According to the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), the increases in wool prices over the past few years, have continued to make wool a valuable commodity.
“Taking the time to seek out and buy better-woolled sheep will pay in the long-run as the wool from these ewes and their offspring will earn more in years to come,” the board advised.
“They are also likely to be better at coping with inclement weather and withstand all that the British environment can throw at them,” Gareth Jones, communications manager at BWMB added.
“Additionally, farmers wanting to earn the most from their wool should avoid buying bloom dipped sheep, says BWMB’s COO Mark Powell stated.
“Tinted wool resulting from bloom dipping is worth significantly less than non bloom dipped wool,” the British wool association said.
Based on the current wool price, tinted wool is again worth on average 75 pence per fleece compared with non bloom dipped wool at £3.05 per fleece, a significant difference of £2.30 a sheep.”
“There is a long-standing tradition of bloom dipping sheep to make them more attractive to buyers at auction marts,” Powell explained.
“But the buyers are risking losing out on a significant amount of money by buying these bloom dipped sheep as the wool will be worth a lower value once it’s been bloom dipped,” he too added.
Last year the BWMB began recognising the good work being done by wool producers in awarding certificates to those presenting their wool in an excellent manner.
In 2014, approximately 500 ‘Excellent Clip Presentation’ certificates were presented to registered producers. (AR)