2. TOPICS
Wool welfare-improved surgery
What is Flystrike Flystrike prevention clips
Mulesing Progress so far
Mulesing and welfare How it affects us
End mulesing bibliography
Managing flystrike AWI
3. WOOL
Wool plays an major part in our lives it is a natural fibre which is grown from
sheep it is environmentally friendly and plays a big part in the Australian
economy, Australia is one of the leading wool producers in the world.
Innovations and new ways to increase wool production is essential for the
wool industry in Australia to continue producing wool.
Examples of wool use:
Clothing Piano hammers
Carpet felt
Insulation Fire fighters
Blankets uniforms
Horse rugs Lining for stereo
4. WHAT IS FLYSTRIKE
During the early 1900’s the Lucilia cuprina blowfly
was accidentally introduced to Australia, Flystrike
has been a serious health and welfare risk for
Australian sheep since.
The L. cuprina blowfly lays its eggs in the rear
end of sheep, once they have hatch into maggots
still hidden beneath the wool, they eat the sheep
alive. It is difficult to detect early, it causes severe
suffering to the animal, and can be rapidly fatal.
5. MULESING
during the 1930s, farmers were faced with flystrike rates of between
60 to 120 per cent. In order to control the problem a procedure
called mulesing was introduced. This method was successful.
Mulesing is when loose skin of the sheep is removed from the
breach or tail area. Mulesing is conducted when the animal is a
lamb, this way they recover quickly. The wound contracts to form a
smooth scar, this make it harder for blowfly eggs to hatch. Mulesing
decreased the flystrike rates from 60 to 120 per cent to1 to 3 per
cent.
6. MULESING AND WELFARE
Although mulesing was affective in did create a concern for the
welfare of the lambs.
Many groups of people complained and petitioned against mulesing
due to it is cruel. The Australian wool industry in response to welfare
concerns for lambs subjected to mulesing, has introduced laws and
programs to improve the welfare of the animals.
7. END MULESING
The wool industry has aimed to stop all mulesing practices by 2012
and strong progress to deal with animal welfare matters have been
made.
Australian Wool Innovation has created a thorough and committed
R&D program. This program is designed to get rid of the need for
mulesing over time, and also to guarantee humane care of sheep in
the short term.
8. MANAGING FLYSTRIKE AWI
AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY
The AWI has approached The longer-term aim is to
flystrike in sustainable and stop the need for mulesing to
human ways, it has a flystrike
prevention welfare R&D prevent flystrike:
program.
advances in non-invasive
The short term aim is to
provide methods to replace the management practices such
practice of traditional as crutching, jetting, fly
mulesing: trapping and nutrition
genetic research and
welfare-improved surgical
procedure with pain relief enhanced breeding for
flystrike resistance.
non surgical methods of
removing breech wrinkle, such
as flystrike prevention clips
and intradermal technology.
9. WELFARE-IMPROVED SURGERY
wound pain relief and antiseptic agents are now available to relieve
pain and protect against wound infection and they contains a strong
agent to stop bleeding.
The procedure takes a few seconds when done properly. Within 30
seconds the effect of eliminating pain and providing wound
anaesthesia is seen and it lasts for more than eight hours. Lambs
show little if any signs of distress in the hours after the procedure. It
significantly reduces the cortisol stress response.
This method is being used every where and it is increasing right around
the country. Further Research is continuing to improve the pain relief
options.
10. FLYSTRIKE PREVENTION CLIPS
prevention clips are the most developed of the non surgical
alternatives.
The flystrike prevention clips are put onto the loose folds of skin in
the breech and on the tail. The Clips merge the skin edges
together. During this process there is no open wound. After one
week roughly, a smooth scar is revealed when the clips are
removed.
The clips are successful to reduce flystrike in the breech and tail
area, but Clips are still not as affective at reducing flystrike as
mulesing is. It is predicted that clips will be used by farmers as
well as other management methods, this will reduce the
frequency of flystrike in flocks.
11. PROGRESS SO FAR
The AWI are continuing to research other methods to
combat flystrike in sheep. Many of their options to fight
flystrike have been adopted instead of the traditional
mulesing method and long term breeding programs have
been started.
The AWI making progress with better training, pain relief
products, clips and improved fly control chemicals.
12. HOW IT AFFECTS US
Wool is so important in our country even if we don’t rely on it as
much as we used to. Innovations in the wool industry is vital to keep
Australia competitive and high quality.
The Australian wool industry is faced with a huge problem Flystrike
but over the years we have developed many methods of tackling this
issue and while we haven got it 100% right we are still working to
find better human alternatives.
15. THE AUSTRALIAN WOOL
INDUSTRY
About the Wool Industry in Australia
Benefits of The Merino Wool
Back to Contents
16. ABOUT THE WOOL INDUSTRY
Australia is the world’s leading producer of wool,
producing around 24% of global wool. Australia is also
the world’s leading wool exporter, accounting for two-
thirds of the world’s wool exports.
Roughly 70 million sheep in Australia, produce about 345
million kilograms of wool, grown by approximately
55,000 woolgrowers spread across Australia who pay
levies and are committed to producing the finest and
highest quality wool.
Wool in Australia is produced in a variety of climates and
environmental conditions, ranging from the highlands of
Tasmania and New South Wales to the pastoral zones of
Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
17. 76% of the Australian sheep flock is Merino , with the remainder a variety of
crossbreds and other breeds. The Merino produces a finer wool than most other breeds,
with wool fibres ranging from 15-24 microns. The vast majority of Australian wool is
classified as fine apparel, which is suited to the manufacture of high-quality fashion
apparel. Australia supplies 90% of the wool used in this market globally.
Australian woolgrowers not
only work tirelessly to
produce the best quality
wool but also genuinely
care for the environment
and are committed to doing
what is best for their
animals and their land.
Click to go back to the Australian Wool
Industry
18. BENEFITS OF THE MERINO WOOL
The Australian Merino wool’s distinct properties make
it increasingly in demand as a global preference for
environmentally assured products:
Natural
The Merino wool is a completely natural fibre, the
Australian Merino has evolved over time to create the
most effective protection against all weather elements
known to man.
The Merino produces its fine wool in extensive
grassland terrain and lives an almost completely care
free existence. It is a naturally breathable fibre making
it a very efficient temperature regulator.
19. Biodegradable
Australian Merino fibre is made from protein, similar
to that found in human hair. Unlike most man-made
fibres, wool when disposed of, naturally decomposes
back into the earth in a matter of years. However, most
synthetics fibres are extremely slow to degrade and have
similar properties to plastic shopping bags.
Renewable
A new fleece is produced every year by the Merino sheep, therefore the merino fibre
is a completely renewable material.
Merino wool is not only high quality and in good supply but is an environmentally
friendly fibre that is durable and renewable making it an extremely efficient material.
Back to Contents
20. THE PROCESS
Technologies
Manufacturing
Marketing
Back to Contents
21. TECHNOLOGIES
Measurement and specification of raw wool
characteristics is an important component of
modern manufacturing processes. It is essential to
maintain product quality.
Wool metrology has provided technologies and
systems that objectively measure most of the
value or raw materials, determining the
characteristics of the wool. This in turn allows
wool processors to more accurately identify the
characteristics of the wool, which ensures that
when this wool is processed the product will have
the values required by the spinner.
22. Three new technologies have been developed that will change the
knitwear of wool, and how wool is manufactured.
The wool Handle meter predicts individual components of fabric handle so
that fabrics can be engineered and have the balance between softness,
smoothness and warm/cool feel.
The second technology, the Wool Comfort Meter, measures next to skin
comfort of fabric and garments, making sure garments are “fit for
purpose” and specific next to skin comfort levels are achieved.
Thirdly a technology that enables the manufacture of the brightest whites
and brightest pastel colours in wool fabric.
Click to go back to the Process
23. MANUFACTURING
The conversion of greasy wool to wool top is typically done via the
following mechanical processes:
1.Scouring - The washing of raw wool to remove impurities i.e. dirt,
grease and sweat salts (suint).
2.Carding – Removing vegetable matter by opening fibres into a thin
web.
3.Gilling – Aligning the wool fibres through a three stage process.
4.Combing – The wool is combed to remove any short fibres,
entanglements and any residual vegetable matter.
5.Finisher Gilling - Two final gilling steps to produce uniform sliver
known as wool top.
24. After the wool has been converted to wool top the
following processes are carried out to product
consumer quality products:
Spinning - The wool fibres are wound together to
form yarn.
Dyeing/Finishing - The wool is dyed, can be
done at any of the processing stages depending on
processors requirements.
Knitting - Yarn is knitted together to produce
garments or fabric
or
Weaving - Weaving is the process of fabric
formation in which warp and weft yarns are
interlaced using a weaving machine.
Making-Up - Individual components of a garment
are assembled and sewn together to produce
consumer satisfaction.
Click to go back to the Process
25. MARKETING
Wool has a significant income portion in sheep
operations. Wool was the first commodity to be traded
internationally, and is still important in all agricultural
economies today. There are certain characteristics that
determine the value of wool including fibre diameter,
crimp, yield, colour, purity, and staple length and
strength.
The marketing of wool can be put down to two methods:
- Commodity Marketing
- Direct Marketing
Regardless of the type of wool required all marketers
desire clean wool that is free from vegetable matter and
other contaminants.
26. Commodity Marketing:
Wool Pools
Most Australian wool farmers don’t have enough wool to directly market it to
warehouses or mills, so they use “wool pools”. Groups of producers combine their wool for
marketing, this is called a wool pool, which allows the wool to be classed and sold due
to type and quality more efficiently.
Wool Warehouses
Private or co-operative wool warehouses act as brokers for wool. The wool is sold at
sealed bids through regularly scheduled sales. Other associations offer a
number of marketing options such as cash, grade and yield, consignment, consignment premiums, and clean
price core test grade and yield.
Fibre Co-ops
Fibre co-ops are formed to try and increase the value ofthe producers’ wool. Some
co-ops form alliances with large international partners where as others are based
more locally.
27. Direct marketing of Wool:
Direct marketing of wool is where the product is marketed directly to the
consumer. The most common method of this is marketing whole fleeces
directly to hand spinners, weavers, and other wool craftsmen.
There are lots of different ways to add value to
wool and one of these ways is wool roving. Wool roving
is the technique used to hold the fibres together wool
that has been washed and combed into a clump is
then twisted to hold the fibres together. Rovings
can be used for spinning, felting, stuffing, padding and
various craft projects. The wool can also be
processed one step further and spun into a yarn.
Various finished products of wool can be
marketed directly to consumers or other
outlets such as garments, outerwear, rugs
bedding etc. For producers with low quality
wool, making wool into blankets provides a
way to add value and direct market product.
28. - Classing Wool for Marketing
Classing wool is where the wool is graded into groups of similar types of wool. It
can be done either on the farm, at wool pools or at warehouses.
This table shows some suggested categories for sorting and packaging wool:
Back to Contents
30. PRACTICES
Wool Production is a year round process that starts long before
shearing. Farmers wish to produce top quality wool, and simple
practices such as;
Using feeders, which keep hay and chaff off the sheep’s back.
Hay isn’t carried or thrown over sheep.
Grain isn’t poured over heads.
Sawdust / shavings aren’t used as bedding.
Burr producing plants are removed from pastures where sheep graze.
Approved soluble products should be used for paint branding and marketing.
Poly tarps, poly feed bags & poly twine are avoided because poly contamination
is the number one problem with wool.
These practises ensure that fleeces are left
uncontaminated, and animals with high
quality wool can protected with coats.
31. Shearing
Sheep are sheared as early as spring, and should be crutched
or sheared prior to lambing. Shearing is done on a clean dry
surface, such as plywood, old rugs or canvas, or concrete floors.
The fleece wool is packaged separately to the belly wool, top
knot and other tags of wool.
Skirting
Once the sheep has been sheared completely, the
fleece is thrown clean side down on to a wool table.
High quality fleeces need to be skirted, which is
where the undesirable parts of the fleece are
removed. These parts include tags, stained wool,
sweat locks, second cuttings and any other untidy
material.
Packaging
Once the wool is skirted, it needs to be packaged so it can be
sent off for marketing. Wool is packaged in regulation wool
bags, not in plastic grain bags. If it is packaged in plastic trash
bags, the tags need to be left open to allow moisture to escape.
Only paper twine should be used to tie fleeces.
Back to Australian Producers
32. ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP
Across Australia, there are 34 000 Australia farmers dedicated to producing the highest
quality wool. Australian wool growers actively work with nature, and continue to
improve the efficiency and care for the natural resources. They ensure that the
Australian wool industry is kept sustainable, ensuring a wool industry for future
generations.
Australian farmers are continually trying to keep their paddocks
and pastures free from contamination, and one of the ways they
do this is by disposing of dead animal bodies appropriately.
Methods include; incineration, disposing in sanitary landfills,
on-site burials, rendering or composting the animals.
Another aspect that needs to be considered and managed
on farms is manure. A manure management system
includes collection, storage and ultimate disposal or
utilization (used as fertilizers etc.) this helps keep land
clean, and left sustainable.
Back to Contents
33. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Australian Wool Innovation.(2012).The Wool Mark Company.
http://www.wool.com/index.html (accessed 25/9/12)
The Wool Mark Company.(2012). Wool Mark.
http://www.woolmark.com/ (accessed 3/10/12)
The Wool Mark Company.(2012). Merino.
http://www.merino.com/ (accessed 4/10/12)
Sheep 201.(2012). Wool Marketing.
http://www.sheep101.info/201/woolmarketing.html
(accessed 16/10/12)
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