Merino wool success

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 270, 17 January 1989, Page 7

Merino wool success

Flock House merinos annual ram sale recently held at Flock House capped off a successful year for MAFTech's fine wool venture. MAFTech started the project three years ago to encourage North Island farmers to consider fine wool production, and has shown it to be a viable option even in some high rainfall areas. Late last month MAFTech signed a contract to supply superfine wool to a Japanese textile company and Feltex NZ Ltd. The agreement also involves research on superfine wool in the North Island. This achievement has now been followed by a complete clearance of the 45 rams on offer at the annual Flock House merino ram sale. A top sale price of $725 was paid by an Eketahuna buyer for a two tooth ram with a fleece diameter of 16.1 microns. The average price was up $100 on 1987, reflecting the improvement in stock being offered and an increase in demand.

The average fleece diameter had been reduced from 17.8 last year to 17.3 microns. The keen group of buyers who attended the sale reflects the increasing interest in merino farming in the North Island, according to Tony Rhodes, MAFTech's Animal Business Operations Manager. "At least 30,000 merinos are now being farmed in the North Island up 11,000 on 15 months ago, and farmers are finding that a fine wool operation is on average 80 per cent more profitable than a conventional crossbred flock."