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NEW ZEALAND Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Paul Steel says a volatile New Zealand currency during the auctions and restricted interest from some markets saw prices ease for the combined North and South Island auctions.
Of the 22,600 bales on offer 80% sold with the balance retained in grower ownership.
The weighted indicator ended practically unchanged compared to the last sale on March 13, lifting 0.29%.
There were considerable variations between similar types in each centre, with the North Island market cheaper overall than South Island levels.
Steel advises that;
• Fine crossbred fleece and shears were firm to 4% easier.
• Coarse fleece and shears were firm to 2% cheaper in the South and 3 to 4% easier in the North.
• First Lambs were 1 to 3.5% cheaper with the North Island wools coming down the most.
• Coarse oddments ranged from firm to 4% cheaper.
There was limited competition with Australasia, China and United Kingdom principals supported by India, Western Europe and the Middle East.
The next sale on March 27 comprises about 9,600 bales from the South Island of which previously unsold grower owned wools makes up 25% of the selection.
While wool returns continue in the doldrums, smart sheep farmers are looking for alternatives for a product that currently cost more to get off a sheep's back than it's worth. One such initiative is run by husband and wife team Hayden and Anastasia Tristram who farm at Wanstead in the Central Hawke's Bay. Mark Daniel reports.
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