Wool...what will you do with yours...

[neilo]

I have thought long and hard on this subject. But as a small time grazier I'm not sure I can leave rubbed off wool hanging on someone else's stockfence.

If that’s your only concern, I’d suggest going to see someone who runs shedders.
The wool doesn’t come out in clumps that hang round, like a ewe that’s had a big dose of antibiotics, but gradually, in wispy bits that disappear quickly.

 

[yellowbelly]

Using your quoted figures, your 950kg of wool would have returned you £266 more if you’d sold to the privateers last year, rather than BW. That, in a year when the price is on the floor and BW’s cost can only be marginally reduced.

Would that £266 really make much difference to your life, given that everyone doing so would mean the end of the auction system for wool, and put us all into the hands of a few private buyers?
Those that chose to sell lambs deadweight get criticised on here, even though they receive that premium on every trailer load, not a whole year’s production.

Personally, I’m happy to stand that for the long term benefit that the auction system provides. £266 isn’t enough to make me get excited I’m afraid.

I agree we need the system. I have stood the £266 loss and have, as said above, sent it to WB this year.

As already stated, several pages back in this thread, I will await to see how they perform this year - you're all telling me what a good job they're doing - the only way we'll know is when they publish next year's price list.

 

[DutchShepherdess]

I sell most of my wool per coat and make sure there is no straw in it and it is sheared in one piece. White wool from yearlings goes for 20 euros per coat, from older animals for 15 euros. I also have some small brown furs that go for 5 euros each.
For bad wool that contains mealybugs, for example, I remove the affected parts and collect the good pieces; they go for 5 euros for a garbage bag full of white wool.

Next year I want to wash and ride that wool, then it will yield much more.

Because I shear myself, everything is profit.

 

[Fendt516profi]

Minus - f**k all?

 

[Highland Mule]

I sell most of my wool per coat and make sure there is no straw in it and it is sheared in one piece. White wool from yearlings goes for 20 euros per coat, from older animals for 15 euros. I also have some small brown furs that go for 5 euros each.
For bad wool that contains mealybugs, for example, I remove the affected parts and collect the good pieces; they go for 5 euros for a garbage bag full of white wool.

Next year I want to wash and ride that wool, then it will yield much more.

Because I shear myself, everything is profit.

Presumably you sell it yourself to hobbyists and the likes as no commercial operator would pay that much more than the world market price?

Bear in mind we are talking about time poor bulk producers here, who in the main don’t even have time to retail their meat, far less the byproducts of that process.

 

[DutchShepherdess]

Presumably you sell it yourself to hobbyists and the likes as no commercial operator would pay that much more than the world market price?

Bear in mind we are talking about time poor bulk producers here, who in the main don’t even have time to retail their meat, far less the byproducts of that process.

Yes, I sell to hobbyist. It does take time and a lot of people on the doorstep but the money makes it worthwhile. I could sell to buyers and complain about the prices of course. I am talking about 200 plus sheep, not to much, I am aware. When I work the bad wool next year it will even take me more time. But hey.. winter is low season for me so I will try it out for a year.

 

[Highland Mule]

Yes, I sell to hobbyist. It does take time and a lot of people on the doorstep but the money makes it worthwhile. I could sell to buyers and complain about the prices of course. I am talking about 200 plus sheep, not to much, I am aware. When I work the bad wool next year it will even take me more time. But hey.. winter is low season for me so I will try it out for a year.

You’re doing well to retail 200 fleeces !

Adding value is something we all need to do more of. I’m concentrating more on getting maximum meat sales, alongside a day job too, but perhaps wool will follow when I have enough time.

Roughly what rate per hour do you think it returns for you, based on your 200 x €15/20 ?

 

[DutchShepherdess]

You’re doing well to retail 200 fleeces !

Adding value is something we all need to do more of. I’m concentrating more on getting maximum meat sales, alongside a day job too, but perhaps wool will follow when I have enough time.

Roughly what rate per hour do you think it returns for you, based on your 200 x €15/20 ?

Hard to say. Posting adverts is done quickly, answering questions.. maybee 8 hours? Most time is in collecting the wool separtly, shear with care to keep them in one peace and people at the door. Can't put a figure to that since it is 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there.. and in between other things I do. And to me it is a sport, fun time, like posting here.

I don't do the meat sales, that is an easy one due to law here, not much value to gain with spending time on it. I do try to sell small build rams to private hobbyists but that isn't easy, when I succeed it gives me more profit than meatsale. It helps that Kerry Hills are gorgeous to see.

 

[Highland Mule]

Hard to say. Posting adverts is done quickly, answering questions.. maybee 8 hours? Most time is in collecting the wool separtly, shear with care to keep them in one peace and people at the door. Can't put a figure to that since it is 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there.. and in between other things I do. And to me it is a sport, fun time, like posting here.

I don't do the meat sales, that is an easy one due to law here, not much value to gain with spending time on it. I do try to sell small build rams to private hobbyists but that isn't easy, when I succeed it gives me more profit than meatsale. It helps that Kerry Hills are gorgeous to see.

Around €3,000 for 8 hours work - that’s inspirational!

 

[Pistonbroke]

Around €3,000 for 8 hours work - that’s inspirational!

More importantly,how soon can you start work at the wool board

 

[DutchShepherdess]

Around €3,000 for 8 hours work - that’s inspirational!

No.. the 8 hours is for answering questions ROFL In total it is much more since most people buy 1 fur, come over to collect it, want to be welcomed, talk a bit.. So the collecting bit takes roughly 10 minutes per fur.. or more. Best is if they buy more furs or come with other buyers at the same time.

And it goes well now, I did build a name.. but you never know how it will go next year. Well.. If I get stuck with the wool I can always sell it to the compagnies for shitty prices.

 

[DutchShepherdess]

What I hate is farmers who give the wool away for free to hobbyists.. that ruins what is left of the market

 

[neilo]

I agree we need the system. I have stood the £266 loss and have, as said above, sent it to WB this year.

As already stated, several pages back in this thread, I will await to see how they perform this year - you're all telling me what a good job they're doing - the only way we'll know is when they publish next year's price list.

I don’t think anyone has suggested they’re doing ‘a good job’ particularly, just the principle that making the Irish buy at auction must be better for future prices.

I’m not going to lose sleep over £266 tbh, which is only even that big as the BW operating costs are such a big proportion of last year’s sale price.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Today job is to make 60 sheets to the wool board collection centre, Iv done 30 and there was no-one to unload me so had to drag the bloody stuff the who length of the shed (I wish we hadn't tried to get 100kg in them now!), but I'm just glad to get rid of it because its always in the way and don't give a toss what its worth as long as I don't have to pay to get rid!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Wool dropped off at DB wools on Saturday….money for the full lot in the bank today

 

[quavers]

Wool dropped off at DB wools on Saturday….money for the full lot in the bank today

same here dropped off a week past monday at collection point , payed last week , £150 plus the vat for 1200kg , collection centre is 3 artic loads less than last year , people getting a bill is this not for last years wool ? and this years should be soled into a rising market ?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

same here dropped off a week past monday at collection point , payed last week , £150 plus the vat for 1200kg , collection centre is 3 artic loads less than last year , people getting a bill is this not for last years wool ? and this years should be soled into a rising market ?

Are you saying that this year you sold to DB wools and received 8p a kg?
Or this is what you received for last years clip from BW?
I don't believe anyone was sent a bill for last years wool (although perhaps some should!)
Sales of this seasons clip have only just begun and let us all hope it is a rising market.

 

[Greythundercloudys]

Yes, l got mine away last week, got a payment, but from last years wool.

 

[muleman]

Yes, l got mine away last week, got a payment, but from last years wool.

And have you had any thoughts as to how you will re-invest the money?

 

[neilo]

And have you had any thoughts as to how you will re-invest the money?

Half a mule gimmer maybe?