Crossbred wool pulled from sale

Farmers unimpressed with the low market withdrew 14 per cent of the crossbred offering despite an improved bidding tone at the Christchurch wool sale last week.

Renewed activity from wider Asian markets provided slightly better prices from the last sale on April 20, particularly for longer lambs or early-shorn hogget wools.

Good colour fleece and second shear was more in demand, however poorer colour types received mixed demand. Crossbred fleece 31 to 34 microns, including hogget wools, was up 1-2 per cent and fleece 35 microns and stronger ranged from unchanged to 4 per cent dearer. Second shear wool was also either on par to 4 per cent dearer. Lambs’ wool rose 2-5 per cent with most interest reserved for longer combing wool and crossbred oddments were unchanged.

About 14 per cent of the 7500 bale offering was withdrawn by farmers unwilling to offer their wool at market levels and 25 per cent was passed after failing to reach reserve prices.

The merino market continued to reflect a surging Australia market and oddments and second shear wool was sought after. Sales included: Crossbred - Baltika Farm, Cheviot, romney, 4 bales, 39.2 microns, 75.0 yield, 293 cents greasy, 391 cents clean, Tenterden Downs, Hawarden, cross 2th, 13, 36.4, 84.2, 321, 381, Antrim Hills Partnership, Cheviot, m rom 2shr, 20, 34.1, 77.1, 293, 380, Mt Benger Ltd, Hurunui, cross 2th, 41, 34.4, 77.7, 292, 376, Ardbeg/Eastcott, Scargill, cross hog, 12, 33.5, 71.3, 268, 376, Mt Benger Ltd, Hurunui, cross, 28, 35.2, 75.2, 281, 374, Alexdale Farm, Hawarden, m cross, 36, 35.9, 72.7, 269, 370.

Halfbred and corriedale - J&C Mckenzie, Middlemarch, halfbred lms, 2, 25.4, 77.7, 741, 954.

Merino - J&C Mckenzie, Middlemarch, mer 2shr, 2, 16.7, 69.5, 1432, 2060, J&C Mckenzie, Middlemarch, mer es, 2, 17.6, 71.4, 2212, 1580.