Furore as Kāinga Ora rules out wool carpets
State housing provider, Kāinga Ora’s decision to rule out the use of wool carpets in social housing has been described as a slap in the face by sheep farmers.
The 7250 bales of North Island wool on offer saw a 72% clearance with most types easing further.
NZ Wool Services International Ltd’s marketing executive Malcolm Ching reports that some good colour types resisted this trend as buyers continue very focused buying with targeted better style wools getting more support.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 0.64% lower than last week’s sale, having minimal positive impact.
Ching advises that subdued demand and continued uncertainty around new market interest in coming weeks, is restricting buying activity.
Compared to the last similar North Island selection on November 10: Good colour fine crossbred fleece were 1 to 2% dearer with average/poor styles 3 to 7% cheaper. Good colour fine crossbred shears 3 / 5 and 3 / 4 inches were 2.5 to 5.5%t easier with 2 / 4 and 2 / 3 inches firm to 5% dearer. All poorer style fine crossbred shears were 3.5 to 7% cheaper.
Good colour coarse crossbred fleece were firm with poorer styles 7 to 8% cheaper. Coarse shears 3 / 5 to 2 / 4 inches were 1 to 5% cheaper with 2 / 3 inches 1.5% dearer.
Short oddments ranged from 7 to 13% cheaper.
Competition was limited with Australasia, Western Europe and China principals, supported by Middle East, India and the United Kingdom.
Next sale on December 1 comprises about 4550 bales from the South Island.
The first phase of a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into allegations of mistreatment of sheep connected to shearing practices has been completed.
According to Biosecurity New Zealand, legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe will remain in place until mid-February.
The rollout of the New Zealand Genetic Evaluation Version 6 is said to mark a step-change in the depth and breadth of genetic information available to both stud and commercial sheep breeders.
With low wool prices, farmer interest in the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep continues to grow.
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