Market 'lacking genuine demand'

The wool market finished 1.1 per cent lower last week and was not able to hold onto the previous week's gains.

Australian Wool Industries Secretariat's Peter Morgan said this confirmed that the recent rise in the market was more related to factors other than genuine demand.

"The overall market still remains above the level two weeks ago in both Australian and US currencies," he said.

Dr Morgan said of the 41,074 bales offered, 37,031 cleared to the trade.

Esperance sheep producer Joe Cummings offered and sold all of his 182 bales last week and was pleased with prices in the current circumstances.

"With the financial difficulties in Europe against the high Australian dollar, wool prices are holding up reasonably well," Mr Cummings said.

Mr Cummings and wife Mary run a mostly sheep and cattle enterprise which consists of 5000 breeding ewes, half as Merino replacements and the rest make up a cross-breeding program.

"We also run 2500 wethers," he said.

"Our 2500 self-replacing Merino flock is based on Derella Downs (horn) and Pyramid Poll bloodlines, while we are using Mt Ronan genetics to produce a first cross maternal line. I have noticed the Merino wool is free growing and longer stapled after changing over to Scott Pickering's Horn and Poll studs in the last six years.

"Our cross breeding program using Mt Ronan maternal genetics is producing a 41kg live-weight lamb in 18 weeks."

Mr Cummings said their Young River station consignment of wool sold last week in the Elders catalogue represented both lines of Merino and cross-bred sheep.

"While the Merino wool sold to a top of 761c/kg greasy, we swept the floor at 604c/kg including the cross-bred wool," he said.

"Over the lot we averaged $1141 a bale."

The Young River station consignment was worthy of winning the Elders clip of the sale for week F12.

Quairading wool grower Neil Edwards was pleased after his six-bale consignment of 17.6 micron sold for 783c/kg greasy.

Mr Edwards runs a 350 self-replacing Merino ewe flock using Collinsville bloodlines.

Wannamal woolgrowers Clayton and Nic Smith were awarded Viterra's clip of the week at the Western Wool Centre last week.

The brothers run a 60:40 mixed crop/sheep farm with their parents Max and Vicky.

Viterra spokesman Mark Goodall said the Smith family was recognised for excellent clip preparation for sale F12.

The Smiths run a 1700 self-replacing Merino ewe flock using Range View and Boorabbin bloodlines.

Their top-price consignment of 16.4 micron hogget fleece sold for 870c/kg greasy.

Clayton, 34, and Nic, 28, are enjoying sheep production and are keen to keep improving their wool quality.

"It was nice to receive an award for our efforts of producing an even line of wool," Clayton said.