The $9 per kg barrier was broken for the first time for a crossbred hogget fleece at the recent Melbourne wool auction by Kyeburn farmers James and Sharon Scott.
The Scotts sold a line of 30 micron hogget wool for $9.24kg — the top price of the day — closely followed by Charles, Pip and William Reid, of Traquair Station, near Outram, with a 24-bale line of 31 micron hogget wool reaching $8.55kg clean.
The Reid family were one of the first growers to support the New Zealand Merino Company’s venture into strong wool more than eight-plus years ago.
In a statement, NZM general manager of global supply Matt Hand said growers were finally being rewarded for their commitment and investment. It was NZM’s first ever certified crossbred offering at the Melbourne auction.
Crossbred hogget wool sold from $7.80kg while adult wool (34 to 36 micron) prices landed at $7.08 to $7.35.
NZM general manager of commercial Keith Ovens was not sure he had ever seen crossbred wool sell at those levels in his 48 years involved.
Mr Ovens said the entire New Zealand wool clip could benefit from the competition, "provided we proactively and collectively change the way the clip has been sold and traded for the last 100-plus years". — Allied Media
