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Wool bioharvesting demonstrations at Conargo on Friday

Sheep Central August 30, 2023

A uniform fleece coat left underneath the weakened staple zone on a sheep treated for chemical defleecing. Image – Phil Hynd.

EASTERN states wool growers will this week see the first public demonstrations of a potential bioharvesting option under development by Australian Wool Innovation with the University of Adelaide.

Biological harvesting talks and demonstrations will be held at the Falkiner Memorial Field Station at Conargo in New South Wales on Friday 1 September at 11am and 1pm.

AWI is funding research into biological defleecing using a natural protein found in corn that generates a weakened zone at the base of the wool fibre, but enables the fleece to stay on the sheep without a net until the wool can be removed. The research is led by University of Adelaide professor Phil Hynd.

The demonstrations will include the removal of wool from a treated sheep using an early harvesting prototype.

Speakers will include AWI chairman Jock Laurie and Professor Hynd on the implications and state of the bioharvesting research.

The Conargo days will also feature trade displays form sheep handling and shearing equipment supplies Proway, Stockpro, Perkinz, TePari and Haynes Engineering.

NSW wool grower and platform shearing developer Grant Burbidge will also demonstrate his system at the demonstration day.

AWI will also demonstrate the race sheep delivery system using Haynes Engineering units. AWI staff will also speak about shed design and shearer training. There will be shearer training demonstrations. The University of Melbourne will also demonstrate its muscle fatigue sensors for shearers designed to help reduce injury for shearers.

Participants at the demonstration day will also be able to talk to leading machinery and shed manufacturers on design and construction, and get the latest AWI information on shearing shed safety, shed design and shearer and wool handler training initiatives.

The Falkiner Memorial Field Station is located on Conargo Road, Conargo, New South Wales, 14km south of Conargo and 22km north of Deniliquin.

Related Sheep Central stories on wool bioharvesting include:

https://www.sheepcentral.com/wool-bioharvesting-vision-shared-but-crossbred-sheep-issues/

https://www.sheepcentral.com/sheep-defleecing-researchers-aim-at-on-farm-testing-in-2025/

https://www.sheepcentral.com/awi-predicts-biological-sheep-defleecing-clarity-in-18-months/

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Comments

  1. Chippa Gordon, August 30, 2023

    Great story Terry. Finally a bit of publicity and information on Friday’s events.
    This is a one-off event in the eastern states, so great to see all the other displays to make the day worth the long travel distances required by some.

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