Are you a youngster interested in learning about the key profit
drivers in a sheep and wool enterprise? Or maybe you’ve been in
the industry for a while and would like a refresher on some key
management practices? If so, take a look at the ‘Making More
From Sheep’ online information package.

Making More From

'M aking More From Sheep’ is a best
practice package of information and
management tools for Australian sheep and
Sheep modules
The 12 modules are available to view or download The condition scoring section in the
wool producers, containing the very best ‘Wean More Lambs’ module.
(free) from www.makingmorefromsheep.com.au
information on sheep production.
Developed by AWI and MLA about
15 years ago, the handy education package BUSINESS BASED MODULES RESOURCE & PASTURE
is still very useful for helping producers 1. Plan for Success BASED MODULES
increase their productivity, profitability and 2. Market Focused Wool Production 5. Protect Your Farm’s Natural Assets
sustainability. The modules are available 3. Market Focused Lamb and 6. Healthy Soils
free, online on the Making More From Sheep Sheepmeat Production 7. Grow More Pasture
website at www.makingmorefromsheep. 4. Capable and Confident Producers 8. Turn Pasture into Product
com.au.
The 12 Making More From Sheep
modules were developed with input from
SHEEP TECHNOLOGY BASED PASTORAL MODULE
more than 250 leading sheep producers
and technical experts. The package helps MODULES 12. Efficient Pastoral Production
users identify the 20% of decisions that 9. Gain from Genetics
have 80% of the impact on business 10. Wean More Lambs
profitability and controlling risk in wool 11. Healthy and Contented Sheep
and sheepmeat production.
 ON 31
FARM

Natural Capital Accounting

Reports are now available from an AWI-funded project that used Natural Capital Accounting
to objectively measure the environmental credentials of 11 Australian wool-growing
properties. The first of its kind study demonstrated that natural capital metrics can be easily
calculated, which could potentially help many woolgrowers to market the eco-credentials
of their wool to prospective buyers and stewardship payment schemes.

What is Natural Capital The 11 farms are located in grassy woodland Study adds to industry
Accounting? regions of eastern Australia and were knowledge
selected to cover a diverse range of climates,
W ith some 80% of the investment in a
farm tied up in the land base, it makes
good sense for producers to incorporate
production systems and landscapes.
A detailed Natural Capital Accounting
In 2015, French luxury group Kering
(which owns brands including Gucci and
Saint Laurent) released its pioneering
report was prepared for each farm which
a measurement of the condition of this Environmental Profit & Loss (EP&L)
assessed the farm’s natural capital. This
important business asset into their thinking methodology for measuring and quantifying
covered ecosystem function across 12
on profit. the environmental impact of its activities.
criteria; assessed ecosystem type, use and
Natural Capital Accounting is Kering shares the EP&L as an open source
capacity; estimated carbon storage; and
a new way of thinking that can help tool which has resulted in it becoming highly
undertook a detailed Environmental Profit
producers objectively measure their farm’s influential with its peers in the luxury
& Loss statement (Kering methodology – see
environmental assets (ie natural capital, industry and other sectors.
below) covering 31 key criteria. A summary
such as soil, water and vegetation). It can In the past, the Kering EP&L has
report was also provided to each woolgrower
help producers view the environmental always been calculated using a generalised
for their property.
impacts of their farming alongside their industry methodology. However, the AWI-
existing financial measures of profit – and funded study prepared inputs to the Kering
help them track changes in natural capital Study results back wool EP&L methodology using actual farm data to
over time, in the same way they do for other The study found that most of the 11 farms, estimate the environmental impact of each
forms of farm capital such as stock and farm as an outcome of their normal management farm’s operations on the environment across
infrastructure. practices, are conserving and, in many cases, Kering’s 31 criteria.
Furthermore, given that there is a regenerating the iconic grassy woodlands. Interestingly all farms in the study
growing demand by brands to source wool Ground cover averages that were examined had substantially lower impacts on the
from woolgrowers that produce wool in an over a long-term historical period ranged environment than had been previously
environmentally conscious manner, Natural from 75% to 100%, which is consistently published by Kering using their generalised
Capital Accounting provides an opportunity higher than regional averages. methodology. This was particularly the case
for woolgrowers to clearly document and The rates of CO2 emissions and for greenhouse gas emissions and impact on
market the positive environmental impacts sequestration varied greatly across the 11 the ecosystem.
of their on-farm management to interested farms, depending on the farming system The new study, while small in sample,
buyers and the wider industry, in language used and the type, extent and condition of suggests that the generalised Kering EP&L
they can understand. vegetation. However, seven of the farms findings could overestimate the impact
captured and stored more carbon through of wool-growing on the environment,
their business activities than they emitted. particularly for woolgrowers who have
AWI-funded study of Greenhouse gas emissions from the 11 farms restoration of the environment as part of
11 properties averaged 29kg CO2 equivalent per kg of clean their management goals.
As reported in the September 2020 edition wool, which is much lower than previous This AWI study will help advance
of Beyond the Bale, an AWI-funded study, estimates for the wool industry. and improve assessment of wool by the
undertaken by Vanguard Business Services, Many of the 11 farms have created new fashion and textile industries and help AWI
applied a Natural Capital Accounting and valuable income streams from their to position the wool industry as a proactive,
approach to calculate the impact of farm natural capital. The reports produced for leading and forward-looking industry,
environmental assets on the business the woolgrowers are already being used to carefully stewarding the environment.
performance of 11 wool-growing properties provide valuable empirical information to
(see box below) known to be undertaking support these opportunities. More information
some form of positive land management. www.wool.com/nca

Properties in the project

The 11 wool-growing properties that were examined as part of the project were:

Pete and Michael Taylor David and Susan Matt and Vanessa
Bundle Lawson 'Taylors Run' Rowbottom Dunbabin
‘Trewalla’ Kentucky, NSW ‘Rowensville’ ‘Bangor’
Book Book (near St Helens, Vic Dunalley, Tas
Tim and Suzanne
Wagga Wagga), NSW
Wright Richard and Simon and
Colin Seis ‘Lana’ Jenny Weatherly Penny Foster
‘Winona’ Uralla, NSW ‘Connewarran’ ‘Fosterville’
Gulgong, NSW Mortlake, Vic Campbell Town, Tas
Alistair Lade
Norm and Pip Smith 'Glenrannoch’ Simon Cameron
Read more about
‘Glenwood’ Seymour, Vic ‘Kingston’ Michael Taylor’s 'Taylors
Wellingon, NSW Conara, Tas Run' overleaf. 
32 ON
FARM

Michael Taylor’s
family business
on the Northern
Tablelands of NSW
includes a superfine
Merino enterprise.

Land stewardship
benefits confirmed
at Taylors Run

Natural Capital Accounting, which considers the contributions that a property’s natural
assets make to the farming business, has helped woolgrower Michael Taylor of Kentucky
in NSW to get a deeper understanding of his family farm’s profit.

T he 647-hectare property 'Taylors Run',

located in the southern Northern
Tablelands of NSW, is a family owned and
The wool has been purchased directly by
some of the top processors and spinners in
the world, including the Schneider Group
Merinos are hard to beat, especially when
seasons get tough,” Michael said.
“We’re seeing a renaissance in the
operated property that has been producing and most recently the REDA Group, and is use of wool through innovative fabrics and
superfine Merino wool since 1839. Sixth used in premium Italian fabrics from the consumers’ renewed interest in natural
generation woolgrower Michael Taylor took likes of Ermenegildo Zegna, Vitale Barberis fibres. We really love the style of wool that
over management of the property in 2008 Canonico and REDA 1865. we’re producing here and it’s providing a
from his parents Jon and Vicki. “Our family has been running sheep good income and a profitable enterprise.
On average their 3,000 Merino sheep on the land here for generations, through “I’m passing the farming knowledge
graze on a mix of native and improved all sorts of seasons and market fluctuations, that I’ve learnt from my parents on to my
pastures, each year producing about 11,000 kg but the sheep business is resilient and three children and all three have shown
of soft and bright superfine wool averaging has always come through. As a dual- interest in coming back to the farm at some
16.5 micron and >55kN staple strength. purpose animal producing wool and meat, point, which is fantastic.”
 ON 33
FARM

Taylors Run is managed as an the business. land base alongside their financial reports,
integrated agroforestry system. Since As part of the project, an assessment giving a more rounded view of profit.
the late 1970s, the Taylors have planted of the natural capital of Taylors Run was Overall, the report showed that the Taylors’
more than 250,000 trees on the property, undertaken based on field work by a property was in good health – see box below.
increasing tree cover from less than 5% trained ecologist, FarmMap4D satellite data, “With our land making up more than
to more than 20%. There are more than management information provided by the 80% of the value of the business, natural
300 tree species on the property, although Taylors and financial statements provided capital accounting is very useful as it enables
radiata pine is the predominant species with by the farm accountant. us to clearly see the value of the ecosystem
more than 60 hectares across the whole A specialist in Natural Capital services and the biodiversity on the property,
farm managed for commercial harvesting Accounting then provided the Taylors with including our pasture health, tree growth
each year. a full ‘natural capital report’ that will allow across the property and our net carbon
“We’re aiming for roughly 30% the Taylors to monitor the condition of their sequestration,” Michael said.
distributed tree cover as the research “Going forward, I think it’s
has shown this is the point where a pretty exciting story for us to
you start to get efficient natural be able to show that we’ve been
regeneration, sufficient shelter and a producing wool year in, year out for
lot of your ecosystem functions start to more than 180 years and that we’re
become self-supporting,” Michael said. now improving our ecosystems
“As shelter increases, we’re and sequestering more carbon than
seeing increased biodiversity, including we’re emitting.
more than 122 different species of birds “And running a family property is
recorded on the property.” not just about financial profit. Having
The Taylor family produces a pleasant healthy landscape for the
its wool in an environmentally family to live in is very important for
sustainable manner, encouraging our wellbeing too. During the 2019
healthy soils and pastures. The drought as dust and smoke were
sheep graze rotationally, but Michael passing by our property, being able to
allows flexibility depending on go into one of our forested areas and
circumstances. At lambing, the lie down in green grass was extremely
scanned ewes are split into smaller valuable to our wellbeing.”
mobs in well rested lambing paddocks
which has helped maintain high More information
lambing rates. Using regular worm www.taylorsrun.com
egg counts and grazing management,
treating for worms has been reduced TOP: Taylors Run is a family owned and run
to just a couple of key times annually. property that has been in the Taylor family
The reduced use of pesticides has since 1839. Pictured are Michael and Milly
with their three children, Remy, Lydie and
not only saved a lot of money but the Nina, and his parents Jon and Vicki.
positive effects on soil biology and BOTTOM: Michael Taylor with Nina
health have been well documented. examining the health of the soil.
“We aim to maintain 100%
ground cover for 100% of the year, to
best utilise all intensities of rainfall at any
time of the year,” Michael said.
TAYLORS RUN'S NATURAL CAPITAL
“We’ve been through three droughts The natural capital report for Taylors Run included the following highlights:
since I’ve been back on the property
• Using standard industry classifications, 94% of Taylors Run can be classified
including one that was unprecedented,
as being in ‘very good’ condition for livestock grazing, with 6% classified
and according to all the climate predictions
as being in ‘good’ condition. This provides a strong basis for the wool
they’re going to be worse. So we’re constantly
production business.
looking for species that might be more
resilient and are going to continue to provide • Over the last 13 years, groundcover remained above 80% and peaked at 98%,
the different strata through our landscape which is very good considering that industry targets suggest a minimum of
from ground cover to shrubs to small trees to 70% ground cover is required to minimise water run-off and erosion, and
large long-lived trees. high levels of ground cover assist in effective water and mineral cycles.
“As well as providing shelter and
• Taylors Run produces negligible air pollution, water pollution or waste.
shade to the livestock and wildlife, our trees
also reduce the loss of soil moisture when • Taylors Run’s net carbon sequestration is 212 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per
it’s windy. We aim to spread shelter evenly year, meaning more CO2 is being captured and stored than is being emitted.
across the property, so it is a patchwork of Furthermore, these carbon sequestration figures are conservative because,
forest and reserves and pastured areas.” while they include the above and below ground biomass of the trees as well
as coarse woody debris, the calculations do not account for the possibility
that regeneratively managed soils may be sequestering significant amounts
Natural Capital of soil carbon.
Accounting
• Taylors Run generates approximately 28.7kg of greenhouse gases per kg
The Taylors last year took part in an AWI-
of greasy wool, which is just 58% of the amount estimated by Kering for
funded Natural Capital Accounting project
greenhouse gas emissions from regenerated landscapes, and only 31% of
carried out by a specialist project team from
emissions from conventional landscapes.
Vanguard Business Services (see page 31).
Natural Capital Accounting considers the • A conservative estimate of the natural value affected by Taylors Run’s
different ways in which farmers support commercial business operation suggests that it has impacted the ecosystem
their land and the contributions the land services by just 33-46% and that this is not a permanent loss, compared to 80%
makes to the financial performance of estimated by Kering for land use impact from conventional wool production.
34 ON
FARM

Lifetime Ewe Management

Setting your ewes up for success
More than 4,000 Australian
producers have taken part in
the AWI-supported Lifetime
Ewe Management course,
representing 30% of the
national flock. On average,
producers increase stocking
rate by 9.3%, marking
percentage by 7%, weaning
percentage by 8% and reduce
ewe mortality by 25%.

T he Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM)

course, supported by AWI, aims to
increase producers’ understanding of the
influence of ewe nutrition and management
on overall reproduction rates and lamb and
ewe survival.
LTEM groups meet six times during
a period of 12 months. The course is very
hands-on, being based in the sheep yards, • Set up lambing paddocks had the most influence on sheep reproduction
shearing sheds and paddocks of participating • Form weaning strategies to maximise efficiency. The study estimated the benefit/
woolgrowers, which enables participants to weaner survival cost ratio of the program was 8.5.
share and learn from one another. • Set targets for condition score, conception,
Being involved in a LTEM course gives lamb survival, ewe mortality, lamb growth More information
you the skills and support to make feeding rate and feed on offer. If you are interested in joining an LTEM
and managing your ewes easier. Your trainer, LTEM was developed using research group in your area, contact RIST’s LTEM
an experienced sheep consultant, will work outcomes of the AWI-funded Lifetime Wool Program Manager, Bec Malseed on 0407
with you to: project (lifetimewool.com.au), which ran 730 943 or visit www.rist.edu.au/lifetime-
• Learn how to condition score from 2001 to 2008, and involved growers and ewe-management
• Prepare ewes for joining researchers in WA, Vic, NSW, and SA.
• Manage singles and twin-bearing ewes at A recent independent assessment of
different stages of their reproductive cycle all the Australian sheep industry's sheep
• Assess pasture and calculate supplementary reproduction extension activities concluded
feeding rates that the LTEM program was the one that has

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 ON 35
FARM

Sheep production videos

to help implement best practice
The AWI Change Makers series of online short videos continues to communicate the latest
research findings and tools to woolgrowers. Tune in to hear leading livestock consultant, Nathan
Scott, demonstrate a range of practical ways you can influence sheep reproduction in your flock.
In the AWI Change
Makers online video
series, leading livestock EPISODE 1:
consultant Nathan Scott
presents the latest R&D
LAMBING MOB SIZE
outcomes in a simple It is important for woolgrowers to
and accessible format.
consider their lambing mob size
because it can have a significant
impact on lambing rates, particularly
in twin mobs. Watch the 3½ minute
video to hear Nathan outline why
mob size matters and practical
management tips. For further
information on how to estimate your
optimum mob size, head to
www.wool.com/mobsize.

EPISODE 2: EPISODE 3: EPISODE 4:

WEANING TO MANAGE RAM PERFORMANCE EWE CONDITION
Weaning is important for the ewe and MANAGEMENT SCORING
the lamb; learn how to manage ewe Rams are high performance animals Condition score can tell you so
condition and lamb growth rates for that work hard over the joining much about your sheep and their
their next steps. Watch the 4½ minute period. They contribute half of performance, and is simply done by
video to hear Nathan outline why the genetics of their progeny and hand, measuring the fat and muscle
timely weaning is important and what are the primary drivers of genetic cover over and around the short
you can do. For further information improvement in a flock, so need ribs. Watch the 4½ minute video to
and to access AWI’s standard reference to be given every opportunity to hear Nathan outline the benefits
weight (SRW) calculator and weaner pass on their genes. Watch the 6 of recording and managing ewe
management checklist, head to minute video to hear Nathan outline condition scores to target, practical
www.wool.com/weaning. why it’s so important to manage management tips and expected
your rams to be in peak physical productivity gains. For further
condition and sperm production, and information and to download a
practical management tips to help condition scoring card, or find more
EPISODE 5: you achieve your joining goals. For about the Lifetime Ewe Management
JOINING TIME AND further information and tips for ram course (see opposite page) and app,
LENGTH preparation and management, head head to www.wool.com/LTEM.
to www.wool.com/rams.
Time of joining will set out your whole
reproductive schedule and determine
when your ewes’ nutritional demands
will peak. Watch the 5½ minute EPISODE 6: EPISODE 7:
video to hear Nathan as he outlines LAMBING PADDOCK SCANNING TO MANAGE
the considerations and impacts of
joining time and length, with practical
PLANNING The requirements of single and
management tips for you when deciding Lambing paddock selections should twin bearing ewes vary greatly, and
what will work for your operation. For be carefully planned to give you the pregnancy scanning is your most
further information, head to www. best possible lamb survival results. valuable tool to allow for differential
wool.com/lambing or for courses to Watch the 5 minute video to see management. Watch the 5 minute
understand the ewe management Nathan outline the considerations video to see Nathan Scott as he
impacts of joining time and length go to and impacts of lambing paddock outlines the considerations and
www.wool.com/LTEM. choices, with practical management benefits it provides, with practical
tips for deciding what will work management tips for deciding what
for your operation. For further will work for your operation. Head to
Three more episodes in the series will be www.wool.com/nutrition for further
information, go to www.wool.com/
released during the coming months. information on pregnancy scanning.
lambing or www.feedonofferlibrary.
com for further information to assess
More information
your Feed on Offer.
View the videos at www.wool.com/
awichangemakers or on the AWI
Grower App.
36 ON
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MLP fast facts

The AWI-funded MLP project is a
MLP data-to-date
$13 million ($8 million from AWI plus
$5 million from project partners),
Selecting on reproduction results
10-year venture between AWI, the
Australian Merino Sire Evaluation
and economic analysis
Association (AMSEA), nominating stud
Merino breeders and site partners. Pingelly’s MLP ewes just prior to lambing, June 2021. PHOTO: Richard McKenna.
• B almoral, Vic
Partner: Tuloona Pastoral As the MLP project continues in its collection of lifetime data,
Committee: Balmoral Breeders reproduction results to date provide a preliminary indication
Association of the impact of various ewe culling strategies on flock
• Pingelly, WA reproduction rate. At the completion of the project, the full
Partner: Murdoch MLP reproduction records will be utilised in a comprehensive
University / UWA
C ommittee: Federation of
economic analysis to compare alternative breeding and
Performance Sheep Breeders selection strategies and the impacts on whole flock
(WA Branch) productivity and profitability.
• MerinoLink, Temora, NSW
Partner: Moses & Son
Committee: MerinoLink Inc.
• Macquarie, Trangie, NSW
Partner: NSW DPI
C ommittee: Macquarie Sire
Evaluation Association
• New England, NSW
Partner: CSIRO
C ommittee: New England Merino
Sire Evaluation Association
The MLP project is tracking the
lifetime performance of 5,700 ewes
as they proceed through four to five
joinings and annual shearings.
Ewes and lambs at MerinoLink, July 2021. PHOTO: Marty Moses
A full suite of assessments will be
undertaken including visual trait
scoring, classer gradings, objective
assessments of a range of key traits
and index evaluations.
A unique and extensive dataset will
result and be used to enhance existing
Merino breeding and selection
strategies, for both ram sellers and
buyers, to deliver greater lifetime
productivity and woolgrower returns.
To stay up to date with the latest
MLP findings, visit www.wool.com/
MLP. Subscribe to MLP updates via
www.merinosuperiorsires.com.au/
contact-us
Balmoral’s MLP ewes lining up for pregnancy scanning, July 2021. Visible dark rib line is vegetable oil
residue from EMD/FAT scanning. PHOTO: Tom Silcock
 ON 37
FARM

T o date, data has been collected across

three MLP sites for the ewes through
their maiden, second and third reproduction
selection options were applied to determine
the impact of the culling on the flock
reproduction rate, or LW/EJ:
analysis. Whole of project analyses and
modelling is set to commence in late 2021
and will consider the full range of industry
cycles. For this data-to-date snapshot, the factors influencing selection and culling
2016 drop ewes at the older MerinoLink, 1. Remove scanned dry maidens decisions such as market conditions, the
Balmoral and Pingelly sites are presented (Dry Maiden) availability of replacement ewes, the
along with potential flock reproduction 2. Remove lambed and lost as maidens influence of age and pregnancy status on key
outcomes calculated by selecting ewes based (L&L Maiden) production traits, and stocking rates. This
on their reproduction performance alone. 3. Remove scanned dry at first two economic analysis work will look to optimise
The MLP project retains all ewes, enabling joinings (Double Dry) whole flock productivity and profitability,
the impact of applying different selection 4. Remove lambed and lost at first two answering industry questions for both ram
approaches and the resulting effect on flock joinings (Double L&L) sellers and buyers. 
reproduction rates to be explored. 5. Removing ewes that failing to rear a
At MerinoLink, 308 ewes have been lamb for first two joinings (Failed Twice) More information
joined as maidens and then again at two For more details about the MLP analysis
subsequent joinings. They averaged 106 For these three drops (see Table 1 below), the visit www.wool.com/MLP.
lambs for every 100 ewes joined across these calculated impact of applying the selection
three years, or 106% lambs weaned/ewes strategies is generally small to nil.
joined (LW/EJ). Balmoral joined 724 ewes The calculated outcomes presented
and Pingelly 357 ewes as maidens, and then here are based on just three lambings for
again for two subsequent joinings, with three of ten MLP drops and have not been
2021 FIELD DAYS
Balmoral averaging 94% LW/EJ and Pingelly analysed for statistical differences. MerinoLink - 12 October 2021
114% LW/EJ. These early indications will be worked Pingelly - 22 October 2021
Using the reproduction data through for all ten MLP drops from the For more information visit www.wool.com/MLP
available on these ewes, the following five sites during the project’s full economic

Table 1. Ewe retention and removal options with the calculated impact on flock reproduction rates, or lambs weaned per 100 ewes joined (LW/EJ) across
three of the MLP sites based on the first three years of reproduction results.

MerinoLink Balmoral Pingelly

(308 maiden ewes joined) (724 maiden ewes joined) (357 maiden ewes joined)

Flock lambs Flock lambs Flock lambs

Selection Number of ewes Number of ewes Number of ewes
weaned/ewes weaned/ewes weaned/ewes
approach* removed removed removed
joined (%) joined (%) joined (%)
No culling 106 94 114
Dry Maiden 53 111 99 95 21 115
L&L Maiden 20 105 110 94 35 114
Double Dry 25 107 17 95 5 114
Double L&L 2 106 27 94 3 114
Failed Twice 33 107 68 95 12 114
*Ewe mortalities and welfare culls have been excluded from the calculations.

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38 ON
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Genetics update
New Merino genetics R&D
T he AWI Board has approved a new
$1 million, four-and-a-half-year project
with the Animal Genetics and Breeding
• At what age(s) can accurate assessments
of lifetime productivity be made?
• How important is it for ram breeders to
• Inclusion of welfare, resilience and feed
efficiency outcomes into indexes.
• Creation of visual trait, faecal consistency
Unit (AGBU) to fund Merino Lifetime collect repeat adult fleece, carcass, health and urine stain ASBVs.
Productivity project analysis and Merino and reproduction data? Can short cuts be • Lower average worm burden protocols for
genetic benchmarking R&D. made to reduce data collection costs? ASBVs.
• Can we improve the very early in life • DNA Flock profiling and impact on
Merino Lifetime Productivity R&D predictions of lifetime productivity, with wether trials.
and without DNA genotypes? • Genomics of dark fibre and flystrike.
The Merino Lifetime Productivity (MLP)
• What is the right balance (cost and • Investigate the collection of genomic
Analysis and Reporting Plan Version 2
accuracy) of visual assessments and reference flock data using R&D and
has been established in consultation
objective assessments for both accuracy MERINOSELECT member flocks.
with industry and is available on the AWI
and cost effectiveness? The prioritisation of this work will
website at wool.com/mlp.
• What impact did the different site be done in consultation and collaboration
The MLP project is creating a very
environments/ewe bases have on the with MLA and Sheep Genetics, OVIS owners
extensive dataset which will be used to
expression of traits? and AGBU.
address many future issues; however
AGBU have commenced advertising
the initial focus will be assessing sire
Merino Genetic Benchmarking R&D for a new full time postdoctoral position
differences in lifetime productivity
to increase the AGBU staff numbers to
and profitability. The focus of this work will be on R&D
conduct the above work.
• How well do the current indexes reflect involving MERINOSELECT, sire evaluation,
profitability? wether trials and flystrike genomics:
• How important is it to add mature ewe • Adoption of the outcomes of the
weight, survival and resilience/robustness MLP project.
traits to the indexes?

Table 2: Annual genetic trend of key MERINOSELECT ASBVs and record numbers for three breech traits

Footrot ASBVs Year

of
YGFW ACFW YFD ASL ASS ACUV ADCV

birth ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV

New Zealand has been running a Central
Testing Program for Footrot (see www. 2005 1.8 3.4 -1.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 -0.3
perfectsheep.co.nz/central-progeny-test) 2006 2.5 3.9 -1.2 0.8 0.2 0.0 -0.3
for nearly a decade, and ASBVs for footrot
for the tested sires are published on the 2007 3.3 4.4 -1.2 1.1 0.2 0.1 -0.3
MERINOSELECT website. (Contact Sheep 2008 4.1 5.0 -1.2 1.6 0.4 -0.2 -0.4
Genetics at info@sheepgenetics.org.au.)
2009 4.3 5.1 -1.2 1.8 0.6 -0.3 -0.4
There is interest to determine if this
New Zealand data is relevant to Australian 2010 5.2 6.3 -1.1 2.7 0.3 -1.4 -0.4
conditions. The 2016 wether progeny of
2011 5.3 6.4 -1.1 3.2 0.4 -1.8 -0.4
the Pingelly MLP sires were assessed
last spring in south-western Victoria, 2012 5.8 7.2 -1.1 3.5 0.5 -1.9 -0.4
with the work funded by Murdoch 2013 7.0 8.2 -1.1 3.7 0.6 -2.1 -0.4
University and Animal Health Australia
(AHA). Three of the MLP sires already 2014 7.7 9.0 -1.1 4.2 0.6 -2.4 -0.4
had progeny tested in New Zealand and 2015 9.0 10.1 -1.0 4.5 0.7 -2.8 -0.5
they provide a valuable link to the New
2016 9.6 10.7 -1.0 4.6 0.7 -3.0 -0.5
Zealand data. This spring, the wether
progeny of the sires used for the Pingelly 2017 11.0 12.0 -1.0 5.1 0.5 -3.5 -0.4
2017 drop will be assessed and further
2018 11.7 12.6 -1.0 5.3 0.6 -3.7 -0.5
validated. Several high profile MLP sires
used in 2016 sires have performed well for 2019 13.3 14.1 -0.9 5.7 0.6 -4.2 -0.4
footrot resistance. 2020 15.0 15.5 -0.9 7.0 0.7 -5.1 -0.5

For further information contact Source Sheep Genetics June 2021.

Geoff.Lindon@ wool.com Note, there are still outstanding records for the 2020 drop.
 ON 39
FARM

MERINOSELECT genetic trends

Table 2 below shows the recent Merino Breed From a national trial across 200 sites, In country that promotes the
MERINOSELECT genetic trends for a range mulesing reduced wrinkle by 1.0 score and expression of wrinkle (high wrinkle country),
of key traits. It shows that fleece weight, dags by 0.4 score, the higher the natural target ASBVs for Breech Wrinkle are -0.8 to
staple length, staple strength, fibre diameter starting score the larger the reduction. -1.0, in moderate wrinkle country -0.7 and in
variability, muscle, worm resistance, number There are two current sires that are -1.0 for low wrinkle country around -0.3.
of lambs weaned, wrinkle and MP+ index are wrinkle and -0.4 for dag, both are strong For some woolgrowers, breeding
all improving. wool sires (+0.0 YFD). There are nine current can largely replace mulesing; for others,
The table also shows a large increase in sires that are trait leaders for Wrinkle, Dag a much greater reliance on other tools will
the number of records being collected for the and MP+ Index; they are also high micron be required to do so.
three breech traits: wrinkle, cover and dag. sires averaging -0.2 YFD.
The large increase in breech trait recording More information
will assist the industry find rams and ewes www.wool.com/genetic-evaluation
that are trait leaders for fleece weight, index Table1: Merino percentiles for 2020 drop year
as well as the breech traits. The increasing

Source MERINOSELECT website July 2021

number of records is hiding the advances YEARLING
PERCENTILE BREECH BREECH
being made by individual breeders and also LATE DAG FIBRE
RANGE WRINKLE COVER
the breech trait variation that exists in the DIAMETER
Merino (see Table 1). TOP 1% -1.3 -0.8 -0.5 -3.2
There are considerable differences
between the three main types of Merino TOP 10% -0.9 -0.5 -0.3 -2.2
for the breech trait ASBVs. For the 2019
TOP 20% -0.7 -0.3 -0.2 -1.7
drop animals, the average wrinkle ASBV for
medium wool type Merinos is -0.44, for fine AVERAGE -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 -1.0
wool type Merinos is -0.10 and for superfine
type Merinos is +0.17. The Merino breed TOP 70% 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.5
average for 2019 is -0.19.
TOP 90% 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2

YWT AWT YFAT YEMD YWEC NLW EBWR EBWR EBCOV EBCOV LDAG LDAG MPP

ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV ASBV Records ASBV Records ASBV Records Index
1.2 0.7 0.0 0.3 -1.3 -1.7% -0.14 1,110 -0.07 1,036 -0.05 2,347 121.7
1.6 1.1 0.1 0.3 -7.0 -1.4% -0.13 2,654 -0.05 3,223 -0.04 2,731 123.0
1.7 1.2 0.1 0.3 -6.8 -1.0% -0.08 3,398 -0.06 3,715 -0.03 6,214 124.8
2.0 1.4 0.1 0.3 -6.0 -0.8% -0.07 13,687 -0.04 16,621 -0.03 6,075 126.5
2.3 1.7 0.1 0.4 -7.2 -0.2% -0.12 19,813 -0.06 15,147 -0.04 6,390 127.4
2.6 2.0 0.1 0.4 -8.1 -0.7% -0.11 19,284 -0.06 15,270 -0.05 5,164 128.6
2.8 2.1 0.1 0.4 -7.9 -0.5% -0.15 24,059 -0.08 18,611 -0.04 6,511 128.6
3.0 2.3 0.1 0.4 -8.2 -0.4% -0.13 26,219 -0.07 20,884 -0.02 7,914 130.5
3.1 2.4 0.1 0.4 -9.2 -0.6% -0.12 19,845 -0.07 18,310 -0.05 10,806 132.1
3.3 2.6 0.1 0.4 -10.2 -0.2% -0.14 20,465 -0.10 15,314 -0.03 10,491 133.8
3.7 3.0 0.1 0.4 -12.2 -0.1% -0.11 19,203 -0.10 15,753 -0.04 11,420 136.2
4.0 3.2 0.1 0.4 -12.1 -0.2% -0.14 23,229 -0.09 21,502 -0.04 10,300 137.6
4.4 3.6 0.1 0.4 -10.4 0.2% -0.16 28,708 -0.11 24,550 -0.06 11,359 140.4
4.6 3.8 0.1 0.4 -11.7 1.1% -0.17 28,141 -0.09 23,323 -0.06 10,277 142.6
5.0 4.1 0.1 0.4 -10.5 1.8% -0.19 41,059 -0.10 30,161 -0.06 20,926 146.3
5.7 4.7 0.2 0.6 -11.1 3.6% -0.26 52,789 -0.12 36,897 -0.07 7,606 150.4

YGFW Yearling Greasy Fleece Weight ACFW Adult Clean Fleece Weight YFD Yearling Fibre Diameter ASL Adult Staple Length ASS Adult Staple Strength ACUV Adult
Curvature ADCV Adult Fibre Diameter CV YWT Yearling Body Weigh AWT Adult Body Weight YFAT Yearling Fat YEMD Yearling Eye Muscle Depth YWEC Yearling Worm
Egg Count NLW Number of Lambs Weaned EBWR Early Breech Wrinkle EBCOV Early Breech Cover LDAG Late Dag MPP Merino Production Plus
40 ON
FARM

Breeding for natural flystrike

resistant Merinos - publications
www.wool.com/flystrikelatest/#breeding

AWI makes available publications about breeding for flystrike resistant Merinos on
its website at www.wool.com/flystrikelatest/#breeding
Here is a selection of the available publications:

PLANNING FOR BREEDING AND SELECTION - VISUAL SHEEP SCORES –

A NON-MULESED INDUSTRY TRENDS PRODUCER VERSION
MERINO ENTERPRISE (May 2020) (Updated 2019)
(March 2018)

This 16-page report outlines the key This RD&E Technical Update, by AWI’s This 74-page pocket guide for commercial
learnings from a number of wool-growing Geoff Lindon, on sheep breeding and and stud breeders provides a standardised
enterprises, from a diverse range of selection for flystrike resistance reports framework for assessing and scoring
environments and Merino types, that have on changing genetic trends as indicated by visual sheep traits, including breech and
moved to a non-mulesed enterprise. MERINOSELECT ASBVs since 2000. wrinkle traits.

38 ON ON 39
FARM FARM

SHEEP FLYSTRIKE KEY POINTS BREECH COVER - Risk of breech strike increases with increasing breech cover
Frequency distribution (% animals)

To reduce the risk of flystrike 50 50

RISK FACTORS on a property: 40 40 The site at Armidale had a high level of breech cover (80% were score
Breech strike (%)

• Select for lower breech 4 and higher) but a lesser risk of getting breech flystrike. 10% of the
30 30
wrinkle, lower dags and score 3s, 20% of the score 4s and 30% of the scores 5s got breech strike.
cull for high urine stain.
F
20 20
rom 2005 to 2014 the ‘Breeding for given any preventative chemical treatments, The site at Mount Barker had a low incidence of breech cover but a
nor for most years were they mulesed.
Aim for all sheep to be
Breech Strike Resistance’ project 10 10 similar risk of breech strike. Due to the low level of breech cover, most
phenotypically score 2 or
investigated the risk factors that increased strike was caused by other factors (dags and wrinkle).
The data from these flocks were used to lower for the important 0 0
the incidence of flystrike in Merinos at two
create new Australian Sheep Breeding Values traits for the property. 1 2 3 4 5
sites, a high summer rainfall high altitude Only unmulesed animals
for Breech Wrinkle, Cover and Dags, first yBCOV
site at Armidale NSW (CSIRO) and a winter • Once wrinkle, dags and
released in late 2009. Progressively breeders Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014
rainfall Mediterranean site at Mt Barker WA urine stain are low, select
have increased the collection of breech trait
(DPIRD WA). for lower breech cover.
and pedigree data and selected for increased
Aim for all sheep to be
productivity with improvements in these HORNS - Risk of poll strike increases with horned rams
The sheep in the project were provided phenotypically score 3 or
welfare traits.
normal husbandry practices relevant to the lower.
50 The site at Mount Barker had a low level of poll strike in the true
region except for the fact that they were not Flystrike risk factors are outlined below. • Select for polled animals.
Incidence of Poll strike (%)

40 polled rams (less than 5%) and higher incidence of poll strike in fully
horned (30%).
30
DAGS - Risk of breech strike exponentially increases with increasing dags The Site at Armidale was dominated by horned genetics, and most
20 were horned rams.
70 1.40
The site at Armidale had a low incidence of dags, (60% score 1 and 30%
Frequency distribution (% animals)

60 1.20 10
score 2) but for sheep that did express dags (mostly in the odd year
According to the AWI 2017 Husbandry Practices Survey, polled
when dags were higher than normal), the risk of breech strike was high. 0 Merinos now account for two thirds of the total Merino numbers.
50 1.00
Breech flystrike rate

50% of the score 3s, 80% of the score 4s and 140% of the score 5s got
1 2 3 4 5 Polled Merinos are most popular in SA (90%) and WA (74%) and least
40 0.80 Horn score popular in Tasmania (43%) and Queensland (46%). Both NSW and
breech strike each year. A reasonable number of score 5s were struck True Poll Full Horn
several times per year. However, due to the low incidence of dags at the Victoria have 58% polls.
30 0.60 52AWI ON
Source: Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 ON 53
site, most strike was caused by other factors (wrinkle). FARM FARM
20 0.40
The site at Mt Barker had a high incidence of dags in most years and a
10 0.20 similar risk of breech strike to the Armidale site across the dag scores ASBV PERCENTILE TABLE FOR 2018 DROP ALL MERINO BREED SHEEP IN MERINOSELECT
from 1 to 5. The analysis proved that dags were a high risk factor for

BREEDING NATURALLY
0 0.00 breech strike (along with wrinkle). YWT AWT YEMD YFAT YCFW ACFW YFD YWEC NLW EBWR EBCOV LDAG FP+ MP+ DP+ 5%, Fleece Weight fell from top 1% to top 30%, and nearly all sires were higher than +0.3. High
1 2 3 4 5 Fibre Diameter fell from top 40% to bottom Indexing, low wrinkle superfine sires are difficult
TOP 1% 11 11 2.9 2.0 32 27 -3.2 -80 16 -1.2 -0.8 -0.4 167 182 187
pDAG score 20%, Wrinkle improved from average 50% to to find and breed, but ram breeders are taking up
Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014
TOP 5% 9 9 2.3 1.4 27 23 -2.5 -61 10 -1.0 -0.5 -0.3 155 166 170 top 1-5%, Dags improved from bottom 20% the challenge. There is evidence in the pedigree
TOP 10% 8 8 1.9 1.1 24 20 -2.1 -50 8 -0.8 -0.4 -0.3 149 160 161 to top 30% and the DP Plus Index remained of the leading superfine sires that ‘outcross’
URINE STAIN - Risk of breech strike exponentially increases with increasing urine stain

70 1.40
TOP 20%
TOP 50%
BREECH STRIKE RESISTANT MERINOS
7
4
6
4
1.4
0.4
0.8
0.3
21
14
17
10
-1.7
-1.0
-38
-15
5
1
-0.6
-0.2
-0.3
-0.1
-0.2
-0.1
142
131
152
137
152
137
constant from the near top value to top 1%.

This database search shows that breeding

sires are being used to reduce wrinkle, increase
fleece weight, while attempting to minimise the
increase in fibre diameter in superfine Merinos.
TOP 70% 3 2 6 -0.2
-0.5 -0.3
0 -1 90.0 0.1 0.0 124 128 129 productive low wrinkle Merinos can be
Frequency distribution (% animals)

60 1.20 Breech Wrinkle 2 score and animals have records for the breech traits, Cross-checking this AWT% range against the achieved using existing sires based on the Fine wool Non Mules breeders have long
The site at Armidale had a low incidence of urine stain, (60% score 1
TOP 90% 0 -1 -0.9 -0.8 2 0 0.2 and28
reproduction -5 weight.
adult fleece 0.4 Very 0.2 0.2
MERINOSELECT 111 ASBV 116 percentile
116 bands in
50 1.00 and 30% score 2) but for sheep that did express stain, the risk of breech less, Dags 2 score and less, DP Plus index with a fall in fleece weight used other management strategies to help Along with reducing wrinkle; reducing dags,
Breech flystrike rate

strike was high. 45% of the score 3s, and 130% of the score 4s were low wrinkle animals that are all score 1 and Table 4, shows a 5.6% AWT reflects rams in the and large increase in fibre diameter. reduce the risk of breech strike, such as chemical resistance and the large price
40 0.80 struck each year. Due to the low incidence of urine stain at the site,
Urine
YWT Yearling Stain
Body Weight, AWT2 score
Adult andYEMD
Body Weight, less Yearling Eye Muscle Depth, YFAT Yearling Fat, YCFW Yearling Clean Fleece Weight,
without variation in a management group top 30%, and a 9.1% AWT reflects rams in the
ACFW Adult Clean Fleece Weight, YFD Yearling Fibre Diameter, YWEC Yearling Worm Egg Count, NLW Number of Lambs Weaned, EBWR Early Breech Wrinkle, EBCOV Early chemical prevention, additional crutching discounts on non mulesed Merinos in many
30 0.60 most strike was caused by other factors. and Breech Cover 3 score cannot get Australian Sheep Breeding Values top 5%. Adult Fleece Weight, however, fell but Table 1 and 2 show that reducing wrinkle and and can mostly provide closer supervision regions, remain the key barriers in moving to
Breech Wool Cover, LDAG Late Dags, FP+ Fibre Production Plus Index, MP+ Merino Production Plus Index, DP+ Dual Purpose Plus Index
and less are the key targets (ASBVs) for wrinkle. This impacts on very low remained in the top 10% (+25), Fibre Diameter increasing fleece weight is difficult if you of their animals. Breeding naturally breech
The site at Mt Barker had a high incidence of dags in most years and a a Non Mulesed Merino enterprise.
20 0.40 wrinkle Merino and Dohne breeders. These fell from the top 25% to the bottom 25% (-1.6 are breeding fine wool sheep as there were
similar risk of breech strike to the Armidale site across the dag scores to reduce the risk of breech large increases in fibre diameter. There are
strike resistant low wrinkle fine wool
MORE INFORMATION
breeders need to enter sires in Sire Evaluation to -0.4), Wrinkle improved from the bottom
10 0.20 from 1 to 5. The analysis proved that dags were a high risk factor for
breech strike (along with wrinkle).
TARGET AUSTRALIAN
strike to low levels. The lower have a breeding value of -0.3 or less, the to -0.1.
as a means to create Breech Wrinkle ASBVs for
top 1% of animals are -0.4 or less.
15% to the top 1% (+0.3 to -1.1), Dags largely very few ultrafine and superfine animals in
Merinos will take some considerable time.
Much of the fine wool environment is low • MERINOSELECT Animal Search
0 0.00
the score the lower the risk.
1 2 3
pURINE score
4 5 SHEEP BREEDING The actualscores
or ‘phenotypic’ expression
as it is highly correlatedof
Within the Merino
their animals or they can provide neck wrinkle remained
average wrinkle
with breech MP Plus
types,
ASBV
medium
at breed
is -0.5,
Index
Merinos'
average
finesthe
fell from
50% (-0.1) and the
average
top value but
MERINOSELECT with wrinkle scores less
than zero so a similar process for Table 1 and 2
phenotypic wrinkle country; cold, wet, windy
and wormy and ASBVs of -0.3 to -0.5 are
http://sgsearch.sheepgenetics.org.
au/?dataset=5
Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 VALUES This article looks at breeding wrinkle iswrinkle.
also dependent on a range of -0.2 and superfines
remainedaverage
in the top +0.1.
5% (224 to 177). was not possible for superfine Merino types. likely to be sufficient. In addition much of • Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance
factors, such as nutrition as a foetus and the country suited to fine wool is also high
for lower wrinkle, productivity The sire
a lamb, along withASBVs
impacts required
such asby a MerinoWoolgrowers
cold This frequently ask cananalysis
database search we breedshows that So for the superfine Merino type, a different resources on the AWI website
BREECH WRINKLE - Risk of breech strike increases exponentially with increasing breech wrinkle There is considerable variability between a new typebreeding
of Merinoproductive
that has low scores dag country and wrinkle is only part of the www.wool.com/flystrike-breeding
and regions
fleeceand weight. approach was undertaken. The upper fibre
wool-growing propertiesAn article
in the conditionsbreeder
and worms.to breedEven progeny that are wrinkle
on a property, low wrinkle naturally
for the breech traits and worms that are solution. Breeding for lower dags will be
The site at Armidale had a high level of breech wrinkle, (60% were score diameter limit was reduced progressively from • Stockmanship and Merino Visual
degree to looking at dags
which wrinkle, wormsand wrinkle
and dags wrinkle isscore 2 or less
expressed varies
in the lamb due to variations
drop more also in the breech strike resistant Merinos can be
high in productivity (fleece value addressed in an article in the next edition of
Frequency distribution (% animals)

50 100 3 and higher) and they had a high risk of getting breech flystrike. 20% environment across Australia. For example, achieved in low dag country using existing -2.0 to -4.0. The Wrinkle Score of the highest FP Classing workshop resources on the AWI
are actually
will‘phenotypically’ expressed.
be in the September in good seasons and less in drought. and number of lambs weaned)? This, and Beyond the Bale.
of the score 3s, 35% of the score 4s and 70% of the scores 5s got breech in high wrinkle country target ASBVs sires based on the MP Plus index but with a Plus indexing sires remained in the bottom 10% website www.wool.com/stockmanship
40 80
strike each year. Most breech strike was caused by wrinkle and most Around 50%edition of Beyond
of Merinos the Bale.
reside in ‘low the current availability of these type of
Breech strike (%)

Some highare profile non

-0.8 to -1.0,mulesed
moderate ramwrinkle country large increase in Fibre Diameter and Adult
30 60 strike started on the breech rather than the tail. (Note: after 10 years of dag’ country, where dags are not or very breeders have lowlow
-0.7 and fly risk breedingaround sires
withcountry
wrinkle -0.3.
with MERINOSELECT
Body
data, will be Table 2. All Merino Types, Average ASBVs of the top 10 sires with more than 15 progeny based on DP+ Index for each search criteria
'single trait' selection for flystrike, the Resistant Sires average Wrinkle infrequently expressed. Dags are only a values forThese
wrinkle addressed in theWeight.
June edition of
20 40 areatgeneralisations
-0.3, other non that need to be the Bale.
Beyond Average ASBV of top 10 sires in each search
ASBV was -0.6; the Susceptible Sires averaged +0.6) factor if surplus sheep are sold into high Total No of Sires

W
oolgrowers have many questionsmulesed ram breeders
modified in hightowrinkle
according every woolgrower’s The ASBVs of some of the leading low wrinkle Search Criteria
Meeting Criteria AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc DP+ Index
dag regions. The same applies to worms, if country need sires are listed in the bottom half of Table 1.
owntoenvironment
average -0.8and to -1.0.
theirThe
country’sMORE
risk INFORMATION
10 20
The site at Mount Barker had a lower level of breech wrinkle (most were about breeding animals naturally Open unrestricted search 2641 9.1 29.6 -1.2 -0.2 0.1 234
score 1 and 2) but a similar risk of breech strike across the wrinkle scores
in low worm country there is little need to top 10% offactors
MERINOSELECT animals are a range• AWI Breech Sire A is in theRD&E
Strike top 1%Improving
for fleece weight and
0 0 resistant to breech strike. for breech strike. Across Breech Wrinkle <= +0.2 1910 9.9 22.8 -0.9 -0.4 0.0 232
1 2 3 4 5 from 1 to 5 to the Armidale site. Dags and wrinkle were the main cause select for worm resistance. -0.8 or less. Lifetime
topWelfare PowerPoint
1% for Wrinkle. It is a young sire from a
of environments and sheep types, trials Breech Wrinkle <= -0.1 1362 9.9 22.7 -0.9 -0.4 0.0 231
yBRWR of breech strike. When breech strike occurred most started on the tail • Can I breed low wrinkle, high fleece www.wool.com/strikepres
ram breeder in low dag country who is putting
Breeding for lowerMerinos?
dags and lower wrinkle The base have shown
year for that mulesing
the three reduces
breech traits is breech Breech Wrinkle <= -0.4 809 10.4 23.1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.1 226
Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 rather than the breech. weight large selection pressure on high fleece weight
combined will take considerable time. 2000, the wrinkle
base year byfor
around
most 1.0 wrinkle
other traits score
is and
• Sheepand Genetics MERINOSELECT Breech Wrinkle <= -0.7 349 10.2 21.1 -0.4 -0.9 -0.1 212
dags bythe
0.4 average
dag score. low wrinkle. Progress is easier for medium Breech Wrinkle <= -1.0 112 9.7 18.8 -0.3 -1.1 -0.2 196
1990. Since
• Why aren’t there more low wrinkle, high 2000 wrinkle score Web Search http://sgsearch.
Currently the top 10% of animals for dags wool Merinos in low dag environments. Leading Low Wrinkle Sire A 11.6 34.3 -0.5 -1.3 0.0 193
fleece weight Merino Sires? has fallen to -0.2, cover to -0.1 and dags sheepgenetics.org.au/?dataset=5
So can woolgrowers breed productive, Leading Low Wrinkle Sire F 11.9 27.3 0.5 -1.1 -0.1 210
naturally low wrinkle, high fleece weight Table 2 was created by searching all sires
• I cannot find high index, moderate body Leading Low Wrinkle Sire G 9.4 26.5 -0.4 -0.7 -0.2 218
Merinos? with more than 15 current progeny, ranked
weight, fine wool, low wrinkle rams?
this time in the Dual Purpose Plus Index Abbreviations: DP+ Index - Dual Purpose Plus index

The best source of objective information Table 1 shows the Average ASBVs of the top order. There were again 2,641 eligible sires
on finding resistant Merinos, despite 10 sires and was created by searching the in the unrestricted search and the average
some limitations, is obtained using the MERINOSELECT database for all sires with ASBVS of the top 10 sires are listed. For the Table 3. Ultrafine/ Superfine Type, Average ASBVs of the top 10 sires with more than 15 progeny based on FP+ Index for each search criteria
MERINOSELECT animal search function. more than 15 current progeny, ranked in the top 10 sires the average ASBV for Adult
Total No of Sires Average ASBV of top 10 sires in each search
It provides growers with information on top Merino Production Plus index order. There Clean Fleece Weight is higher at 29.6, Fibre Search Criteria
Meeting Criteria AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc FP+ Index
sires that are involved in breeding the next were 2,641 eligible sires in the unrestricted Diameter higher at -1.2, yet the Wrinkle ASBV Yearling FD <= -2.0 139 0.4 17.8 -3.0 0.6 -0.1 179
generation of Merinos, many have semen search. Their average ASBV for ACFW is 34.5 is lower at -0.2 compared in Table 1. Yearling FD <= -2.5 87 0.5 16.5 -3.1 0.6 0.0 178
available and are breeding reasonable and Wrinkle is +0.3. Yearling FD <= -3.0 37 1.2 11.0 -3.5 0.5 -0.1 172
The upper limit search criteria for Breech
numbers of flock rams. Yearling FD <= -3.5 24 0.0 2.2 -4.0 0.3 -0.1 158
When the database search criteria on the Wrinkle was progressively changed from plus
Yearling FD <= -4.0 14 -0.7 -8.9 -5.2 N/A N/A 131
The limitations are that only 30% of upper limit of Breech Wrinkle was changed 0.2 to minus 1.0. The impact this had on the
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire H -1.5 -0.8 -3.6 -0.2 0.0 144
Australia’s ram breeders have animals in the progressively from +0.2 to an improved top 10 sires average results based on the DP
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire I 3.2 6.6 -4.3 -0.1 -0.2 160
MERINOSELECT system (although 70% of -1.0, the average Adult Weight (AWT) ASBV Plus Index are listed in Table 2. In percentile
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire J 0.7 10.6 -3.5 0.2 0.1 175
semen sellers are members) and not all these in the top 10 sires moved from 5.4 to 9.2%. terms Adult Weight remained in the top 1 to
Abbreviations: FP + Index - Fine Production Plus Index
Table 1. All Merino Types, Average ASBVs of top 10 sires with more than 15 progeny based on MP+ Index for each search criteria

Search Criteria
Total No of Sires Average ASBV of top 10 sires in each search Table 4. MERINOSELECT ASBV percentile table for 2018 drop. (21st April 2020)
Meeting Criteria AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc MP+ Index
Open unrestricted search 2641 5.4 34.5 -1.6 0.3 0.2 224 PERCENTILE AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc FP+ MP+ DP+
Breech Wrinkle <= +0.2 1910 8.6 26.2 -1.2 -0.2 -0.1 215 TOP VALUE 21.9 51.1 -6.1 -1.7 -0.8 201 224 244
Breech Wrinkle <= -0.1 1362 9.7 24.5 -1.1 -0.3 0.0 215 TOP 1% 11.4 33.1 -3.3 -1.2 -0.4 172 188 194
Breech Wrinkle <= -0.4 809 10.4 23.4 -0.8 -0.6 -0.1 208 TOP 5% 9.1 27.9 -2.5 -1.0 -0.3 161 174 178
Breech Wrinkle <= -0.7 349 10.4 25.2 -0.2 -0.9 0.0 196 TOP 10% 7.9 24.8 -2.2 -0.8 -0.3 155 166 169
Breech Wrinkle <= -1.0 112 9.2 22.1 -0.4 -1.1 -0.1 177 TOP 20% 6.6 21.1 -1.8 -0.6 -0.3 148 158 160
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire A 11.6 34.3 -0.5 -1.3 0.0 186 TOP 30% 5.6 18.2 -1.5 -0.5 -0.2 143 125 153
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire B 10.2 28.4 -0.5 -1.1 -0.3 174 TOP 40% 4.7 15.7 -1.2 -0.3 -0.1 139 147 148
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire C 12.3 24.1 -1.0 -0.7 - 229 TOP 50% 3.9 13.3 -1.0 -0.2 -0.1 136 143 144
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire D 9.4 26.5 -0.4 -0.7 -0.2 202 TOP 60% 3.1 10.8 -0.8 -0.1 0.0 132 138 139
Leading Low Wrinkle Sire E 14.3 26.2 0.3 -0.7 -0.2 214 TOP 70% 2.2 8.2 -0.6 0.0 0.0 128 133 134
TOP 80% 1.2 5.1 -0.3 0.2 0.1 123 127 129
Abbreviations: AWT - Adult Body Weight, ACFW - Adult Clean Fleece Weight, YFD - Yearling Fibre Diameter, EBWR Sc- Early Breech Wrinkle Score, LDAG Sc - Late Dag Score, MP+ - Merino TOP 90% -0.2 0.8 0.2 0.4 0.2 115 119 121
Production Index

SHEEP FLYSTRIKE RATE OF GENETIC GAIN GENETICALLY REDUCING

RISK FACTORS IN REDUCING BREECH BREECH FLYSTRIKE:
(March 2020) FLYSTRIKE HOW FAST AND WHAT ARE THE
(May 2020) CONSEQUENCES?
BREEDING NATURALLY BREECH (June 2019)
RESISTANT MERINOS This RD&E Technical Update, by the
PART 1 - June 2020 University of Adelaide’s Forbes Brien, LOW WRINKLE-HIGH
PART 2 - September 2020 discusses the relative gains between FLEECE WEIGHT
flystrike incidence and fleece weight, PRODUCTIVE SIRES EASIER TO FIND
Each is a 2-page article from
fibre diameter and reproductive rate and (June 2019)
Beyond the Bale.
their implications for Merino
Plus an update in the June 2021 edition. breeding programs. Each is a 2-page summary article from
Beyond the Bale.
 ON 41
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42 ON
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It’s Fly Time!

webinar is back
Winter rains across many of Australia’s sheep regions
herald a potentially bad flystrike season. In response,
AWI held a repeat of its popular It’s Fly Time! webinar
in early September, providing flystrike advice to
woolgrowers managing under high-risk fly conditions.
A recording of the webinar and related resources are If you missed AWI’s It’s Fly Time! webinar, it’s being held
again later in the year, or you can watch a free recording on
available to view for all woolgrowers across the country. the AWI website now.

F ollowing a wet winter, many parts

of Australia have entered a high-risk
flystrike period, with some woolgrowers
“The flystrike prevention, monitoring
and treatment activities highlighted in
the It’s Fly time! webinar all play key
management plan that best suits their
specific circumstances.
Dr Littlejohn says the workshops
already reporting cases of flystrike in their roles in woolgrowers’ integrated flystrike have been developed to give woolgrowers
flocks. To provide woolgrowers with timely management plans,” said AWI’s General easy access to the information and support
advice, AWI recently held a repeat of the Manager of Research Dr Jane Littlejohn. they need to effectively manage flystrike on
successful It’s Fly Time! webinar, first held in “The webinar provides a timely and their property.
January this year. practical guide to flystrike management “Being proactive and planning how
Aggregating information on flystrike in preparation for what looks like another to combat flystrike on an annual basis will
from a range of sources, the It’s Fly Time! bad fly season this year.” help woolgrowers stay ahead of fly waves,
package is designed to deliver tactical delivering a better animal health and welfare
information to woolgrowers in preparation outcome and saving them time, money and
for, and responding to, a high-risk flystrike
SimpliFly workshop production losses,” she said.
period. It provides woolgrowers with tips in development It is intended that the workshops
for preventing flystrike, information on AWI is also repackaging available will be run by the AWI grower extension
prioritising sheep for monitoring and information on best practice flystrike networks and made available for accredited
treatment, and options for treating sheep management into a one-day workshop, advisors to deliver. 
when flystrike does occur. known as SimpliFly, to help woolgrowers
If you missed the webinar, a repeat review their own holistic integrated flystrike More information
performance is planned for later in the year management plan specific to their property. For resources on flystrike
and a recording of the original webinar Woolgrower feedback from planned prevention, monitoring
is available to view at www.wool.com/ pilot workshops will contribute to the and treatment, head
flystrikeresources, split into three sections: final workshop resources, although to www.wool.com/
Prevention, Monitoring, Treatment, along unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak has flystrikeresources or
with the following additional supporting meant that they have had to be delayed into scan the QR code (right)
resources: next year. Once the resources are complete, with the QR code reader
• The webinar’s 77 slides and notes (available train the trainer sessions will be held for on your smartphone.
in PowerPoint or PDF) advisors nationwide before the workshops
• Factsheets including ‘Recognising and are then made available to woolgrowers. For more detailed information on flystrike
monitoring flystrike’ (3-pages) and The one-day workshop involves an management, including information
‘Preventing and treating flystrike’ interactive program where participants on chemical resistance management
(5-pages). will explore the many short- and long-term strategies and access to interactive
• Three ‘quick tip’ videos (under four flystrike management tools and strategies decision support tools, visit FlyBoss at
minutes each) focussed on prevention, available to them to help combat flystrike. www.flyboss.com.au.
monitoring and treatment of flystrike. They will also work through practical
Woolgrowers without access to activities that enable them to combine these For information on AWI’s flystrike
the website can be sent hard copies by strategies and tools on their own property research, development and extension
contacting the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099. according to a customised annual flystrike program, visit www.wool.com/flystrike.

Key flystrike management messages

It’s important to have a broad flystrike paddocks, applying appropriate chemical 3. TREATMENT OPTIONS WHEN
management plan which incorporates the treatments and killing maggots and FLYSTRIKE OCCURS
following three aspects, but preventing removing sources of protein.
Make sure you use a combination of
flystrike is key.
2. MONITORING TO DETECT FLYSTRIKE treatment activities and that you don’t rely
1.PREVENTION OF FLYSTRIKE on one single activity alone. It’s important
Monitor all mobs of sheep for signs of
to make sure all flystruck sheep are
An integrated preventative flystrike flystrike during high-risk periods, but
effectively treated, all maggots are killed
program includes breeding for flystrike especially weaners. Monitoring involves a
and sources of protein are removed to
resistance, the use of crutching or combination of checks including looking
aid the sheep’s recovery and to prevent
shearing, dag control, appropriate tail for flystrike in sheep, checking populations
additional strikes.
length, selection of less flystrike-prone of flies and checking weather conditions.
 ON 43
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Flystrike management
- publications
www.wool.com/flystrikelatest

AWI makes available publications about flystrike management and prevention

on its website at www.wool.com/flystrikelatest
Here is a selection of the available publications:

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR

THE AUSTRALIAN SHEEP BLOWFLY (LUCILIA CUPRINA)
MANAGING
BREECH FLYSTRIKE
LUCILIA CUPRINA AND INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE

KEY POINTS Lucilia cuprina, the Australian sheep blowfly, initiates most cases of
flystrike on Australian sheep. Like all insect pests, it has the potential
to develop resistance to insecticide treatments. Some Australian sheep
• Lucilia cuprina, the Australian
producers have reported shorter protection periods than claimed on the
sheep blowfly, initiates label of the flystrike products they have used.
most cases of flystrike on
Australian sheep. On investigation, some of these cases are the result of improper
application or heavy rain following insecticide application, however in a
• Flystrike is estimated to number of cases the presence of resistance has been confirmed.
annually cost the Australian
sheep industry in excess of $173 This is a timely reminder for sheep producers to implement resistance
million in terms of production management strategies to maintain flystrike protection for their flocks
and slow the development of resistance within their local fly populations.
losses and prevention and
treatment costs. HOW DOES RESISTANCE OCCUR?
• Current control of flystrike Resistance is the decreased susceptibility of a pest population to a
relies heavily on insecticide pesticide that was previously effective at controlling the pest. Pests
treatments. evolve resistance to pesticides by a process of natural selection. When
exposed to a pesticide, the most resistant individuals survive and pass on
• L. cuprina has demonstrated a resistance to their offspring.
capacity to develop insecticide
resistance to a variety of With repeated exposure to the pesticide, particularly at inadequate
insecticide groups, reducing levels, the resistant pests are favoured and their proportion in the
population may increase. Eventually, there can be enough resistant
their effectiveness.
pests in a population that the pest is controlled for only short periods or,
• There are only a limited number ultimately, not at all.
of insecticides registered
WHY MANAGE SHEEP BLOWFLY RESISTANCE?
against flystrike so increasing
insecticide resistance will have There are only a small number of chemical groups registered for flystrike
a significant impact on the control (see Table 1). It is important to prolong the useful life of these
industry. insecticides on your property for as long as possible.

• There is an urgent need for Without access to effective preventative insecticide treatments to control
sheep producers to strategically flystrike, sheep producers would be reliant on continual surveillance of
manage the use of insecticides flocks followed by manually clipping and dressing of wounds.
to maximise flystrike control Without effective treatments, struck sheep can suffer significant
and to maintain the efficacy stress, production loss and possibly death. By implementing resistance
of available products on management strategies, sheep producers can slow the development
their property. of resistance, which will help increase the effective life of registered FEBRUARY 2019
insecticide products.
RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 1

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT MANAGING BREECH DEALING WITH DAGS MANUAL

STRATEGY FOR THE FLYSTRIKE AND FACTSHEET
AUSTRALIAN SHEEP BLOWFLY (February 2019) (August 2019)
(April 2019)
This 44-page manual is designed to help This 44-page manual for advisors,
This 4-page document outlines the woolgrowers further reduce their flock’s and 2-page summary factsheet for
strategy you can adopt to prudently flystrike risk. It includes coverage of woolgrowers, review the causes,
manage flystrike insecticides, ensuring you management options, breech modification, diagnosis, management and treatment of
maintain protection for your flock whilst scouring and worm control, breeding for dags and provides a guide to manage and
preventing or slowing the development of breech strike resistance and moving to a prevent scouring and dag formation.
resistance within your local fly populations. non mulesed enterprise.

ANAESTHETICS AWI’S BREECH FLYSTRIKE LAMB MARKING

AND ANALGESICS AT RD&E TECHNICAL UPDATES TRAINING GUIDE
LAMB MARKING (May 2020) (June 2020)
(August 2021)
2-page fact sheet. Project summaries from This 80-page training guide will
AWI’s Flystrike R&D help you plan, prepare and conduct
ANAESTHETICS AND Technical Updates events: 2020, 2018, best welfare practice lamb marking
ANALGESICS 2016, 2014, 2012 and 2010. procedures.
(December 2019)
4-page summary article from
Beyond the Bale.
44 ON
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Riding the ‘perfect’

Australian wave
Flies thrive in warm, wet conditions. So, with
higher-than-average rainfall forecast for much of
eastern Australia this spring, there is potentially
a greater than usual flystrike risk. Now is
the time to implement your annual flystrike
management plan – and if you haven’t got one, it
is best to develop one quickly because a wave of
blowflies could soon be on its way.

risk, whereas short tails can contribute

to animal welfare issues including rectal
prolapses and cancers. The recommendation
is to dock the tail immediately below the third
palpable joint, or ensure the healed tail just
covers the vulva in ewes.

3. Select rams with low breech

wrinkle, breech cover and dag
Selection for lower wrinkle, dag and cover

A s the days heat up and the spring storms in both rams and ewes will reduce the risk
2. Breech modification and tail of breech strike, and is a practical step that
roll in, blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) larvae docking length
are beginning to emerge from the ground. you can take this year when choosing rams
Temperatures of more than 17˚C increase fly Many woolgrowers are now looking at to purchase.
activity following winter hibernation. Low what is required to reduce their reliance on For more information, see the Breeding
to moderate wind speeds and a moist fleece mulesing and options for the provision of and Selection section on FlyBoss
create optimal blowfly wave conditions. As analgesia and local anaesthesia in the interim. (www.flyboss.com.au).
the blowfly lifecycle is 2.5–3 weeks in warm Considerations for reducing your reliance on
weather, woolgrowers can expect to see mulesing include your flystrike risk intensity 4. Managing dags and stain
blowfly populations boom three weeks after and period, the susceptibility of your current
Dags are a major risk factor for breech
a significant spring or summer storm. flock, what breeding objectives your flock
flystrike, especially in winter rainfall
Early prevention of flystrike is key to needs to achieve to suitably reduce the risk,
dominant areas. Practical steps you can take
minimising welfare and economic threats, and chemical and physical management
this spring include well timed crutching
so it’s now time to start your annual flystrike tools that can be implemented to reduce risk
to avoid dags, crutching sheep with dags,
management plan. during peak blowfly seasons.
managing worm burdens by completing a
Key components of your plan For more information on how to
WormTest (also known as a Worm Egg Count
should consider: reduce reliance on mulesing, visit the
Test) and, if required, a strategic drench, and
FlyBoss website www.flyboss.com.au. It is
optimising nutrition to reduce scouring.
1.Time of crutching, shearing highly recommended to work with your local
For more information on WormTests
and lambing veterinarian to help you plan your flystrike
visit WormBoss (www.wormboss.com.au).
control strategy.
The time of lambing is arguably one of Analgesia and local anaesthetics
the most significant husbandry decisions are now widely used for mulesing and, in
5. Preventative chemicals
any woolgrower will make. Depending Victoria, a legislative requirement. Before choosing what product to use and
on the system, there will be different risk The main types used for castration, when to use it, it is important to determine
factors including: tail docking and/or the mulesing procedure when your high-risk flystrike periods are,
a. Autumn lambers will need care over the are local anaesthetic (Tri-Solfen® and how the timing of shearing and crutching
joining period and weaned lambs will NumOcaine®) and analgesic non-steroidal-anti- reduces the risk and length of your risk
need care into their first spring. In this inflammatories (NSAID) (meloxicam products, periods, when you may need to sell or
system, woolgrowers also need to consider such as Metacam® and Buccalgesic®). Local shear sheep (withhold periods) and what
the rams – if you are shearing rams pre- anaesthesia generally has a more rapid onset, application method suits your system best.
joining, do this at least six weeks prior but the length of duration or action is less The FlyBoss website has an interactive
to ensure semen quality is not affected than a NSAID. In trials it has been established decision-support tool into which you can
by handling. that using both a local anaesthetic and a input your geographical location, shearing
b. Spring lambers will need care over the NSAID increases the amount and duration of and crutching dates and product choices, to
lambing period and lambs may need care relief from pain. It is recommended to discuss visually model your flock’s flystrike risk. The
into the autumn. your flock’s analgesia options with your local tool is available via the homepage of FlyBoss
It is advisable to discuss labour veterinarian at least two to four weeks prior to (www.flyboss.com.au).
availability with your shearing contractor your planned lamb marking. AWI has produced a webinar and
if you are considering changing your time Care in the tail docking length is associated fact sheets which provide flystrike
of shearing or crutching, or increasing the important. Long tails can contribute to stain advice to woolgrowers managing their flock
frequency of shearing. around the breech and subsequent flystrike under high-risk fly conditions (see page 42).
 ON 45
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The It’s Fly Time! webinar recording is when flystrike does occur. See the AWI
available to view online for all woolgrowers website at www.wool.com/flystrikeresources
across the country. The webinar provides to access the resources.
tips for preventing flystrike, information
on prioritising sheep for monitoring and More information
treatment, and options for treating sheep www.flyboss.com.au

How hot is your summer drench? Best practice advice for

A summer drench is an effective tool to help reduce worm managing sheep parasites
numbers in many flocks across the country, but a summer Collectively, the three Boss websites – WormBoss,
drench is not always recommended if you have summer FlyBoss and LiceBoss – promote best practice for the
dominant rainfall or if you are from a pastoral zone. management of sheep parasites at the farm level,
For current recommendations for your area visit the ParaBoss developed by a community of veterinary experts and
website at www.paraboss.com.au/news/outlooks.php parasitologists from across Australia and supported by
the sheep industry.
More information The collective ParaBoss tools are accompanied by a free,
www.wormboss.com.au twice-monthly newsletter which discusses the current
state of sheep parasites nationally, explores issues most
pressing on-farm, and provides an update on timely and
effective management strategies. Sign up to receive
newsletters and tap into the expertise of the ParaBoss
network at www.paraboss.com.au/subscriptions.
Lice and purchasing in restockers Also, join ParaBoss on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
With spring restocker sales upon us, it is always a good paraboss.com.au to see regular posts on flystrike, lice and
idea to check for signs of lice in the sheep you are looking worm control.
to purchase. This can be difficult if they have been recently ParaBoss is funded by AWI and MLA and coordinated by
shorn, so a few things you can do to help reduce the risk of the University of New England with industry oversight.
introducing lice to your flock are:
• Ask for a National Sheep Health Declaration (NSHD) and
look specifically at question 5 (is the flock free from lice)
and Section C (external parasite treatment history).
• Keep purchased-in mobs away from your other mobs
for at least 6-7 months as it can take up to six months
to identify a lice infestation.
When sheep are yarded, inspect sheep for signs of lice.
Part the wool ten times down each side and focus on areas
around the neck, shoulders and flank. Lice don’t like light
so may move down the wool fibre closer to the skin.

More information
For more information on preventing and detecting lice,
visit LiceBoss at www.liceboss.com.au.

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46 ON
FARM

Pneumonia in lambs
Breathing easy brings benefits
Pneumonia, the infection and inflammation of the lungs, can result in lower growth and
productivity of lambs, as well as trimming from carcases at the abattoir. However, a simple
new test kit to determine if a flock is infected with Mycoplasma is now available to producers,
which can help them with flock management.

R esearch has shown pleurisy/pneumonia

is common in all breeds of sheep in
Australia and may result in around one
obvious clinical signs of pneumonia are not
detected for some months.’”
Dr Lloyd said this early conclusion
significantly lower lambing rates and lower
rates of lamb survival to weaning,” Dr
Lloyd said.
kilogram being trimmed from lamb carcases remains a good explanation of what happens “It has been estimated that
at the abattoir. and that pneumonia often becomes evident Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae presence was
Sheep veterinarian Dr Joan Lloyd, who after critical moments in a lamb’s life, such associated with a 4.3% reduction in annual
has extensively researched the incidence as marking, weaning, first shearing, or entry lamb production.
of sheep pneumonia, said Mycoplasma into a feedlot. “At harvest, lambs from ewes that were
ovipneumoniae bacteria was first isolated “It is more prevalent during hot, dry not infected were found to have higher yield
from two large sheep flocks in southern and windy weather,” she said. “Raised dust is and quality carcase grades, and fat score and
Queensland in the 1960s. a significant risk factor, as is smoke. dressing percentage.”
“The sheep flocks had shown poor “When stress from adverse weather
growth rates and reduced exercise tolerance conditions, mixing groups of lambs
for some years,” Dr Lloyd said. and sheep, overcrowding and transport
Testing available
“In that early research, the researchers occur on top of an existing Mycoplasma Dr Lloyd has developed a test kit, available
concluded that: ‘The probability is that ovipneumoniae or viral infection, the sheep’s at www.joanlloydconsulting.com, that
lambs in Australia may be infected shortly immune system is suppressed,” Dr Lloyd said. producers can use to determine if their
after birth with a Mycoplasma and develop a “When this happens, other bacteria flocks are infected with Mycoplasma. The
proliferative interstitial pneumonia, but that that normally live inside the nose and throat kits contain nasal swabs that are used
of sheep without causing harm, colonise to collect a sample from the nostrils of
the trachea and bronchi, where they grow your sheep.
and secrete toxins. These toxins cause “The swabs are easy to use and don’t
inflammation and tissue destruction, and require any prior experience in order to
acute bronchopneumonia develops. use effectively,” she said. “As they are fast
“We call this ORC – ovine drying, the collected sample is conserved and
respiratory complex.” provides a high-quality sample for the lab
to test.
“Once collected, samples can be placed
Lost productivity in the prepaid mailing satchel in the kit, then
Sheep presenting at abattoirs may need to mailed back to us. As they can be transported
be significantly trimmed to remove lung and stored without refrigeration, it is simple,
tissue affected by disease, a condition called cost-effective, and fast.
pleurisy. In one survey Dr Lloyd conducted, “In the lab, DNA is then extracted
half of 227 consignments had at least one from the swabs and tested for Mycoplasma
carcase affected by pleurisy. ovipneumoniae. Your results are available
“On average, pleurisy affected 2.2% of within 24-48 hours of sample receival at the
carcases within affected lines,” Dr Lloyd said. lab, and you will be notified when ready.”
“Trimming for pleurisy resulted in rib removal If tests reveal that the flock is free
in two-thirds of 101 carcases examined, with of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, the aim is
an average trim weight of 1.0 kg.” to stay that way. Dr Lloyd said this is best
The Sheep Pneumonia Sample Collection Other research has shown that even in achieved by practicing high levels of farm
Kit, available to purchase from www.
joanlloydconsulting.com, can be used to find out if the absence of obvious respiratory disease, biosecurity.
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is present in a flock. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae may reduce the “Quarantine and test all new arrivals,”
growth and productivity of lambs. she said. “It is also important to reduce fence-
“Flocks that test positive to line contact with other sheep and goats, as
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae had they may be carriers.”
 ON 47
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If tests reveal that the flock is infected All operations are very measured and
with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, that calculated to reduce stress on the animals.”
means your lambs and sheep are at increased Ms Bradley also ruled out all other
risk of clinical pneumonia. potential causes of chronic wasting and ill
Dr Lloyd said an important thrift in the flock, and has learnt to look for
management option is to reduce or separate signs that may indicate pneumonia.
other stressors that increase the risk of “If there’s an animal that’s at the
pneumonia. tail end of the flock and it’s coughing, that
“Culling chronically infected ewes is sounds alarm bells,” she said.
often necessary to significantly reduce the “I’ve slowly culled the non-performers,
disease incidence in the flock,” Dr Lloyd said. those type of sheep that show ill-thrift. To
“With chronic infection, the lungs are eradicate pneumonia completely would be
severely compromised and the infection an enormous cost, so we’re working with
is deeply embedded within the tissues. In management strategies.
this situation, it can be virtually impossible “It’s knowing what you’ve got. Now I
to treat with antibiotics as they will not know, I can keep an eye on it.”
penetrate into the infected tissue.”
Treatment and
Reducing stress management
Jenny Bradley runs a mixed sheep enterprise Dr Lloyd recommends producers speak to
near Gilgandra, NSW, with a Merino-based their veterinarians to discuss treatment
commercial flock and a Border Leicester stud options for animals that develop clinical
breeding flock rams. When she lost lambs pneumonia, and also to develop strategies to Jenny Bradley runs a mixed sheep enterprise near
last spring and summer, autopsies conducted reduce the prevalence of infection over time. Gilgandra in NSW and has management strategies
by a local vet identified pneumonia, which to minimise pneumonia in her flock.
“There is published information
was particularly bad in the region last year. from research overseas, which discusses
“I listened to Joan Lloyd’s podcast and the importance of treating lambs for
things started to align,” Ms Bradley said. “The the health of the whole flock,” she said. “Large numbers of animals dying
key messages from Joan were most flocks Treatment of lambs early in life, for example is a significant welfare issue,” she said.
have pneumonia and it is expressed when at marking and/or weaning is likely to “In this situation, the animals should receive
the flock is put under stress. be more successful than treating older antibiotic/anti-inflammatory treatments,
“I have to change my management animals because the infections are not although it may be too late to cure all
strategies so I’m not stressing the sheep, as chronic. of them.” 
particularly the younger animals.” “After weaning, treated lambs should
Ms Bradley identified the most be kept separate from older animals,” she More information
stressful times for her sheep as being around said. “At the same time, culling ewes and • View a recording of an April 2021
shearing and trucking, or weaning and rams based on respiratory signs can start. webinar on lamb pneumonia, featuring
shearing, in a tight time frame. After a couple of years of this, once there are Dr Lloyd, on the Sheep Connect NSW
“Now, I shear and rest for two or three enough treated ewe replacements available, website at www.sheepconnectnsw.
days, and then bring them in again to truck all untreated ewes and rams can be culled.” com.au/events/891
them. I’m a bit pedantic about sheep welfare. Dr Lloyd said some producers have • For more information and to order a
“Our yards are all watered so there is reported significant losses in young stud Sheep Pneumonia Sample Collection
no dust associated with yarding or drafting. rams, with animals dying over summer. Kit, visit www.joanlloydconsulting.com

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48 ON
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Shearers stretching between runs. AWI is funding the research and development of a wearable sensing unit that will alert shearers to when they are
potentially at risk of a back injury, so they can take precautionary action such as stretching.

Pioneering high-tech research to help prevent shearers’ would support the shearers in performing
back injuries continues, thanks to funding from AWI and a their tasks.
Given that shearers are paid by
Federal Government grant. The research, undertaken by the the number of sheep shorn per day, the
University of Melbourne, aims to develop a simple wearable researchers are aware that any proposed
sensing unit able to be easily worn by shearers that will alert new safety solutions should minimise
them when they are becoming vulnerable to back injuries. any disruption to the shearer’s mobility
and shearing speed. Furthermore, the fact
that shearers travel to many different

A ttracting and retaining shearers is

one of the biggest challenges facing
woolgrowers and the industry. A major
Although the previous study
successfully identified the particular muscle
properties for work and utilise woolgrowers’
infrastructure needs to be considered
in the development of potential injury-
activities and postures that are most useful
factor is that shearing can be a ‘back- in predicting the development of back mitigation solutions.
breaking’ profession, with injuries to injuries, it used ‘research grade’ sensors on
shearers being six times the all-industry
average in Australia. Back injuries are the
the shearers to monitor and collect data. The Reducing shearer injuries
complexity and cost of these sensors make
most significant shearing injury due to their them impractical for continuous monitoring
will help alleviate
long rehabilitation time and associated of a shearer’s musculoskeletal system. shortages
lost productivity. “The high injury risk of shearing makes
A new nine-month project, which it challenging to recruit new workers and
began in June and is co-funded by AWI and Developing a practical it also limits the longevity of the current
an Innovation Connections grant from the wearable sensing unit workforce. This reduces the availability
Federal Government, builds on previous The new project is therefore focussed of sufficient shearers, which has been
work to understand the cause of shearing on developing a simple and easy to use identified by woolgrowers as a major risk for
injuries, which was funded by AWI and sensor system, with only four (key) sensors, the industry,” said AWI Program Manager for
undertaken by the University of Melbourne’s that is portable and easily worn by the Agri-Technology, Carolina Diaz.
robotics team. shearers in real working conditions, rather “AWI-funded research has already
than a complicated full-body system that added a significant body of data and
Previous research requires expertise and a long set-up/ knowledge to help us better understand how
calibration process. back-related shearing injuries arise. Having
identified the predictors The sensing unit worn by the shearers identified the variables most effective as
of back injuries will alert them via a smartphone app when predictors of injury risk, the new project
The previous research indicates that back they are becoming vulnerable to potential will develop a simple wearable unit that
injuries during shearing are generally injuries and can propose optimal resting incorporates sensors in only the most
caused by fatigue, the cumulative loading cycles. The hardware and software will be optimum locations, which will help the unit
on muscles over time, rather than high tested for ease of use and robustness in the be practical, cost-effective and suitable for
individual forces. Additionally, the most harsh conditions inside shearing sheds, such shearers to wear.
common time of injury for shearers is during as in the presence of dust and sweat. “By alerting shearers when they
the last two hours of a day’s work, indicating The simplified unit will be validated are becoming at risk of a back injury, the
a high correlation between injuries and the across a pool of shearers under different shearer can take precautionary action such
level of fatigue. working conditions. It will also help the as changes in their warm-up and stretching
The research was undertaken on ten researchers to collect more data under exercises, and changes in the rest-work cycle.
shearers of varying experience across three different circumstances to improve the “Ultimately, the project aims to reduce
states in authentic shearing conditions prediction algorithms, test some strategies the amount and severity of shearers’ back
and across full workdays to reflect such as stretches/exercises and inform injuries, which will benefit the wool-growing
realistic workloads. the design of assistive technology that industry as well as shearers.”
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50 ON
FARM

Shearer Josh Sneath with the prototype of the unit, showing how the sheep has been delivered Glenn Haynes and Josh Sneath observing a
directly to him, ready to start shearing. The empty unit is automatically returning to its position sheep in the race section, from which the sheep is
behind the board, for the next sheep. delivered to the board.

Modular sheep
delivery unit
to eliminate catch and drag
As part of a new AWI project, a mechanical system is under
development that delivers the sheep to the shearer, thereby When ready for a sheep to be delivered, the
eliminating the catch and drag from the pen. This minimises shearer presses a button for the section
containing a sheep to slide out towards him.
the chance of injury to the shearer and the sheep whilst
also maximising productivity with significantly reduced
handling times.

1. Question: Which process impacts the • provides minimal risk to the welfare of
efficiency of wool harvesting the most? livestock
Answer: The catch and drag. • minimises the cost of equipment and ease
of uptake
2. Question: During which process do • is compatible with existing equipment,
most shearing injuries occur? harvesting systems and skill sets.
Answer: The catch and drag. The project is the brainchild of AWI’s
Stephen Feighan and SCAA Training’s Glenn
“These negative impacts of the catch and Haynes and is progressing well under the
drag are the motivation behind a new AWI guidance of a number highly experienced The pneumatically powered race section
project that is developing an alternative AWI Shearer Trainers – Shannon Warnest, moving onto the board towards the shearer.
system in which sheep are delivered from a Paul Oster and Wayne Hosie – all of
race directly to the shearer,” said AWI CEO whom are renowned shearers and have
Stuart McCullough. considerable hands-on experience in
“Significantly, the new system will sheds and on other shearing race delivery
not only eliminate the time and energy systems across the world. They know
that shearers spend having to walk to the the practicalities of what works and
pen, catch a sheep and drag it back to the what doesn’t.
shearing stand, but it also minimises the The design focuses on a ‘modular’
chance of injury to the shearer from the concept in which portable singular shearing
dragging and twisting movements.” stands can be joined together to make a
Overall, the AWI-funded project aims multi-stand shearing platform, which can
to produce a design for the workplace that: be stored away after use. Added design
• improves efficiency for workers, and the elements will allow for straight board or
flow of livestock U-shape configuration.
• provides safety for workers Former world champion shearer The section then gently tilts the sheep onto the board,
• enables quality wool preparation Shannon Warnest, who initially came up into a position suitable for the shearer to hold it.
 ON 51
FARM

with the tilting delivery unit concept,

said: “Everyone involved in this project is
rapt with the progress. We’ve also made
sure to get feedback from a number of
other practical, experienced shearers and
some growers who are looking to upgrade
their sheds.
“We’ve had a few people shaking
their head when they first see it – but not
for long.”
Stuart added: “This is an additional
harvesting option, especially suitable for
woolgrowers that might have been planning
to renovate an old shearing shed or build a
new a multi-purpose shed.
“Building a brand-new shed is a big
undertaking, in terms of cost, time and The new system is based on a modular design in which single units can be connected to
energy, especially when it’s often only used other units at shearing time and moved away afterwards
for a few weeks of the year. A portable,
modular system could be cheaper and easier shearing platform, at an angle suitable for has the potential to be reduced further with
– and by eliminating the catch and drag from the shearer to start shearing straight away. broader uptake from manufacturers.
the pen it also provides a more efficient and Unlike upright shearing units, the shearer Being easily portable, the modular
safe environment for the shearer. does not have to learn any new shearing units can be transported to other sheds,
“It’s vital for the future of wool- technique or blow patterns with this system. be that on the same or other properties.
growing industry that harvesting Once shorn, an angled shoot allows They could be used in any multi-purpose
workplaces have a modern environment, for simple release of the shorn sheep machinery shed and can be relocated with a
such as this, to attract workers into the underneath the race – again without forklift when not in use.
industry and retain the current workforce.” significant dragging or twisting. The potential benefits for woolgrowers
By minimising the catch and drag, and the industry include:
The delivery system it is estimated that the system could save • increased attraction and retention of
the typical shearer approximately 10 to 20 shearers to the industry
The design incorporates a pneumatically
seconds per sheep, which on average could • decrease in shearer injuries
powered race section on which the sheep is
add up to about three-quarters of an hour • cost effective option when upgrading
delivered to the shearer, removing the catch each day. infrastructure
and drag from a pen.
• provides an avenue for multi-
Each modular unit will hold three
sheep in a race at the back of the unit. A A portable, modular purpose sheds.

dummy pen is fitted onto the end of the race system Further development and testing of
to assist with the flow of the sheep. Each modular one-stand unit will be able the unit(s) is continuing and AWI will make
When the shearer is ready for a sheep to be connected to other one-stand units available the design and specifications, so
to be delivered, he/she presses a button and to make a multi-stand shearing platform, interested woolgrowers or manufacturers
the section containing a sheep clamps the the size of which depends on the number can adopt and potentially further enhance
sheep securely and slides out onto the board of shearing stands required. Initial cost the concept. This approach is similar to
towards the shearer. The section then tilts modelling shows the individual units to AWI’s Arrow Park Shed Design project, which
the sheep into a position suitable for the be available to growers for approximately has now been replicated about 50 times by
shearer to then hold the animal. $18,000, which would be a very attractive growers and builders across the country
The sheep is then mechanically option when fitting out a shearing shed. This since 2019.
released and slides the short distance to the
52 ON
FARM

AWI-funded in-shed
wool harvesting courses
AWI funds training for shearers
and wool handlers to attract
and retain new entrants into
the wool harvesting industry,
build the capacity and longevity
of existing staff, and increase
returns to woolgrowers
through improved clip
preparation practices.

A dequate numbers of highly skilled

professional staff to harvest and handle
a high-quality Australian wool clip in a
timely manner are key to the profitability of
the Australian wool industry.
AWI therefore funds hands-on practical
training for shearers and wool handlers in the
The new six-stand Jamestown Shearer Training Centre, South Australia: AWI funded an improver/advanced
shed, aimed at increasing their productivity, ‘Shear n Gear’ workshop on the day before a five-day training course in June, co-funded with SCAA Shearer
skills development and professionalism. Woolhandler Training with assistance from the Jamestown Show Sheep & Wool Committee.
Training covers a wide range of experience,
from learner to professional shearers and
novice to professional wool handlers. Training is providing results
In the 2020/21 financial year, 1,614
days training were delivered (with more
but more is needed
than 4,143 attendances by shearers and wool A recent survey of (mainly) shearing the next 12 months. Furthermore, a lack
handlers) through AWI-funded programs contractors across Australia has of training opportunities (ie not enough
across Australia. revealed that more than 70% of all schools) is viewed by respondents as
Due to the current shortage of and training in shearing sheds across the the second largest barrier to attracting
demand for shearers, there is a concerted country was undertaken by AWI-funded and keeping new workers in the wool
effort to run extra novice and improver trainers. The results also indicate that harvesting industry.
schools and workshops, funded by AWI and training is well appreciated.
several state governments. The working conditions in sheds
Best practice in shearing sheds results • 94% said the training was delivered was seen as the primary barrier,
in a high-quality wool clip and the health and in a timely manner. especially in NSW. Seen as less of a
wellbeing of both professionals and sheep. barrier were the cost to contractors
• 71% rated the quality of the training
AWI thanks all the woolgrowers who of employing a novice shearer and the
5/5, while a further 20% rated it 4/5.
provide their facilities and sheep, and all the lack of recognised qualifications after
other organisations and individuals that • 63% were “very satisfied” with the completing training.
lend their time and resources to help run training, while a further 27% were
The national survey was run during
this training.  “satisfied”.
April by AWI and the WA Shearing
However, the survey indicated that there Industry Association (WASIA); there
More information is still a need for more training, with were 139 respondents, across all states.
To arrange training in your state, phone AWI 71% intending to have some training in
on 1800 SHEARS or email swt@wool.com.

Best practice preparation for shearing

P reparing your flock properly will help
ensure a successful harvesting of your
sheep’s wool. AWI has prepared some
2. Always curfew sheep prior to shearing.
‘Full’ sheep are harder to handle and keep
comfortable during shearing.
6. Prepare as much as possible to prevent
shearing cuts and also prepare for their
treatment.
advice for woolgrowers to consider prior to 3. Sheep shorn annually should always be 7. Consider your wool harvesting staff.
shearing. Some of the key points include: crutched prior to shearing. Things to consider include shed safety,
1. Shear at the ‘optimum’ time of the 4. Sheep shorn more frequently (6 or 8 quality facilities, an efficient working
year. Things to consider include the months) will often have little or no environment and good communication.
physiological state of the sheep, likely requirement for crutching, at least on
available feed and body condition, a whole flock or mob basis. However, be More information
optimal tensile strength and position of prepared to crutch, bung-hole or part To view the full advice, visit the AWI
break, seasonal conditions, weather and shear individual animals if they require it. website at www.wool.com/shearingprep
available shelter. 5. Handle sheep to minimise stress.
 ON 53
FARM

Vigilance needed to
‘Keep the Clip Clean’
Woolgrowers can help preserve Australia’s reputation for producing a quality clip by being
vigilant about preventing contamination. Contamination can be a major issue for wool
processors and can attract discounts if it is identified prior to the clip’s sale.

A shirt found in a processed batch (left) in China and the effect on the wool top (right).

T he Australian wool clip is recognised

worldwide for its high quality. However,
to maintain this good reputation, it is
include dog hair, clothing, towels, grease
rags, general rubbish and vegetable matter.
Any polypropylene products – baling twine, TIPS TO ELIMINATE
important that Australian woolgrowers old wool packs and fertiliser bags – are a CONTAMINATION IN
continue to be committed to preventing any particular problem.
contamination to their clip during the wool When wool is processed, any non-wool THE SHED
harvesting operation. Woolgrowers should fibres will break up into many single fibres
discuss strategies to prevent contamination that spread throughout the processing batch. • Store tools, clothing, towels
with the wool classer and the contractor These fibres can only be removed by hand
before shearing. picking in the fabric stage at great cost to the
and shearing gear and bale
AWEX CEO Mark Grave says the manufacturer. The entire wool batch being branding supplies away from
confidence of wool processors in Australian processed – up to 10,000 kg – can be affected wool handling areas.
wool is paramount to the industry. by one small piece of baling twine.
“A best practice approach to wool
• Remove all poly
production exists in most Australian products found.
wool-growing properties and with wool
Wool contaminants
Wool contaminants include urine/dung
• Never use fertiliser bags as
preparation professionals, but contamination
is a topic that the industry can never be and other stains. Stain is discolouration bulk class bale dividers.
complacent about,” Mark said. that has combined with the structure of • Keep the wool press area,
“Everybody involved in wool the wool fibre. It is permanent and cannot
be removed by scouring. The intensity of
wool room, shearing board
production and shearing should be aware
of the impact and cost that contamination the stain determines the dye colour needed and sheep pens clean.
has on wool processors and the reputation to over-dye the stain, limiting its end use • Don’t eat in the wool
of Australian wool, so they must be vigilant and reducing the value of the greasy wool.
The risk of contamination from urine stain
handling areas.
and focus on the quality of wool and
wool preparation.” can be greatly reduced by crutching sheep, • Use rubbish bins.
ideally within three months of shearing.
Dark and medullated fibres in wool
• Don’t let dogs camp in the
Non-wool contaminants also affect processing performance and wool areas.
Hard contaminants can cause major the quality of the final product. Only small • Any dark breeds or shedding
machinery breakdowns. The most common amounts of dark and medullated fibres are
hard contaminants found in pressed bales needed to contaminate wool. Just one staple
breeds must be kept
of wool are combs and cutters, screwdrivers, of dark wool in one bale of white wool is completely separate from
bale fasteners, bale hooks, small tools and sufficient to prevent that wool being used Merinos and be shorn after
drink cans. Hard contamination is the easiest for light-coloured cloth or yarn. Medullated all the Merinos are shorn.
type to detect and care must be taken to fibres are hollow and do not take up dye, are
ensure they do not end up in the bale. very coarse and appear as white fibres in
The major soft non-wool contaminants dyed garments. 
54 ON
FARM

Hands-on & practical 2022 Rural Education

Program applications
stockmanship training now open
www.hayinc.com.au

The 16 young participants in the 2021 program at ‘Burrabogie’, pictured with (from the left) Hay Inc past The 16 young participants learning how to manage
chairman, Chris Bowman, who is a Merino sheep classer and Hay Inc volunteer trainer; AWI sheep industry working dogs during training at Shear Outback in Hay,
specialist, Stuart Hodgson; and Hay Inc program manager, Sandra Ireson. PHOTO: Mads Porter Photography with trainers Edward McFarland and Geoff McDougall.

With the support of AWI, the Hay Inc Rural Education Program in the Hay district of NSW
continues to help young people gain hands-on agricultural skills, training and experience.

T he 16 young participants in the 2021 Hay

Inc Rural Education Program came to
together in June for their third and final
“The program is delivered by trainers
who have many years of experience on
extensive rural properties, covering topics
classing, working dog training, livestock
water maintenance, fence construction
and maintenance, and small engine and
training week, which was followed by their based around the production calendar for motorbike maintenance.
graduation at the Hay Merino Sheep Show. sheep, wool production and cattle.” AWI has supported the Hay Inc
The Hay Inc Rural Education Program Applications for the 2022 training program each year since its inception and
was launched in 2014 with support from AWI program are now open. Employers can send will be supporting the 2022 program. The
in response to concerns about the decline in their employees on the program or other application form for those aged 18 to 25 years
the traditional jackaroo/jillaroo system in interested young people can apply directly. is available on the Hay Inc website.
the western Riverina district of NSW and the Applicants can be from anywhere and do not “Our funding in programs like this
associated lack of stockmanship and other have to be from the Hay district. aims to help improve the engagement of
essential rural skills being handed down to young people interested in the wool industry,
the younger generation. Practical and thereby developing and retaining the skills
“Through the Hay Inc program, young the wool industry needs to be innovative in
people are now being given the opportunity to
hands-on training response to new challenges,” said AWI CEO
learn the practical agricultural skills needed The Hay Inc program is a three-week course, Stuart McCullough.
for them to get jobs on rural properties. It in three blocks of five days’ training, usually
focuses on wool and livestock production spread over a nine-month period. Topics
and takes place in a practical setting in covered include sheep handling and yard How to replicate
partnership with local woolgrowers,” said work, shearing and wool shed management, the training program
program manager Sandra Ireson. sheep health and nutrition, Merino sheep in your community
A 20-page manual that shows how the Hay
community came together to establish
the Hay Inc Rural Education Program was
developed and issued in 2019 by Sandra
Ireson. It provides a model that can be
adapted and implemented in other rural
communities across Australia.
The manual is available on the Hay Inc
website www.hayinc.com.au (click the Engage
Ag logo in the top-right of the home-page
screen) or contact Sandra Ireson directly at
engageag1@gmail.com or on 0439 938 119. 

More information
www.hayinc.com.au

Chris Bowman and Stuart Hodgson

teaching Merino sheep classing.
 ON 55
FARM

Hay Inc graduate

is proof of the program’s worth
Rose Nevinson completed the
Hay Inc training program in
2017 and was so impressed
with it that she has since gone
on and joined its committee.

R ose Nevinson grew up on a Merino sheep

station in between Hay and Deniliquin
where her family has been for 125 years. She
graduated from the Hay Inc Rural Education
Program in 2017 while she was working at
‘Warwillah Station’ where she also completed
her Certificate IV in Agriculture.
Since 2019 she has been working as a
wool buyer for Seig Sheep & Wool which is
a locally owned and operated woolstore in
Deniliquin. However, she now also has a flock
of Merino sheep of her own and breeds her
own rams. Rose Nevinson, who completed the Hay Inc program in 2017, presenting wool handling to the 2021 program
participants, at Paraway Pastoral’s ‘Steam Plains’ property. PHOTO: Melanie Williams, Tocal College
“I started in 2014 with 31 Merino ewes,
and now I have 100 Merino sheep,” the
23-year-old said. themselves – and I knew I could learn even “It is important to know about clip
“I am hoping this year to finally become more from them. Hay Inc is great in that preparation, because by doing so you are
a stud. I’ve been breeding my own rams it’s not like going to school; it’s hands-on able to achieve higher premiums for the
which I will be looking to sell in the future. learning,” she said. woolgrowers’ product. It’s about knowing
It’s something I have been working up to for a Rose joined the Hay Inc committee two how to skirt your fleece, and keep everything
number of years; it’s a passion project really.” years ago, and as Hay Inc is always looking at from bellies, pieces, crutchings etc separate,
Rose says the practical approach to ways to improve the program, she suggested and realising that vegetable matter and yield
learning from experienced local trainers is a that wool handling should be in the program.
play a big part in affecting value.
strength of the Hay Inc training program. “When I went through Hay Inc we did
“Most jack and jillaroos would be
“In my first year out of school I was the shearing and crutching school, and it’s
mustering or doing yard work, but learning
working on a couple of different stations still part of the program today, but it was
how to prepare a clip will prepare the
around home (at Booroorban); I had also done not until I started working a Seig Sheep &
a few courses at ag college. But the Hay Inc Wool in Deniliquin that I realised just how participants for anything and will enable
instructors are so knowledgeable – having important it is to know about wool handling them to help whoever they are working for to
been on the farm and in the industry so long too,” she said. improve value.” 

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56 ON
FARM

Science and

Horizon Scholarship Innovation Awards

Applications for the 2022 Science and
Innovation Awards for Young People in
Agriculture close on 1 October.
Caitlin Morgan from the Each year the Department of
Mornington Peninsula of Agriculture with its Award partners,
Victoria is the 2021 recipient including AWI, presents this competitive
grants program for innovative research
of a Horizon Scholarship projects that will benefit Australia's
sponsored by AWI, in agricultural industries.
recognition of her leadership The awards are open to young people
potential and commitment to aged 18 to 35 who are working or
studying in rural industries.
Australian agriculture.
More information
www.wool.com/scienceawards
T he Horizon Scholarship is an initiative
of AgriFutures Australia and aims
to support the next generation of
agricultural leaders. Young Farming
Under the scholarship, AWI is Caitlin Morgan is studying for a Bachelor of Champions for wool
supporting Caitlin throughout her Bachelor Agriculture at the University of Melbourne. AWI continue its longstanding
of Agriculture course at the University partnership with Action for Agriculture
of Melbourne by providing her with a at Flinders Christian Community College. (A4A) that identifies and trains
financial bursary and professional support It was there that I quickly discovered my emerging young leaders within the wool
in the form of mentoring, professional passion for the sheep and wool industry and industry to be confident communicators
development workshops and two weeks of for animal health,” Caitlin said. and trusted voices in the community.
industry placement. Caitlin has also been successful Young people, aged between 20 and
Caitlin aims to complete further in junior judging and showmanship 30, are invited to apply for the Cultivate
studies in Veterinary Medicine. competitions at state and national levels, - Growing Young Leaders program.
“Throughout my childhood I was and she was part of the Flinders Christian Graduates of the program join the Young
fortunate to spend a lot of time on my Community College winning team in AWI’s Farming Champions alumni.
grandparents’ farm in South Gippsland 2019 National Merino Challenge. Expressions of interest should be
where my passion for agriculture began. submitted by 30 September.
This was further nurtured through my More information
involvement and subsequent management www.agrifutures.com.au/horizon- More information
of the successful Corriedale Sheep Stud scholarship www.wool.com/yfc

Applications are now open to Breeding Leadership

young woolgrowers from across
the country to join AWI’s 2022
applications open
Breeding Leadership course in
Clare, South Australia, aimed
at helping foster the next
generation of leaders within
the wool industry.

I f you are passionate about your industry

and want to develop your skills to make
a difference in the future, AWI’s Breeding
Leadership professional development course
is for you!
Breeding Leadership is designed for
anyone 25 to 35 years old currently working in
agriculture with a focus on the wool industry.
Participants at the 2020 Breeding Leadership course, pictured here with the Meyer family at
Held every two years, the course is next Mulloorie Merino Stud in South Australia.
being held from Monday 21st to Friday 25th
February 2022 in Clare, South Australia. At the end of the course, participants program through the Australian Association
It is an excellent opportunity to will have developed foundation leadership of Stud Merino Breeders in 2004. Since 2012
network with more than 20 like-minded skills that will enable them to become AWI has funded the course.
people from across Australia. Participants enthusiastic, influential, dynamic and Participants are required to pay a
will get the opportunity to learn from skilled dedicated leaders within the wool industry course fee of $440 (GST inclusive) which
deliverers and be trained in areas such as and their local community. contributes to the cost of the program.
people management, corporate governance, More than 175 young Australians Applications close on Thursday
strategic planning and time management. The have attended the course to date, with many 30 September. 
week’s events involve a mix of both classroom previous participants now holding leadership
and field-work and, as well as excursions positions within business and industry. More information
to stud and commercial operations, there Breeding Leadership was established The application form is available at
will be an exposure to a variety of non- in 2002 by the South Australian Stud Merino www.wool.com/breedingleadership
woolgrowing enterprises. Breeders Association and became a national
Cydectin Eweguard and Cydectin Weanerguard combines the
power of moxidectin with a 6 in vaccine in one easy injection.
• 21-day persistent activity against the most economically significant
species in sheep – Barber’s pole worm and small brown stomach worm
• Protects against cheesy gland and the five most common clostridial diseases
• Available with selenium and Vitamin B12
58 MARKET
INTELLIGENCE

Market Intelligence
The 2020/21 wool selling season featured a marked and positive turnaround in fortunes for
woolgrowers. Both dominant factors of potential profit – price and production – saw exceptional
increases. The volume and value of auction sales were well above the previous year.
Wool exports to China are returning to pre-COVID levels, and exports to the sub-continent
and European destinations are also recovering. On top of these extremely positive factors, the
Australian dollar also played its part and added additional worth to the value of raw wool exports.

Australian wool FIGURE 1: AUSTRALIAN WOOL PRODUCTION BY STATE IN THE 2020/21 SEASON
production levels
recovering

W ool production in the 2020/21 season

was 7.6% higher than the previous year,
reaching 318.2 million kgs (mkg).
General improvements in climatic QLD (2.4%)
conditions were a major factor in boosting 7.721mkg
on-farm production (see Figure 1), alongside
WA (18.9%) +2.3% (YoY)
one of the largest sheep movements seen from
Western Australia to the eastern states. This 60.080mkg
SA (14.9%)
retention option, rather than slaughter or ship, -4.3% (YoY)
has helped stabilise the immediate and future 47.380mkg
national wool production and wool sheep +7.5% (YoY) NSW (36.1%)
population, with the vast majority of the stock 114.701mkg
shipped across being Merino ewes of breeding
+15.2% (YoY)
age or younger lambs.
NSW continues to produce more wool
than any other Australian state, with more
than 114mkg being tested for the 2020/21 season.
This represents 36% of the national production. VIC (24.3%)
All states apart from WA had increases in TAS (3.5%) 77.237mkg
Source AWTA Key test data
volumes, with the largest percentage gain of 11.070mkg
+18.2% being recorded in Tasmania. Put in a +6.8% (YoY)
+18.2% (YoY)
global perspective, each of the top four wool ,

producing states of Australia individually

produce more wool than the entire production FIGURE 2: AUSTRALIAN WOOL TESTED PRE- AND POST-NEW YEAR
of our major Merino wool producing
competitor (excluding China), South Africa, 200

which produces 45mkg of all wool annually.

Favourable conditions developed mid- 150
2020 in many wool-growing regions across
the eastern and central states and drove a
subsequent increase in cut per head. The 100
mkg

average wool cut per head had been forecast

by the Australian Wool Production Forecasting
50
Committee to increase by 7.2% nationally
to 4.43 kg greasy for the 2020/21 season, and
that turned out to be met or exceeded which 0

contributed largely to the production gains.

/11

/12

/13

/14

/15

/16

/17

/18

/19

/20

/21
10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20
20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

WA had a later break in the drought and

20

reports are that the remaining sheep there

are in good condition and are now expected to Pre-New Year Post-New Year
remain that way through winter. Costs on the
open market for replacement ewes is largely stable for eight years and a growth rate of 6% operations/timings and warehouse access.
considered excessive to profitability at current was recorded in the two seasons prior to the Also, on-farm storage of bales built up due
levels and many woolgrowers are choosing to elongated drought. to the low prices of 2020 at the time. More
breed replacements over time, so a restocking The second half of the 2020/21 season recently, on-farm wool stock disposal has
of that state’s sheep population is expected to witnessed a trend-breaking production accelerated as growers choose to eliminate
take time. scenario in which the first half volume of the the threat and reality of mice chewing out the
The 2020/21 season’s increase in season’s wool tested by AWTA was outstripped nylon wool packs of stored bales and move
production (based on tested wool) has stopped significantly by the last six months. See Figure insurance risk to store instead of farm.
the steep decline in production that was caused 2. Prior to this season, the past 10 full
almost solely by drought since 2017/18; 65mkg Many factors were in play to potentially seasons had seen the first half of the season
had been lost in just two seasons. Prior to distort the trends, including the impacts of averaging 51.42% of each season’s total volume,
that downfall, production had been relatively COVID last year on the test house, shearing with no season producing a second half
 MARKET 59
INTELLIGENCE

report
FIGURE 3: EMI DURING THE 2020/21 SEASON

1,500 Season LOW Season HIGH

Season START
1,116Ac 858Ac 1,468Ac
1,400

1,300

1,200

1,100

1,000

900 Season START Season HIGH

773USc 1,070USc
800

700 Season LOW

631USc
600
0 0 0 0 20 20 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
6/2 7/2 8/2 9/2 10/ 11/ 2/2 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 5/2 6/2
30/ 31/ 31/ 30/ 31/ 30/ 3/1 31/ 28/ 31/ 30/ 31/ 30/
Ac EMI USc EMI

exceeding the first half. In contrast, the 2020/21

season had just 43.62% of the total tested in FIGURE 4: CHINA DOMESTIC RETAIL SALES OF GARMENTS (MILLION YUAN)
the first half of the year, a figure very much
an outlier in the data set. In fact, the last six 1,200 15%
months of the 2020/21 season has seen the
greatest amount of wool tested in the second 1,000 10%
half of a season since 2010/11 (a year that had
more than 372mkg tested).
800 5%

Wool prices and 600 0%

value increase
400 -5%

A t the commencement of the 2020/21 season,

the AUD EMI was at 1116ac and very much
in a weakening trend following the COVID-
200 -10%

induced downturn of global economies. The

AUD EMI continued its fall through August 0 -15%
2020 until eventually bottoming out at 858ac in
R

V
R

C
P

T
L
MA
MA

NO
OC
JU

DE
AU
AP

SE
JU

the first week of September 2020. In contrast,

2019 2020 2021 % CHANGE
the market then added 65.9% or 565ac in just
nine months. Across the whole season, the
Note. No figures are released for January or February.
AUD EMI gained 307ac or 27.5%, to close out at
1423ac (see Figure 3 above).
The 2020/21 season started with the USD
EMI at 773usc at a forex rate of .6863 against Sold weight equated to approximately
the AUD. By season end, the USD EMI had 280.1mkg greasy which represents around
China retail sales climb
vastly outperformed the gains made in AUD,
increasing by 297usc or 38.4%. Like the AUD
EMI, the USD EMI hit the season low in the
179 mkg clean based on the seasonal data of
179.1kg/bale and 63.9% dry yield. Using the
assumption that around 10% of additional
D ata from China’s Nation Bureau of
Statistics shows that retail sales of
garments in 2020 were only down for a few
first week of September 2020, falling to 631usc. wool is privately transacted, that would make months at the start of the pandemic (March
From the low, the market recovered stronger the season’s total sold weight 308.1mkg greasy and April). Monthly retail sales of garments
than AUD values, to add 69.6% or 439usc in just or 196.9mkg clean. have recovered quickly since August 2020,
nine months. Based on total transacted volume of up every month since (year-on-year) –
The number of bales sold at auction 196.9mkg clean and a seasonal average of 1199ac, see Figure 4 above.
during the 2020/21 season was 1,558,820 bales, the seasonal raw wool value was approximately
which is 352,523 bales or 29.2% more than the A$2.36 billion. AWEX reported an annual value
2019/20 season total of 1,206,297 bales. sold at auction of A$2.25 billion.
60 MARKET
INTELLIGENCE

Average monthly
EMI comparison
T he chart opposite provides a snapshot of
how the AWEX monthly Eastern Market
Indicator (EMI) and a range of microns have
AVERAGE MONTHLY EMI FOR MAY 2021 – JULY 2021 COMPARED WITH
PPREVIOUS 5 YEARS MAY 2016 – APRIL 2021
THE DECADE MAY 2006 – APRIL 2016
performed for the past three months (May
2021 – July 2021) in Australian dollar terms
compared with the previous five years May EMI $13.84 29 98
2016 to April 2021 (circles) and the decade
previous to that, May 2006 – April 2016
(squares). 17um $24.53 77 100
Although the coronavirus pandemic
continues to impact the global economy, 18um $20.58 58 100
during these past three months there has
been a definite improvement in the EMI, and
especially the finer microns, building on the 19um $17.09 38 100
gains of the previous three-month period.
For the past three months, the 20um $14.08 20 94
monthly EMI averaged at $13.84 which is an
83c rise from the average monthly EMI for
the previous three months, and is tracking 21um $13.05 17 87
at the 29th percentile against the previous
five-year monthly EMI. This means that in 85
22um $12.56 16
the previous five years the monthly EMI
has recorded a lower price than the current
$13.84 (May 2021 – July 2021) for 29% of the 23um*
time.
While the EMI is tracking at the 29th
24um*
percentile over the previous five years,
it is tracking at the 98th percentile when
compared to the decade May 2006 – April 25um*
2016. This means the current EMI of $13.84
(May 2021 – July 2021) is higher now than it
was for 98% of that decade.
26um $7.69 7 57
18 micron averaged at a monthly value
of $20.58 (58th percentile for the previous 28um $4.85 5 23
five years and 100th percentile for the decade
before that), 21 micron averaged at $13.05
(17th percentile for the previous five years
30um $3.93 5 17
but 87th percentile for the decade before
that), and 28 micron averaged at $4.85 (5th 32um $2.46 4 4
percentile for the previous five years and
23rd percentile for the decade before that).
For the past three months, Merino
MC $9.33 22 90
Cardings averaged at $9.33, operating at the 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
22nd percentile for the previous five years
and at the 90th percentile for the decade *insufficient data
before that. 

Market intelligence at wool.com

An important part of AWI’s Wool.com • Currency movements – you can and market intelligence direct to about
website is market intelligence select to display AUD/USD, AUD/CNY 5,000 woolgrowers’ mobile phones. If you
information for woolgrowers. or AUD/EUR. would like to subscribe to the free SMS
As well as the Weekly Price Reports service, visit www.wool.com/sms where
• Forecast of bales sold – displays
and Monthly Market Intelligence Reports, you will be asked to input your name
previous season, current season,
there is a graphical display of: and the mobile phone number to receive
current week and forecast. the SMS. You can unsubscribe from the
• Eastern Market Indicator – you can select For the first three categories above, you service at any time.
to display AUD, USD, CNY or EUR. can select to display data from 3 months
to 3 years ago.
• Offering – displays bales offered and More information
bales sold. AWI also continues to send wool prices www.wool.com/marketintel
 MARKET 61
INTELLIGENCE

SustainaWOOL members can

highlight their accreditation on WoolQ
The SustainaWOOLTM Integrity Scheme, Australia’s largest wool
sustainability accreditation scheme, now has an established
Group on the WoolQ industry directory, enabling SustainaWOOL’s
woolgrower members to fully promote their SustainaWOOL
accreditation on WoolQ to an active global audience.
It currently has nearly 1,200 woolgrower ‘Business Profile’. Although you can use
members, plus 32 post-farm industry partners WoolQ on computer, tablet or smartphone
including some of the world’s top spinners device, it is best to create a business profile
and weavers. More than one out of every ten using a desktop computer or laptop, and
bales of wool offered at auction in the 2020/21 you will need an internet connection for
selling season was grown by members of the process.
SustainaWOOL, and members received on Then simply follow the prompts on
average 1.5 - 2.0% higher prices and a 2% lower your dashboard to complete each part of the
passed-in rate for their SW-coded fleece wool profile. Some parts of the profile are optional
lots compared to equivalent lots from to complete, so you can tailor it to what suits
non-members. your business circumstances.
“We believe SustainaWOOL’s
commitment to the highest standards
of sustainability, traceability and wool How SustainaWOOL
quality complement the ability of WoolQ members can fully
to profile businesses and connect industry promote their
partners,” said AWI Chief Operations Officer,
John Roberts.
accreditation on WoolQ
“By linking these qualities of You must have a business profile on WoolQ
SustainaWOOL and WoolQ, we see a (see above). When logged on to WoolQ,
WoolQ contains a directory of woolgrowers,
classers, brokers and buyers – and now real opportunity for the hard work of enter the industry directory, by clicking on
the SustainaWOOLTM Integrity Scheme. woolgrowers to be rewarded through meeting ‘Industry Network’ in the menu bar and
SustainaWOOL encourages its woolgrower then ‘Directory’. Search for SustainaWOOL
members to join the SustainaWOOL Group on the needs of our end consumers, who are
WoolQ, which will help showcase their unique forever seeking more trust in product Integrity Scheme and, once found, open
product to a global audience. authenticity.” the entry and click on the ‘Join Group’ red
SustainaWOOL Program Manager, button, which sends a joining request to
SustainaWOOL.
O ne of the key features of WoolQ is an Dr Paul Swan, added: “This simple but
positive development enables us to support Once SustainaWOOL has verified
Australian wool industry directory that
SustainaWOOL members who use the WoolQ at its end that you are a SustainaWOOL
enables woolgrowers and buyers to search
platform, but also supports us in our central member, you will be made a member of
for and connect with each other as potential
challenge – to tell the sustainability story of the SustainaWOOL Group on WoolQ. Your
business partners.
Australia’s woolgrowers.” business will automatically be listed on the
The WoolQ industry directory has a
WoolQ has more than 3,500 users SustainaWOOL profile under partners, and
new partnership with the SustainaWOOLTM SustainaWOOL will be listed on your business
registered and well over 1,000 wool industry
Integrity Scheme, which is now an established profile, for all to see.
businesses fully profiled. The platform is
Group on the directory. This means All members of SustainaWOOL are
the ideal place for woolgrowers to showcase
that woolgrowers with SustainaWOOL encouraged to join the SustainaWOOL Group
their provenance story because it provides
accreditation can join the Group and thereby on WoolQ. You will be kept up to date on
an immediate connection to buyers. In
fully promote their accreditation on their initiatives as WoolQ and SustainaWOOL
their business profile, all woolgrowers can
own WoolQ business profiles, potentially explore further opportunities for
provide a rich description, logo, images
generating more interest in the marketplace collaboration up the wool supply chain.
and video to bring their wool-growing
for their wool and providing more
brand to life and deliver a really compelling
marketing options. story, as well as detail their wool broker. In More information:
Buyers like the WoolQ industry addition, SustainaWOOL members can now • For information about the
directory because they don’t have to spend fully showcase their membership of the SustainaWOOLTM Integrity Scheme:
hours searching Google for different grower integrity scheme. www.sustainawool.com.au.
websites. They have instant access to • For information about how to build
sophisticated search functionality to find a WoolQ business profile: after
exactly the woolgrowers that suit the type of How to create a business registering/logging on at www.woolq.
wool and quality scheme they are looking for. profile on WoolQ com, head to the Education section.
The SustainaWOOLTM Integrity To create a business profile on WoolQ,
Scheme is the largest sustainability scheme you must register as a user at www.woolq.
in the wool industry. The scheme provides com. Registering takes just 30 seconds
benchmarks for minimum sustainability to complete.
standards within a farm’s wool production You can then set up a profile for
system, thereby providing integrity and your business by clicking the avatar in the
traceability along the pipeline to consumers. top-right of the screen and then selecting
 62 READERS’
PHOTOS

Readers’
WIN!!! Photos!
Have you got any interesting photos that you’d like to share with other readers of
Beyond the Bale?
If so, please email the image and a brief description to the editor of Beyond the Bale Richard
If you email or tag a photo
Smith at richard.smith@wool.com or you can tag us #beyondthebale on Instagram.
that gets published in Readers’
Photos, you’ll receive from us a
paperback copy of the Kondinin
Group’s ‘The Story of Wool’.

AN OUTBACK LATE AFTERNOON

Lisa Alexander from Blackall in Queensland calls a 23,000-acre sheep and cattle property home. Lisa
captures some truly fantastic images from around the property, this one a drone shot of the yards, with
some dust at sunset. Thanks for tagging #beyondthebale on Instagram, @lisa_alexander_photography.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
The superfine Merino rams on Matt and Vanessa
Dunbabin’s ‘Bangor’ property at Dunalley in
Tasmania were shorn in early June. Getting the
fleece off these big boys is no easy task, but
shearer Nathaniel got the job done. This photo
tagged #beyondthebale on Instagram by
@bangorshed was beautifully captured by Lucy
Bradshaw of @theseaisformephotography.

RAM WHISPERER
This is a wonderful shot of two-year-old Dulcie
bonding with a ram on the property of her GETTING ACROSS WHILE THEY CAN
grandparents Greg and Kaye Potter of Fairview In the March edition, we printed a photo of a warm smoky evening in January at Gringegalgona Merinos
Polwarths at Barongarook near Colac in western (@gringegalgona) at Vasey in the Western District of Victoria. Six months on, and this photo from July
Victoria. Thanks for tagging #beyondthebale on shows that conditions have turned around; with most gully dams full, the creeks are filling and turning
Instagram, @fairviewpolwarths. into rivers.
 READERS’ 63
PHOTOS

MAKING THEIR MARK A VIVID SUNSET

The Holland family have farmed at Brim East in north-western Victoria for A spectacular sky photographed in July at Burnt Yards on the Central
almost 100 years spanning three generations. Graeme and his wife Sarah- Tablelands in NSW. Thanks for tagging #beyondthebale on Instagram,
Jayne along with their three children Ella (15), Lucy (13), and Oliver (11), are Deb Paine (@debp1232).
always keen participants when it comes time to mark the lambs and season
2021 was no exception. Their farm currently runs 700 Merino ewes that
yearly on average cut 5-6kg of between 19 to 22-micron wool. The photo was
shot by Belinda Miller Photography of Warracknabeal.

Seasonal conditions
forecast
Chance of above median rainfall Chance of above median
October to December 2021 maximum temperature
October to December 2021

Source: © Commonwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology, issued: 30 August 2021