Preliminary results showed the result was against the introduction of a levy and that was unlikely to change when final votes were counted,
Wool Levy Group chairwoman Sandra Faulkner said yesterday.
Official results would be released at noon today but, as of yesterday, growers voted 43.2% to 56.8% against the levy, while the weighted vote from larger enterprises was against it 40.29% to 59.71%.
The levy would have been 2.75c per kg on the average 5.4kg produced per sheep per year, which equated to 14.85c per sheep, meaning the cost for a farmer with 2000 sheep would be $297 per annum.
There would be ''some disappointment'' the $700 million wool industry would continue without an independent, internationally recognised, non-commercial voice, Mrs Faulkner said.
''However, the significant involvement in the conversation around this proposal and ultimately, in the future of our wool industry, from grower through to end use retailers, researchers and educators, across all wool types, has certainly been encouraging.''
The results indicated there was greater appetite for levy-funded activities from smaller sheep farmers than larger enterprises.
The referendum followed extensive work by the Wool Levy Review Group, a pan-sector group established in 2012 to investigate collective grower investment.
It was formed after a remit to Beef and Lamb New Zealand's 2011 annual meeting directed an investigation into the effects of the discontinued levy.
A value proposition, brought to Beef and Lamb's annual meeting this year, was subsequently supported by farmers.
Beef and Lamb directors then supported a request from the group to use remaining Meat and Wool New Zealand wool levies to prepare a referendum proposal.
The Wool Levy Group was established to run the referendum.
Mrs Faulkner was delighted with voter turnout of about 47%, saying most commodity levy act votes struggled to get over 35%. Voting packs were sent to 12,201 sheep farmers.
Federated Farmers meat and fibre chairman Rick Powdrell was also disappointed with the result, but pleased with the voter turnout.
