Solid end to selling year

Wool prices bounced back last week with a 2.2 per cent lift, regaining some of the falls of the previous sale.

The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator closed up 21 cents/kg, to 1189c/kg clean.

It was a solid end to the year as the wool industry breaks for the next three weeks.

The Landmark Wool Weekly report said the EMI closed with a positive lead into 2012.

"It closed the previous year at 1030c/kg, and peaked in June at 1436c/kg, a 400c lift in six months to start off the year," Landmark said.

"The wool industry has averaged 1278c for the year 2011.

"Fremantle sales closed the year with gains of 20-30c for the 18-22 micron categories."

One producer to take advantage of the gains was Peter Glatz, who runs sheep with his wife, Sue, in Toodyay and Moore River, while his sons, Brett and Shaun, crop and run lambs and 150 cows on the family's property in Goomalling.

Mr Glatz sold 127 bales of Dohne wool last week with a top nine-bale line of 18.4-micron selling for 966c/kg.

The clip came from a flock of 3200 self-replacing ewes which average 20.5 micron and are based on Chirniminup bloodlines.

"We sold into a rising wool market at this time last year and it is good to see it has continued," Mr Glatz said.

The switch from Merino to Dohne took place seven years ago for the Glatz family.

"We wanted a more dual-purpose sheep," Mr Glatz said. "While we lost some wool cut with the Dohne breed, we have gained on the meat side with bigger-framed sheep and they are better doers."

Mr Glatz said it was important to have diversification now in farming to help spread the income.