CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOL AUCTIONED AT DIFFERENT SELLING CENTERS

Data were obtained from the Australian Wool Corporation (AWC) on the w eight of all merino combing fleece wool with an average fibre diameter between 18.6 and 24.5 micron sold at auction centres over the period 1987 to 1992. Average fibre diameter, AWC style classification, and th e type of fault (unscourable colour, tenderness, seed/shive and burr) were summarised according to selling centre. The selling centres of Fr emantle, Sydney and Melbourne account for about 60% of wool sold in Au stralia. No centre stood out as clearly superior, or inferior, in all aspects studied. Most centres had a different combination of strengths and weaknesses.