South Africa’s wool buyers are urging farmers to take greater care when securing bales to prevent wool from bulging out between the flaps.
By Roelof Bezuidenhout
Bales that open and expose their contents after packing lose their Wool Testing Bureau SA (WTBSA) certification and must be retested – at significant cost to the producer.
Poorly secured bales are also allowing more contaminated wool to reach mills. This is often caused by bale hooks coming loose or too few hooks being used. At least nine hooks should be used per bale, and the flaps should overlap by 10cm to 15cm. No wool should be visible on the outside of a properly sealed bale.
Wool protruding from a bale poses a serious contamination risk and undermines the accuracy of WTBSA certification data. If wool falls out, the objective measurement results for that bale are no longer valid.
Bales that are open or damaged are marked as non-compliant at the depot and must be recompressed before they can be loaded into containers for export, adding delays and extra costs.
Keep Wool Clean from Shearing to Shipment
Farmers are encouraged to maintain strict hygiene standards throughout the process – from shearing and baling to loading and transport.
Foreign objects such as plastic bags can easily contaminate wool bales, and hair from non-wool breeds like Dorpers can significantly reduce the value of a clip. These animals should always be kept separate from wool sheep such as Merinos.
Good management and attention to detail are essential to protect wool quality and ensure it reaches the broker’s warehouse in the best possible condition.
 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
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