ISSUE 86 MARCH 2021 PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION www.wool.com

Australian wool in the America’s Cup

08 32 56 WHY SUSTAINABILITY FLYSTRIKE VACCINE HANDS-ON MATTERS PROGRESS RURAL TRAINING 19 ACTIVEWEAR REACHES 28 LIFETIME EWE NEW HEIGHTS MANAGEMENT EDITOR Richard Smith E [email protected] Australian Wool Innovation Limited OFF-FARM ON-FARM A L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 4 Wool 2030: New long-term strategy 28 Lifetime Ewe Management P 02 8295 3100 6 Review of Performance 30 Croc trough pumping system E [email protected] W wool.com AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 6 Wool face masks 32 Flystrike vaccine update SUBSCRIPTION 7 Project results in numbers 34 Anaesthetic and analgesic treatments Beyond the Bale is available free. To subscribe contact AWI 8 Fashion’s sustainability focus 36 It’s Fly Time! resources 02 8295 3100 [email protected] P E 9 Fashion and regenerative agriculture 38 ParaBoss: Set your sights on parasites Beyond the Bale is published by Australian 11 Technology to trace Aussie wool 40 MLP: Ram mating success insights Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company funded by Australian woolgrowers and the 12 Wool set to gain from circularity 42 Comparing sheep performance Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help increase the demand for wool by actively 14 Traceable wool from farm to fashion 45 AWI breeding publications selling Australian wool and its attributes 46 10 years of FeralScan through investments in marketing, innovation 16 America’s Cup series’ wool showcase and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 18 Lana Vello athleisurewear 47 Hoggone feral pig bait 48 SA Dog Fence rebuild COPYRIGHT 19 New performance wear from ashmei Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. 20 Hats off to Aussie wool! 49 Trap kits… still trapping Reproduction of the material is encouraged. However prior permission must be obtained 22 Digital printing on wool 50 Wild dog control benefits wildlife from the Editor. 23 The Wool Lab Digital 51 Rebuilding on Kangaroo Island DISCLAIMER To the extent permitted by law, Australian 24 Wool4School tops 100,000 students 52 Mobile shearing Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability Wool denim designs for on the go 54 Shearer and wool handler training for loss or damage arising from the use of, 25 or reliance on, the information contained in 26 I made a coat using my own wool! 55 Shear brilliance from Kevin Gellatly this publication. The Woolmark symbol is a certification mark 55 Harvesting training videos registered in many countries. © 2021 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 56 Hay Inc hands-on rural training rights reserved. 58 Market intelligence report ADVERTISING SALES 60 EMI starts to recover Steve Luxford, Pulse Hub Pty Ltd P 0429 699 553 AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 61 Promote your wool on WoolQ E [email protected] Sheep Production, Marketing Consultation 62 Readers’ photos Advertising is subject to terms and conditions Science & Technology published on the ratecard, which is available Processing Innovation from Pulse Hub. Traceability & Education Extension ISSN 1447-9680 CONNECTING WITH AWI AWI E-NEWSLETTERS: FRONT COVER To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter In a global showcase of Australian Merino wool, wool.com the America’s Cup team Luna Rossa Prada for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review Pirelli has benefited from the performance e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe attributes of the fibre in its sailing uniform, [email protected] thanks to a partnership with AWI’s subsidiary The Woolmark Company – see page 16. THE WOOLMARK COMPANY wool.com/podcast This magazine is printed on PEFC woolmark.com (Programme for the Endorsement of twitter.com/woolinnovation Forest Certification) paper stock. twitter.com/woolmark

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

GD4114 UPFRONT 3

GETTING ON WITH BUSINESS Stuart McCullough Chief Executive Officer Australian Wool Innovation

Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, AWI has continued to work relentlessly for woolgrowers to ensure the sustainability of our industry and profitability for your enterprises.

Retail still weak, but Merino wool’s suitability for trans-seasonal and can vote for one or more levy rates in womenswear in China. order of preference. An additional question vaccines and China Although the relatively buoyant will be added to WoolPoll 2021; it will ask provide optimism consumption in the Chinese market is not growers if they want a five-year WoolPoll Since my previous report in Beyond the Bale enough to make up for the current poor cycle instead of the current three-year cycle. three months ago, the COVID-19 pandemic performance of western consumer markets, Eligible levy payers will receive their voting has continued to severely impact most the bounce back in China does provide papers in September. Further information countries across the world, including large optimism and confidence for coming retail about WoolPoll 2021 will be in the June and wool-consuming countries in the northern seasons in other global markets, once the September editions of Beyond the Bale. hemisphere such as those in Europe and the rollout of vaccines has reduced COVID-19 USA. The lockdowns and social distancing infection levels and they are under control. A better 2021 measures have continued to result in Reflecting the situation in China, we Without doubt, the economic fallout from lower-than-normal consumption of apparel anticipate an upsurge in demand in global the global pandemic during the past 12 products (with China a notable exception). markets once daily life returns to some form months has been very tough for many Some apparel segments have been of normality and consumers begin to indulge industries including the wool industry. While more resilient than others. While the suiting in social gatherings once again. I have always been absolutely sure about and formal attire sectors have continued In the trade space, given that it usually the resilience of our industry, I am more to be badly hit in many countries, the takes more than 12 months for brands to confident now than I was six months ago knitwear, coats and outdoor/sports sectors develop and roll out their apparel collections, that there is light at the end of the tunnel have been relatively robust. Higher levels of COVID-19 has already somewhat disrupted and a recovery is under way. Despite the online purchasing continue to partly offset the 2021/22 northern hemisphere autumn/ tough times, the EMI has begun to recover, reductions in consumption at brick and winter retail season, aside from in China. increasing by more than 53% from a low mortar stores. However, we are hopeful that the level of of 858ac at the beginning of September AWI’s marketing teams across the wool buying by processors will be back to to 1318ac in mid-February. It is now at its world have continued to focus on (1) retailers normal during the second half of this year, highest level since March last year. and brands that have proven and robust for autumn/winter 2022/23 collections across I strongly believe that the premium digital retail platforms, (2) large volume, high the entire northern hemisphere. and natural qualities of our fibre and the consumption sectors, and (3) sectors that are It is important to note that while much relationships we have built along the supply seeing a rise in demand, such as active wear. attention at the moment is understandably chain during the past decade ensure a In contrast to most nations, China’s on our retail markets, our on-farm R&D positive outlook for Australian wool, not domestic consumption of wool apparel and extension projects are largely run in only as the industry recovers from the products at retail has not only recovered but Australia and have escaped the worst of the economic effects of COVID-19, but in the has increased compared to previous years. fallout from the pandemic. They continue longer term. While this is mainly due to the clear recovery to operate largely as normal, although we The 10-year strategy for Australian of the Chinese economy, it is also due to closely monitor their progress and budgets. woolgrowers, Wool 2030, which was two other reasons: firstly, the widespread developed following extensive consultation renewal of uniforms for the Chinese public WoolPoll 2021 (see pages 4-5), has been well received service, and secondly, international travel As we move into 2021, we enter a WoolPoll amongst woolgrowers and along the supply restrictions causing wealthy Chinese year, a cornerstone of Australia’s wool chain. The strategy’s underlying principle is tourists to shift their consumption away industry. It is that time when wool levy sustainability: in the careful management from markets like Paris and London to the payers will be asked what percentage of of woolgrowers’ animals and the land they domestic market. their wool income they would like to invest occupy, and the wellbeing of woolgrowers Building on the success of AWI’s recent in research, development and marketing for and their customers – all of which are online marketing campaign during China’s their industry. Voting is scheduled to open on essential for sustained profitability. autumn (see page 7), our marketing team has Monday 13 September and close on Friday 9 I hope you have all been safe and been working on a spring campaign, being November. Eligible woolgrowers will be given well during the start of 2021 and remain so rolled out this month, to drive awareness for up to five options of levy rate to support throughout the year. 4 UPFRONT Wool 2030: a long-term strategy for Australian woolgrowers A 10-year strategy for Australian woolgrowers, Wool 2030, has been developed following extensive consultation. The strategy’s underlying principle is sustainability: in the careful management of woolgrowers’ animals and the land they occupy, and The Wool 2030 strategic plan, which was released in the wellbeing of woolgrowers and their customers, all December, is available at www.wool.com/2030. of which are essential for sustained profitability.

he independent chairman of AWI’s The plan has a focus on meeting The strategy has been well received by TWoolgrower Industry Consultation Panel the needs of all woolgrowers in Australia’s industry along the wool supply chain. In the (WICP), Lyndsey Douglas, says a deep desire diverse wool industry. Wool 2030 document’s forward, Chairman to meet the expectations of consumers of Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Paolo Zegna, worldwide is reflected in the 10-year strategy Addressing opportunities says it’s crucially important to consolidate document’s tagline – ‘the world’s premium and risks the Australian wool industry’s leading sustainable fibre’ – which was launched by The Wool 2030 strategic plan describes how position in terms of quality and quantity of the industry in December. the Australian wool industry faces a decade wool produced. “The plan you see today addresses of unparalleled opportunity: “Wool has many “The whole wool supply chain has those issues the industry considers key outstanding performance attributes as a to move in the same direction. All growers to a prosperous future: driving demand, textile fibre. Increasingly, consumers also must follow the same path together with demographics, perception, profitability and seek products with strong sustainability their clients downstream, to all aim in people. It asks today’s growers to consider credentials. Wool is the first choice for reconfirming Australian wool as the best in the story of wool internationally in 2030 a sustainable fibre because it is natural, the world.” and what the daily life of a woolgrower in renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.” Australia might be in ten years’ time. What Wool 2030 explains that technology Plan development is also important is to identify efficiencies, also offers great opportunities for wool and consultation promote best practice, to always keep in mind in the modern world. “More than ever The development of a 10-year strategy for our buyers and customers,” Lyndsey said. before, woolgrowers can converse with Australian woolgrowers was one of the their customers, both to understand what recommendations of the 2018 review of “Woolgrowers are at the heart of different markets require, and to convey performance of AWI by Ernst and Young. the story of Australian wool production. The resulting new strategic plan, Wool this 10-year strategic plan.” A wide range of product specifications, 2030, was facilitated by AWI and overseen Lyndsey Douglas, WICP Chair including raising claims, can be transmitted by AWI’s Woolgrower Consultation Group with the physical product and price signals (WCG), which comprises 29 production- “The Merino breed continues to be conveyed to farm level. Technology also based woolgrower group representatives a central focus, a point-of-difference in a promises to solve some of the challenges of from across Australia, ‘next generation’ competitive global landscape. The plan has wool production such as efficient harvesting representatives invited by each WCG an ambitious national flock growth target, and management of pests and disease. member, as well as Lyndsey Douglas and and retention of the Merino ewe base at or Advances in genetics offer even further a representative of the Department of above its current proportion is crucial to the improvement in Australian sheep and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment. industry’s strength in 2030. wool they produce.” There was wide consultation during “We know that positioning wool as However, Wool 2030 says there are also the development of the plan. Initially, a a rewarding, profitable land-use choice to significant strategic risks to the industry: series of five discussion papers on key the next generation landholder is core to “In the late 20th Century, key wool industry topics were prepared to inform debate meeting our growth targets.” risks were largely concerned with technical by the WCG and the next generation The overall target of the strategic plan and commercial attributes of the fibre – representatives. Following WCG webinars, is for the Australian wool industry, by 2030, price, production, specifications, processing small-group consultations were undertaken to have grown in value by 2.5% annually and product performance. Today, those with brokers, buyers, processors, state from 2019/20. This growth will come from same industry risks remain but have been farming organisations, AWEX and AWTA. an increase in value per head of sheep of added to by what are best described as ‘social An industry online survey was also run 15% and an increase in flock size from 67 to licence’ risks – animal welfare, environmental for five weeks which attracted more than 75 million, with an increased proportion of sustainability (regeneration), emissions 850 responses. Merinos in the ewe flock. profile and so on.” UPFRONT 5

Vision and targets of the Wool 2030 strategy

Wool 2030

Pillar 1 Pillar 2 Pillar 3 Pillar 4 Pillar 5 CARING FOR OUR MARKETING COMMUNICATING TRANSFORMING FOSTERING A ANIMALS AND THE THE WORLD’S MOST WITH OUR OUR PRODUCTION PROSPEROUS WOOL- ENVIRONMENT DESIRABLE FIBRE CUSTOMERS SYSTEMS THROUGH GROWING COMMUNITY INNOVATION

Vision: In 2030, wool Vision: In 2030, the Vision: In 2030, growers, Vision: In 2030, wool Vision: In 2030, the wool- is one of Australia’s industry has renewed consumers and production systems growing community in most trusted industries, its relationship with industry participants employ a wide Australia is cohesive, renowned for its consumers following in-between are range of integrated collaborative and stewardship of the the COVID-19 pandemic. seamlessly exchanging technologies that committed, speaking people, animals and Consumers understand data on product make wool-growing with one voice. environment in its that Australian wool attributes (including less labour-intensive, Woolgrowers are care. As a textile delivers comfort, boosts provenance), physical more efficient and skilled professionals fibre, Australian health and positively movements and price more appealing to a who understand their wool is recognised benefits animals and signals, enabling younger generation. markets and manage internationally for its the environment. growers to meet market Woolgrowers are complex production sustainability standards, requirements and highly skilled systems. Young people which are underpinned buyers to readily obtain managers of sheep, are enthusiastic new by rigorous certification. the wools they seek. pastures and data. entrants. Targets: Targets: Targets: Targets: Targets: • Growers have the • New wool products • Australian • Lamb weaning • Staff and contractors confidence and tools are developed woolgrowers rates increase by 5 feel valued by the to manage flystrike to meet evolving understand the percentage points industry without mulesing consumer needs market(s) they serve • Genetic gain is 2% • The Australian wool • Australian wool • Australian wool • 95% of Australian per annum industry is seen to be production is moving attracts a price wool is sold with a • Cost of harvesting united and cohesive towards carbon premium over completed National reduces by 3% per • Wool-growing neutrality equivalent wools Wool Declaration annum in real terms. is perceived as • More than 50% of from other countries. or equivalent by a satisfying and wool is sold under a June 2022. profitable pursuit. quality certification scheme • Woolgrowers are earning income from ecosystem services, including for carbon mitigation.

Putting the plan the implementation for Wool 2030 extends More information: beyond AWI to many other organisations Download the 36-page Wool 2030 strategic into action and individuals across the Australian plan at www.wool.com/2030 The plan has deliberately been designed as a wool industry. high-level, aspirational statement of intent Oversight of the plan will be Hear Chair of the Wool and strategy for Australian woolgrowers. provided by a Wool 2030 Steering Group Industry Consultation Panel, AWI will assist in the coordination comprising an independent chair and Lyndsay Douglas, talk and implementation of the plan; the Wool industry representatives. The Steering through the 10-year plan in 2030 plan will be a key reference point in Group will publish a brief, biennial summary Episode 157 of AWI’s The Yarn podcast, the development of AWI’s own three-year of progress against targets, starting in available at www.wool.com/podcast. strategic plans. However, responsibility for December 2022. 6 UPFRONT

Review of Performance recommendations AWI’s progress of implementation

As part of AWI’s three-year business cycle, an independent THEME IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS review of performance (ROP) of AWI is routinely undertaken to assess the company’s performance. The latest ROP was CONSTITUTION * undertaken by Ernst & Young (EY) for the period 2015-2018. 24 out of 24 recommendations complete. 100% EY’s report, which was published in July 2018, included 82 recommendations. GOVERNANCE * In September 2018, AWI launched its ROP Implementation 22 out of 23 recommendations complete. 99.57% Portal at rop.wool.com to provide detailed and up to date information to woolgrowers about the progress made by AWI MONITORING EVALUATION * in implementing the 82 recommendations. Displayed right is & REPORTING a summary of the overall progress, and the progress across 16 out of 16 recommendations complete. 100% each of the seven themes of the recommendations. COLLABORATION * Further information is available at rop.wool.com 3 out of 3 recommendations complete. 100%

PEOPLE & CULTURE * 99.45% 6 out of 7 recommendations complete. 98.57% OVERALL CONSULTATION IMPLEMENTATION AWI POSITION * Agree/ Industry 4 out of 5 recommendations complete. 95% PROGRESS agree (81) For Shareholder Consideration (1) ROP RECOMMENDATIONS & IMPLEMENTATION * 4 out of 4 recommendations complete. 100%

* Percentage figure is calculated on the cumulative completion rate within each theme. Remaining recommendations at various completion stages. To view individual recommendation progress rates, visit rop.wool.com Wool face masks With hundreds of millions of people across the world now wearing face masks every day, wool face masks offer a protective covering and a natural alternative to single use synthetic face masks.

Benefits of disposable synthetic masks, wool is a 100% Both are comfortable to wear thanks wool face masks biodegradable fibre and will decompose to the absence of seams and breathable when they are eventually disposed of. materials that decrease the accumulation Many brands across the world, of humidity inside. The masks are made • Soft on skin – superfine Merino including Australia, have produced face in Italy and are being promoted for wool has superior softness and masks that incorporate some or 100% wool. purchase across Europe at www.iffm.it/en/ proven skin benefits when worn The Woolmark website features 25 different home-page-suedwollegroup. next-to-skin. wool face masks. Head to www.woolmark. com/facemasks to view the facemasks and More information: • Breathable and moisture regulating how to purchase them. www.woolmark.com/facemasks – wool acts like a second skin, One of AWI’s supply chain keeping your skin comfortable partners in Europe, Südwolle Group, has These wool blend masks from AWI’s supply recently launched two new face mask • Reusable – wool face masks can chain partner, Südwolle Group, help wearers designs in a multi-fibre blend look cool as well as feel cool. be washed and re-used. containing Merino wool. They are reusable, washable and made for he continuing global coronavirus daily use. Tpandemic means that wearing face The seamless knit masks continues to be prudent, if not Merino Mask is soft and compulsory, for a majority of people across breathable with elastic the world including Australia. laces and a metal nose Face masks made with Merino wool piece whilst the Merino provide the wearer with a reusable mask Filter Mask offers more that is soft and comfortable, breathable, than 95% Bacterial washable and a natural alternative to Filtration Efficiency synthetic face masks. They can be worn thanks to the replaceable again and again, provided they are washed filter inside with the correctly after each use. And unlike, combined layering system. OFF 7 FARM Project updates: Results in numbers

China TMALL consumer campaign Capitalising on the immense strength of online 581 million retailing in China, AWI collaborated with China’s social media impressions most influential business-to-consumer e-commerce platform, TMALL, to launch a perfectly timed 300 million promotion of Australian Merino wool. page views on TMALL’s online Wool Pavilion The campaign, from 21 September through to 4 November, aimed to educate digitally savvy Chinese millennials about the superiority of Merino wool, 16 million while driving purchase intent through digital and campaign video views social platforms for the Merino wool products of 100 premium Chinese and international brands. 353,000 Woolmark-certified garments More information: Page 5 of the December edition of Beyond the Bale 60% of audience now more likely to buy Merino

Vivobarefoot natural footwear range

With support from AWI, leading global barefoot 420,000+ footwear company Vivobarefoot developed a new emails sent by Vivibarefoot that natural footwear range that incorporates Merino featured Merino products wool. The product development and collaboration between Vivobarefoot and AWI is part of the in-kind 32 million service that AWI offers Woolmark licensees and social media impressions involved no financial outlay by AWI. Vivobarefoot launched in September its new ‘natural’ range of footwear that incorporates Merino 56% wool as its key fibre, A digital marketing campaign of website wool landing page ran for three weeks from 23 September. Moving visitors were new users forward, wool will be adopted as a core material Units of Merino shoes at retail across all Vivobarefoot’s products and AWI is working in next collection to with the brand on its next project.

More information: TRIPLE www.vivobarefoot.com/woolmark Page 12 of the December edition of Beyond the Bale

Move in Merino challenge on From 2 to 29 November, AWI ran a community 225,000+ engagement initiative in conjunction with Strava, total participants the exercise-focused social networking platform especially popular with runners and cyclists. The 5 million ‘Move in Merino Challenge’ on Strava encouraged total active hours consumers to exercise and commute wearing Merino wool, driving sales of brand partners’ products and creating a community of active-minded Merino wool 42 million ambassadors. total miles covered Participants were challenged to undertaken 20 hours of activity during the month, which once completed enabled them to unlock access to exclusive 5,500+ new Woolmark Strava club members discount codes from some of AWI’s brand partners including ashmei, Vivobarefoot, Tracksmith and Iffley 1 Road, thereby encouraging consumers to purchase 18 /2 million and exercise in Merino wool products. total website impressions

More information: www.strava.com/challenges/Move-in-Merino Page 9 of the December edition of Beyond the Bale 8 OFF FARM

Fashion’s sustainability focus – the new normal

Key points • In response to significant pressure from global consumers and governments, brands throughout the fashion industry are putting real effort into improving the environmental and social impacts of their products.

• Australian wool has a great story to tell, and the wool industry is on the front foot in evidencing and promoting the fibre’s credentials.

• Australian woolgrowers should continue to ensure that their on-farm practices align with the sustainability expectations of consumers. During the past couple of years, the topic of sustainability • ‘Regenerative agriculture’ is on has very much moved from the fringe of the fashion industry the radar of the global fashion to the mainstream. The issue is here to stay – and fashion industry and is receiving a brands are increasingly examining the environmental and positive reception. social impacts of where they source their fibre and fabric.

nyone working in fashion and textiles thereby ensure continued demand for sentiment on matters of sustainability. More Awill tell you that ‘sustainability’ has not wool in global markets. Indeed, the more than ever, customers want to be confident only become the hot topic for the industry proactive brands are seeking evidence that the fibre and fabric they purchase has (aside from COVID), but that the topic is now that woolgrowers are actively improving been produced responsibly. firmly embedded in the industry. Although (or regenerating) the land, rather than According to the latest Pulse of (and perhaps because) fast fashion is still just sustaining or maintaining the status Fashion report (Global Fashion Agenda, dominant in the wider industry, there has quo. This is not about income from carbon Boston Consulting Group and Sustainable been a real focus by many brands to discuss, credits; it goes beyond that.” Apparel Coalition), 75% of consumers address and improve the environmental Furthermore, rather than simply surveyed (in China, US, UK, France, Brazil) and social impacts of their sourcing, working to maintain current demand and view sustainability as extremely or very manufacturing and distribution. prices for Australian wool, the embracing important. Furthermore, 38% of consumers Take a look at the websites and of sustainability by brands provides the report actively switching from their marketing collateral of the brands that the Australian wool industry with a massive preferred brand to another because it Australian wool industry is working with opportunity to capture further demand credibly stands for positive environmental or targeting, and you will more than likely and increase the price of Australian and/or social practices. see the brand showcasing its eco-credentials wool. Woolgrowers themselves can and making a public commitment to use communication platforms (such as “Most consumers include sustainability. WoolQ – see page 61) to tell their story of sustainability considerations in their “Sustainability and natural resource continuous improvement and connect with decision-making framework.” management are of course not new to customers. Premiums will come to those Australian woolgrowers. For generations, woolgrowers who can market their eco and Pulse of Fashion report Australian woolgrowers have managed sustainability credentials. their rural businesses effectively while Consumers are becoming attuned to also undertaking initiatives to protect the Consumer and greenwashing and want brands to make natural environment,” said AWI CEO Stuart regulatory pressure genuine change. The State of Fashion McCullough. report (BOF and McKinsey & Co) states “However, evidence of sustainable With issues such as climate change and that nine out of ten Gen Z consumers wool production is becoming critical plastic pollution now rarely out of the believe companies have a responsibility to to meeting the needs of increasingly mainstream news, there has recently been address environmental and social issues. environmentally-aware customers, and a considerable shift in global consumer The report states: “Fashion players need OFF 9 FARM

Fashion Pact’s launch in 2019, and include tout themselves as being sustainable and companies such as Adidas, Armani, Burberry, which have been receiving a lot of attention. Ermenegildo Zegna, Gap, Karl Lagerfeld, For its part, AWI continues to Kering, Nike, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore undertake and publish comprehensive Ferragamo and Selfridges. 80% of members scientific evidence of wool’s true have reported that joining the Fashion Pact environmental credentials (which you will triggered an acceleration of the sustainability have read about in previous editions of journey within their organisations. Beyond the Bale). This helps enable AWI’s marketing arm The Woolmark Company and “Now is the moment for fashion to the wool industry to market Australian wool commence a new era of sustainability.” to the fashion and textile trade, consumers and legislative policy-makers as the ‘planet- Fashion Pact, Progress Report 2020 friendly’ fibre of choice. “It is vital that the whole Australian Another body driven by the fashion wool industry, including woolgrowers, industry is the Global Fashion Agenda that understand the predominance of advocates for policy changes and supportive sustainability issues for its downstream measures that reinforce sustainability customers – and act on it. Tackling these targets and establish circular systems. issues on-farm (and along the supply Ninety brands and retailers, representing chain) and marketing evidence of progress about an eighth of the global fashion are critical to not just securing a ‘clean, industry by sales volume have signed green’ reputation for the Australian wool the Global Fashion Agenda’s current 2020 industry and maintaining ‘social licence’, Commitment for a Circular Fashion System. but also grasping new opportunities for Brands are not only adopting increasing demand and higher premiums for sustainability initiatives, they are also Australian wool,” said Stuart McCullough. increasingly disclosing their practices publicly. The not-for-profit global movement Fashion Revolution publishes a Fashion Transparency “Consumer behaviour, especially Index annually that ranks 250 of the world’s among the younger generation, largest fashion brands and retailers according calls for more and more attention to to how much they disclose about their sustainability and therefore to breeding environmental and social policies, practices and impacts. The fifth Index (2020) reports and manufacturing methods that that 42% publish a time-bound, measurable protect animals and the environment. ‘sustainable materials’ strategy while 36% Consumers are also willing to pay a disclose progress on achieving sustainable higher price if the values underpinning material targets (up from 29% in 2019). to swap platitudes and promotional noise Furthermore, 32% publish supplier policies production of the raw materials for meaningful action and regulatory on ‘biodiversity and conservation’ and 57% are compatible in this regard.” compliance while facing up to consumer disclose procedures that address this topic. Paolo Zegna, Chairman demand for transformational change.” Participation in the Fashion Transparency of Ermenegildo Zegna Group Brands must respond not only to Index is influencing brands to disclose more pressure from consumers but also from environmental and social information. governments and regulatory authorities. Brands are increasingly wanting to Many Australian woolgrowers, of For instance, the European Union is now source fibre through certification schemes course, already undertake initiatives to considering policy to have environmental because it reduces their risk of exposure protect, preserve and improve the natural labelling on consumer products, including to supply chain issues and allows them to resources on their properties for future apparel products, as soon as 2022, in an effort confidently be able to continue using the fibre generations and are constantly adapting to guide consumers towards choosing the knowing that they have some protection. their animal husbandry to reflect consumer most sustainable products. demands. Possessing a natural affinity with An opportunity the land, these farmers are rightly proud of Brands take and a threat ensuring their innovative farming practices sustainability seriously are applied in harmony with the Australian This increasing demand for sustainably landscape and environment. But more can Fashion brands, especially luxury fashion produced fibres and fabrics is both an always be done. brands, are increasingly responding to opportunity and a threat to the Australian The Australian wool industry recently these consumer and regulatory pressures wool industry. On the one hand, and in stark developed a 10-year plan (see page 4) and it for increased sustainability. It is not only contrast to synthetic man-made fibres, wool is entirely appropriate that sustainability small, niche brands that are embracing a is a natural, renewable and biodegradable is the underlying principle of the plan, commitment to sustainability, it is the larger fibre and does not contribute to microplastic specifically that Australian wool be regarded brands too. pollution. So wool is therefore well placed to as the world’s premium sustainable fibre. For example, a global coalition of take advantage of the increasing focus for Additionally, the Australian sheep meat and companies in the fashion and textile industry more earth-friendly products. wool industry have together been working to along with suppliers and distributors, On the other hand, animal welfare, develop a Sheep Sustainability Framework that together represent more than 200 emissions from agriculture, chemical (scheduled for release next month) that will brands and a third of the fashion industry, usage throughout the wool supply chain help enable the industry to demonstrate are signatories to the Fashion Pact. This and some processing treatments are a its sustainable practices, identify areas is a CEO-led commitment to a common cause of concern for the fashion industry. of production for improvement, and core of key environmental goals in three Furthermore, there is fresh competition better communicate with trade customers areas: mitigating climate change, restoring from new fibres on the market, such as and consumers. biodiversity and protecting the oceans. The TENCEL™ (cellulose fibre made from wood number of signatories has doubled since the pulp) and ECONYL® (recycled nylon), that CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 10 OFF FARM

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Woolmark Prize winner] Richard Malone – are Global Luxury group Kering, which … peppering words like ‘soil health’ and ‘carbon owns brands including Gucci and Saint sequestration’ into fashion week chats.” Laurent, is collaborating with The Savory What about The Vogue article continues: “Maybe Institute’s Land to Market™ program to fashion is rallying around regenerative advocate verified regenerative sourcing regenerative ag, as it’s come to be known because it’s solutions and expand the regenerative so different from the other sustainability agriculture framework in fashion’s global agriculture? trends and buzzwords we’ve encountered. It supply chains. has virtually no downsides or compromises, Furthermore, Kering and Conservation There is growing awareness and it isn’t just ‘less bad’ than conventional International have created a €5 million within the fashion industry farming. It’s categorically good, and it’s (AU$7.9 million) Regenerative Fund for Nature good for every living thing involved: the which over the next five years will support of ‘regenerative agriculture’ farmers, the plants, the animals, the soil, the promising and innovative regenerative and brands are starting to micro-organisms in the soil, and, eventually, agriculture projects across the world. As the take a serious look at it. the consumer.” fund grows, it will provide proof of concept for further investments in regenerative “Regenerative agriculture harbors agriculture. Australian woolgrowers are lthough there are several Australian eligible to apply; applications will be accepted considerable promise for the future.” Awoolgrowers who are recognised annually, between 28 January and 30 April pioneers in regenerative agriculture and LVMH Group – see www.conservation.org/projects/ there is growing interest in it, and although regenerative-fund-for-nature for details. Australian woolgrowers take good care Is regenerative agriculture just a shiny of the land on their properties, there is new buzzword in the fashion industry’s “Regenerative agriculture is a multi- considered to be only a relativity small sustainability conversation or are brands benefit solution which supports percentage of Australian woolgrowers taking action? It is a bit early to know for that would regard themselves as “doing sure – remember, even a brand’s regular Kering’s sustainability ambitions to regenerative agriculture”. product development and manufacture mitigate our environmental impacts However, in a recent AWI survey usually takes more than 12 months before and deliver positive outcomes (May 2020) of more than 1,000 woolgrowers, it is delivered to retailers. However, there along our supply chain.” 89% of growers reported using more than are companies that have already launched one practice to encourage soil health Marie-Claire Daveu, (which is the key aspect of regenerative Chief Sustainability Officer, Kering agriculture). Specifically, 83% preserve groundcover, 74% undertake soil In January, Gucci presented its new tests, 72% undertake rotation Natural Climate Solutions Portfolio in grazing, 65% no-till cropping which it says it will “champion regenerative and 50% sow deep rooted agriculture”. As the first step in a broader, perennials. long-term strategy for regenerative So perhaps regenerative agriculture, Gucci said it is identifying agricultural practices are and scaling up regenerative more prevalent than has been agriculture projects within its supposed. And once those sourcing regions, with the aim to woolgrowers note that their source regenerative raw materials customers in the fashion (including wool) for its collections. industry are talking positively Going beyond its own supply chain, about regenerative agriculture, Gucci is also incentivising farmers then they might be prepared to to switch to regenerative agriculture use that terminology as an aid to through ‘carbon farming’. the marketing of their fibre. Last month, global brands So, is the global Icebreaker, Allbirds and Smartwool announced a partnership with The New fashion industry aware of products sourced from properties on which Zealand Merino Company on a new regenerative agriculture? regenerative agriculture is practiced – and regenerative wool supply platform, ZQRX, Yes. Just as regenerative agriculture as those products are being marketed as such. which aims to help woolgrowers to better a term has been getting more and more These companies include large brands understand their environmental footprint attention from farmers in the past few years, such as outdoor apparel brand The North and move to regenerative agriculture the fashion industry has also started taking Face, which has a ‘Cali Wool Collection’ made practices. notice of the practice, and it is receiving a using wool that it says is “produced through It appears that one of the major positive reception. regenerative agriculture methods”, and US reasons why brands are attracted to “Sourcing from regenerative womenswear brand Eileen Fisher which uses regenerative agriculture is so that they can agricultural systems is the future for wool from farmers that it says “regenerate reduce the carbon footprint of their supply fashion,” said Marco Bizzarri, president and depleted grasslands through holistic chain through carbon sequestration (to CEO of Italian luxury brand Gucci, in an farming methods”. combat climate change). The 2020 Fashion interview in November with Women’s Wear UK brand Burberry has created Transparency Index reports that 16% of Daily, the fashion industry trade journal a ‘Regeneration Fund’ to implement brands already publish annual carbon sometimes called ‘the bible of fashion’. regenerative agriculture practices with emissions produced within their supply Meanwhile that other ‘bible of fashion’, Australian woolgrowers within its own chains, however it anticipates that there for style conscious consumers, Vogue, in supply chain. According to Burberry, the will be more disclosure on brands’ efforts to October stated: “Everyone’s talking about project works at farm level to improve reduce carbon emissions this year as more regenerative agriculture. Brands large and carbon capture in soils, improve watershed brands join the Fashion Pact and the UN small – from Allbirds and Patagonia to and soil health, reduce dryland salinity and Fashion Industry Charter. Maggie Marilyn and [last year’s International promote biodiverse habitats. PHOTO: MediaProduction 11OFF FARM

Technology to trace Aussie wool to final product

From sheep to shop: AWI and Everledger are developing a system to trace the source and journey of Australian wool through to the end products. PHOTO (right): Nastasic

AWI and pioneering further from its point of origin. This will and effectively from other wools and other create new sources of value for woolgrowers, fibres in the global market. technology company manufacturers and retailers, as well as “AWI and our stakeholders have been Everledger are collaborating transparency for end consumers. monitoring the rapid escalation in emphasis on a pilot project to track AWI is therefore working to promote being placed on provenance, corporate social selected Australian wools the traceability of global supply chains responsibility, and the perennial concerns so that all stakeholders and consumers regarding supply chain efficiency and as they move along the understand the full value of a product made biosecurity,” John said. supply chain from farm from Australian wool. “Traceability and transparency are through to finished product, critical for safeguarding the global reputation which ultimately will enable “Traceability and transparency of Australian wool. This partnership with Everledger will help us to ease the flow of are critical for safeguarding the global retailers and end consumers information up and down the supply chain to easily check that the reputation of Australian wool.” to all parties, and so communicate wool’s product is made from world- John Roberts, AWI COO benefits to a wider audience. Ultimately, this renowned Australian wool. is good news for our farmers and related AWI has joined up with digital small businesses that rely on Australia’s transparency company Everledger to build remarkable sheep to make a living. ustralian woolgrowers have made great and host an Electronic Chain of Custody “The project findings from this pilot Aadvancements in wool production during Tool (ECCT) on its platform (for proof of project will determine whether we will the past two hundred years, and today concept) that, using ‘blockchain technology’, invest in a full platform or look to participate they are justifiably proud of their tradition aims to track and validate the exchange of in an alternative.” of excellence. Australia is well known for ownership of selected wools as they move Founded in 2015, Everledger is producing wool that is regarded as being the along the supply chain from farm through an award-winning global company finest and softest wool produced anywhere overseas processing to finished products. headquartered in London. – the country produces about 90% of the Different participants at each stage “We’re delighted to design and manage world’s fine apparel wool. of the supply chain will be able to connect a solution that will help AWI to deliver However, sharing the excellence and through the Everledger platform. Recorded a more transparent value chain,” said provenance of this premium natural fibre with evidence can be used to demonstrate Everledger CEO, Leanne Kemp. “By sharing the end consumers of a product can be difficult compliance, providing more confidence provenance information securely – from because the raw fibre goes through so many on the authenticity and provenance of farm to consumer – all participants can enjoy hands and processes from farmgate before it the product. Ultimately, a retailer or end the benefits of traceability. AWI is taking is ends up in a product available at retail. consumer will have access to information a lead for other traditional industries in Being in such a competitive industry that allows them to evidence how the Australia to follow.” as fashion with so many other natural original wool was sourced and processed and synthetic fibres on the market, it is throughout its journey. Hear more about the initiative important that Australian wool’s reputation AWI Chief Operations Officer, John in Episode 164 of AWI’s for quality, authenticity and low eco- Roberts says an effective ECCT will enable The Yarn podcast at footprint be actively protected as it travels Australian wool to differentiate itself clearly www.wool.com/podcast. 12 OFF FARM Wool set to gain from push FIBRE PRODUCTION Every year, sheep produce a new fleece, making wool a completely renewable fibre towards a circular source. Wool is grown in the simple mix of sunshine, water, grass and fresh air. In contrast, synthetic fibres are derived from non-renewable petrochemicals and fossil economy fuels, which when extracted de-sequester carbon stored millions of years ago. With the global fashion and textile industry under pressure from consumers and regulators to reduce its waste and pollution, there is a push for the supply chain to change GARMENT USE PHASE its method of production from a wasteful ‘linear’ model How often clothes are worn is the towards a sustainable ‘circular’ model. Wool has a unique most influential factor in determining set of ‘circular’ features – such as being a renewable and environmental impacts from clothing. biodegradable fibre, and suitable for reuse and recycling – Wool garments are on average kept in use which should make the fibre more sought after by companies for longer periods of time than garments made from other fibre types (and are very along the supply chain including brands and retailers. suitable for repair if needed).

In addition, consumers wash wool clothing hen looking at many of the fast fashion, there are growing regulatory less frequently than other fibre types, Wenvironmental issues that today’s pressures, especially in the European saving water, energy and detergent society is facing, it is becoming clear to many Union (EU) which is a key market for associated with laundering. that the current ‘linear’ model of textile Australian wool, to force the industry to production has reached its limits and is no adopt the circular economy. Wool’s attributes are so highly valued that, longer working for people nor the planet. This A comprehensive policy and even after a garment has finished its long is why brands, manufacturers, regulators and legislative framework to achieve service life with one person, the fibre is NGOs see a solution in a different economic circularity in the textile industry is being still suitable to be kept in use via three model – the ‘circular’ economy. developed through the EU’s European further ways: The circular economy is based on the Green Deal and its Circular Economy principles of: Action Plan. Addressing waste and 1st life extension – Reuse: Wool is the most • using renewable resources pollution in the textile industry is a key reused fibre on the planet of the major • designing out waste and pollution goal of the EU’s plans. apparel fibres, with wool garments often • keeping products and materials in use for Adoption can be expected by EU preferentially donated for extended life. a long time; and member states within two years. Other • regenerating natural systems. jurisdictions may well follow. 2nd life extension – ‘Closed loop’ recycling: Many brands and designers are asking The strategy aims to help the EU This involves high-value wool garments themselves how they can shift into a circular shift to an economy in which fashion and deconstructed to enable new yarns to business model and create circular products. textile products are designed to be more be spun and new high-value garments The answer is wool. long-lasting, reusable and recyclable, fabricated. Wool is the most recyclable fibre In stark contrast to synthetic and encourage sustainable production. on the planet of the major apparel fibres. fibres, wool is by nature a circular fibre Furthermore, through the EU’s Extended (see opposite). In the Material Circularity Producer Responsibility legislation, 3rd life extension – ‘Open loop’ recycling: Indicator by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, brands will soon be responsible for This is essentially ‘down cycling’, in wool gets the highest score possible. the entire life-cycle of their products which wool products are pulled apart AWI supports the movement towards (production and post-retail) including and fabricated into cheaper non- a more circular fashion industry to better take-back, recycling and final disposal. woven products for insulation, padding, compete with synthetics. Brands must start designing for interiors etc. Through the company’s marketing circularity. arm, The Woolmark Company, AWI is The wool industry is unique in increasingly championing and educating having a package of circular features that brands and the supply chain about wool’s align and show excellent fit with the EU’s GARMENT DISPOSAL innate circular attributes. It is vital that The European Green Deal principles. Woolmark Company continues to provide AWI is engaged at an EU level, Wool is made of a 100% natural the scientific evidence and a pathway for drawing on its extensive research in this biodegradable protein, similar to that companies to incorporate wool into their space and working with the International found in human hair. When a wool product products to lighten their eco-footprint and Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), to reaches its end-of-life and is disposed of, demonstrate an alignment to circularity. champion wool throughout the EU’s the wool fibre readily decomposes in soil, policy and legislative development slowly releasing valuable nutrients and Regulatory pressure process. AWI is also engaging with carbon back into the earth, acting like a in the EU its brand and supply chain partners fertiliser. In contrast, synthetic fibres do Aside from a self-initiated push by the to raise awareness of the regulatory not biodegrade but instead accumulate in global fashion and textile industry towards issues and share the company’s research landfill and release microplastics. a circular economy and a slowing down of and analysis. OFF 13 FARM

Wool fits into a sustainable circular model of textile production that minimises waste and pollution

FIBRE PRODUCTION RENEWABLE

OP OPEN LO LING CYC RE PRODUCT PRODUCT LING CLOSE RECYC D LOOP DISPOSAL MANUFACTURE SLOW FASHION, BIODEGRADABLE NOT FAST FASHION RE USE

RE PA IR

PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION USE PHASE & RETAIL SLOW FASHION, LONG PRODUCT LIFE NOT FAST FASHION

Synthetic fibres are more aligned with an unsustainable linear model of textile production with waste and pollution

FIBRE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION PRODUCT PRODUCT PRODUCTION MANUFACTURE & RETAIL USE PHASE DISPOSAL NON RENEWABLE FAST FASHION FAST FASHION SHORT LIFE LANDFILL

MICRO PLASTICS 14 OFF FARM Traceable wool from farm to fashion United States-based menswear brand Wool&Prince and its womenswear sister-brand wool& now have a completely traceable Merino wool supply chain that champions the natural fibre’s origin and heritage in Australia.

“As a family-owned organisation, Apparel from Wool& we take seriously the responsibility of and Wool&Prince made with Merino preserving the environment for future wool sourced from generations and to leave the land and its ‘Ashmore’ in South natural resources in a better state in which Australia. they were acquired,” said Keith McBride, Chairman of AJ & PA McBride Ltd. “Our dedicated staff work hard to ensure that grazing techniques work in partnership with the natural environment. Every day they do simple things to improve their environmental sustainability, whether it be improving efficiency in energy usage, fencing off dams to increase biodiversity, introducing tree-planting programs for re-vegetation and animal welfare, or using different stocking strategies to improve soil health and groundcover. “In the twenty-first century, ool&Prince was famously launched coastline, which has an annual production of sustainability increasingly relies on new Win 2013 when its founder, Mac Bishop, more than 800 Merino wool bales averaging technologies and scientific advances and AJ successfully wore his Merino wool shirt for 17.7 micron. Producing high quality Merino & PA McBride is committed to participating 100 straight days without washing or ironing, wool, the McBride family utilises innovative in research and collaborating with proving the easy-care and versatile nature farming practices to manage their sheep government agencies, research organisations of the fibre. From a single shirt product, the and land. The farm is specifically focused and other industry bodies that address brand’s range has expanded massively, but on improving energy efficiencies, land natural resource management issues and high-quality Merino wool is still at its heart. conservation and biodiversity. promote sustainable agriculture.” In 2018, its womenswear sister-brand wool& As well as being a profitable business was launched, again with Merino wool as the Sustainable and ensuring the long-term health of the brand’s foundation. wool-growing land, key to the company’s mission of Pieces across the two brands’ AJ & PA McBride believes quality production ensuring it is a good corporate citizen also collections now feature Merino wool is dependent on a healthy environment includes it being an employer of choice (by from AJ & PA McBride whose family have and the company’s diverse activities are providing staff with quality conditions been woolgrowers in South Australia for managed with the aim of minimal impact and facilities) and an active member of the six generations, and which celebrated its on the environment. community (by supporting local towns, centenary last year – see opposite page. community events, community service and The traceable Merino wool has been agricultural education). sourced from ‘Ashmore’, located close to Kingston SE on the state’s south-east

US brands Wool&Prince and Wool& now source their Merino wool from AJ & PA McBride Ltd’s ‘Ashmore’ property in South Australia, where looking after the long-term health of the land is a priority. OFF 15 FARM

AJ & PA McBride Ltd’s Keith McBride at ‘Ashmore’ in South Australia, with property manager Raymond Rowett.

Traceable supply chain Wool&Prince and wool& have worked in partnership with The Woolmark Company to build a long-lasting relationship with the woolgrowers to develop the traceable supply chain. Embracing a ‘less is more’ approach to apparel design, Wool&Prince and wool& have made a commitment to educate the consumer about the origin and impact of every garment created. AJ & PA McBride Ltd “We are thrilled to partner with The Woolmark Company to set up a enters its second century traceable supply chain that tracks our wool back to the source in Australia. As AJ & PA McBride are proud producers of company produces on its south eastern a brand, we have a responsibility to the Merino wool. The company is one of the properties, including ‘Ashmore’, finer wool land, the people, and the animals that are top five wool producers in Australia, each of 17-19 micron which is used in suits and behind our clothing and it was time to year shearing more than 230,000 sheep next-to-skin wear. take our customers on this journey,” said and lambs, and producing more than one Mac Bishop. million kilograms of wool. Into its second century In a 12-month journey along the AJ & PA McBride Ltd was formed in As has been the case for the past one supply chain, Merino wool from ‘Ashmore’ July 1920 by Albert James McBride and his hundred years, the pillars of AJ & PA is processed in China, transformed into son Philip Albert Martin McBride, although McBride are family, food and fibre. garments in Korea, and then distributed the McBride family has been producing “Despite the reduction in wool prices via the United States to finally make wool in Australia since 1859. Now over the past two years, the McBride group its way to Wool&Prince and wool& beginning its second century of operations, remains committed to the fortunes of the customers across the world. all shares in AJ & PA McBride are still held fleece,” Keith said. Wool&Prince’s traceable collection by descendants of the founders and the “The Merino is a genuine dual includes a range of versatile Merino wool board of the company now has a director in purpose animal, producing high quality knit tops, polos and sweatshirts, while the fifth generation of the family. wool as well as nutritious and flavoursome wool&’s collection includes a range of “Although the company now has a meat. The current high prices for protein versatile dresses. Thanks to Merino wool’s variety of agricultural, horticultural and complement a wool and dual purpose natural properties – including odour- viticultural interests, AJ & PA McBride Ltd enterprise enormously. and wrinkle-resistance – the garments proudly remains a wool producer,” Keith “AJ & PA McBride Ltd has set itself can be washed less often, reducing their McBride said. a medium-term goal to produce 10,000 environmental impact. It now owns and operates five bales of wool per year, up from the current pastoral and four grazing properties 6,500 bales in 2021. This will be achieved More information: in South Australia, as well as a mixed through genetic improvement as well as www.woolandprince.com farming and grazing property on the land productivity and further strategic www.wooland.com border of South Australia and Victoria. acquisitions.”

Ashmore Station More information: Ashmore was the company’s first south www.mcbride.com.au eastern purchase, in 1936. The south east of South Australia is known for its rich soils and high rainfall, ideal for grazing operations. Ashmore consists of mainly To celebrate AJ & PA flat country, well served by underground McBride’s Centenary water capable of providing irrigated Year, the company’s pastures. rich history has been The initial Ashmore block with documented in a its iconic natural stone woolshed was new book Faraway renowned for its production of high- – 100 Years of Wool, quality wool at the time of purchase, and written by Kristin has increased in size with the purchase Weidenbach, author of the adjacent properties over the years. of the bestseller Mailman of the Birdsville Ashmore is a Summer/Autumn Track: The Story of Tom Kruse. The book shearer with an annual production of about details the family’s pioneering pastoralists, 150,000 kg of Merino wool. The property is politicians and philanthropists who have managed by Raymond and Olivia Rowett. left their mark on the Australian wool While AJ & PA McBride Ltd industry. It also features an impressive produces medium wool of 20-21 micron catalogue of historical photographs. It is (used in knitwear) on the pastoral available for purchase ($50 + $10 postage) northern districts of South Australia, the at www.mcbride.com.au. 16 OFF FARM

The wool-rich garments are worn by the entire Luna Rossa sailing team during training as well as sailing.

The Luna Rossa AC75 yacht beating the American challenger in the semi-final of the Prada Cup. Wool showcased during America’s Cup race series

In a global showcase of the challenger in the 36th America’s Cup sailing wear. Merino wool has been proven Match, beginning later this month. in the toughest sailing conditions to have Australian Merino wool, The partnership of The Woolmark superior technical and environmental the America’s Cup team Company with this legendary Italian team benefits compared to traditional synthetic Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli highlights the strong link between the world sailing gear.” has benefited from the of sport and Australian Merino wool as a Wool is 100% natural, renewable, premium performance fibre. The partnership biodegradable and is the most reused and performance attributes of the has achieved immense media coverage and recycled apparel fibre on the planet. Moving fibre in its sailing uniform, is influencing global consumers to consider, away from uniforms made form synthetic thanks to a partnership and ultimately purchase, Australian Merino fibres, the use of wool in the Luna Rossa with AWI’s subsidiary The wool for activewear. Prada Pirelli team uniforms offers a natural The Woolmark Company’s solution with reduced environmental Woolmark Company. After commitment to championing innovation impact. The wool-rich uniforms have been an intense America’s Cup has seen the company support the Luna tested and used by the best through this race series culminating in Rossa Prada Pirelli team in the research and technical partnership. the team winning the Prada development of a Merino wool-rich uniform Team director and skipper Max for the entire team and crew during training Sirena said: “Our physical activity is very Cup, they will this month race and sailing. The Woolmark-certified uniform demanding in terms of clothing: the against the defending team in includes: waterproof jacket, soft shell jacket, garments we wear must be as isothermic, the world-famous America’s polo shirt, T-shirt, wet jacket, blouson, elastic, breathable and water resistant as Cup Match. wetsuit and base-layers. possible. Well, I discovered on my own skin “The America’s Cup has always that Merino wool is all this. It really is a symbolised the best of the best – from the performance fibre, and besides that, it is also he America’s Cup series of yachting races best boats, to the best crews and now the absolutely sustainable and biodegradable. Tis a showcase for the most technologically best fibre. It’s the first time wool has taken I must say that our new uniforms are a advanced boats and the greatest sailors to the seas on such a large scale and has wonderful surprise that makes our body – in the world. Now in its 36th edition, the allowed consumers and sailing fans across and our spirit – feel good!” America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in the the world to see Australian wool used history of sport. in a very innovative way,” said AWI CEO The 36th America’s Cup The Woolmark Company is the official Stuart McCullough. Despite two initial regattas in the America’s technical partner of the Luna Rossa Prada “It has been an extraordinary Cup series having been cancelled last year Pirelli team, the most respected team in achievement for the Luna Rossa crew, helped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits the America’s Cup fraternity and the only by the wool-rich unforms, to make it through of the partnership between The Woolmark one in the history of America’s Cup to have the America’s Cup race series and win the Company and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are challenged six times. As part of the America’s right to challenge the defending champion. mainly associated with the most important Cup race series, the team last month “These uniforms herald the emergence series of races that have been successfully spectacularly won the Prada Cup to become of a new breed of natural performance held in the past few months in Auckland in OFF 17 FARM

As well the America’s Cup race series being broadcast to fans across the world, crowds have also been able to watch events unfold at the competition venue in COVID-safe Auckland.

The Official Sailing Team Jacket (pictured) and other garments are available for purchase across the world. Team uniforms available to purchase Several items from the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli official uniform are The Luna Rossa team in action: The Woolmark logo is displayed on the sail of the yacht and commercially available for purchase at the right-hand sleeve of the team’s sailing uniform; the logo has now been seen by millions of selected Prada flagship stores across sailing fans across the world. the world (including Westfield Sydney), on Prada.com and at the Luna Rossa store at the America’s Cup Village the lead up to the 36th America’s Cup Match. sailing team representing the New York in Auckland. The America’s Cup Match will be held later Yacht Club) 4-0 in the semi-final, followed this month and will see the Luna Rossa by INEOS Team UK (the British sailing team, • Sailing Team Jacket – a three- Prada Pirelli team challenge the reigning representing the British yacht club Royal layer garment that comprises 54% champion from New Zealand. Yacht Squadron) 7-1 in the final. By winning Australian Merino wool bonded with The successful control of the the Prada Cup, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli a waterproof membrane resistant to pandemic in New Zealand meant that the team will now challenge Emirates Team New 11 water columns, for extreme water Prada America’s Cup World Series (held Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup Match. resistance and full breathability. in December) and the Prada Cup (held in January and February) were able to continue • Short-sleeve Polo – made of 100% according to schedule in Auckland with Merino wool, it is comfortable next minimal disruption – including spectators Global yacht to the skin and machine washable. being allowed to gather in groups to view the It’s a perfect option for both summer event in-person, something which had been industry grows and winter when in combination with forbidden at nearly all major sporting events Rising popularity of coastal and jumpers and sweatshirts. around the world during 2020. The America’s marine tourism across the globe and Cup is also being broadcast globally to increased participation of consumers • Technical T-shirt – it includes 36% millions of fans across multiple platforms. in recreational boating activities Merino wool: a must-have both Following its participation in the and water-based sporting events in sportswear, thanks to its high Prada America’s Cup World Series (held in is driving market growth in the breathability and resistance to December), the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team yachting industry. odours and sweat, and for a casual competed in the Prada Cup, the winner of Amid the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, the wardrobe, suitable for any occasion. which would challenger the ‘Defending Club’ global yacht industry market was Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and its estimated at AU$83.9 billion and “The launch of these products gives team Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th is projected to increase by 32% to sailing and wool fans alike the chance America’s Cup Match. AU$110.82 billion by 2027. to own a technical garment that has In the Prada Cup, Luna Rossa Prada been truly tested by the best,” said Pirelli beat American Magic (the American AWI CEO Stuart McCullough. 18 OFF FARM

Australian Merino in Lana Vello Lana Vello is a new athleisurewear Lana Vello founder Mikahla Wells in brand launched last year by the brand’s Australian Merino wool athleisurewear: versatile and stylish Mikahla Wells from the Central activewear that can also be used for Wheatbelt of Western Australia. casual, everyday use. The brand draws its inspiration from regional Australia and Australian Merino wool.

Versatile apparel through its social media channels (Instagram Mikahla says the brand’s apparel meets and Facebook). the growing trend of consumers seeking “We utilise our online and social garments that are suitable for both fitness media platforms to not only help sell our and social settings. athleisurewear, but also to inspire and “The garments are simple, comfortable motivate people in regional areas to lead a and beautiful, can be dressed up or down, are healthy, active lifestyle and to educate our flattering for all sizes, and can be mixed and audience about the Australian wool industry matched so they are not limiting at all. They and farming practices,” Mikahla said. suit both hot and cool climates making them “I have also found great value in face- appropriate for all-day and year-round wear,” to-face interaction, such as with customers ikahla Wells grew up on her family’s she said. at the Avon Valley Toyota Field Days. I have Mfarm in Wyalkatchem, a small farming The brand’s initial range consists of learnt that despite the price bracket of the community in the Central Wheatbelt of WA. basics: leggings, a tank top and T-shirt – all garments, people appreciate the value of the After boarding school in Perth and a degree made with Australian Merino wool blended product and being able to see and feel the in Zoology at the University of Western with the cellulosic fibre Tencel™ (made from garments themselves. Australia, Mikahla returned to Wyalkatchem wood pulp), with only minimal synthetic “I was delighted to win the Wheatbelt for a couple of years before moving to York fibres to create stretch and compression. Business Network’s Young Entrepreneur where her fiancé, Mitchell, farms alongside “However, I am looking at diversifying of the Year award in October last year, his father. into other product areas such as men’s which helped give me belief in the business. The Lana Vello athleisure brand was athleisurewear, kids’ garments and even However, I am most proud of the amazing launched by Mikahla last year after about accessories in the future.” feedback I am receiving from my customers, 18 months of research and development. that they really love the product.” “I started Lana Vello as a way to have Retail and education my own business that, by using Merino wool, Lana Vello is mainly an online business, More information: connects my interests of health and fitness, with product sold through its website www.lanavello.com.au farm life and regional Australia – three (lanavello.com.au) and promoted things that motivate me daily,” Mikahla said. “Our entire brand and all of its products are inspired by rural Australia and focus on the benefits of Australian Merino wool. The designs are inspired by the beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna found in this unique place in the world. This is our main selling point, as well as highlighting the incredible features of Australian Merino wool. “I believe we stand out from our competitors also because we really do live and breathe farming and Australian Merino wool. We run a sheep and cropping farm in Western Australia and one day we hope to be able to use the wool from our own sheep to supply the garments for Lana Vello, allowing Lana Vello T-shirts complete traceability.” and ankle socks. OFF 19 FARM New high-performance apparel moves up a gear

The new collection of cycling and running apparel from ashmei has cemented the UK brand’s reputation as a producer of some of the world’s best quality activewear – and ashmei has done so with the help of AWI and Australian Merino wool.

ctivewear brand ashmei was founded in The new apparel is made from a “Partnering with Woolmark A2012 and from its very beginnings has Merino + Carbon fabric which enhances ensures our products achieve the highest always been known not only for its stylish Merino wool’s proficiency for regulating performance and quality standards. As a designs but also for its innovative Merino body temperature. The fabric technology is brand that has believed in the benefits and wool fabrics that provide the ultimate not a treatment; rather it uses active carbon innovations of wool and wool blends since technical performance. particles embedded within the fibre to its inception, we are delighted to see that the The brand’s new range for men and increase the capture and release of moisture innovation of the last decade is making wool women includes short sleeve cycle jerseys, vapour before it turns to sweat, doubling a mainstay for performance sportwear.” bib shorts, winter tights, long sleeve base- the drying speed of the Merino wool to keep AWI CEO Stuart McCullough said he layers and T-shirts, arm warmers, neck the wearer especially comfortable. is delighted to see Merino wool play a major gaiters and socks. The garments have been The carbon particles are permanently role in the development of ashmei cycling certified by AWI’s subsidiary The Woolmark embedded, meaning long-lasting and running apparel. Company, providing assurance to customers performance. They also enhance Merino “We have collaborated with ashmei on that they have been rigorously tested wool’s natural odour resistance properties. several initiatives during recent years and for quality. “For our apparel development, using have always been impressed by the brand’s the fibre combinations that offer the commitment to quality and innovation,” greatest performance benefits with the Stuart said. smallest environmental impact is key, and “Utilising the natural benefits of Merino wool provides this and more,” said Australian Merino wool, this new collection ashmei Managing Director, Elliot Welland. of Woolmark-certified products from ashmei are great examples of high-performance apparel that provide consumers with both comfort and style. The garments are beautifully made and are not only suitable for wearing during intense exercise, but also perfect for relaxing and socialising in after a bike ride or run, thereby meeting the growing consumer demand for versatile performance apparel.”

More information: www.ashmei.com

Luxuriously soft to pull on, ashmei’s new range of Woolmark-certified garments for men and women will keep you cool, dry and comfortable whatever the temperature – before, during and after exercise. Pictured is the Women’s Classic Merino Cycle Jersey being put to the test by ashmei in the Italian Alps. 20 OFF FARM

Hats off to our Australian wool!

Already well known for its Will & Bear use in the humble beanie, Will & Bear began four years ago whilst Australian wool is also being its founders, Alex Knorr and Lauren increasingly used in stylish Williams, were travelling Australia in their vintage Kombi. and modern brimmed hats. “With life on the road, we trawled op-shops, met incredible humans and fell in love with the landscapes we explored. Being Helen Kaminski inspired by nature whilst living on the road, Epitome Hats Founded in Australia in 1983, Helen Kaminski Will & Bear was born,” Lauren said. Launched in 2016, Epitome Hats is has evolved into a leading global brand Based in Melbourne, the brand a small business based in Tasmania and recognised for authenticity, design and stays true to its beginnings on the road run by a husband and wife team, Jaye and craftspersonship in hats, handbags and a by producing hats for adventure seekers, Holly Bowden. With Holly’s grandmother a growing range of fashion accessories. The including a range of unisex wide-brimmed renowned milliner in Western Australia, hat brand’s distinctive and unique collection of hats made from Australian wool. making genes are in the family. designs – worn by celebrities and influencers “Our mission is to reduce our impact Australian Merino wool is also in world-wide – are distributed in 25 countries through thoughtful designs, give back to our the family’s genes – Holly’s parents own across five continents. planet and create a culture that cares for the the fashion brand Smitten Merino – so The finest Australian Merino wool environment, to inspire all to preserve it. We Holly already knew the incredible quality is brought to the forefront of the brand are committed to planting 10 trees for every of Merino wool and wanted her hats made in the winter months in iterations of felts hat sold, because we want to invest in a from the fibre. and knits. healthy environment for future generations. “Our Australian superfine Merino “We work with our partners to find a “Our hats are made by our friends in wool hats are not just a fashion statement. material that is comparable in softness and Inner Mongolia using natural, biodegradable Breathable and with UV protection finesse to traditionally used fur, and one that or recycled fibres. We are committed to housed in the wool fibres means the hats can be developed to create the finest hats producing high quality headwear that lasts.” give our customers’ faces the best chance in the world – Pure Merino Wool was the of protection in the most stylish way,” obvious answer. And that’s how our Ultra More information: Holly said. Fine Wool Felt hats were born,” said Helen www.willandbear.com “We use only the best quality superfine Kaminski’s Head of Design, Pernille Sejer. Merino wool to ensure our hats last and “My design team are proud to be are able to endure the elements. The hats working with this innovative material and are incredibly versatile, being completely the customers are responding so well to it in squashable for travelling, waterproof and store that it’s proving to become a true staple timelessly elegant.” of our winter collections,” says Pernille. All the brand’s hats, for men and women, are designed and hand finished More information: in Tasmania. www.helenkaminski.com.au More information: www.theepitome.com.au

A selection of brimmed hats made using Australian wool: (from the left) the Woolmark-certified ‘Etta’ from Helen Kaminski, the ‘William Oak’ from Will & Bear, and the ‘Billie’ from Epitome Hats. OFF 21 FARM European e-commerce campaign scales new heights

With more and more apparel purchases being made online, AWI’s marketing arm The Woolmark Company has collaborated with Europe’s largest online fashion retailer, Zalando, to showcase Merino wool to its customers and drive sales of Merino wool apparel products.

(Left) The campaign positioned Merino products as Mother Nature’s finest. This image is one of the campaign ambassador’s Instagram posts. (Below) The best performing Instagram post (which received 190,000 views) and (below left) the Merino landing page (which received 550,000 views) on the Zalando online store.

Zalando e-campaign proves popular in a month-long campaign during the benchmark is 3.08%). The campaign achieved northern hemisphere autumn/winter to a return on influencer investment of 167% • 22 million total campaign views increase awareness of Merino wool’s benefits (which is above Zalando’s benchmark of and increase sales of Merino wool menswear 100-120%). • More than AU$ 1 million worth and womenswear apparel. The highly engaging influencer of sales Through the campaign, the eco- content from the campaign shoot was used credentials and natural benefits of Merino on The Woolmark Company’s own social • 167% return on influencer wool were highlighted to conscious media channels as well. investment consumers looking to purchase sustainable The campaign also involved a apparel and build a timeless wardrobe. menswear and womenswear Merino landing • Return of €8.07 for each €1 The campaign was focussed on page on the Zalando website which received spent on advertising Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium more than half a million unique visitors. and France due to strong returns and The landing page, which was translated for engagement in those markets. There local language sites, was promoted through was solid performance across all these premium display adverts on desktop, ounded in 2008 in Berlin, Zalando is markets, especially Switzerland which had mobile and app formats including on the FEurope’s leading online fashion platform, the highest conversion rate to sales for Zalando homepage. The click through and delivering to customers in 17 countries. advertising spend. engagement rates were above average. In its fashion store, consumers can find a Zalando engaged four noteworthy The campaign generated sales of wide assortment of products from more influencers (with a total following of 811,000+ products valued at more than one million than 3,000 brands. The online platform followers on Instagram) to authentically dollars (AU$) with each order value 36% has 380 million monthly site visits and has communicate the message of Merino wool higher than the average order on Zalando. 35.6 million active customers. Zalando has across their platforms and drive consideration Overall, the campaign significantly continued to achieve sustained growth to purchase wool apparel products. overdelivered on awareness targets during the COVID-19 pandemic with The influencer content comprised achieving more than 22 million total views. revenues jumping 21.6% to €1.84 billion 11 Instagram posts and stories which worked The positive experience from the (AU$2.87 billion) in the third quarter of 2020. exceptionally well, receiving 1.6 million campaign will be used to plan and optimise AWI’s marketing subsidiary The views by 774,000 unique users, with a strong future e-commerce campaigns and brand Woolmark Company partnered with Zalando engagement rate of 3.64% (the category partner commercial strategies. 22 OFF FARM

Wool fabric being passed under the head of a digital printer at Think Positive in Sydney.

Benefits of digital printing

• Shorter production lead times

• More flexibility in design

• No minimum order quantity

• Environmentally friendly dye

• Excess dye is recycled Digital printing • Less water transforms designing with wool New technologies have enabled the digital printing of intricate and near-photographic designs on wool fabrics, thereby increasing design opportunities and markets for wool.

igital fabric printing involves using worked with include Jacinta James from Dinkjet technology to apply colour dyes Australia, Daniel Fletcher from the UK and simultaneously to a specially prepared GmbH from Germany. fabric surface. In contrast to traditional “Digital printing onto textiles is the print methods, digital printing is quick biggest breakthrough in fabric decoration and personalised. The technique allows technology in the past 8,000 years,” said for printing on smaller lengths of fabric, Think Positive’s director of business lessening demand for water, chemicals and development, Emilie Cacace. textile waste. “Our fabric printers are like Designers are increasingly taking up sophisticated larger versions of desk top Digital printing by Think Positive on lightweight Italian wool twill in the new Spring/Summer 2021 the technology. For instance, the winner of ink-jet printers, but instead of printing onto collection of Melbourne-established and Hong the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation paper, they can ‘print’ directly onto rolls of Kong-based designer Vincent Li. “We did digital at last year’s 2020 International Woolmark specially prepared fabrics. printing on wool for the first time,” Vincent said. “We used a lot of wool in our collection. It is a Prize, BODE from the USA, used digital “We can print on a large range of sustainable fibre and suitable not only for winter, printing in her winning designs – see image wool fabrics: woven and knits in varying it is perfect for summer as well.” above right. BODE utilised the support of weights, wool blends like wool denim, and pioneering digital printing company Think even wool velvet and wool fur thanks to Positive which is a trade partner of the AWI helping us experiment and work with for Processing Innovation & Education International Woolmark Prize. new and innovative qualities. The results are Extension, Julie Davies. “Digital printing Think Positive is an internationally really exciting.” offers within the industry so much renowned innovator in digital direct-to- Think Positive has digitally printed flexibility with multiple benefits such as fabric printing, with amazing expertise for on wool for world famous brands, such as fabric sampling options, lower minimums, printing on wool as a leading luxury fibre. Vivienne Westwood, and continues to receive shorter lead times, endless design and colour The company was set up in Sydney 37 years enquiries and regular interest regarding options, and most importantly amazing ago and now also has a studio in London printing on wool. The company has had its technical capabilities for heightened print and print facilities in a refurbished mill in fabrics included in AWI’s sourcing guide quality resulting in dynamic products.” the historic textile town of Macclesfield The Wool Lab. in Cheshire, England. “Think Positive is an example of More information: Other designers in the International how important it is for AWI to collaborate www.woolmark.com/digital-printing Woolmark Prize that the company has with industry,” said AWI General Manager www.thinkpositiveprints.com OFF 23 FARM

How digital printing technology works

Digital fabric printing is a series of processes whereby multiple water-soluble colour dyes are applied simultaneously to a specially prepared fabric surface. Instructed by a digital file embedded with colour management, customised inkjet heads travel back and forth across the fabric to distribute the dye in varying concentrations.

Step 1 – Fabric preparation The ink used is a water soluble, modern textile dye. To stop the dyes from running and causing a blurring smudge, the fabric is first coated with a mixture of seaweed thickener, urea, salt and citric acid (lemon juice). Step 2 – Printing Tiny little drops of dye, thinner than a hair, are sprinkled over the fabric from eight different colour heads as the carriage passes across the fabric. Eight base colours that mix together can produce more than a billion colour combinations. Step 3 – Heat setting At first, the dye sits on the top of the fabric, which is then passed over a heat plate so that it is touch dry. Step 4 – Steaming A digitally printed fabric sample at Think Positive in the UK of the design that was used by BODE in Steaming the fabric opens up the fibres and creates a waterway into and around her collection at the 2020 International Woolmark the fibres so the dyes can travel from the surface of the fabric into the fibres, Prize at which she won the Karl Lagerfeld Award forming bonds and giving the fabric permanent colour, image and design. for Innovation. Step 5 – Rinse coating Next, having done its job, the coating solution is washed out. The result is a decorated fabric that retains its original feel and texture that can be made into garments, curtains, upholstery, scarves or, cushions – the possibilities are endless.

Wool fabric and yarn sourcing guide goes digital

The Woolmark Company has However, market changes imposed users will be able to look through launched the first edition of by the global pandemic – such as the the guide and choose a selection of The Wool Lab Digital, a brand- cancellation of trade shows, widespread wool fabrics and yarns in which they lockdowns and greatly reduced face to are interested for their upcoming new online platform for its face meetings – meant that The Woolmark collections. Users will immediately respected wool fabric and yarn Company had to quickly adjust and find receive an email with the details of sourcing guide, which has new ways to connect and strengthen their chosen swatches along with the been developed in response global supply chain partnerships which is contact information of the applicable imperative within our industry. manufacturers that the user can contact to the changing needs of As the solution, The Wool Lab to request samples. today’s market environment. Digital, launched in February, provides a As well as being in a new online new digital showcase for wool fabric and format, The Wool Lab Digital has irst launched ten years ago, The Wool yarn suppliers and a leading sourcing identified the new market trends and FLab is a guide to the best commercially service for designers and buyers. While product innovations that are most available wool fabrics and yarns, created the structure and functionality of The Wool relevant to the current unique global in collaboration with the most innovative Lab has been adapted digitally to the times situation. Through these macro-trends, and quality-oriented spinners, knitters we are living in, the core of The Wool Lab Merino wool reaffirms its position as the and weavers from across the world. It has remains the same. ultimate ingredient for both urban and successfully become an important tool The Wool Lab Digital is freely active wear, but also for leisure wear. for the global fashion and textile industry, accessible to fashion and textile industry with its aim to increase the global demand professionals in a dedicated area of More information: and use of wool. www.woolmark.com. By simply registering, www.woolmark.com/thewoollab 24 OFF FARM Wool4School tops 100,000 students Wool4School is an annual student competition that offers a complete fashion design experience in the classroom, introducing a new generation of students to the versatility of Australian wool.

ow in its ninth year, Wool4School invites “Participating in this competition allowed students to think about the versatility N me to grow personally, to broaden of various wool fabrics as part of a creative design of their own. my knowledge and to put into practice First launched by AWI in 2012, all the notions learned at school.” Wool4School is an annual competition that Giorgia Cattunar, 2019/20 Italy winner has involved more than 100,000 students, not only learning the fundamentals of fashion design but also exploring the benefits and There is also a teachers’ award for the best versatility of wool and the fabric it creates. implementation of the competition in the “The aim of the Wool4School design classroom; the winner of last year’s teachers’ competition is to teach school-aged students award in Australia, Jill Pettifer of Dickson the benefits of Australian wool so that these College in the ACT, says the competition is future designers and consumers understand a wonderful opportunity for the students wool’s benefits and are more likely to use to participate in an innovative real design Australian wool as their fibre of choice,” said scenario. Wool4School Project Manager Ashley Hollis. “The four parts of the competition On the back of the success of allow the students to work through the Wool4School in Australia, AWI also runs various processes: creating a mood board, the student design competition in the key a design, then justifying their design markets of the United Kingdom, Hong Kong through their creative statement and finally and Italy. producing technical drawings. These are all Wool4School provides teachers diverse skills and to implement them in a with a range of education resources and design competition is such a great process is the perfect program for online learning. for the students,” Jill said.

Enter the 2021 Wool4School Australia competition Registrations are now open for the Australian edition of the 2021 Wool4School competition. The winning designs of Keren Sondi This year’s theme is ‘wool on the go’ with students asked (right) and Giorgia Cattunar (top) from to design an outfit ideal for commuting. Wool should make up last year’s competition in the UK and at least 70% of the outfit’s share, comprised of up to 4 pieces. Italy respectively were manufactured into real-life garments. Students had There are once again a host of amazing prizes on offer. been asked to design an outfit that incorporated technology to improve its performance or functionality. How to get involved For further details and images, head to www.wool4school.com WOOLGROWERS AND PARENTS Contact your local high school and encourage them to get involved in the Wool4School program. Information for schools and teachers is available at www.wool4school.com YEAR 7-12 TEACHERS “I loved every part of the competition Simply register your class at www.wool4school.com to access as each stage from thinking of a free online resources for the classroom. design, developing the idea and YEAR 7-12 STUDENTS putting it all together each presented a different challenge.” Learn more about the exciting competition at www.wool4school. com and talk to your teacher about getting involved. Keren Sondi, 2019/20 UK winner KEY DATES Submissions close: 22 July 2021 Announcement of winners: 19 August 2021 OFF 25 FARM Wool denim designs for on the go Fashion students from two Australian design schools were last year challenged by The Woolmark Company to use wool denim fabric to create a design for commuting.

he Woolmark Company last year helped some, or all, of the weft yarns with machine- fabric. Alternatively, the students could Tfashion students from the Whitehouse washable wool. The wool denim fabrics are create a marketing campaign for a wool Institute of Design (Sydney and Melbourne) finished the same as traditional denim so denim commuter collection of a real or and the Box Hill Institute (Melbourne) to style isn’t compromised, yet you gain all hypothetical brand. See the winning designs complete the ‘industry’ component of their the natural benefits associated with wool, and marketing campaign plans below. course – by undertaking a project using such as warmth, moisture management and Students were required to wool denim. odour resistance. complete The Woolmark Company’s Wool Traditionally made entirely from With many people reassessing the Appreciation Course and after the project cotton, denim is one of the world’s most way they travel across their towns and they were encouraged to continue their wool popular fabrics. Wool denim is a wool/ cities, the fashion students were asked education through the online Woolmark cotton blend which uses the same warp to design a commuter-focused garment Learning Centre. yarn as traditional denim, but replaces or accessory product using wool denim

Commuter Theja Siriwardena pack essentials Bike to work chic skirt PRODUCT DESIGN WINNER: PRODUCT DESIGN RUNNER UP: THEJA RUBY SCOTT, BOX HILL INSTITUTE SIRIWARDENA, BOX HILL INSTITUTE Ruby’s design enables ease of movement Inspired by ‘skorts’ (a skirt with integral when commuting, whether it be train, bike shorts hidden underneath), Theja’s product or on foot. The product is a three-piece is a one-piece garment. The wool denim skirt accessory ensemble. has a diagonal zip on the front that can be The utility bag has a opened to provide space for leg movements space for essentials when cycling, but closed when at work for such as keys, mobile, a more appropriate workplace look. Wool earphones, pens, a small spandex shorts are attached to the inner wallet and glasses. The waist band of the skirt. glove has a card slot on the back suitable for a travel pass, swipe COMMUNICATION CHANNELS : INSTAGRAM card or credit card. INSTAGRAM The face mask is the Target Audience Age - 20 to 30 years old Gender - Female new essential. Location - International Username - On The Street @onthestreet

Profile Status - Apparel & Clothing

Hashtag - #seemeOnTheStreet

Post Timing - Posts will be made three times a week for 7 images and once a week for videos before the campaign is released.

Ruby Scott Post Content - Posts will be about the fashion collection. The images will consist of detail shots of garments and also full body shots of the look. The videos will be about sustainability and showcasing the properties and benefits of wool denim.

Post Caption - Captions should be an overview of the concept for the garment posts. For videos, captions should be about sustainability and the properties and benefits of wool denim.

Promotion - Promotion will be done through paid promotion ads on Instagram. There will be influencers that will endorse the garments to advertise the new collection.

All images are photographed by Nadia Winata CONTENT PLAN

Nadia Winata © All Rights Reserved Nadia Winata Paused motion MARKETING PROJECT RUNNER UP: NADIA WINATA, WHITEHOUSE INSTITUTE OF DESIGN Nadia’s ‘Paused Motion’ campaign, with the tagline ‘The next wave of urban Annie Jeffreys commuters’ aims to spread awareness The commute about sustainability and the properties and benefits of wool denim. Utilising MARKETING PROJECT WINNER: ANNIE JEFFREYS, WHITEHOUSE social media, the final product of the INSTITUTE OF DESIGN campaign would be an online editorial Annie’s ‘The Commute’ campaign, with the tagline ‘The time in NOW’, looks at creating a portraying a particular brand’s wool visual commute from farm to fashion with wool denim as the main character. Wool denim denim commuter collection, driving garments of various brands would be promoted via social media and the Woolmark website purchases from their website. in the form of an editorial, with a simple click taking users directly to the featured brand’s website for purchase. 26 OFF FARM

Eve (right) with her sister Clara who is wearing the coat that Eve made with wool from her own Two Pines Perendale flock.

I made a Sue with Elizabeth and Margaret in the paddock (Eve knows all her coat using Perendale sheep by name). my own wool

For her Year 12 Product Design and Technology project, Eve Girdwood of Ardmona in central Victoria arranged the processing of wool from her own Perendale flock into fabric which she then used to create a wonderful wool coat.

ith farming history on both sides of her than the end design. It proved to be a wools can be used to make beautiful and Wfamily, Eve Girdwood at the age of 12 steep learning curve in many ways for expensive looking apparel,” Eve said. decided she wanted a sheep stud. As Eve was Eve, especially finding companies that to be in charge of looking after the sheep, she would take Eve’s relatively small quantity Project completion chose the dual purpose Perendale breed due of wool through all the different stages of During the project, the coronavirus hit to it being easy to care for and a practical size production. Eve had two bales (178kg) of Victoria which made the assignment even for handling – plus Eve thought they are the Perendale wool to process. more challenging. best-looking sheep! “Wool goes through a lot of processing The project took a full year to Eve started out with three ewes stages before it becomes fabric: including complete and resulted in, as well as the bought from the Pergunyah Perendale Stud scouring, combing, gilling, carding, spinning, coat, an A3-sized 83-page folio. It comprised near Mansfield owned by Maureen Nissen, weaving, dyeing… it was a big challenge to get features including mood boards, design who has mentored Eve as she built up her the project off its feet at the start,” Eve said. options, aesthetics, colours, materials, stud from scratch. Six years later and Eve “However, Trish Esson from Cashmere technologies, manufacturing machinery now has about 60 Perendales at her Two Connections at Bacchus Marsh provided me (including health and safety), production Pines Perendale Stud and has won best ram with some great advice regarding finding plan and journal, sustainability issues, and at the Dookie Agricultural Show and reserve companies to undertake the processing: legal responsibilities including copyright. supreme champion of the Strong Wool Sheep rather than working forward through the The longtime farmers in Eve’s family and Wool Show at Benalla. supply chain by first finding a scourer, she were similarly interested to hear about all told me it is easier to find connections by the stages of processing that Eve’s wool went From fibre to fabric working back through the supply chain through after it left the farm. For her Product Design and Technology from the end product.” “The project was about the journey portfolio in year 12 at Notre Dame College For Eve’s project, EP Robinson all the way from my own sheep’s wool in Shepparton, Eve chose to produce a coat at Geelong did the scouring, Cashmere to the finished garment. People love the made using the wool from her own sheep. Connections did the combing, gilling and provenance of it,” Eve said. “I’m very interested in sustainability carding, Wangaratta Woollen Mills did the “We produced 80 metres of fabric and the production of garments, so I decided spinning, and Geelong Textiles wove and and used four metres to make the coat, so to do a project in which I could demonstrate dyed the fabric. Eve herself made the coat. I now have plenty of fabric left to use on the full traceability of a garment right back “The fabric is gorgeous and drapes other projects!” to the source of the fibre,” Eve said. really well. I’m very appreciative to The project was focused on the everyone involved who has helped me More information: processing and production process rather along the way. It goes to show how stronger Follow @twopinesperendales on Instagram. ON 27 FARM

AWI WORKING TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN WOOL-GROWING 28 ON FARM

Lifetime Ewe Management

LTEM deliverer Geoff Duddy with group members Ross Brown (Meandarra), Phillip Coggan (Westmar), Murray Lillecrapp (Toobeah, since replaced by Stephen Brown), Dugald Cameron (Bollon), John Allen (Toobeah), Di Parsons (St George) and Will Rae (Toobeah).

After a forced hiatus in Queensland due to drought, declining sheep numbers and the impact of wild dogs, interest in AWI’s flagship producer extension program Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) is growing within the state.

new seven-member LTEM group has relocated from Forbes, NSW, at the beginning “LTEM is a great way to meet other A recently started in south-western of 2019. While they are currently focused on farmers who are also keen to mentor and Queensland. The producers collectively developing/fencing their property, they are learn from each other and have similar manage more than 65,000 hectares, have an keen to ensure they ‘get the basics right’. interests. All our friends that have done the average stocking rate of one breeding ewe Taking on the role as group course are really happy with the outcomes,” per six hectares and predominantly run self- coordinator for the LTEM project, Di said she said. replacing Merino operations with culls/CFA they are looking forward to the AWI- Di is really enjoying the group joined to Terminals. supported project helping them to improve dynamics and accountability at each Many of the members have ewe management, increase weaning rates, group meeting. The tools and skills she undertaken exclusion fencing to reduce wild efficiently utilise their pastures for quality has learnt from the program are being dog impacts, with most experiencing major and nutrition, improve feed budgeting and readily implemented into their livestock losses prior to doing so. All members are be part of a like-minded self-mentoring management program. She also highly looking to increase breeding ewe numbers. group of farmers. The course also revisits the values the many tips and local knowledge Di Parsons instigated the development basics of ewe management and ensures that she has been given by other group members of the group. Di and husband Andrew they are not dropping the ball. which have helped them adapt quickly to their new farm. Group member Ross Brown of ‘Belmont Park’ runs a mixed-farming operation with wife Cheryl. They are What is Lifetime Ewe Management? looking to significantly increase their sheep flock after a string of poor seasons and wild dog issues. The Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) course, supported by AWI across Australia, “We have invested heavily in aims to increase producers’ understanding of the influence of ewe nutrition and improving our infrastructure in the past few management on overall reproduction rates and lamb and ewe survival. Producers years. This has included exclusion fencing of develop the skills to manage their ewes to achieve condition score targets and our properties, building a new multi-purpose explore the economics of supplementary feeding and pasture management to shearing/machinery shed and a new set of review stocking rates. working yards with shade across the entire LTEM groups meet six times in the annual sheep calendar during a period of 12 working race area,” Ross said. months. The course is very hands-on, being based in the sheep yards, shearing “We are looking to run a minimal sheds and paddocks of participating woolgrowers, which enables participants to management, more ‘bang for your buck’ share and learn from one another. operation that produces wool and sheepmeat ethically, efficiently and economically. More information: LTEM is the perfect fit for our operation For more information, or to set up or join an LTEM group in your local area, call RIST and I particularly enjoy the group dynamics on freecall 1800 883 343 or visit www.rist.edu.au/lifetime-ewe-management and discussions during each bi-monthly AWI: www.wool.com/LTEM workshop session. 29ON FARM

“The importance of actively condition scoring throughout the breeding ewe’s production cycle and how to meet her feed needs from existing pasture and/or supplements has been well explained and easy to implement.” The LTEM group’s deliverer, consultant Geoff Duddy of Sheep Solutions, believes there is capacity for at least eight to 10 LTEM producer groups, stretching from Longreach to the southern border. “I’ve been looking to establish several Queensland groups since moving from southern NSW to Queensland a few years ago and now that most of the state has finally got a break from the drought, with exclusion fencing and interest in the sheep industry booming, it is an opportune time for producers to fine-tune their management AWI Change Makers: Ewe condition scoring through programs such as Lifetime Ewe Management,” Geoff said. Much of the LTEM program is geared AWI recently issued a short video about ewe conditions scoring, as the fourth towards breeding up the Merino ewe base, episode in its AWI Change Makers initiative. and Mr Duddy believes Queensland has “a huge potential, particularly now”. Condition score can tell you so much about your sheep and their performance, “Over time there has been a swing and is simply done by hand, measuring the fat and muscle cover over and away from sheep in Queensland due to dogs around the short ribs. Watch the 4½ minute video of livestock consultant and drought, so we’ve seen a dwindling flock Nathan Scott as he outlines the benefits of recording and managing number as well,” he said. ewe condition scores to target, practical management tips and expected “However, while much of the productivity gains. LTEM recommendations originated from southern trial and extension work, The AWI Change Makers initiative communicates research findings to most LTEM principles and management woolgrowers to help them implement best practice in their flocks. Other recommendations can be implemented in episodes include: western or pastoral areas. • Lambing mob size “Of the 18 LTEM groups I’ve • Weaning to manage coordinated, several were within south • Ram performance management western NSW’s pastoral zone, and I’ve also • Joining time and length. been part of an AWI working group further developing and fine-tuning principles View the videos at www.wool.com/awichangemakers for these regions. I’m keen to incorporate recommendations and practices that suit Queensland conditions and management calendars.” High on the list of management practices that Mr Duddy would like to see further develop within Queensland is the strategic supplementary feeding of ewes and, if proving to be cost beneficial, grain- finishing stock. “Most producers I’ve come across in Queensland would first and foremost in a drought drop back on their numbers or they may destock completely – very few have actually fed. However, many are now seeing the benefit of feeding to help maintain their core breeding ewe base, improving reproduction rates, lamb survival and ewe and lamb productivity, with most producers investing in on-farm storage and machinery to help them do so. “LTEM not only helps with day-to-day sheep management decision making but helps producers to understand what drives productivity – nutrition!” “I love delivering LTEM. I love the interaction between participants and seeing their development. It is by far one of the best extension models available to sheep producers nationally today.” Group member Ross Brown (left) outlining their family-run operation to other members during a condition scoring training session on ‘Belmont Park’. ERADICATE FOOTROT 0ON 30 ‘FOOTROT SOLUTION’ ‘W wave infarm water troughs New innovation causinga cool the water. Itinhibits algal growth and it do its job. solar panel isprotected from animals,andlet just place the pump inthe water, ensure the troughs. You can use your existing trough, system that isadded to livestock water livestock trough water quality.” on the market dedicated to helping improve Pumping System, which isthe only product growth, as well as healthier livestock. the key factor inimproved weight gains and linked to increased feed conversion which is increase water consumption, which inturn is palatable for livestock has been shown to years’ experience inthe agricultural industry. Pumping System, ChrisGrieger, who has 25 designer anddeveloper ofthe Croc Trough sometimes overlooked,” said the owner, optimal water health for the animalsis and production, the value ofproviding nutrition to maximisetheir animals’ health The Croc Trough PumpingSystem isasolarpumpingsystem thatisaddedto livestock water troughs. FARM “It helps circulate, aerate, soften and The Croc TPS isasolarpumping “This iswhy Ideveloped Croc Trough “However, making water more aware ofthe importance offeed and livestockhile producers are very NOW -WITHTHE YES, ITWORKS! NSW has used two ofthe trough pumps ‘Pooginook’ at Jerilderie inthe Riverina easily be relocated to other troughs. simple to install andmaintain –andcan pump inlarger troughs. Chrissays itis volumed troughs orto use as anadditional 2.5m long, while the TPS20 isfor smaller troughs andrectangular troughs more than sizes. The TPS50 isdesigned for large round water wastage too.” you to work smarter, not harder. There isless fraction ofthe time andeffort; soitenables It ensures clean water for your stock at a reduce the frequency oftrough cleaning. days alone. grams per day willpay for the product in10 investment. 200 lambs adding anextra 50 immediate andsignificant returns ontheir low entry price, we expect producers to see health andgood weight gains. Given the seen significant improvement inlivestock palatable water,” Chrissaid. “Intrialswe have providing livestock withaccess to more separates dust anddebris, biofilm, thereby Woolgrower John Sutherland of The Croc TPS isavailable intwo “The Croc TPS enables producers to Chris Grieger0407487118 www.croctroughpumps.com.au More information: water especially duringsummer.” game changer for us managing weaners on rotation onthe native country. Ithas been a as amobile unitto follow weaners’ grazing installed. We are alsonow using thissystem did before thissimple trough pump was as you clean outthe trough as they always the weaners no longer come to the water daily to once every three days. Importantly cleaning has been reduced from cleaning better weight gains inweaners,” John said. At Pooginook, good quality water iskey to pump systems are watering better overall. and without pumps, andthe lambs onthe same lambs onthe troughs withpumps whenever they want. I have compared the water, drinking as much as they need settle andthe lambs have access to cleaner and he says he has noticed benefits. “In the containment pens, trough “The pumps ensure that dust doesn’t 1300 856563 their livestock. palatable water for cooler andmore producers cleaner, which hesays gives pumping system developed atrough Chris Griegerhas of trough water, improve thequality research to of self-funded After five years

SHG2716311 ON 31 FARM

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

VBC0398_cydectin beyond bale 210x297_FAR.indd 1 1/4/20 9:53 am 32 ON FARM

Key points • CSIRO researchers have Vaccine identified key proteins in blowfly maggots that are important for researchers their growth and development. • The team has developed and tested prototype flystrike vaccines that help the sheep’s striking back immune system build a defence mechanism (antibodies) that will target and destroy against flystrike these proteins. • However, extracting natural AWI is now two years into a major four-year preliminary larval protein from actual flies research project to help develop a commercial vaccine that will for the vaccine is prohibitively protect sheep right across Australia from the Australian sheep expensive commercially, so blowfly. This $2.5 million collaborative project has achieved the team is continuing to look at ways to develop an much in its first two years. Here, CSIRO project leader Tony alternative and cheaper way to Vuocolo provides woolgrowers with an update on his particular synthesise them. area of research on the project.

SIRO is on the front foot in developing Native blowfly antigens: “CSIRO remains confident that if the and testing potential vaccines to fight C right vaccine antigen production off the formidable sheep industry adversary, good and bad news Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowie. The battle systems can be developed then It has been demonstrated that some native plans and tactics have been formulated and an effective vaccine can be developed blowfly antigens used in the vaccine are an array of prototype weapons, ie vaccines, that strikes back at flystrike.” have been designed, produced and tested effective in producing an immune response during the past 18 months with more in in sheep that results in stunting of maggot the pipeline. growth and in some cases the immune Each prototype vaccine and approach response of the sheep results in the death of Work continues on tested is helping inform the next iteration of the blowfly maggot when they feed on the artificial production of flystrike vaccine development. The process sheep serum. Serum is the component of blowfly antigens is precise and methodical and in the past 18 blood that contains the antibodies. months, 26 different formulations of vaccine Unfortunately producing a commercial The difficulty of the artificial production have been tested in sheep as well as in a vaccine through this approach using of blowfly antigens is being able to produce variety of laboratory tests. native antigens is not viable and that is the antigens in a form that replicates the Whilst a potential commercial vaccine motivation for production of the blowfly precise three-dimensional structure of is still a way down the track, CSIRO’s antigens in bacteria or insect cells, and more the native blowfly antigens. This is more results indicate they can produce high recently by chemical synthesis. easily performed with proteins that have antibody levels in sheep against the blowfly. Antibodies are the defence molecules, akin 100 to ‘bullets’ in general terms, produced by the sheep against the blowfly maggots. The 90 major challenge faced is producing these ‘bullets’ in a form that will specifically hit the 80 maggots in vulnerable spots and be powerful and plentiful enough to penetrate and 70 ultimately over-run the maggots’ armour- 60 like protection. The blowfly proteins, called antigens, 50 used in the prototype vaccines to generate the immune response in sheep against the 40 blowfly are being produced using several 30 different production systems. These include: % maggot growth Blowfly 20 1. isolation of proteins directly from blowfly larvae/maggots, also known as native 10 antigens, 2. production of blowfly proteins in bacteria, 0 3. production of blowfly proteins in specially 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 adapted insect cells. No antigen Native antigen Cell cultured antigen In the last two cases the proteins are artificially produced and are called Figure 1. Graph showing maggot growth on sheep serum from sheep vaccinated with (1) no antigen, ie adjuvant only; (2) maggot derived native antigen; or (3) cell cultured antigen. No growth inhibition was recombinant antigens. shown for no antigen whilst the native antigens have performed the best so far.

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simple structures but more difficult with found on the native blowfly proteins and Developing a pipeline for vaccine complex proteins. is providing the opportunity to design and engineering and production is the key Several key classes of antigens being develop synthetic vaccines. These synthetic limiting factor if we are to be successful investigated have complex structures vaccines will be tested and if successful have in the development of a flystrike vaccine. and additionally they are adorned with the potential to bypass cell-based antigen Overall, the next twelve months will production systems. specialised sugar structures referred to as produce a strong statement on whether A study examining vaccine dose glycans. The glycans on the antigen are like the development of a flystrike vaccine will and the length of protection is nearing a costume disguising the underlying protein. ultimately be achieved. The sheep antibodies must be generated that completion and is informing how CSIRO CSIRO remains confident that if can recognise this masterful disguise to be will formulate the future flystrike vaccine the right vaccine antigen production able to direct an effective attack against the and how long the protective antibodies are systems can be developed then an effective blowfly maggot. maintained in the sheep. The ideal aim is Antigens produced via these artificial to produce a vaccine that requires a single vaccine can be produced that strikes back approaches have had varying degrees of annual dose just before peak fly season. at flystrike. success in the vaccine trials undertaken. (See Figure 1 on opposite page.) The CSIRO researchers are investigating ways in which to optimise these antigen production systems to help produce better and more efficient prototype vaccines. Alternative approaches and related research

CSIRO will continue to progress flystrike vaccine development during the next 12 months by working closely with its scientific collaborators. In the absence of a sheep blowfly cell line to artificially produce the vaccine antigens, CSIRO researchers will use the next best resource and test and validate a newly established fly-related cell line to produce vaccine antigens. CSIRO is partnering with the University of Queensland Protein Expression Facility to undertake this work. It is envisaged that this will assist in producing flystrike vaccine antigens that better resemble the native blowfly proteins. CSIRO will continue to work with the University of Melbourne (UoM) flystrike team cross-referencing vaccine antigens with sheep blowfly population genome studies that UoM has performed. This provides information about blowfly population genetics and how this might impact vaccine design and optimisation for different Australian regions where the blowfly is found. A collaboration with Griffith University Glycomics Institute is providing a clearer insight into the sugar structures Flystrike prototype vaccines being formulated and injected into sheep by Flystrike Vaccine project leader Tony Vuocolo.

Flystrike vaccine research team members performing various research activities for the project: Susan Briscoe testing antibody titre responses of vaccinated sheep with the aid of a liquid handling robot. Jody McNally, Duncan Elks, Brad Hine and Graham Acton collecting blood from sheep vaccinated with prototype vaccines. Neil Bagnall processing blood samples and setting up bioassays for testing vaccine efficacy in laboratory-based tests. 34 ON FARM

Anaesthetics and analgesics deliver on-the-ground benefits

Jodie Green with her sheep at Boree Creek in NSW.

Woolgrowers Audrey Bird surgical husbandry practices, such as of Western Australia and marking and tail docking. “We ceased mulesing during 2006, but Jodie Green of NSW believe only introduced an anaesthetic several years whole-heartedly in the ago,” Jodie said. “We stopped using the hot benefits of effective and iron about eight years ago and now use an practical anaesthetic and elastrator for tails and testicles, with the addition of a local anaesthetic to minimise analgesic treatments during stress during and after the process.” lamb marking. According to Jodie, the local anaesthetic delivered through the handheld Numnuts device provides sufficient relief to lobally, Australian Merino woolgrowers allow the marked lambs to mother up and Gare leaders in adopting anaesthetic become settled back in their paddocks by the and analgesic treatments for husbandry Audrey Bird using Numnuts for marking her time the impact of the analgesia wears off. sheep at Wickepin in WA. PHOTOS: Numnuts procedures. Tri-Solfen®, a local anaesthetic, “Our ideal approach is to set up was registered in 2007, while the non- portable yards in the paddock and bring “You need to be committed to steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) each mob to the yards so we can mark maximising animal welfare and focus less Metacam® and Buccalgesic® were registered straight back into the paddock,” Jodie said. on the cost,” Jodie said. “It’s easy to maintain in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Numnuts®, Jodie believes the anaesthetic makes a our commitment when our lambs mother a handheld device that delivers a local difference both to the mothering up process up immediately and we see no check in anaesthetic (NumOcaine®) for ring immediately after marking, but also when lamb growth after marking, which is castration and tail docking by rings, was returning the flock to its paddock. extraordinary.” launched in 2019. “If you miss a lamb with the device at On-farm adoption of these analgesic the end of a batch of anaesthetic, you notice and anaesthetic options has been rapid. the difference,” Jodie said. “The untreated Animal welfare For Jodie and Andrew Green at Boree lamb will come out of the cradle and sulk a no brainer Creek in the Riverina region of NSW, the while the treated lambs land on the ground On the other side of the country, at Wickepin incorporation of local anaesthetic into and head out to the ewes.” 2½ hours south-east of Perth, Audrey Bird their lamb marking procedure, through Jodie describes moving the mob is running a 1,700 head self-replacing Merino the Numnuts device, is the next step in back to the paddock after marking to be as flock as part of a 4,300ha mixed farming managing the health and wellbeing of stress free as bringing them into the yards operation. offspring from their 6,500 ewe flock. before marking. Audrey has long been keen to “Our operation is focused on breeding While producers might be put off by minimise stress across her sheep husbandry sheep that truly suit their environment; that the additional cost and time associated with activities, especially during mulesing is the most responsible thing to do,” Jodie providing an anaesthetic during marking, and marking. explained. “Our sheep have soft, thin skin, Jodie and Andrew have calculated the “Sheep are valuable and it is worth they repel water and dust and thrive in the investment of 76c per ewe lamb and $1.50 ensuring you do the best you can do,” Audrey climate we expect them to live in.” per ram lamb is more than worthwhile said. “Anything you can do to minimise the Although they have worked hard and indicated that using the device only animal set-backs is well worth pursuing.” to develop sheep that thrive in their increases the process of marking by about Audrey has been using Tri-Solfen environment, they still need to undertake two seconds per animal. for the mulesing operation since it was ON 35 FARM

first available and combines this with As far as mulesing goes, Audrey Buccalgesic and NumOcaine to optimise pain is in the process of phasing out this Lamb marking management and lamb recovery at marking. operation through a dedicated breeding She believes the use of anaesthetics (like Tri- objective. In the meantime, she makes training guide Solfen and NumOcaine) and analgesics (such sure operators disinfect their equipment as Buccalgesic) is a “no brainer”. between lambs and focus on animal This training guide is designed to assist “I got to know about Buccalgesic welfare above throughput. Earmarking woolgrowers and their contractors through my niece, who is a vet,” Audrey said. tools are also disinfected regularly and perform best practice lamb marking “I tried that and thought it was relatively replaced every few years. and mulesing procedures with the cheap for the benefits it gave our business. Communicating her expectations utmost care and attention to ensure It is long acting and even after it’s worn to livestock contractors is important the best short- and long-term welfare off, the impact of lower stress during to Audrey. outcomes for the animal. marking appears to have benefits for several “We process 800–900 Merino lambs Published in June 2020, the 80- days afterwards.” a day,” Audrey said. “But we pay per hour page guide was developed by AWI Audrey also followed the development rather than per lamb and we supply an in partnership with WoolProducers of the Numnuts system since it was first extra person as well as the contracting Australia and the Livestock Contractors mooted and was one of the first producers in team to help things move smoothly and Association. WA to use it, believing it has its own special reduce the focus on throughput above niche. animal welfare.” It includes sections on: “When the lambs come off the cradle It is the peace of mind that is without the anaesthetic, the wethers tend • Overview of lamb marking important to Audrey when it comes to to be impacted,” Audrey conceded. “The • Work health and safety using anaesthetics and analgesics. NumOcaine acts immediately and we use “It costs about $2.30/hd for all • Legislation and Codes of Practice the Numnuts system on the testicles and the three treatments, and with current • Preparation and planning tails of our prime lambs.” sheep and lamb prices I believe it’s a • Lamb marking and mulesing good investment for our business,” equipment The combination of both Tri-Solfen® or Audrey said. • Chemical and animal health ® NumOcaine with a meloxicam product “Although the productivity gain product use (disinfectants, provides the most effective pain relief is hard to calculate, we tick the animal insecticides and analgesia/ and gives the lamb the best chance welfare box and there could be more anaesthetics) premium benefits, but we haven’t • Lamb marking and mulesing of recovering faster, addressing both looked into it. procedures the immediate pain and distress and “As an industry, we need to look any pain that might occur during the at consumer preferences when it comes • References healing process, as well as reducing the to managing our animals — look at the • Chapters from the Australian benefits rather than the hurdles.” Animal Welfare Standards and possibility of infection. Guidelines for Sheep relating More information: to responsibilities, tail docking, castration and As with Jodie’s experience, Audrey said For further information and resources mulesing. the lambs mother up immediately out of the about using analgesia and anaesthesia cradle and run out of the yards better. when lamb marking, head to More “We have reduced the number of lambs www.wool.com/aa. Also available information: sitting or lying down and squirming around on the page is a recording of a very Access the by 90 per cent. If lambs can mother up and popular 50-minute AWI webinar guide at www. get a drink and walk behind the mothers on lamb marking by respected wool.com/ back to the paddock it is a lot better for the veterinarian and sheep consultant marking-guide lamb and a lot better for us.” Dr Tim Gole.

Summary of available anaesthetics and analgesics

Tail docking Castration Tail docking Castration Action Application WHP Mulesing with knife/ with knife with rings with rings hot knife Short Fan spray application TRI-SOLFEN® acting local to the wound (effective 90 days anaesthetic in less than 1 min) Oral with custom Longer acting applicator – gel applied BUCCALGESIC® 10 days analgesic inside the cheek (effective from 10 mins)

Subcutaneous injection Longer acting METACAM 20® into muscle high on neck 11 days analgesic (effective from 10 mins)

NUMOCAINE® Short Injection with Numnuts® (NUMNUTS® acting local device (effective in less 0 days DELIVERY) anaesthetic than 1 min)

Growers must follow all label directions and veterinary instructions when using pain relief products. BUCCALGESIC®, METACAM 20®, NUMOCAINE® (NUMNUTS® DELIVERY) are Section 4 (S4) veterinary medications and require consultation with your local vet. TRI-SOLFEN® is available over the counter from your local reseller. 36 ON FARM Flystrike webinar a practical and timely guide

Due to ongoing summer rains across many of Australia’s sheep regions, woolgrowers have been experiencing a tough fly season. In response, AWI organised a popular webinar providing flystrike advice to woolgrowers managing under high- risk fly conditions. The webinar, held in January, was recorded and is freely available to view for all woolgrowers across the country. If you missed AWI’s It’s Fly Time! webinar in January, you can watch a free recording on the AWI website at www.wool.com/flystrikeresources.

WI ran the webinar, called ‘It’s Fly in at least five years. The webinar provides there are three basic conditions required for ATime!’, to deliver tactical information a practical guide to flystrike prevention, flystrike to occur: to woolgrowers in preparation for, and monitoring and treatment, all which play responding to, a high-risk flystrike period. key roles in flystrike management. Proactive 1. Presence of susceptible sheep It provided woolgrowers with tips for management of flystrike is important for 2. Presence of flies preventing flystrike, information on sheep welfare,” she said. 3. Favourable weather conditions to prioritising sheep for monitoring and allow the flies to locate and infect the susceptible sheep. treatment, and options for treating sheep “The flystrike prevention, monitoring when flystrike does occur. The webinar aggregated information on flystrike from a and treatment activities highlighted (A) PREVENTION OF FLYSTRIKE range of sources. in the webinar all play key roles in • Well-timed preventative activities can More than 450 people from across woolgrowers’ integrated flystrike help reduce the risk of flystrike and the Australia registered to view the one-hour management plans.” development of fly waves, and minimise webinar which was presented on 29 January Dr Jane Littlejohn, AWI’s General the need for treatment. by respected veterinarian and sheep • Some types and classes of sheep are more consultant, Dr Tim Gole. There was great Manager of Research susceptible to flystrike and should be interaction from the webinar attendees targeted for preventative treatment. and feedback on the event was excellent. “While the digital format of a webinar • No single preventative activity should The webinar received a rating of 8.8/10 is different to a regular face-to-face seminar, be relied upon alone – make sure you from viewers. it is simple to use and we were able to reach use a range of well-timed activities in The webinar was recorded and is a much wider audience. The key ‘take home’ combination. freely available to be viewed at any time messages in the webinar were clear and • An integrated preventative flystrike on the AWI website at www.wool.com/ remain the same.” program includes breeding for flystrike flystrikeresources. When viewing, you can resistance, the use of crutching or pause and go back to a previous part in the Key messages shearing, dag control, appropriate tail webinar if you want to recap a particular It’s important to have a broad flystrike length, selection of less flystrike-prone point. In addition, handy factsheets also management plan which incorporates (a) paddocks, applying appropriate chemical provide links to further information. prevention, (b) monitoring and (c) treatment treatments and killing maggots and Woolgrower’s without access to the website activities (see below), but preventing removing sources of protein. can be sent hard copies by contacting the flystrike is key. Review your integrated AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099. flystrike management plan regularly. (B) RECOGNITION AND MONITORING AWI’s General Manager of Research Dr No single preventative, monitoring TO DETECT FLYSTRIKE Jane Littlejohn says the webinar was very or treatment activity should be relied timely and important. upon alone. • Regular monitoring activities will help you “Ongoing rains this summer made These activities need to consider to detect signs of flystrike in sheep as well this the worst season for flies in many areas sheep, flies and weather holistically because as conditions which may favour flystrike. ON 37 FARM

Finding these as early as possible helps flystrikeresources, along with the Other recent webinars related to parasite prevent severe infections. PowerPoint presentation and the management and lamb marking that you Flystrike webinar • Monitor all mobs of sheep for signs of following related factsheets: might find of interest can be accessed flystrike during high-risk periods, but • Recognising and monitoring flystrike from the AWI Sheep Connect NSW especially weaners. (3-page fact sheet) website at www.sheepconnectnsw.com. • Monitoring involves a combination of • Preventing and treating flystrike au/tools/. These include: a practical and timely guide checks including looking for flystrike in (5-page fact sheet). • Top tips for lamb marking sheep, checking populations of flies and • Sheep blowfly resistance checking weather conditions. For more detailed information on flystrike • Breeding for improved flystrike management, including information resistance on chemical resistance management • Spotlight on barbers pole worm (C) TREATMENT OPTIONS strategies and access to interactive • Drench resistance and managing WHEN FLYSTRIKE OCCURS decision support tools, visit FlyBoss at sheep worms • Treating flystruck sheep is essential to www.flyboss.com.au. • Worms are back, how are you managing? protect the health and welfare of your sheep, prevent economic losses and break the lifecycle of flies. • Make sure you use a combination of treatment activities and that you don’t rely on one single activity alone. Hear more about how to keep • It’s important to make sure all flystruck your flock safe in Episode 166 sheep are effectively treated, all maggots of AWI’s The Yarn podcast at are killed and sources of protein are www.wool.com/podcast. removed to aid the sheep’s recovery and to prevent additional strikes. • Make sure you continue to monitor your treated sheep carefully, as some woolgrowers are reporting decreased lengths of protection for flystrike treatments.

More information: For information on AWI’s The ‘It’s Fly Time!’ webinar is available flystrike research, development to be viewed free at any time on the and extension program, visit AWI website at www.wool.com/ www.wool.com/flystrike.

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1800 300 593 | performancefeeds.com.au 38 ON FARM Set your sights on parasites Depending on where your property is located, this summer’s weather conditions may have impacted the timing of your worm management activities, encouraged you to restock, or raised your flystrike risk. If your risks are high, it could be time to act; if risks are low, you’ve got an ideal moment to review your management strategies. No matter what is happening on your farm, ParaBoss and its suite of three products – WormBoss, LiceBoss and FlyBoss – are available 24/7 to help!

In Mediterranean climate zones such In other climate zones, the timing of as south-west NSW and north-west Victoria, strategic drenches will depend on a number of coastal South Australia and southern Western temperature and rainfall factors. Consult your Australia, worm eggs and larvae die off during region’s WormBoss Worm Control Program the summer, with new pasture contamination at www.wormboss.com.au/programs.php after summer coming from worm burdens for more information on the specific timing Top four tips when that have been maintained in sheep of strategic drenches. Your region’s Worm using drenches (including any selected for resistance through Control Program includes information on a summer drench). Therefore, early summer planning ahead to prepare low-risk paddocks, 1. Avoid unnecessary drenching drenches are best given to younger, growing as well as breeding worm-resistant sheep and by referring to your relevant sheep that are at threat from worms. boosting immunity through nutrition. regional WormBoss Drench If all sheep are drenched in summer, Regardless of whether you are Decision Guide. only drench-resistant worms will be administering a strategic or tactical drench, 2. Calibrate drench guns to ensure maintained in the sheep, with their eggs there are three basic principles to be the correct dose is delivered. deposited on pastures, resulting in the considered when choosing a drench, in order resistant worms being the major source of the to slow the development of drench resistance 3. Calculate the dose based on the next year’s worm population. But most adult on your property: heaviest animal in the mob. sheep have low worm egg counts in early 1. Use the most effective drenches available summer, so waiting until late March through to you; aim for those that reduce worm egg 4. Follow the label instructions to early April (ie right now!) to give a strategic count by at least 98%, as these leave fewer ensure correct dose and use of drench will allow the existing low population drench-resistant worms after treatment. treatments. of worms to survive in the sheep; these If you don’t know how effective a drench sheep will contaminate the pasture with a is, consider a DrenchCheck - see www. population of worms that are less drench- wormboss.com.au/tests-tools/. resistant than if all sheep had received the 2. Use an effective combination of two or Worm management: first/early summer drench. This can help more drench groups, either in a multi-active It’s time to get strategic slow the development of drench resistance product or using more than one product with drenching without exposing young, susceptible sheep to at once. The higher the efficacy of each an excessive worm burden. drench group and the more drench groups Did you know that by working included in the combination, the greater to reduce worm populations the benefit for slowing drench resistance. The odds of any individual worm being across your property, you can resistant to all active ingredients used is make your sheep enterprise much lower than for each individual active more productive and more on its own! profitable? Unnecessary 3. Your region’s WormBoss Drench Decision Guide, available at www.wormboss.com. drenching can lead to drench au/tests-tools/drench-decision-guide.php resistance; however, when can tell you whether to use a short-acting used right, strategic drenches or long-acting drench. There is often very can help prevent problems little need to use mid-length or long-acting treatments if animals are being moved to before they begin. Regional WormBoss Worm Control Programs low worm-risk paddocks. exist for the above sheep strategic drench is one which is timed production regions. More information: to reduce the number of worm larvae A www.wormboss.com.au deposited on pastures for the benefit of the whole mob, or to help sheep at times when they are most susceptible to worm current state of sheep parasites nationally, infection, such as lambs at weaning or ewes explores issues most pressing on-farm, and pre-lambing. Compare this to a tactical (or provides an update on timely and effective therapeutic) drench, which is best given management strategies. Sign up to receive when sheep are suffering from a heavy ollectively, the three Boss websites newsletters at www.paraboss.com.au/ worm burden, which can be determined by a C– WormBoss, LiceBoss and FlyBoss subscriptions. worm egg count test. – promote best practice for the Also, join ParaBoss on Facebook at When combined with careful grazing management of sheep parasites at the www.facebook.com/paraboss.com.au to see management, strategic drenching assists in farm level. regular posts on parasite control. creating and maintaining paddocks which The collective ParaBoss tools ParaBoss is funded by AWI and MLA pose a minimal risk of worm infection are accompanied by a free, twice- and coordinated by the University of New when grazed. monthly newsletter which discusses the England with industry oversight. ON 39 FARM

process, so ensuring a potential infestation they spread and, above all else, make a firm is over before it can begin is vitally commitment to eradicating existing lice and Set your sights on important. Developing and implementing preventing new infestations. parasites a sheep lice biosecurity plan will help you Biosecurity is a shared responsibility and prevent the introduction of lice onto your communicating and collaborating with your Lice infections: they can property, which helps protect your stock. neighbors and community can greatly assist be prevented The best approach to preventing with reducing the risk of a lice infestation on a lice infestation is to recognise that your property. Did you know that it can all introduced or reintroduced stock LiceBoss has tools and resources to take up to six months for pose a lice risk, and treat that risk help assess your lice risk and create your a new infestation of lice to accordingly. For example, stray sheep from biosecurity plan. begin showing signs on your a neighboring property or your own stray sheep returning to the flock are a common More information: property? If you’ve been source of lice, so maintaining sheep-proof www.liceboss.com.au restocking due to favourable fences is the best method of reducing conditions during spring and that risk. summer, now is the time you’ll Where practical, quarantining newly purchased stock, applying a lice treatment Liceboss online begin to see the effects of lice, and waiting to see if signs of lice are found learning if lice are indeed there. can also reduce the risk of lice spreading from bought sheep. Asking for a Sheep The LiceBoss Online Learning program is free and provides woolgrowers and early all new infestations come from Health Declaration from the vendor individuals with practical knowledge contact with lousy sheep, so if you can’t can also tell you whether or not you’re N on lice control in Australia. work out where your lice infestation came purchasing from a flock which is known to Participants can browse through the from, consider the following questions: have lice. information provided by the program 1. Have you checked all your property fences Every business is different and your covering topics from biology of sheep to ensure they are secure and safe from management strategies will determine lice, preventing new lice infestations, stray stock? your overall lice risk. As such, your lice checking for lice, and treatment 2. Have you recently introduced new stock biosecurity plan will need to consider your options for your enterprise. onto your property? unique risk factors and include effective and practical ways to address these. Broadly 3. If you have recently purchased new Head to www.liceboss.com.au/about- speaking, however, for your plan to be stock, did you request a Sheep Health lice/liceboss-online-learning.php Declaration? successful, you will need to identify ways Eradicating lice can be a challenging lice could be introduced, understand how

prevention, (b) monitoring and (c) treatment FlyBoss can provide you with all activities, but preventing flystrike is key. the resources you need to assess different The most effective method to reduce options and strategies and choose those the risk of flystrike in your flock involves which suit your business. It also provides an integrated approach which combines the tools and templates to build an annual Your flystrike management strategies with chemical flystrike management calendar, customised management plan: take treatments – see highlight box below. to your business, that incorporates all the time to review it FlyBoss enables you to access local aspects of your flystrike management weather and climate information using plan. This template lets you visualise Flies thrive in warm, wet either the online Flystrike Quick Tools or high-risk periods alongside management conditions, and for many the downloadable Flystrike Risk Simulator, strategies and treatments that you will allowing you to develop a comprehensive be implementing, for a full view of your producers especially across flystrike management plan that considers flystrike management plan in one place. eastern Australia, these past environmental factors and on-farm few months have been the practices. Access both tools via the FlyBoss More information: wettest summer experienced Tools menu on www.flyboss.com.au. www.flyboss.com.au for some time – and with it came a greater flystrike risk. As things begin to cool Strategies to reduce the risk of flystrike down once more, you have Management strategies include: Chemical strategies include: the opportunity to develop or review your annual flystrike • Breeding for flystrike resistance • Choice of treatment chemical group management plan. • Optimising crutching or shearing • Application method • Dag management • Product used lyBoss provides you with the tools • Breech modification • Timing of treatments Fand information to tailor a flystrike management plan for your property. Also • Appropriate tail length • Predicted wool residues. refer to page 34 regarding AWI’s It’s Fly Time! webinar which detailed how a flystrike • Selection of less flystrike-prone management plan should incorporate (a) paddocks. 40 ON FARM

Fast facts The AWI-funded MLP project is a $8 million (plus $5 million from partners), 10-year partnership between AWI, the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association (AMSEA), nominating stud Merino breeders and five site partners. • Balmoral, Vic Partner: Tuloona Pastoral Committ ee: Balmoral Breeders Association • Pingelly, WA Partner: Murdoch University / UWA Committee: Federation of Performance Sheep Breeders (WA Branch) • MerinoLink, Temora, NSW Ram mating Partner: Moses & Son Committee: MerinoLink Inc. success insights • Macquarie, Trangie, NSW Partner: NSW DPI Committee: Macquarie Sire – an MLP Add-On Evaluation Association • New England, NSW Partner: CSIRO project Committee: New England Merino Sire Evaluation Association The MLP project has created opportunities for Add-On research projects. One of these Add-On projects is happening The MLP project is tracking the at the Balmoral, MerinoLink and Macquarie sites and is lifetime performance of 5,700 ewes as they proceed through four to exploring if better prediction of ram mating success can be five joinings and annual shearings. achieved through extensive pre-joining physical examination A full suite of assessments will and semen screening. be undertaken including visual trait scoring, classer gradings, objective assessment of a range he work commenced in 2019 at lamb and on the ground, whilst others are of key traits and index evaluations. TBalmoral, hosted by Tuloona Pastoral, consistently bad. led by Andrew Whale and Lexie Leonard The Add-On project sees race- A unique and extensive dataset will (Livestock Logic). This has since extended side pre-joining inspections of the sires result and be used to enhance existing to the MerinoLink site, hosted by Moses capturing scrotal circumference, testis Merino breeding and selection and Son, and the Macquarie site, hosted tone, liveweight, condition score, fat score, strategies, for both ram sellers and by NSW DPI. MerinoLink and Macquarie’s age, teeth alignment, feet condition and buyers, to deliver greater lifetime work is led by Jill Kelly (Central West LLS) gait. Semen is assessed for colour, density, productivity and woolgrower returns. and Tim Gole (For Flocks Sake). mass activity, percentage live and motility. Each year, the MLP F1 ewes are The semen samples are then sent off for To stay up to date with the latest joined to syndicates of Merino sires and more extensive morphology testing. MLP findings, visit www.wool.com/ DNA parentage tests are used to allocate Rams assessed as unsuitable for mlp. Subscribe to MLP updates via sire and dam to their progeny. Results joining were still added to each syndicate www.merinosuperiorsires.com.au/ show that some sires in the syndicates in addition to the number of rams required contact-us are consistently good at getting ewes in for joining. Progeny numbers per sire ON 41 FARM

are being collected and compared with the results of the physical assessment and semen testing to determine if they MerinoLink’s were able to explain the range in progeny performance. inspection day & Andrew Whale explains the rationale behind the work: “We are involved in webinar extensive pre-joining physical and semen examination of bulls but the practice is not The latest MLP results from the routinely carried out in sheep operations,” MerinoLink site were featured in a he said. Sheep Connect NSW 1½-hour webinar “Essentially we are adding two ‘MerinoLink: Beyond the report’ that can extra steps in the routine pre-joining be accessed, along with the MerinoLink ram assessment. The first involves the results report and key site information, at physical palpation of testes by experienced a newly developed site-specific webpage: operators; many testicle problems are www.merinosuperiorsires.com.au/ subtle and easily missed if not palpated. merinolink2020mlp/ “The second step involves a semen analysis race-side and then more extensive testing in the lab. The race-side screening helps us determine what percentage of the and within these categories was 15, 51 and sperm are swimming forward and alive. 72 respectively. The lab-based testing determines what While the first year of results from percentage of the sperm are normal. Balmoral are encouraging, a second year of NEW: An “From this we get a really good idea assessment is under way to create a larger of the percentage of the sperm that are dataset and confidence in the results. Like explanation of the both swimming forward plus anatomically Balmoral, the initial Macquarie results appear normal and fit for fertilisation to occur. positive, although similarly more data is MLP reports “Work done with Bos Indicus cattle needed to be confident. The additional data showed a positive correlation between will be generated from a second assessment If you’re new to the MLP project, or better semen morphology and improved at Macquarie and first assessment at the want to better understand the different fertility in the daughters of these sires. If MerinoLink site. types of results that the MLP project is this relationship is true for sheep, then it Although reproduction success reporting, an explanation video has been will be a good approach for also improving is largely driven by the ewe, having the developed from the MerinoLink webinar. conception rates in sheep.” rams in good condition with healthy Pingelly’s MLP Site Manager, Dr Bronwyn At Balmoral in the first year of the Add- semen optimises mating outcomes. For Clarke (Murdoch University) outlines the On, the sires joined to the MLP ewes were commercial growers these mating success different types of results including raw categorised as fail (6 sires out of 26), borderline indicators would be valuable if they data, adjusted sire means, breeding values (12 sires) or pass (8 sires). The average number were available for consideration in ram and indexes which are reported within of progeny per sire when joined at 2% purchasing decisions. the MLP reports. The 18-minute video is available on the AMSEA YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/vjNX9t0iOWU

ASBVs for MLP sires now searchable on MERINOSELECT

MLP sires are now searchable on Sheep Genetic’s MERINOSELECT database by selecting the MLP Sire Checkbox in the basic search filter. Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) are reported for the MLP sires and the ASBVs reported can be customised using the Customise ASBVs button. ASBVs enable comparison of a sire’s expected genetic performance relative to other sires in Australia. The MERINOSELECT database is available at https://search.sheepgenetics.org.au/ search/dashboard

Macquarie pre-joining sire inspections with Jill Kelly (opposite page) and Tim Gole (above), July 2020. PHOTOS: Kathryn Egerton-Warburton, NSW DPI 42 ON FARM

ADD-ON PROJECT

AWI Program Manager Genetics and Animal Welfare Advocacy, Geoff Lindon (second from right), Murdoch University researchers Andrew Thompson (fourth from left) and Sarah Blumer (fourth from right), with the Murdoch team and a sedated wether ready for the DEXA measurement. (The clipped patch on the wether’s side is for assessing changes in wool growth in different diets.) PHOTO: Bob Garnant, Countryman WA Can we find a better way to compare sheep performance? An AWI-funded study with Murdoch University aims to determine if it is possible to improve current estimates of profitability per hectare, by assessing feed intake and total body energy reserves rather than the current blunt use of metabolic body weight (DSE rating).

ince Merino sheep first touched care, both of which affect the number of understanding differences that exist SAustralian soil, breeders have been sheep that can be carried throughout the between F1 wether progeny from the MLP selecting for animals that produce more year and through variable seasons. sires used at the Pingelly site for animal wool, better wool and, in more recent times, The animals in the Merino Lifetime feed intake, weight loss under low feed more lambs and more meat. Past and present Productivity (MLP) project have presented availability, feed-use efficiency when gaining breeders have been successful at improving a perfect opportunity to start to build a weight and energy storage across a range of the Merino sheep we farm with today, and greater understanding of how selection nutritional regimes. Merino productivity per head continues strategies are impacting on the underlying to climb. needs of the animal and its efficiency Do animals of the same Despite these great advances, there are in creating wool and lamb outputs. liveweight differ in the still many things that we do not understand Data collected on the MLP animals has amount they eat? about the biology that underpins the provided a perfect platform to launch changes that we see on the surface. We could additional studies. In any trial trying to compare bloodlines, be excused for thinking that it does not An important project known whether wether trials, sire progeny tests really matter, that as long as the animals are as GEPEP – which stands for Genetic or on-farm comparisons, we have always getting more productive, it is not important Evaluation: Productivity, Efficiency and assumed that the intake of animals is directly as to how the animal is achieving the new Profitability – is being funded by AWI and linked to how much they weigh. That is, we level of performance. However, we do not conducted by a team of researchers at assume that the heavier animals are eating run Merino sheep as individuals and we do Murdoch University in Western Australia. more, and we make an adjustment to their not have unlimited feed resources on-farm, The project started in 2018 with significant profitability based on a lower predicted so it is important that we understand how experiments undertaken during 2019 stocking rate. genetic change is impacting on the inputs and 2020 using the animal house at the Unfortunately, this is a very blunt required. These inputs include nutritional Katanning Research Facility maintained by and inexact method as it assumes there are quantity and quality, and level of husbandry DPIRD. These trials have centred around no efficiency differences between sheep ON 43 FARM

Similar to feed intake, these differences stores about 36 MJ of energy whereas 1 kg of in whole body energy reserves between lean tissue only stores about 5 MJ of energy. sheep genotypes have not previously been considered when valuing the differences Understanding feed- between sires or bloodlines. use efficiency in These differences do seem to be Merino sheep significant when we study previous work Having animals that eat less to achieve the and the results from the MLP project same production has been an important aim clearly show that sire groups differ in their across many livestock breeding programs. condition score when run together. In order Considerable success has been achieved to fully understand these differences and in the intensive livestock industries like what it might mean for comparison of sire chicken and pork but very little is known groups, whole-body energy reserves have about how current selection strategies been repeatedly measured on the MLP in Merino sheep impact on feed-use wethers throughout the GEPEP project. efficiency and whether there are ways that The total energy reserves in the body improvements could be made. are a combination of the total amount of The GEPEP work has completed lean tissue (made up of muscle and organs) extensive measurement of feed-use and total amount of fat tissue. The energetic efficiency under a range of feeding scenarios value of fat and lean tissue is then used to which are currently being analysed to estimate the whole-body energy (measured learn more. in megajoules) of a sheep at a particular point in time. The differences in proportion What have we learnt? of fat and lean tissue can have an impact on The main experimental phase of the project whole-body energy because 1 kg of fat tissue

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3.4 Year 1 Year 2 3.2

3.0 DEXA image of a wether for the assessment of the carcass components of fat and lean tissue. 2.8

2.6 genotypes of the same weight. We have seen in the MLP trial that some sire groups end 2.4 up in considerably higher condition scores Average condition score condition Average under the same conditions suggesting 2.2 some fundamental differences between progeny groups. 2.0 To appropriately compare sheep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 genotypes, we need to understand the magnitude and importance of these Sire differences. This is one of the key parts of Figure 1. The average condition score of 3-year-old wether progeny from 15 different sires in year 1 (2016 the GEPEP project. Sire groups of wethers drop) and 15 sires in year 2 (2017 drop). The progeny from each drop had grazed together since birth and have been fed in individual pens throughout their condition score was measured at the start of the experiment at the end of summer/early autumn. the course of the GEPEP experiments so 2.8 that an accurate measure of feed intake can be calculated, and sire groups compared. Year 1 Year 2 Yes, genotypes do vary in feed intake 2.6 at the same liveweight. Do animals differ in 2.4 the way they store energy and how much 2.2 they store? 2.0 The GEPEP project team has measured differences between genotypes in the total 1.8

body energy store. The measurements were (kg) intake feed daily Average done using dual energy X-ray absorptiome- try (DEXA) and have also been assessed with 1.6 less intensive measurements in an attempt 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 to identify a suitable on-farm test. Sire These differences are likely to reflect in differences in the ability to farm the Figure 2. The average daily feed intake of 3-year-old wether progeny from 15 different sires in year 1 (2016 drop) and 15 sires in year 2 (2017 drop). The progeny were offered unlimited feed for 35-days in animals at high stocking rate or differences individual pens at the Katanning Research Facility. Clearly this difference between genotypes will have in the supplementary feeding needs. a big impact on a production system. 44 ON FARM

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was completed in 2020 and the project team is now busily combining and analysing the results. What has become clear throughout the project is the large variation that exists between sire groups for wool traits, carcase traits and energy stores or condition score. This was apparent even though the animals had been running in the same paddock since conception. Readers will be well versed in condition scores with Lifetime Ewe Wethers for the individual pen trial component of the project at the DPIRD WA Katanning Management guidelines suggesting Research Facility. Merino ewes should be around condition score 3 at key reproductive stages (see page). Clearly this difference between page 28). The LTEM course focuses on with new novel practical measurements genotypes will have a big impact on a the management tools to help producers to better predict profit per hectare. production system. meet these targets, however there was In time, the project aims to provide also a significant difference in the Where to next for ram breeders and buyers with a better condition score of different genotypes understanding of the feed input implications under identical management. The wether the project of selection for various production traits progeny groups from different sires varied All the results that have been generated through MERINOSELECT production as much as 0.7 condition score units in throughout this important project will indexes. It is a complex area and will take the GEPEP experiment (see Figure 1 on be analysed and combined. Then, prior further refinement to get the efficiency previous page). to the project concluding in 2024, the aim gains that intensive livestock have achieved; The feed intake results from the will be to generate a new method to turn however, that is the ultimate aim. work have also been fascinating. There $ per head assessments into $ per hectare are big differences between sire groups rather than continuing to use the current More information: in how much the sheep ate when given blunt liveweight adjustment used in Sarah Blumer, research officer at Murdoch unlimited opportunity (ad libitum feeding). genotype assessments. University, [email protected] Andrew Thompson, Professor at Murdoch The differences between sire groups The improved method will either use University, andrew.thompson@murdoch. were as much as 0.5kg per day or around the existing wool and meat production per edu.au 25% different (see Figure 2 on previous head data or combine existing data better 45ON 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

KEY POINTS BREECH COVER - Risk of breech strike increases with increasing breech cover

SHEEP FLYSTRIKE 50 50 To reduce the risk of flystrike on a property: 40 40 The site at Armidale had a high level of breech cover (80% were score • Select for lower breech 4 and higher) but a lesser risk of getting breech flystrike. 10% of the RISK FACTORS 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. 20 20 rom 2005 to 2014 the ‘Breeding for given any preventative chemical treatments, Aim for all sheep to be The site at Mount Barker had a low incidence of breech cover but a Breech Strike Resistance’ project nor for most years were they mulesed. (%) strike Breech F phenotypically score 2 or 10 10 similar risk of breech strike. Due to the low level of breech cover, most investigated the risk factors that increased The data from these flocks were used to lower for the important strike was caused by other factors (dags and wrinkle). the incidence of flystrike in Merinos at two 0 0 create new Australian Sheep Breeding Values traits for the property. (% animals) distribution Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 sites, a high summer rainfall high altitude for Breech Wrinkle, Cover and Dags, first Only unmulesed animals yBCOV site at Armidale NSW (CSIRO) and a winter • Once wrinkle, dags and released in late 2009. Progressively breeders urine stain are low, select Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 rainfall Mediterranean site at Mt Barker WA 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 phenotypically score 3 or HORNS - Risk of poll strike increases with horned rams The sheep in the project were provided 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. 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 70 1.40 20 were horned rams. The site at Armidale had a low incidence of dags, (60% score 1 and 30% 10 60 1.20 According to the AWI 2017 Husbandry Practices Survey, polled

score 2) but for sheep that did express dags (mostly in the odd year (%) strike of Poll Incidence Merinos now account for two thirds of the total Merino numbers. 50 1.00 when dags were higher than normal), the risk of breech strike was high. 0 1 2 3 4 5 50% of the score 3s, 80% of the score 4s and 140% of the score 5s got Polled Merinos are most popular in SA (90%) and WA (74%) and least Horn score 40 0.80 breech strike each year. A reasonable number of score 5s were struck True Poll Full Horn popular in Tasmania (43%) and Queensland (46%). Both NSW and several times per year. However, due to the low incidence of dags at the Victoria have 58% polls. 30 0.60 Source:52 AWI ONBreeding 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 Breech flystrike rate flystrike Breech The site at Mt Barker had a high incidence of dags in most years and a ASBV PERCENTILE TABLE FOR 2018 DROP ALL MERINO BREED SHEEP IN MERINOSELECT 10 0.20 similar risk of breech strike to the Armidale site across the dag scores

Frequency distribution (% animals) distribution Frequency from 1 to 5. The analysis proved that dags were a high risk factor for 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 TOP 1% 11 11 2.9 2.0 32 27 -3.2 -80 16 -1.2 -0.8 -0.4 167 182 187 Fibre Diameter fell from top 40% to bottom Indexing, low wrinkle superfine sires are difficult pDAG score 20%, Wrinkle improved from average 50% to to find and breed, but ram breeders are taking up TOP 5% 9 9 2.3 1.4 27 23 -2.5 -61 10 -1.0 -0.5 -0.3 155 166 170 Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 BREEDING NATURALLY 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 TOP 20% 7 6 1.4 0.8 21 17 -1.7 -38 5 -0.6 -0.3 -0.2 142 152 152 constant from the near top value to top 1%. sires are being used to reduce wrinkle, increase BREECH STRIKE RESISTANT MERINOS fleece weight, while attempting to minimise the TOP 50% 4 4 0.4 0.3 14 10 -1.0 -15 1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 131 137 137 This database search shows that breeding 70 1.40 increase in fibre diameter in superfine Merinos. TOP 70% 3 2 -0.2 -0.3 9 6 -0.5 0 -1 0.0 0.1 0.0 124 128 129 productive low wrinkle Merinos can be 60 1.20 animals have records for the breech traits, Cross-checking this AWT% range against the The site at Armidale had a low incidence of urine stain, (60% score 1 Breech Wrinkle 2 score and achieved using existing sires based on the Fine wool Non Mules breeders have long TOP 90% 0 -1 -0.9 -0.8 2reproduction 0 0.2 and 28adult fleece -5 weight. 0.4 Very 0.2MERINOSELECT 0.2 111 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, low wrinkle animals that are all score 1 and Table 4, shows a 5.6% AWT reflects rams in the strike was high. 45% of the score 3s, and 130% of the score 4s were YWT Yearling Body Weight, AWT Adult Body Weight, YEMD Yearling Eye Muscle Depth, YFAT Yearling Fat, YCFW Yearling Clean Fleece Weight, 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 Stain 2 score and less 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 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 30 0.60 Breech Wool Cover, LDAG Late Dags, FP+ Fibre Production Plus Index, MP+ Merino Production Plus Index, DP+ Dual Purpose Plus Index and can mostly provide closer supervision regions, remain the key barriers in moving to increasing fleece weight is difficult if you and less are the key targets (ASBVs) for wrinkle. This impacts on very low remained in the top 10% (+25), Fibre Diameter of their animals. Breeding naturally breech a Non Mulesed Merino enterprise. 20 0.40 The site at Mt Barker had a high incidence of dags in most years and a Breech flystrike rate flystrike Breech 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 strike resistant low wrinkle fine wool breeders need to enter sires in Sire Evaluation to -0.4), Wrinkle improved from the bottom large increases in fibre diameter. There are MORE INFORMATION 10 0.20 from 1 to 5. The analysis proved that dags were a high risk factor for have a breeding value of -0.3 or less, the to -0.1. Merinos will take some considerable time. Frequency distribution (% animals) distribution Frequency TARGETstrike AUSTRALIAN to low levels. The lower as a means to create Breech Wrinkle ASBVs for 15% to the top 1% (+0.3 to -1.1), Dags largely very few ultrafine and superfine animals in • MERINOSELECT Animal Search 0 0.00 breech strike (along with wrinkle). top 1% of animals are -0.4 or less. Much of the fine wool environment is low the score the lower the risk. their animals or they can provide neck wrinkleWithin the remainedMerino types, at breed medium average Merinos' 50% (-0.1) and the MERINOSELECT with wrinkle scores less 1 2 3 4 5 SHEEP BREEDING phenotypic wrinkle country; cold, wet, windy http://sgsearch.sheepgenetics.org. pURINE score The actualscores or ‘phenotypic’ as it is highly expression correlated of with breechaverage wrinkleMP Plus ASBV Index is -0.5, fell from fines the average top value but than zero so a similar process for Table 1 and 2 and wormy and ASBVs of -0.3 to -0.5 are au/?dataset=5 wrinkle is also dependent on a range of -0.2 and superfines average +0.1. was not possible for superfine Merino types. Source: AWI Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance Project, CSIRO Armidale 2005 to 2014 VALUESThis article looks at breeding wrinkle. remained in the top 5% (224 to 177). likely to be sufficient. In addition much of • Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance factors, such as nutrition as a foetus and Woolgrowers frequently ask can we breed the country suited to fine wool is also high for lower wrinkle, productivity The sire ASBVs required by a Merino This database search analysis shows 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 lamb, along with impacts such as cold a new type of Merino that has low scores dag country and wrinkle is only part of the and fleece weight. An article breeder to breed progeny that are wrinkle breeding productive low wrinkle naturally approach was undertaken. The upper fibre www.wool.com/flystrike-breeding wool-growing regions and properties in the conditions and worms. Even on a property, 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 score 2 or less varies due to variations in the breech strike resistant Merinos can be diameter limit was reduced progressively from • Stockmanship and Merino Visual degree tolooking which wrinkle, at dags worms and and dags wrinkle wrinkle is expressed in the lamb drop more also high in productivity (fleece value addressed in an article in the next edition of 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 actuallywill ‘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 the current availability of these type of strike each year. Most breech strike was caused by wrinkle and most Around 50%edition of Merinos of Beyond reside in ‘low the Bale.Some highare profile -0.8 to non -1.0, mulesed moderate ram wrinkle country large increase in Fibre Diameter and Adult strike started on the breech rather than the tail. (Note: after 10 years of dag’ country, where dags are not or very sires with MERINOSELECT data, will be 30 60 breeders -0.7have and low low fly riskwrinkle with country breeding around -0.3. Body Weight. 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 for wrinkle at -0.3, other non addressed in the June edition of 20 40 These are generalisations that need toBeyond be the Bale. Total No of Sires 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 Search Criteria mulesed ram breeders in high wrinkle The ASBVs of some of the leading low wrinkle Meeting Criteria Breech strike (%) strike Breech oolgrowers have many questions modified according to every woolgrower’s AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc DP+ Index 10 20 dag regions. The same applies to worms, if country need to average -0.8 to -1.0. The sires are listed in the bottom half of Table 1. The site at Mount Barker had a lower level of breech wrinkle (most were about breeding animals naturally own environment and their country’sMORE risk INFORMATION Open unrestricted search 2641 9.1 29.6 -1.2 -0.2 0.1 234 in low wormW country there is little need to top 10% of MERINOSELECT animals are • AWI BreechSire A isStrike in the RD&E top 1% Improving for fleece weight and 0 0 score 1 and 2) but a similar risk of breech strike across the wrinkle scores resistant to breech strike. factors for breech strike. Across a range Breech Wrinkle <= +0.2 1910 9.9 22.8 -0.9 -0.4 0.0 232 Frequency distribution (% animals) distribution Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 select for worm resistance. -0.8 or less. Lifetimetop Welfare 1% for Wrinkle. PowerPoint It is a young sire from a from 1 to 5 to the Armidale site. Dags and wrinkle were the main cause 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/strikepresram breeder in low dag country who is putting Breeding for lower dags and lower wrinkle The base haveyear forshown the threethat mulesing breech traits reduces 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 Merinos? large selection pressure on high fleece weight combined will take considerable time. 2000, the wrinklebase year by for around most 1.0other wrinkle traits score is and Breech Wrinkle <= -0.7 349 10.2 21.1 -0.4 -0.9 -0.1 212 • Sheepand Genetics low wrinkle. MERINOSELECT Progress is easier for medium • Why aren’t there more low wrinkle, high1990. Sincedags 2000 by the0.4 dagaverage score. wrinkle score Web Search http://sgsearch. Breech Wrinkle <= -1.0 112 9.7 18.8 -0.3 -1.1 -0.2 196 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 Table 2 was created by searching all sires • I cannot find high index, moderate body naturally low wrinkle, high fleece weight Leading Low Wrinkle Sire G 9.4 26.5 -0.4 -0.7 -0.2 218 with more than 15 current progeny, ranked weight, fine wool, low wrinkle rams? Merinos? 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 Merino Production Plus index order. There Clean Fleece Weight is higher at 29.6, Fibre Search Criteria It provides growers with information on top Meeting Criteria AWT % ACFW % YFD EBWR Sc LDAG Sc FP+ Index were 2,641 eligible sires in the unrestricted Diameter higher at -1.2, yet the Wrinkle ASBV sires that are involved in breeding the next 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. The upper limit search criteria for Breech Yearling FD <= -3.0 37 1.2 11.0 -3.5 0.5 -0.1 172 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

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) Search Criteria 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, Each is a 2-page article from PRODUCTIVE SIRES EASIER TO FIND fibre diameter and reproductive rate and Beyond the Bale. (June 2019) their implications for Merino breeding programs. Each is a 2-page summary article from Beyond the Bale. 46 ON FARM FeralscanTM celebrates 10 years of pest monitoring

FeralScan™ is a free resource that woolgrowers – plus other landholders, community groups and professional pest animal controllers – can use to record information about pest animal activity in their local area.

eralScan™ is a free community pest management programs Fmanagement resource from the Centre across the country. for Invasive Species Solutions. It includes “More than sections devoted to the key pest animals that 400 community and affect the businesses of woolgrowers: wild biosecurity groups now dogs, foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and deer. use the resource in a You can use FeralScan™ to map pest strategic way to monitor animal activity, document problems, upload pest animals, plan control, photos, and record control activities. By document their efforts and keeping yourself and your neighbours evaluate outcomes”. Launched on Australia Day, 2011, FeralScan™ Helen Lawson, sheep producer and marks its 10th year milestone with a major informed about pest animals in your local makeover and enhancements to its dashboard area, you are helping protect farms and their Hargraves-Hill End Landholder Group interface - check it out at www.feralscan.org.au. livestock, biodiversity and communities. Secretary in the Central Tablelands of NSW, Launched on Australia Day 2011, is a proud ally and FeralScan™ user. FeralScan™ has marked its tenth anniversary “We use FeralScan™ to monitor Award for its contribution to enhancing with a major upgrade, which will enhance wild dog activity. It automatically notifies environmental outcomes within Australia pest animal management programs landholders and the local community of through science and research innovation. across Australia. wild dog reports, which help us plan and Another FeralScan™ milestone was the undertake control measures,” Helen said. Peter West, FeralScan™ national 2017 national release of the RHDV1 K5 “The group has used FeralScan™ coordinator and invasive species specialist rabbit biocontrol agent when it became to record wild dog sightings, attacks on with NSW Department of Primary Australia’s first real-time rabbit biocontrol livestock and control activities across their Industries (DPI) said FeralScan™ has grown monitoring service. district to improve the effectiveness of from a simple citizen science project into FeralScan™ receives funding from AWI, management. It has become increasingly a popular, community-led monitoring and the Department of Agriculture, Water and useful as more people use the resource.” management program with more than a Environment and NSW DPI through the Centre quarter of a million pest animal records. FeralScan™ works through a user- for Invasive Species Solutions. “FeralScan™ contains data entered friendly website and phone app and Peter has travelled across Australia to by more than 25,000 people, making it the More information: largest community-driven pest animal consult with and support landholder and community groups to ensure they are FeralScan™ can be accessed at monitoring program in Australia,” Peter said. www.feralscan.org.au or the app can be “Continuous input from farmers and getting the full benefits of the resource. downloaded by searching for ‘FeralScan’ other users has delivered an important In 2016, FeralScan™ was recognised in Apple or GooglePlay stores. resource which informs pest animal with a national Banksia Foundation

Record pest animal 3. Control activities (eg baiting or trapping for wild dogs activity in Feralscan™ and foxes, rabbit warren ripping) 4. Disease in rabbit populations (such as RHDV). FeralScan™ is a free resource that has been designed by landholders and is very easy to use. Its sections include Benefits of using FeralScan™ WildDogScan, FoxScan, RabbitScan, FeralPigScan and 1. Develop a property or local area map of pest animal DeerScan in which you can record the activities of the key activity to guide control efforts pest animals that affect woolgrowers. 2. Work together with your neighbours to undertake What to record coordinated control 1. Sightings and evidence (eg wild dog footprints, rabbit 3. Notify your local community or landholder group about warrens) including photos from monitoring cameras pest animal activity 2. Attacks (ie livestock predation) and damage (eg soil 4. Send alerts to nominated people, such as neighbours erosion near rabbit warrens) or biosecurity authorities. ON 47 FARM HOGGONE® feral pig bait is a game changer

The number and range of feral pigs are likely to increase dramatically due to the recent wetter weather which has provided the pigs with plenty of feed and water. However, the launch of a highly effective and targeted new bait, HOGGONE®, will be a timely game changer in feral pig management.

A remote camera shot of feral pigs taking the HOGGONE® bait from the specially designed HOGGONE® bait box.

p to an estimated 24 million feral pigs “The new bait has an innovative and consultant Darren Marshall has run Uare spread across 45% of the Australian formulation of the active ingredient, sodium trials to test HOGGONE® in south west mainland and cost the agricultural industry nitrite, which is a very effective and targeted Queensland on multiple properties and in a more than $100 million each year by preying poison for pigs. Sodium nitrite is a common national park. on livestock and causing significant damage food preservative which is safely used in low “If you use as the label suggests, it to grazing and arable land. concentrations; people and most animals works very well. It is very humane and The wool and sheep industries are can tolerate modest amounts of sodium achieves really good knockdown with a lot directly affected, largely via predation nitrite, but pigs lack the protective enzyme of the dead pigs found close to the baiting of lambs, but also by damage to fences. that is present in other species. station,” said Mr Marshall, the General Furthermore, feral pigs wallow and foul up Manager - Commercial Programs at natural water sources, turn over vast areas of soil resource management organisation, “HOGGONE® is a key part of the solution when rooting for food, and facilitate the Southern Queensland Landscapes. spread of weeds. to the feral pig problem in Australia.” “We need to kill 75% of the feral pig Feral pigs also host serious diseases Dr Linton Staples population in an area to control them, and and, if the highly contagious African swine you can only do that through baiting or fever ever gets into Australia and feral pigs “HOGGONE® renders pigs unconscious aerial shooting. That’s why HOGGONE® prevent eradication, there is the risk that it before they die, typically within one to three is a really important additional tool in could indirectly affect the livestock trade of hours, without suffering. Thanks to the controlling feral pigs.” industries other than pork. fast-acting nature of HOGGONE®, carcasses HOGGONE® will overcome some are typically found within 200m of the bait shortcomings of the use of 1080 in baits Effective, humane point which provides visual confirmation for feral pigs. In comparison to the use of and environmentally of impact and easy carcass retrieval, 1080 at low doses in baits for wild dogs and conscious if required. foxes, 1080 has to be used at much higher “Additionally, the pig carcasses pose dose rates for feral pigs and therefore is After more than a decade in development, no risk to scavenging animals, and the a comparatively higher risk to non-target a new feral pig bait called HOGGONE®, HOGGONE® bait itself quickly and totally species such as birds. which was formally approved recently by degrades without trace so there is no risk The success of feral pig control relies Australian regulatory authorities, offers an to contamination of the environment and on a co-ordinated effort of all landholders effective, fast-acting, and humane solution to delicate ecosystems.” in a given area working co-operatively. target feral pigs. Baiting can be very effective and forms the HOGGONE® was developed by Animal Widely accessible and foundation of an effective control program, Control Technologies Australia (ACTA) proven successful when used as part of a coordinated effort through the former Invasive Animals CRC by landholders along with other control with collaboration from USA and New HOGGONE® is a Schedule 6 poison so land- methods such as shooting, trapping and Zealand scientists and support from MLA holders can buy and use it without specific fencing. This suite of feral pig control and AusIndustry. training or certification. It is deployed via a techniques can be incorporated with wild “The capacity of HOGGONE® to specially designed HOGGONE® bait box that dog and fox control techniques to form an cull large herds of feral pigs quickly and non-target animals cannot access. integrated pest management program. humanely has the potential to revolutionise Early adopters across Australia are landholders’ approach to management,” having excellent results on the landscapes More information: said vertebrate pest specialist and ACTA they manage and farm. www.animalcontrol.com.au/products/ Managing Director Dr Linton Staples. Toowoomba-based pest researcher hoggone 48 ON FARM

the State Government ($10 million) and the sheep industry ($5 million). It is another AWI equipment great example of what can be achieved when governments and industry work together.” South Australian Minister for Primary assists with Industries and Regional Development David Basham said that, having completed 26 kilometres for the first stage of the Dog Fence rebuild, this next stage of the project SA Dog Fence will focus on 115 kilometres of fence from the corner of Curnamona Station and Billeroo West Station through to the NSW border. rebuild “In the midst of a drought, the rebuild is raising the spirits of pastoralists Innovative machinery owned by AWI that was used to build whose sheep flocks have been severely impacted by the scourge of wild dogs,” said wild dog exclusion fencing in central Queensland is now Minister Basham. being used by contractors working on the rebuild of the Based on the Caterpillar 910K South Australian Dog Fence. articulated loader, the EFCU offers the capacity to drive posts and run wire with ease. The hydraulic flow capacity of the Caterpillar 910K gives this machine the he 115-kilometre second stage of the kangaroos, emus, feral camels, wild dogs, capacity to handle the heaviest loading, $25 million South Australian Dog Fence weather events and sand build-up. T driving and lifting tasks that building a wild rebuild began in November with cutting- Federal Minister for Agriculture, dog exclusion fence can impose. edge equipment brought in from interstate Drought and Emergency Management, The commercial grade hydraulic to help deliver the project. David Littleproud said the start of hammer can drive the largest steel strainer The AWI-funded exclusion fencing the rebuild of the second section was posts. Two metre plus line posts can be construction unit (EFCU) in Queensland has an important development at a time driven into the toughest soils with ease. The been used by woolgrowers in the Central when agriculture remains central to the Ezywire® spinner can be loaded with 3 x 250 West of Queensland. However, with about national economy. metre or 2 x 500 metre rolls of prefabricated three-quarters of the potential exclusion “The rebuild will reduce wild dog netting up to 1.8 metres wide. fencing now successfully completed management costs for pastoralists by up The EFCU can run out up to a there, demand for the unit has declined to $97 million and is estimated to increase kilometre of fencing already strained to the significantly and AWI has therefore been income from sheep sales by up to $69.7 correct pre-set tension before the spinner able to provide access to the EFCU for million over a 20-year period,” Minister has to be reloaded. All attachments feature replacement of the South Australian Littleproud said. Caterpillar’s ‘quick attach’ coupler and can be Dog Fence. “The rebuild of the Dog Fence is attached and detached without leaving the The Dog Fence protects South being jointly air-conditioned cab. Australia’s livestock industry by funded by the stopping wild dogs from migrating Commonwealth More information: into land used for sheep production. Government www.pir.sa.gov.au/dogfence However, more than two-thirds of ($10 million), the Dog Fence is more than 100 years old – it is ageing and brittle. Many sections have been degraded by

“Having a loader, hydraulic post driver and Ezy- Wire® spinner loaned through Australian Wool Innovation until 2024 is an example of industry working together for the benefit of South Australian pastoralists.” David Basham, SA Minister for Primary Industries

The second stage of the South Australian Dog Fence being rebuilt with the help the AWI-funded exclusion fencing construction unit. Note the old Dog Fence to the right of the new fence. ON 49 FARM

Traps bring well-being year after year

Producer Wayne Houston became proficient using AWI-funded traps with help from his local Wild Dog Controller.

AWI-funded trap kits have been a valuable train local landholders in the art of trap setting and management. long-term investment, with traps bought in Funding for the purchase of traps through AWI’s Community Wild Dog Control Initiative has currently had to be suspended due to 2015 still being used to capture wild dogs reduced overall AWI income. Woolgrowers will have the opportunity and foxes six years later. to address this issue at the upcoming WoolPoll in the spring of 2021.

rapping can be effective in helping combat wild dog and Tfox predation when used as part of a coordinated effort by landholders along with other control methods such as baiting, shooting, fencing and guardian animals. In 2015, the Mansfield-Broken River community wild dog control group in Victoria was one of the first groups to take advantage of the opportunity to use AWI funding available at the FLY OR LICE time to buy trap kits. The group, which initially comprised seven members, bought five trap kits in 2015, but an expansion of numbers, combined with confidence in its members’ ability to capture wild PROBLEMS? dogs, encouraged the group to purchase seven more trap kits in 2017. The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 Several free training days in the use and care of the traps were run by the AWI-funded Community Wild Dog Control Coordinators, Quality construction and options and DELWP Senior Wild Dog Controller (WDC) David Klippel went on-farm to help interested landholders improve their skills. One landholder who benefited from the initiative is the last Get the contractors choice person running sheep in Mountain Bay, Wayne Houston. Wayne received six soft-jawed Jakes traps, learned the basics by watching demonstrations at field days and training events, then honed his Featuring skills by working hands-on with David. • Incredible chemical economy “Dave has been great. He has showed me how and where to • Amazing ease 1500+ per hour set the traps, and what to use as lure,” Wayne said. “Having a trap in • Unique self adjusting sides the ground gives me peace of mind. At the first sign of trouble, I get my traps in and call the WDC. It’s good to know I can do something • Environmentally and user friendly before he gets here.” • Automatically activated Brendan Mahoney, from Merrijig, is another landholder who has become proficient in trapping since his group acquired its kits. • Proven effective on lice as well He has captured eight wild dogs, and has helped other landholders as fly to build their skills. • Compatible with all dip chemicals For Brendan, the benefits of trapping include always having a trap available, being able to target specific species, and the certainty • Accurate, effective application of knowing that a dog or fox has been captured. Other group members, Tom Forrest and Garry Breadon, find that traps are particularly worthwhile during lambing season. Tom captured one wild dog and eight foxes during spring. Traps are only useful if they are being used. If you have 1800 146 892 a trap that is sitting idly on the shelf, please consider sharing [email protected] it with a friend or neighbour. WDCs in Victoria are available to www.electrodip.com RM2171651 50 ON FARM

1080 is target specific Wild dog control to dogs and foxes Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is the major control tool used to manage the impacts of benefits native wild dogs and foxes on Australia’s livestock industry (and to protect threatened native fauna). It can be very effective when wildlife land managers use it as part of strategic, broadscale, coordinated control programs supported by other control methods Wild dog and fox control programs not only support the such as trapping, fencing, shooting and livelihoods and emotional wellbeing of livestock farmers, they guardian animals. also help conservation efforts for endangered native wildlife. 1080 is a naturally-occurring toxin found in more than 30 species of Australian native plants. It is an environmentally oolgrowers primarily undertake wild implicated in the rapid decline of some of responsible option for invasive species Wdog and fox control programs to Australia’s most iconic species including control because Australian fauna are highly minimise attacks on their flocks, thereby 14 native mammals, reptiles and birds tolerant to it. Wild dogs on the other hand improving the welfare of their animals and listed under the national Environment are highly susceptible to 1080. reducing the financial and emotional impact Protection and Biodiversity Conservation The target specificity of 1080 to wild on themselves and their families. However, Act 1999. dogs is further enhanced by using meat- control programs also have a positive These 14 threatened species include 10 based baits, placing baits carefully and environmental impact, reducing predation mammals: marsupial moles, smoky mouse, strategically, burying or hiding baits, tying on Australia’s native animal species. golden bandicoot, northern quoll, greater them to known locations, and regulating When it comes to food, wild dogs are bilby, long-footed potoroo, bridled nailtail minimum size of the baits used. State and not fussy diners, they prey on 229 native wallaby, Proserpine rock-wallaby, koala and territory regulations also manage the use animals including mammals, birds and northern hairy-nosed wombat; three birds: and availability of 1080 baits to lower the reptiles of all sizes from insects to water black-breasted button-quail, malleefowl and risks to non-target species. buffalo. However, they prefer to eat small southern cassowary; and marine turtles. 1080 is environmentally safe as it and medium-sized mammals when available, A four-year study by Australia’s biodegrades quickly and is broken-down including native mice, dunnarts, bandicoots leading koala conservation researchers into harmless compounds by and wallabies. identifies wild dogs as “by far the most microorganisms and bacteria when In addition to direct predation, wild significant threat to the species” at its study dogs carry hydatid worms (Echinococcus site in south-east Queensland. exposed to soil and water. granulosis), a zoonotic disease (transmittable Woolgrowers and other landholders More information: to humans) that has severe implications for undertaking wild dog and fox control native species, particularly macropods such programs are therefore rightly proud that www.pestsmart.org.au/toolkit-resource/ as the rare bridled nailtail wallaby thought they are not only protecting their flocks, but wild-dog-risks-to-threatened-wildlife to be extinct for most of the 20th century. are also helping native wildlife to survive www.wilddogplan.org.au/biodiversity- Wild dogs have been directly and thrive. welfare

Quoll sightings on the rise

Scientific evidence and leading generation cattle and sheep producer ecologists have long supported the view on the Northern Tablelands. He is that aerial baiting is good for quolls. A excited to find quolls returning to his 2008 study found that you are 100 times farm and hearing similar reports from more likely to find spotted-tailed quolls his neighbours. in areas with long-term aerial and “My family has been there since 1968 ground baiting for wild dogs and foxes. and we’ve never had quolls until now,” Baiting helps protect quolls by reducing he said. “I’ve even seen quolls on the predation from introduced predators Severn River and I spent a lot of time as such as wild dogs, foxes and cats, while a child roaming that river, fishing in the reducing competition for quolls’ food dark, and never once saw a quoll. sources, giving fledgling populations a “I’ve also heard Pindari Dam fighting chance to rebuild. campgrounds have recorded quoll In North-East NSW’s rugged terrain, sightings, it’s really exciting, and the where successful aerial baiting other day we had a laugh. A neighbour campaigns have been held for several of mine was having trouble with years, there are encouraging reports possums, he thought, turning on his from producers of quoll sightings radio in his caravan at night. I lent him – in some areas these are the first a camera trap and it turned out to be a for generations. family of quolls.” AWI’s wild dog coordinator for North More information: East NSW, Dave Worsley, is a second- www.wilddogplan.org.au/research A young spotted-tailed quoll. PHOTO: CraigRJD

ON 51 FARM

Free shearing shed blueprints

The shed design that was used at ‘Turkey Lane’ (and by many other woolgrowers across Australia) was developed in 2019 by AWI with the guidance of a shearing industry working group. The shearing shed design aims to improve the efficiency of workers and the flow of livestock – while optimising worker safety, Kangeroo Island animal welfare and the quality of wool preparation. The design was developed following bounces back extensive industry consultation with shearers, wool handlers, classers and woolgrowers, plus reviews of John Symons, daughter Hannah and granddaughter Celine in the new shed at Turkey Lane. existing working sheds. Multiple trials led to refinements and a final design. If anyone needed a reminder of just how resilient and optimistic people are within the wool industry, look no further than The internal fit-out, incorporating the stands and yards, has been ‘Turkey Lane’ on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. designed to have its own structural integrity so can be built within any suitable pre-existing shell. n just one year, the Merino operation that flock of 1,100 sheep or nearly a third of flock Iwas running 6,000 sheep on 530 hectares ewes were also nurtured back to health. The The blueprints of the shed’s design on the western side of the island has gone 96% conception rate last year proved what (technical drawings for a six-stand from being burnt out with devastating a great job the family did getting the flock shearing shed, plus the floor plan results to now having a new woolshed, new back on track. for working group member Hilton fencing and new optimism towards the Having been part of the Balmoral Barrett’s ‘Arrow Park’ shearing industry. Sire Evaluation for many years has been a shed, the first built from the Kangaroo Island is famous for its fine great way for the operation to gain feedback designs) and a video about the wool production and there is a good reason about its genetics. design process are available free for that. Merino wool is the highest value The biggest challenge now for the on the AWI website at per kilogram agricultural product that can closed flock is to build up numbers over www.wool.com/sheddesign. be grown on the island, a place that relies the next few years to full capacity again. heavily on the ferry with the mainland Lifetime Ewe Management skills (see page and therefore producing wool reduces the 28) that Hannah has acquired coupled with relatively high transport cost incurred. John’s lifetime experience makes for a In January last year, Kangaroo Island great combination. suffered a horrific bushfire that broke all Turkey Lane has recently carried the rules as it savaged the western side out its first shearing in the new woolshed of the island and destroyed 57,000 sheep. which went well. Turkey Lane Merinos lost almost half of all “We didn’t have a lot of time to its sheep including 100% of the ram team, a research new shed designs so we used the near complete wipeout of weaners and 60% AWI design (see right) and it’s working of nucleus flock pedigree ewes; the wool really well; it’s been a big improvement with shed burnt down as well as the homestead a lot of little things adding up to a shed that not to mention all fencing. works well,” Hannah explained. At the time John Symons said his Shearers and crutchers were hard to lifetime’s work had been destroyed and find and Turkey Lane used the AWI two- questioned whether he could in fact recover, stand shearing trailer for some crutching but the family operation has recovered prior to the new shed being completed. strongly over the following 12 months, “A lot of people have been able to use despite the pressures of a global pandemic. the trailer which has been a big help but John’s daughter Hannah says they hopefully people are slowly getting sheds were able to get through thanks to plenty of and infrastructure back now,” Hannah said. help and support of community, family and “We know the wool industry has friends. its ups and downs but we are really “We can’t change what happened, positive about the future. One of the many but we’ve picked ourselves up and we are things I like about growing wool is the now looking into the future with great ability to track progress so we do a lot of optimism,” she said. testing, weighing and benchmarking and With ram lambs surviving the fire, having this driving our flock forward is The first shearing in the new shed at they were intensively fed to use for mating really exciting.” ‘Turkey Lane’. and sold well in November. The hospital 52 ON FARM Mobile shearing delivered to your door

The shearing shed is as iconically Australian as a pair of thongs at Bondi Beach. And while there are plenty of sheds being built or renovated across the country, an alternative option for some woolgrowers might be to have their shearing done on a mobile shearing trailer. 3D Shearing that services NSW has a modern three-stand trailer with a portable enclosed wool-room stand mobile trailer. The business is run by “By hiring a modern mobile wool Jim Murray, who has more than 40 years harvesting facility like ours, you can be of experience in the wool industry, and his assured of a good night’s sleep knowing two sons Andrew and Nic. All three have that you have supplied a safe workplace for ool-growing properties come in all represented NSW at National finals for your team.” Wshapes and sizes. Some are tens of competition shearing. Jim says that the other major thousands of hectares, while others have just Not only do they supply a three-stand benefit of hiring a mobile set-up for those a small back paddock. Some woolgrowers woolgrowers who are considering building a trailer on which to shear, there is also a have thousands of sheep, while hobby new shed is the relative cost. portable blow-up shed that goes over the farmers have just a few. And some properties “Let’s say a new shed costs $350K, then trailer with plenty of extra room to contain have been in the family for generations, you need to insure it and maintain it for its the wool table, wool press and bales. Once while others have owners who are new working life and buy a press and run power it is unrolled, the blow-up shed is up in five to farming. and you may only use it 10 days a year. That minutes to a size of 14m x 12m. It can even But one thing that all wool-growing is a lot of money to tie up in an unproductive be set up in a machinery shed or hay shed, properties have in common is that their asset,” Jim said. rather than outside. sheep have to be shorn. Most properties have “They could hire our mobile facility for Jim says the design of shearing a perfectly good shearing shed for this – be it only $1K a day complete with wool press and facilities, whether in a shed or a mobile a hundred years old or brand new. 23KVA generator and avoid the insurance trailer, affects the efficiency of sheep work However, there are properties and maintenance costs. They can put their that have a shed needing renovation or as well as the health and wellbeing of both money into improving their property’s other rebuilding, while other properties sometimes people and sheep. assets such as water, fencing or genetics, and need extra capacity in their shed, and some “Our trailer has been specially have the money working for them instead. smaller properties simply don’t have a shed designed with a short drag system “Furthermore, there’s a lot for at all. An option for these woolgrowers that minimises the chance of injury to woolgrowers to consider when designing and might be mobile shearing. the shearer and the sheep whilst also constructing a new shearing shed, whereas There are several contractors across maximising productivity with reduced catch hiring a mobile service is easy.” the country that have mobile shearing times,” Jim said. Shearing World, owned and operated trailers that they can drive to a property for “I have been inside many sheds during by Darren and Deborah Smith, specialises the shearing. They range from simple one- the past 40 years and the facilities in many in the shearing of cross-bred rams. The stand trailers suitable for small properties or of the new ones are fantastic. But some company is based at Naracoorte in South for specialist ram shearing, through to large other sheds are getting very dated and no Australia and services the south east of the three-stand trailers that look more like a longer suitable as a modern workplace. Some state and the western district of Victoria shearing shed on wheels. are not set up to minimise injuries or make with their three shearing trailers. 3D Shearing is a contractor, based at the job of shearing as efficient as it could be. “We use the Peak Hill Industries Dripstone near Dubbo in NSW, which last Working conditions in these types of sheds ShearEzy unit which clamps the sheep and is year invested into a custom-made three- need to improve to attract shearers. able to roll the ram over into a cradle where ON 53 FARM

The Shearing World trailers are based in South Australia and incorporate the Peak Hill Industries ShearEzy upright posture shearing platforms.

the back legs are locked in leg restraints. “The shearing trailer is proving Because the ram is restrained and our extremely popular for its efficiency and own designed pattern of shearing allows flexibility. We do about 110-120 cross-bred us to shear the rams with big flat areas, rams a day, on average, and there are two of the quality of the job is second to none. us on the trailer working at any one time. We Furthermore, no sedative is required saving do stud rams, sale rams and flock rams and time and money and the rams are not off the last couple years we have been getting feed for too long. It’s a lot less stress for all a lot of work shearing big Dorset and white involved,” Darren said. Suffolk ewes as well. The ShearEzy unit is a result of AWI “We currently have three trailers to investment 15 years ago in the development keep up with demand and have ordered our of upright posture shearing platforms to fourth machine to help us with what we provide reduced physical effort and strain have booked up for next year. In 2020, we during shearing. shore more than 26,000 rams and 6,000 ewes “We designed the trailer to suit a lot so our trailers were very busy for six months of areas, be it out in the yards or inside a big of the year.” shed. But there is no shed required, it’s all self-sufficient. We just need a power outlet More information: and a race to be supplied on the property. 3D Shearing: www.3dshearing.com.au, The trailer folds out so there is plenty of 0427 460 007 room to move around and for the rams to Shearing World: www.ramshearing.com. hop off safely,” Darren said. au, 0488 508 837 54 ON FARM AWI-funded in-shed training 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.

‘Kellhaven’, Walbundrie, NSW Willalooka, SA Peel Feedlot, Mardella, WA (with the WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, Alannah MacTiernan, and trainer Kevin Gellatly – see opposite page)

‘Carramar’, Brewarrina, NSW ‘Innisfail’, Darraweit Guim, Vic ‘Cavan Station’, Yass, NSW

dequate numbers of highly skilled to professional shearers and novice to of the courses run recently across the Aprofessional staff to harvest and professional wool handlers. country. AWI thanks all the woolgrowers handle a high-quality Australian Due to the current shortage of and who provide their facilities and sheep, and wool clip in a timely manner are key demand for shearers, there is a concerted all the other organisations and individuals to the profitability of the Australian effort to run extra novice and improver that lend their time and resources to help wool industry. schools and workshops, funded by AWI run this training. AWI therefore funds hands-on and several state governments. practical training for shearers and wool Best practice in shearing sheds More information: handlers in the shed, aimed at increasing results in a high quality wool clip and the their productivity, skills development health and wellbeing of both professionals To arrange training in your state, and professionalism. Training covers a and sheep. phone AWI on 1800 SHEARS or email wide range of experience, from learner Pictured above are a small selection [email protected]. ON 55 FARM

Free harvesting videos feature top tips

A series of short training videos for shearers and wool handlers, to promote better techniques and improve clip preparation practices in the industry, is available free from AWI.

The AWI videos cover all aspects of wool harvesting and are a complete reference Kevin passing on his knowledge to a budding shearer at the WA College of Agriculture at Denmark in October last year. guide for shearers, wool handlers, woolgrowers, instructors and Shear students working in various areas of wool harvesting. brilliance Packed with tips, hints and practical advice, the videos include advice from Legendry shearer Kevin Gellatly was experienced shearers, wool handlers and wool classers. presented in January with the Australian The videos at are available to view at www.wool.com/ Wool Industry Medal, an award presented by training-resources and on a free USB that can be obtained Wool Industries Australia that “recognises by calling the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099. men and women who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the Australian wool industry”.

evin has worked in the wool industry for more than 50 years Kand has served as a shearer and wool handler trainer for nearly a quarter of a century, introducing hundreds of young people into the wool industry. He got his start in the industry when he attended his first shearer training course at the age of 17 with Burt Dwyer in 1965 at Perenjori in the northern agricultural region of WA – and he’s been shearing ever since. Kevin was inducted into the Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame in 2015. He has been passing on his vast experience and the tricks of the trade as a trainer for nearly 25 years. During this period Kevin has whittled down the most important qualities needed by young aspiring shearers to two simple traits: “a good work ethic and ears that work”. Kevin and his partner Amanda Davis, with the support of AWI, run shearer and wool handling training courses in WA throughout the year. These courses are for students of all levels, from complete novices through to professional shearers looking to fine tune their skills. “The funding of this training by AWI has been very beneficial in helping attract and train new workers into the industry, and improve the value and quality of the wool clip,” Kevin said. Now in his seventies, Kevin said that while shearing is a hard job and you need to be physically fit, it’s not youth and strength that will make a shearing career successful, it is longevity and keeping injury-free that is key to success. “This comes from actually learning a skill and doing it properly, so you’re not putting any weight on your back but putting more of the weight onto the sheep and footwork,” he said. “Techniques like knowing how to cradle the sheep with your feet and maneuvering them around so they are comfortable is very important for the animal’s welfare. If the sheep is comfortable then obviously the sheep will be calm, and the flow on effect is that you’ll be able to shear the sheep efficiently.” 56 ON FARM

With the support of AWI, the Hay Inc rural education Hands-on program in the Hay district of NSW continues to help rural training young people gain hands-on agricultural skills, training blossoms at Hay and experience. he Hay Inc rural education program Twas launched in 2014 in response to concerns about the decline in the traditional jackaroo/jillaroo system in the western Riverina district of NSW and the associated lack of stockmanship and other essential rural skills being handed down to the younger generation. “The initiative was first established in Hay to address the markedly reduced numbers of young people entering or staying in the agriculturally dependent community,” said program coordinator Sandra Ireson. “Through the Hay Inc program, young people are now being given the opportunity to learn the practical agricultural skills needed for them to get jobs on rural properties. It focuses on wool and livestock production and takes place in a practical setting in partnership with local woolgrowers. “The program is delivered by trainers who have many years of experience on extensive rural properties, covering topics based around the production calendar for sheep, wool production and cattle.” The Hay Inc program is a three- week course, in three blocks of five days’ training, usually spread over a nine- month period. However, the final block of the 2020 program was postponed from June until November due to precautions about COVID. The 2021 program kicked off last month, comprising 16 young people aged 18 to 25 years, with 11 of these young people

The 2020 Hay Inc participants learning sheep classing from AWI’s Stuart Hodgson at the Rollinson family’s ‘Goolgumbla’ property at Jerilderie in November 2020.

The 2020 Hay Inc participants and trainers at Michael Field’s ‘Wyvern Station’ The 2021 Hay Inc participants and trainers at the Gibson family’s ‘Croidon’ at Carathool in February last year, after receiving training in sheep handling property at Hay in February this year, focusing on on-farm workplace health and yard work. and safety and first aid. ON 57 FARM

being employed on working Merino sheep properties in the Hay district this year. Manual can help replicate “Once again the Hay Inc program is a very popular program not just for the Hay Inc success young people but for employers to enable their staff to gain skills and networks. A 20-page manual that shows how the Hay community came It’s great to have more jackaroos and together to establish the Hay Inc Rural Education Program was jillaroos in our district and they really enjoy the social networks our program developed and issued in 2019 by Sandra Ireson. It provides a creates,” said Hay Inc Chairperson, model that can be adapted and implemented in other rural Richard Cannon. communities across Australia. The first week of training included work health and safety, first aid, pre- Sandra, who farms near Booligal in the Riverina of western NSW with husband employment paperwork tips, and quad Matt and their children, was awarded the 2017 NSW-ACT AgriFutures Rural and motor bikes maintenance. It also Women’s Award, winning a $10,000 bursary which she used to set up Engage Ag, included two days of sheep handling and the project that has developed the adaptable model of the Hay Inc program. yard work and sheep animal health at the TA Field Estates’ ‘Wyvern’ property The Hay Inc program has delivered substantial benefits to the Hay region and at Carrathool. Sandra says the development of an adaptable model aims to bring similar positive The remaining two training benefits to other rural communities across Australia. blocks will include a variety of hands-on education in areas including working “In Hay NSW, we ‘built’ a school using the knowledge and experience of local dog training, wool harvesting and wool landholders and business folk who volunteered their time to teach young people shed management, fence construction how to be jackaroos and jillaroos,” Sandra said. “The Engage Ag manual shows how and maintenance, sheep nutrition and we did it; your rural community can do it too.” Merino sheep classing. The Engage Ag manual explains how to go about setting up a course similar to AWI has supported the Hay Inc Hay Inc, including the best ways to obtain volunteers, engage with agencies and program each year since its inception. seek funding. “Our funding in programs like this aims to help improve the engagement of young people interested in the More information: creating opportunities for a career wool industry, thereby developing and The manual is available on the in agriculture retaining the skills the wool industry Hay Inc website www.hayinc.com. needs to be innovative in response au (click the Engage Ag logo in the to new challenges,” said AWI CEO top-right of the home-page screen) Stuart McCullough. or contact Sandra Ireson directly at [email protected] or on 0439 938 119. More information www.hayinc.com.au The Engage Ag manual can help other rural Hear more about Hay Inc communities across Australia replicate the success of the Hay Inc rural education in Episode 122 of AWI’s program. The manual is available on the Hay 1 The Yarn podcast available at Inc website. Credit: Dylan Robinson/The Daily Telegraph www.wool.com/podcast 58 MARKET INTELLIGENCE Market Intelligence report Wool price recovery ool sales resumed the 2021 New WYear with good gains. Historically, 1600 January can be a notoriously difficult and 1550 unpredictable month for wool prices and 1500 high volumes on offer, so such a strong start to the calendar year, given the very difficult 1450 10 months prior, is encouraging. 1400 Since the start of 2021, superfine 1350 Merino wool finer than 18 micron has been 1300 the prime target of buyers and gains of 220 to 280ac have been made. Broader than 18 1250 micron have advanced 60 to 120ac. The large 1200 volumes on offer throughout January and 1150 , unfavourable forex rates failed to dampen the almost exclusively Chinese appetite for 1100 EMI AUC purchasing but perhaps those factors did 1050 conspire against the posting of even better 1000 advances? 950 Of most significance is improvement in the US dollar levels. An estimated 75% of 900 Australian wool purchases are transacted 850 from the USD conversion to AUD, hence EMI USC 800 the standard referral to USD prices as more indicative of demand and real values. 750 Since the start of this season, the 700 USD price can be described as escalating as 650 the AUD price climbed in comparison. In 600 USD, the EMI has gained 205usc or 26.5% to be at 978usc/clean kg after the first sale in 3/2/2020 3/4/2020 3/6/2020 3/8/2020 3/10/2020 3/12/2020 3/2/2021 February. The AUD EMI has also shown great improvement, but that appreciation is lesser in magnitude at 15.1% or 169ac to 1285ac/clean kg. % OF CLIP SPLIT BY MICRON

Merino microns 85.0% continue to dominate

uring the past decade, the 2019/20 75.0% Dseason has seen the lowest percentage of the clip being made up of the ‘crossbred’ microns. If we use the methodology of 65.0% drawing a watershed line through 23.5 micron and classify all the wools finer than that as Merino, we evidence a measurable 55.0%

decline – not growth – in broader wools , as a percentage of the shrinking clip. The 45.0% analysis of wool being tested has seen a dip in crossbred wool type qualities to just 17.9% of the clip. 35.0% Significant “talk” surrounding the breeding future of the wool industry has been focused on anecdotal moves away from 25.0% self-replacing Merino wool operations to a more dual purpose or full-on meat sheep 15.0% operation. Whilst failing to be realised at this stage, joining has just begun and sufficient

information has been received to suggest 5.0% a swing to a broader wool may indeed eventuate in the next 12 to 24 months. The 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 sire of choice this season, where possible, is trending towards a meat breed. <23.5µ >23.5µ Linear (>23.5µ) MARKET 59 INTELLIGENCE Market Intelligence report Move towards higher value finer microns continues he clear trend of the past decade within the TMerino micron wool sector has been the AUSTRALIAN MERINO MICRON CLIP TREND - IN GREASY TONNES continuation of the clip fining up. Bearing in mind the 20% loss of total wool production, the , ultrafine (finer than 16.5 micron) production has 140,000

moved from 1.9% to 6.6% of the clip while the 120,000 superfine sector (16.6 to 18.5 micron) shifted up to a 36.1% production share from the 19.9% level 100,000

of ten years prior. 80,000 The fine wool (18.6 to 20.5 micron) has remained incredibly tight in its Australian wool 60,000

production share range and currently sits at 40,000 42.2% of the quality spectrum, which is highly comparable to the 43.8% of the 2010/11 season. 20,000

The biggest production share loss 0 has been the medium/strong types (20.5 to 23.5 micron) which is now just 15.1% of 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 the Merino micron offering after being 16.5µ and finer 16.6µ to 18.5µ 18.6µ to 20.5µ 20.6µ to 23.5µ 34.3% of the entire Merino micron selection ten seasons ago. Seasonal conditions and recent breeding directions should see an improvement upcoming. Movements in average micron, yield and VM ith the drought breaking across much of Waffected wool-growing areas, the micron average of just 0.2 micron broader is totally unexpected. The seasonal break which occurred MOVEMENTS IN AVERAGE MICRON, YIELD AND VM with drought breaking rains February 2020 onwards has kept most wools on offer well nourished, but micron readings remain on the AUSTRALIAN CLIP AVERAGE MICRON DRY YIELD VM tender fine side. Anecdotally, woolgrowers and brokers are now reporting a ‘blowing’ 2010/11 21.5 64.9% 2.3% of microns while the wool auctions are also starting to see a much broader clip coming onto 2011/12 21.5 65.5% 2.5% the market, particularly since early December. It is anticipated that the next six months of data 2012/13 21.2 65.1% 2.2% will produce a broader mean fibre diameter and move towards the 21 micron mark. 2013/14 20.9 64.9% 2.0% A positive is the 3.4% improvement in clean weight which is a result of the dry 2014/15 21.0 64.9% 1.9% combing yield improvement. Yields are expected 2015/16 to continue to ‘average up’ during the season 21.0 64.4% 2.2% and a figure close to the pre-drought average of 2016/17 64.6% should be achievable. 21.0 65.1% 2.3% At the end January 2021, the VM 2017/18 21.0 64.6% 2.5% (vegetable matter) levels are still low at ‘drought averages’. Most of the VM produced 2018/19 20.5 63.1% 2.1% by good rain over the past six months is yet to fully dry off and drop and get into the 2019/20 20.5 62.2% 1.7% wool. This will change rapidly from wools tested February 2021 onward and VM levels 2020/21 (JUL-JAN) 20.7 64.5% 1.7% will begin to be problematical for buyers. An effect on processors may occur, but top makers are already showing a penchant for these types, so no real downside due to any processing concerns is expected, given the economic, political, and trading environment remains stable. 60 MARKET INTELLIGENCE Average monthly EMI comparison

he chart opposite provides a snapshot of AVERAGE MONTHLY EMI FOR NOVEMBER 2020 – JANUARY 2021 COMPARED WITH Thow the AWEX monthly Eastern Market PREVIOUS 5 YEARS NOVEMBER 2015 – OCTOBER 2020 Indicator (EMI) and a range of microns THE DECADE NOVEMBER 2005 – OCTOBER 2015 have performed for the past three months (November 2020 – January 2021) in Australian dollar terms compared with the previous five EMI $11.87 11 87 years November 2015 to October 2020 (circles) and the decade previous to that, November 2005 – October 2015 (squares). 17um $19.04 34 94 Although the coronavirus pandemic has continued to negatively impact the global 18um $16.18 19 90 economy during the past three-month period, there has been a definite improvement in the EMI compared to the previous 19um $14.13 13 88 three-month period. For the past three months, the monthly 20um $12.63 10 83 EMI averaged at $11.87 which is a $1.87 rise from the average for the previous three months, and is tracking at the 11th percentile 21um $11.98 9 78 against the previous five-year monthly EMI. This means that in the previous five years the 22um* monthly EMI has recorded a lower price than the current $11.87 (November 2020 – January 2021) for only 11% of the time. 23um* While the EMI is tracking at the 11th percentile over the previous five years, 24um* it is tracking at the 87th percentile when compared to the decade November 2005 – October 2015. This means the current EMI 25um* of $11.87 (November 2020 – January 2021) is higher now than it was for 87% that decade. 26um $7.67 4 63 18 micron averaged at a monthly value of $16.18 (19th percentile for the previous five years and 90th percentile for the decade 28um $5.14 2 33 before that), 21 micron averaged at $11.98 (9th percentile for the previous five years but 78th 30um $4.37 1 percentile for the decade before that), and 28 28 micron averaged at $5.14 (2nd percentile for the previous five years and 33rd percentile for 32um $3.63 11 28 the decade before that). For the past three months, Merino MC $7.86 78 Cardings averaged at $7.86, operating at the 4 4th percentile for the previous five years and 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 at the 78th percentile for the decade before that. *insufficient data

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 service, visit www.wool.com/sms where As well as the Weekly Price Reports • Forecast of bales sold – displays you will be asked to input your name and Monthly Market Intelligence Reports, previous season, current season, there is now 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 Promote your

business on The profile of your business on WoolQ can also include images and video to deliver a really WoolQ compelling story. On WoolQ, you can create a rich profile of your business that showcases the compelling provenance and attributes of your unique product to an active global audience.

onsumers are increasingly interested Cin the source and eco-credentials of the products they are buying (see page 8). Australian wool is a beautiful, premium and renewable fibre grown by sheep grazing free-range in natural landscapes, so it is perfectly positioned to satisfy this growing market trend. Wool buyers are looking in particular for growers that have rich and powerful provenance stories that they can use when marketing their brands. Buyers like the WoolQ industry directory because they don’t have to spend hours searching Google for different grower websites. They have instant access to sophisticated search functionality to find exactly the woolgrowers that suit the type of wool, region and quality scheme they are looking for. WoolQ is the place to showcase your provenance story because it’s the only place where you can instantly expand your opportunities and have an immediate connection to buyers. In your business profile, you can provide a rich description, logo, images and video to bring your wool- The Industry Network section on WoolQ contains a directory of woolgrowers, classers, brokers and growing brand to life and deliver a really buyers. By building a rich profile for your business on WoolQ, you can showcase your unique product compelling story. to a global audience. The WoolQ industry directory currently houses more than 700 business profiles of woolgrowers, classers, brokers to complete, so you can tailor it to what suits To really boost your profile, you can also and buyers. your business circumstances. include: However, a rich profile should include • A brand logo – it makes you distinct and How to create a business as much information as possible; this is professional. your chance to stand out and show the • A brand video – this will really bring your profile on WoolQ industry who you are. A rich business profile brand to life. To create a profile, you must register should include: You can add other members of your as a user of WoolQ at www.woolq.com. • A complete description section to ensure team – such as your business partner, farm Registering takes just 30 seconds to other WoolQ members can read about manager and classer – as users, so they can complete. your business and want to connect view/edit your business profile. Woolgrowers can then set up a profile with you if need be. Remember, buyers for their business by clicking the avatar in are increasingly interested in the eco- More information: the top-right of the screen and then selecting credentials and animal welfare aspects of For information about how to build a ‘Business Profile’. Classers, brokers and your business, as well as the specifications business profile, head to www.woolq. buyers are also able to set up a business and quality of the fibre itself. com/Industry-Directory where there is profile here. Although you can use WoolQ • High quality images that speak to your a simple-to-follow ‘Create a woolgrower on computer, tablet or smartphone device, prime business function and can tell business profile’ video. it is best to create a business profile using your story. Once you have registered with WoolQ, a desktop computer or laptop, and you will • As many contact details as you have – you can access other useful resources need an internet connection for the process. if other WoolQ users can connect with including PDF ‘cheat sheets’ that will help Then simply follow the prompts on you easily, it may open up new business you to set up a business profile. Simply your dashboard to complete each part of the ventures for you. click on ‘WoolQ Support’ in the menu bar profile. Some parts of the profile are optional and then click on ‘Education’. 62 READERS’ PHOTOS

Readers’

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

HAVING A TALK Toni Ward of Double Take Photographics took this photo at Candelo in south-eastern NSW, which she titled “Joe & Geoff, havin’ a talk about it”. We love the photo – thanks for tagging the photo #beyondthebale on Instagram, Toni (@toni_eye). A YOUNG FAN OF BEYOND THE BALE Three-year-old George Pratt from Archdale in Victoria loves reading about sheep and wool while he eats his breakfast! We hope you love seeing yourself in this edition, George!

STARTING THEM YOUNG HOT SUMMER NIGHT Two-year-old and sixth generation sheep farmer Gringegalgona Merinos (@gringegalgona) at Vasey in the Western District of Victoria tagged this beauty of Jack Guthrie of ‘Warrawidgee’ at Pittong in the a photo #beyondthebale on Instagram in January, with the caption: “It very quickly feels like summer again, Western District of Victoria keeping an eye on the with hot days, and smoky nights”. We hope you got some rain to clear the air! penning up and Merino shearing. READERS’ 63 PHOTOS

SHEARING GENERATIONS Linda Mauger from the South West of WA sent in this photo of her husband Ross and their children Danielle and Scott who have followed in their dad’s footsteps and become shearers. While Ross has semi-retired, Scott and Danielle shear in the same team around the Boyup Brook district.

THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME Michael Bauman of ‘Caemar’, 50km west of Stanthorpe in Queensland, took this great photo during mustering for shearing in April last year when there was plenty of green grass after two years of none.

THE LAST SHEARING OF 2020 The tail end of a mob of ewes and lambs coming in from the paddock for the final shearing of 2020 at a Macclesfield property grazed by Luke Fitzgerald of ‘Brookside Farms’ in the Bugle Ranges on the Adelaide Hills of South Australia.

ROUNDING UP THE RAMS LOVING THE FARM Six-year-old Peter Ohlmeyer on his pony Astro, helping to bring in the Merino rams at Waikerie The three children of Nicole and Adam Kelly of in the Riverland of South Australia. His mother Leanne says they work as a family wherever ‘Belar Glen’ at Linga in the Mallee of Victoria all love possible to round up their sheep up, using motor bikes, bicycles, utes and horses. the farm and the shearing shed. Here is 11-year-old Izabella having a go at shearing, she did some of the long blows and last side.