Wool Markers

Modern farming methods mean farmers need to be able to readily identify sheep for management purposes.

Fleece marking dyes are an increasingly popular way of doing this. Marks indicating drenching, tupping, or pregnancy status are common.

Marker dyes, however, can be costly contaminants of wool. Their presence damages the reputation of New Zealand wool with overseas mills and may result in lost sales that ultimately hurt the grower.

Marker contamination of wool can be costly in both money and tarnished reputations, as the experience of one large spinner shows.

Summit Wool Spinners purchased two 15 tonne deliveries from a New Zealand based exporter for use in a white, undyed yarn.

The yarn was to be felted and tufted into a plain white shade carpet aimed at the high value end of the US market.

Half of the yarn had already been dispatched to the US carpet manufacturer when blue marker contamination was discovered during the yarn felting stage. The remaining yarn was then manually checked, the contamination removed and the yarn re-spliced.

The manufacturer was advised of the problem and the repaired yarn air freighted to the US to meet delivery requirements.

The spinner incurred heavy costs in "cleaning up" the yarn and replacing the spoilt material. The manufacturer has also lodged a $90,000 claim for damages.

A can of sheep marker costs around $5.

If New Zealand wool is to retain its reputation for quality, marked wool must not leave the farm and find its way into the scouring process.

This technical brief looks at farm practices involving marking, and suggests ways in which farmers can minimise contamination.

WoolPro has made every effort to ensure that this information is correct but cannot be held liable for any damages as a result of its use. Duplication of this material is encouraged as long as WoolPro is acknowledged as the source.