'Use registered classer wool products' – AWTA

01 May '09

5 min read

The sentiments of Mr Blanch have been echoed by Stuart Clayton of Modiano Australia Pty Ltd. “Over the past 5 years the general standard of clip preparation has slowly declined and wool prepared by nonregistered classers and poor advice to growers has greatly contributed to this. At the same time our customers are demanding better quality tops, so there is no room to jeopardise a 20 or 50 tonne delivery by using poorly prepared wool. It is for this reason that 'D' Certificate wool is heavily discounted and only used for inferior types or in some cases, left out altogether”, said Mr Clayton Josh Lamb of Techwool says, “Over 95% of our clients request 'P' classed wools for their orders as a first preference. These wools give our client mills and Techwool confidence in preparation and standards that 'D' Certificates do not. As a result 'D' Certificates more often than not do not receive the full support of the market.”

“Wool quantities are declining. The buyers of Australian wool are keen to see as much well prepared wool as possible available for their deliveries”, Mr Blanch said. “It seems a waste to see (what appears to be) quality wool not receiving the full support of the market. Buyers in general would like to see a large percentage of the wool that is currently certified as a “D” lifted back into the “P” but this can only occur with the use Registered Classers who are trained to prepare wool to industry agreed standards”, urged Mr Blanch.

AWEX data has identified an average discount of 47 cents per kg clean on “D” Certificate wool as compared to “P” Certified wools of a similar type and much more for finer microns. This equates to approximately $57 per bale. “If this discount is due to poor preparation, then such discounts can be justified”, Mr Blanch said. “But growers, who through a lack of information or the misguided impression that they are saving money by not using a Registered Classer are the real losers”.

“I would really encourage growers to think about the strong message they should be sending to the users of Australian wool”, Mr Blanch said. “That they have a quality product that is backed by solid and accepted industry standards and professionally trained, registered classers. Yes, things are tough, but why make it tougher for your bottom line?” he said.

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