Australian Wool Innovation ‘doubles down’ on shearing training, options for wool harvesting and shed safety

Investment in the workforce is at hand after WA woolgrowers suffered a labour shortage thanks to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shearing industry did not escape the struggle. As an industry, shearing has remained consistent, with only minor changes during the past 50 years. Australian Wool Innovation aims to address the shearing industry’s labour shortage using various levers and by expanding the options available to growers. Shearing training Training has remained a focus throughout the country, and in WA there have been more than 1690 training events in the last two years. This includes a mix of schools in Boyup Brook, Badgingarra, Darkan, Esperance, Northam and the State’s agricultural colleges, and also in-shed training for learner shearers and woolhandlers to get them up to the pace. The focus has also grown to include increased tracking of retention and streamlining of application processes. By enhancing shearing and woolhandling skills and better retention of trainees, levy funding remains justified towards easing the pressure on the shearing industry through increased numbers of trained shed staff. Insights from the WA WoolTAG committee, chaired by Pastoral and Graziers Association of WA livestock committee chairman Chris Patmore, have had a huge impact in improving training in WA. Training schools now provide students with development in areas of financial management, leadership and teamwork, and animal welfare. The committee identified upcoming shortages in woolhandling staff that led to the development of schools exclusively for that skill set. Further programs to increase interest in shearing as a career are planned to be implemented in the coming year. Support for the shearing industry has picked up across Australia with the formation of the National Wool Harvesting and Training Advisory Group, that includes membership from the State Wool Training Advisory Groups (WoolTAGs) chaired by AgForce Queensland, Livestock SA, NSW Farmers, Victorian Farmers Federation and the PGA. Other key industry representatives include the Australian Wool Exchange, National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia, Shearing Contractors Association of Australia, WA Shearing Industry Association, and WoolProducers Australia. The first meeting of this group was held in April, and priority was placed on having shearing recognised on the Skilled Occupation List, allowing for more international visa options for overseas workers. Modular raceway design AWI chairman Jock Laurie said extensive work continued to tackle the challenges around shearing, including creation of a new raceway system. “Shearing is the No.1 issue facing many growers, and AWI is doubling down on efforts to tackle the problem,” he said. “The modular raceway delivery is just another tool in the box to alleviate current pressures. “It takes out one of shearing’s most physically demanding tasks — the catch and drag.” As sheep have got bigger, the modular system removes that additional stress on the shearer’s body. Mr Laurie said the AWI-led modular design involved working with six engineering companies to provide commercial units to growers around Australia. “Interested growers were either looking to retrofit or construct a new shed incorporating the system to reduce costs in upgrading, or replacing older infrastructure,” he said. AWI applied for and received a grant of $45,000 from the WA Government to further develop the system with a manufacturer in WA. With match-funding from AWI, this will bring the total investment to $90,000 this year. The funding is now being used to engage with RW Engineering and developments are under way to create the design and uptake of the modular system. Bio-harvesting update Biological defleecing, first developed by the CSIRO in the 1990s, is back in the spotlight as a method of harvesting wool without the use of a mechanical handpiece. Bioclip involved a single injection of epidermal growth factor that causes a break to occur in the wool fibres. The defleecing required a net to be placed over the sheep about one week after the injection. It worked, but there was little take-up by woolgrowers, mainly because it was a labour-intensive process. An AWI-funded project with the University of Adelaide has been investigating a new way of biological wool harvesting that enables the fleece to remain on the sheep, without the need for nets, until the wool is mechanically removed. A trial has already been undertaken in which the fleece did not fall off in the paddock under normal grazing conditions for up to 10 weeks after the treatment was administered. Work continues to determine whether the treatment works on cross-bred and composite sheep as well as Merino sheep. The new project will look at administering the treatment via an injection, rather than via feeding where there is the potential problem of “shy feeders” not receiving a sufficient dose, and differences in gut function between sheep. The weakening of the fibres is to such an extent that a removal device will break the fibre at the weak point and remove the fleece without the need for cutting equipment. AWI will seek proposals from engineers and researchers to develop mechanical automated solutions to harvest weakened wool. Compared with traditional shearing, biological harvesting will improve wool quality by eliminating skin pieces, second-cuts (thereby resulting in even fibre length) and creating slightly reduced fibre diameter at the tips. Health and safety issues around sharp handpieces would be eliminated, and animal handling injuries could be minimised through the use of upright platforms or conveyor belts. A showcase event of this new technology is planned for Katanning in late October. SafeSheds Working conditions in sheds have been a primary barrier to attracting and keeping new workers in the wool harvesting industry, according to a survey of shearing contractors across Australia undertaken by AWI and the WA Shearing Industry Association. Mr Laurie said with so many alternative career options available to young people in Australia, it was vital that the wool industry ensured working conditions in shearing sheds were as professional as possible to attract and retain wool harvesting staff. “Woolgrowers can play their part by, for instance, having their sheep properly curfewed and presented for shearing, provide safe working conditions for wool harvesting staff, and also provide a modern and professional work environment with amenities that we as woolgrowers would expect,” he said. “SafeSheds is a best-practice guide and checklists to help woolgrowers improve the safety and working conditions in their shearing sheds. “It is available as an 80-page booklet, while the checklists are also available in a handy digital, interactive format.” Published as a self-assessment guide and not a formal audit, SafeSheds has been used across the country by woolgrowers and their shearing contractors to help them assess the safety of their sheds, thereby enabling woolgrowers to create a program to rectify any safety hazards, improve working conditions, and comply with modern workplace standards. Launched in November 2020, SafeSheds was developed by AWI and WASIA, with the support of industry including WoolProducers Australia, PGA, WAFarmers and the Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia.