Wool: breeding for product quality and processing performance

摘要

When breeders of fine/superfine sheep evaluate their breeding goals and consider factors that influence profitability of their woolgrower clients, they usually think in terms of the attributes of fleeces of sheep in a flock. Increasingly, more progressive breeders are also planning at the enterprise level. They are looking at ranking animals on the basis of superiority with respect to production or profitability per hectare. However, the question needs to be asked whether breeding goals based on animal, or indeed farm profitability, are the appropriate long-term goals for breeders of fine/superfine sheep. Ram breeders can now access highquality information on the factors influencing variation in prices paid for sale lots of wool at auction. Ideally, these reflect the value of wool in terms of the efficiency with which it is converted into products through the various stages of the processing pipeline and the quality of the products as determined by the preferences of the customers who purchase the top, yarn, fabric and garment. It is important, however, that this notion be tested, so that breeding goals can indeed reflect concepts of processing efficiency and customer preferences at all stages of the processing pipeline.