“The NSW Central Tablelands producers believe that there are compelling arguments for moving the sales from Yennora in Sydney to the NSW regional centre of Goulburn,” the statement reads.

“The costs of operating in Goulburn are much less than those in Sydney or Melbourne with rents being a major component of project saving to the wool industry.

“This would be a great example of a win-win scenario in decentralising the city-based wool show floor and sale rooms to a regional centre.

“The industry would gain from lower sale costs and the region’s economy would benefit from the financial activity generated by the wool sale centre.

“Goulburn is also readily accessible and central to all East Coast wool producers.”

The BMA is one of the oldest sheep producers group in NSW and its members collectively run 94,000 merino sheep, 18,000 crossbreds, 1200 feedlot sheep, 4500 cattle and manage 32,000 hectares of land.

AN early morning interview on ABC Radio with respected Wellington shearing contractor Hilton Barrett gave listeners an insight into the sheep and wool industry at present.

Hilton discussed the hold-ups that have occurred in a wet spring and he added that “our teams have 20,000 sheep ready to be shorn right now”.

He went on to talk about the increasing practice of six-monthly shearing and mentioned a figure of about 250,000 sheep that his teams are now shearing at six-monthly intervals.

Those who have been using this method know that the fertility and “do ability” of the animals are really noticeable and so is the financial bottom line.

To utilise these ideas we must firstly breed a certain type of sheep.

EVERY stock manager is now being extra cautious because of the threat of virulent footrot across many districts and states.

The regular store stock sales in Central NSW have been making use of the technology of Auctions Plus and flooded roads and access tracks have added to the problem.

For stock that are sold by electronic means and don’t leave their owner’s yards until freighted out, their new owners should be much more confident of the health status of their purchases.

Please be extra vigilant  when bringing in any new livestock.

DRIVERS of medium sized farm trucks are surprised when they are flagged down by staff at Roads and Maritime Services pop-up checking stations on main roads and highways.

A truck that has a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or more must stop when signalled or when lights are flashing on the pop-up caravan.

Trucks of this weight drive past permanent checking stations and it’s quite a surprise to get an authoritative wave from a staffer at a pop-up facility.

A BOUGHT-IN in mob of 38 heifers, average 14 months and ready to join were individually weighed last week.

Details are interesting as they came to our district on July 1 and have only been given an odd big square of aged wheaten hay (to help control bloat).

For the 96 days involved these heifers averaged 1.28kg per day on improved pasture that was MO-supered last autumn.

One of these heifers died of bloat, the mob averaged a bit over 350kg with the best in the 415kg. bracket.

Lots of young cattle are recording good weight gains in a top spring.

At 17, she asks: “Is he handsome?”

At 21, she asks: “Is he wealthy?”

At 30, she asks: “Where the devil is he?”

***

A REAL musician is someone who hears a pretty girl singing in the shower and puts his ear to the keyhole.

***

HE said: “I’ve been married 32 years today and still in love with the same beautiful lady.  If the missus ever finds out she’ll choke me slowly.”

THE wool market edged higher this week with all but the 21 and 22 microns gaining some ground.

The northern market indicator finished the week on 1341c/kg, up 8c/kg.

The northern market indicator seems to be sitting around 1300 to 1350c/kg and should remain around these levels as long as the Aussie dollar stays around its current levels.

Sales next week will see 33,091 bales offered nationwide