The Importance of Wool Handling

Why Proper Wool Preparation & Classing Matters

Wool is one of Australia’s most valuable natural fibres, and proper preparation is essential for maintaining a consistent quality, maximising returns and gaining market access. When wool is poorly prepared, contamination can occur, leading to a lower market value and reduced profits. By following best practices, woolgrowers can ensure that their wool remains clean, well-lotted, and appealing to buyers.

The Role of Moses & Son

Moses & Son offers expert guidance and premium wool-handling products to help farmers enhance wool quality, streamline processing, and increase profitability. Our expertise ensures wool is prepared in a way that maximises returns and meets market demands and requirements. A pre-shearing meeting with your wool rep will ensure that your clip is prepared for maximum market demand and your team is ready for a safe and efficient shearing.

What is Wool Handling and Why is it Important?

Definition of Wool Handling

Wool handling involves a series of processes that begins with shearing and continues through to sorting, testing, storage, and market preparation. Each stage is crucial in ensuring the wool maintains its quality and is presented to buyers in the best possible condition.
‍

How Wool Handling Affects Quality and Profitability

Wool that is well-prepared attracts higher prices at auction and is more appealing to buyers looking for specific quality standards. Certified wool provides greater transparency, increasing buyer confidence and making the product more marketable.

Step 1:  Planning & Preparation

The importance of quality assurance

Shearing time can be hectic, but a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring a smooth and efficient process. Taking the time to organise your wool classer and shearing team well before the first fleece hits the board will help maximise productivity and wool quality. Whether you're working with a paper-based system or using WoolClip, pre-setting your mobs and completing the National Wool Declaration (NWD) is essential. If you're part of a recognised integrity scheme like AWISS, make sure your wool classer has all the necessary information and tools to meet compliance requirements. The Moses & Son team are experts in WoolClip and the NWD—reach out if you need guidance to get everything in order before shearing begins.

Shearing plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of wool. Ensuring that wool remains uncontaminated begins with proper pre-shearing practices, such as crutching, which minimises the risk of urine stains. A well-prepared shearing shed & yards are equally important. The area should be kept free from chemicals and contaminants before shearing starts to prevent any unwanted substances from affecting the wool quality.
‍

‍Drafting and Preparing Sheep for Shearing‍

Drafting sheep based on wool type, health status, and shearing readiness, will help maintain fleece consistency. Moses & Son consultants can assist with sheep drafting, supplying professional handlers to support the process.‍

Ensuring sheep are empty before shearing makes the process smoother & safer for both the shearers and the animals. Avoid lambing during shearing reduces stress on ewes and lambs while also ensuring the wool remains clean. Additionally, maintaining good flystrike and lice control is essential for producing high-quality, uncontaminated wool. Moses & Son offers a range of animal health products to assist woolgrowers with effective flock management.

A safe working environment with adequate staff is essential. Growers must provide shearing supplies & maintain shearing plants to ensure they operate efficiently. Equipment such as Evo shearing plants, available at Moses & Son, can enhance shearing safety and effectiveness. Wool press hire is also available to assist with compliant bale weights.

Growers should expect their shearers to handle sheep with care, minimising stress while delivering a clean, efficient shear. Skilled shearers will keep the comb close to the skin, reducing variation in fleece length and maintaining wool quality. Well-trained shed staff should work efficiently to keep the board clear, maintain wool separation, and ensure fleece handling meets market standards. Clear communication with your shearing team about expectations, from animal welfare to clip preparation, will help maximise both efficiency and returns.

Step 2: Classing & Pressing Wool

Classing Wool for Market Value

Primary objectives:

• Prepare uniform & predictable lines of wool
• Ensure the product is free of contamination
• Present a correctly packaged product
• Correctly describe the contents of each bale
• Accurately document the entire clip
  

Classing to the AWEX Code of Practice ensures wool is prepared to a uniform standard and buyers can purchase with confidence. To maximise value, it is crucial to engage a certified wool classer at shearing to prepare the clip correctly. The Classers Specification must be signed by the grower or manager to confirm accuracy and certification.

The National Wool Declaration (NWD) form must also be completed correctly to ensure swift processing. Moses & Son can process wool within two days from sorting bales to testing, but delays can occur if information or signatures are missing. If you need assistance completing these documents, it is best to reach out before shearing to ensure everything is in place. Wool that lacks proper certification may be classified as D-Certified, meaning it does not meet AWEX standards, potentially reducing its market value. Certified and declared wool is more attractive to buyers at auction, as it provides transparency and quality assurance. Moses & Son is proud to maintain a low percentage of D-Certified bales at auction and continually works toward achieving zero.

Why pressing up is Crucial

Pressing wool immediately after shearing is essential for maintaining quality and ensuring the best possible market price. Wool that is left in bins unsorted for too long is at risk of contamination from dirt, pests, and environmental debris. Pressing all wool at the end of shearing ensures the shearing shed is ready for the next round, keeping operations efficient and organised. Each season presents different challenges in wool preparation, as factors such as vegetable matter, dust levels, and yield can vary significantly from year to year.

Wool Pressing Best Practices

Proper wool pressing ensures that bales are compact and easy to transport. Bales should be pressed to a standard weight of 185kg for efficiency, as overweight bales need to be adjusted and can slow down testing and processing. Keeping bales neatly packed with a flat top assists in storage and transportation. Moses & Son provides woolpacks, wool presses, and shearing solutions to ensure wool is optimally prepared for market
‍

Preparing Wool to sell at the Door

For growers selling wool at the door, fleeces should be properly skirted to remove stain & sweat fribs. Oddments should be stored separately in either new or old woolpacks to keep them organised. It is also crucial to keep different wool breeds separate to avoid cross-contamination. Merino wool should not be mixed with Crossbred wool, as this will reduce its worth.

Step 3: Wool Preparation for Market

When selling wool at the door, it is essential to use credited wool packs to store oddments or smaller lots. Using inappropriate packaging, such as grain or chaff bags, should be avoided, as these can introduce fibre contamination and compromise wool quality. To assist growers, Moses & Son may provide used wool packs for oddments sold at the door, ensuring wool remains well-preserved and meets handling standards.
‍

Step 4: Storing Wool Safely
Correct Storage Practices

Wool should be stored indoors in a dry, secure location to protect it from moisture and pests. For optimal preservation, wool is best pressed into bales or stored in butts, kept away from water sources and potential flooding. A shed with a concrete floor is an excellent option, though precautions should be taken to prevent damage from rodents. Properly secured wool bales using bale fasteners help maintain their integrity during storage and transport.

Step 5: Transporting Wool to Store:Preparing Wool for Transport

Before wool is transported, it should be securely packed and fastened. Bale weights should be between 120kg and 204kg, with each bale securely closed using nine bale fasteners. The length of the bale should not exceed 1.25 metres. Bales should be clearly labelled as per the AWEX Code of Practise.

Best Transport Methods

Moses & Son offers on-farm wool transportation services to help growers move their wool efficiently. When transporting wool independently, it is important to load the heaviest bales at the bottom and secure them with tie-downs. Informing the transport provider in advance about the number of bales ensures smooth logistics and efficient delivery.

Wool Handling Equipment and shearing supplies from Moses & Son

Comprehensive Range of Wool Handling Products

Moses & Son provides a variety of wool handling solutions, including shearing equipment, woolpacks, wool presses, and sorting tables. Their extensive product range helps woolgrowers streamline operations and maintain wool quality.

Why Choose Moses & Son?

Integrity is at the core of Moses & Son’s operations, with a strong commitment to achieving the best outcomes for wool growers. Their experienced warehouse team understands wool, knows the region, and works closely with growers to maximise market returns. By operating locally, they reduce freight costs, streamline handling, and broker wool directly—eliminating middle players and ensuring a transparent, grower-focused service. With a passion for the industry and a dedication to their clients, Moses & Son provides expert advice on shearing preparation and in-shed best practices. For guidance and support, growers & classers are encouraged to contact the team.