High demand for wool drives Australian farmers to shear early
05/01/2018
In spite of “mixed” conditions in major sheep producing areas in the southern hemisphere winter and spring months, rising wool prices have encouraged producers to shear their sheep and deliver wool as quickly as possible into the market, boosting production volumes. Fleece weights in some key regions, such as New South Wales and Queensland, have been good.
However, tests up until November 2017 indicated that much of the increase may pertain to broader-fibre wool, of 28.5 micron and above. Data showed a significant decline in wool of 16.5 microns and finer.
For 2017-2018, forecasters estimate that farmers in Australia will shear 75 million sheep, 1.7% more than in the season before.
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