Matilda Brand

Utilising Sheepcovers to grow more Dollars

Wool under the covers growing for 12 months is not only tipless, but clean and ......Very soft.

Vm. from our wool clip usually drops from 2/5% down to 0.2 and 0.04% for covered wool.

(comparing to our own wool clip overs years) You should be able increase your wool cheque substantially to the  wool you have sold in the past. You can see this companies wool statement here

Yield 72% uncovered to 76% covered.

At auction, your clip will stand out amongst all others. Your wool broker will also draw attention to your clip for these reasons....Micron, VM. Length,colour, softness.

Classing

Remove the necks and rear end and put these into your second quality...

Class for absolute even length, and micron. See below...

Frequently Asked Questions about covers.

Why not print this out and read later ?

Question 1. what are they made of?

.....They are made from Nylon fabric that breathes and  prevents dirt ,dust ,contamination entering the wool.

This applies to general  conditions.

Varying  extreme UV light in various parts of Australia may weaken the fabric also. Rangemaster model will last many years

Question 2. Will they keep my stock warm.

..... Yes in wet windy conditions, after shearing, you can turn your stock out in any weather.

Question 3. Are they too hot in summer.

......No they actually reflect much heat and they pump air thu when walking. The CSIRO in 1973 after designing Patenting, and testing, by covering many thousands at various sites in NSW released a report that found....Sheep wearing covers were cooler in summer warmer in winter grazed longer and were in better condition than the sheep on land nearby, with no covers. Lambing rates were also higher.  Wool grew 1/2" to 3/4" longer.

Question 4. Will I get more money for my wool?

.......Yes in 1997 this company sold 5 bales of covered wool and 5 bales uncovered.  All wool was 16.2 micron and from the same sheep. The difference was in yield  from 72.5 TO 75.4 and VM. 1.2  to 0.4.The price difference $10 to $15 being 55%increase in price. Many of our customers say they have increased more than double.  This test was only a small bale sale and would have been a larger price difference, if more wool was in the lot. The wool is more soft and has little tip damage. Buyers are realizing that covered wool makes a better product.  It has taken several years for wool buyers to use the covered wool and pay more.

Question 5. Do I have to take the covers off for crutching.

.........No the leg loop is lifted up to take the hand piece under and the tail end is already exposed. It is not a problem at all.

Question 6. Do flies lay maggots under the cover.

.........This company is also a wool producer and we have never had fly strike under the cover or near.

Question 7. My father and his father, never had them... why should I .

......... Yes this is a very common statement especially at field days. But if you are like most wool producers who complain about lousy prices for wool, well you will have to update to new ideas.

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