Who is the report targeted at?
Classing methods have been relatively unchanged since the early 1980s and the introduction of pre sale testing since then has tended to reinforce the general belief that visual assessment of fineness was accurate despite information suggesting that there was considerable variation associated with visual appraisal of mohair.

This report is targeted specifically at growers, brokers and the mohair marketing system and provides information on classing methods. It also discusses the definition of fibre quality and how premiums might be achieved for better clip preparation. As such the report will be of interest to classers, whether they be professional ‘free lance’ classers, broker classers or growers classing their own clip.

Background
By far the most important factor in determining the price of a line of mohair is the fibre diameter.

Since this factor varies greatly accurate differentiation is crucial to fair pricing, spinning capacity and aesthetic properties related to softness or resilience (depending on what is required). Traditionally fineness has been assessed visually by examining the size of the crimp, the width of the staples and the softness of handle of the fleece. Age has a big effect on fineness (and fibre diameter) and classers can use this factor to assist in determining the line in which to place a fleece. Unfortunately such visual assessment is inaccurate, particularly within age groups and despite accurate classing, age effects on fibre diameter remain and add to the overall variation on lines of mohair.

Innovation in the Australian mohair industry is undoubtedly in the hands of the brokers. Buyers may (but rarely do) ask for particular characteristics but brokers have to satisfy their clients. Nearly all Australian mohair is “pooled” or “interlotted”. Mohair from many growers is placed together on a set of standard descriptions which are absolute. For example mohair described as AYG has a staple length (A) of between 13 and 16cm, a fibre diameter (YG) of between 29.5 and 32 microns. It also has little or no kemp fibre present, has less than 1% vegetable matter and is not cotted or stained. The broker is responsible for assessing each grower’s AYG to ensure it fits this description. Fibre diameter is the most difficult to assess and since it governs the price of the line accurate assessment is essential.

Two quality assurance initiatives have been developed in South Africa. The Camdeboo project is a grower organised clip preparation QA scheme which uses branding to identify clips which meet strict preparation criteria and is backed by promotional visits to European manufacturers. Cape Mohair and Wool Ltd (the largest broker) operates an EGT (Every Goat Tested) system of classing and links it to the “Pure Cape” promotional campaign with contract prices of 1.5 to 2 times the commercial average.

Both systems attempt to gain a considerable premium for growers who do the right thing.

Aims/Objectives
This report examines the trial implementation of an EGT process in the Australian mohair industry, methods of improving line differentiation, and the marketing high quality fibre in the Australian market. Specific objectives were to produce and sell lines of ultra fine mohair using fleece measurement, to produce and sell a range of EGT lines with restricted fibre diameter range (and therefore lower coefficient of variation values), and determine the buyers’ attitude and response to the offering of superior quality mohair on the Australian market.

Methods used
EGT involves the testing of each fleece and the placement of the fleece into a sale line on the basis of the average fibre diameter falling between pre-determined values. The project was initially to cover 4 six monthly National Mohair Pool auction sales at which EGT lines were to be offered. An additional sale was eventually included to further test the introduction of grower line testing begun with the previous sale.

The initial concept was to use grower’s own fibre testing initiatives combined with the bagging of fleeces for line building in the NMP warehouse, based on grower’s test house results. These measurements where obtained from mid side samples taken either at shearing or two weeks before in a separate muster. Difficulty in maintaining sample and bag identity at shearing resulted in the adoption of whole fleece testing at the warehouse using a Sirolan® Fleecescan® machine and a Laserscan® instrument for later sales.

Lines were core tested and, where sale lines were of sufficient size, these were offered at the normal auction sales. EGT lines were compared to traditional sale lines and in addition, grower classed lines were cored and the results used to place this fibre into sale lines, thus providing a means for controlling variation which, on occasions resulted in sale lines falling outside specification and receiving a discount.

An attempt was made to gauge buyers’ attitudes to EGT lines and their general view on premium pricing of superior lines.

In addition a number of small experiments were carried out to examine the relationship between mid side tests and whole fleece tests, the repeatability of measurements in a small percentage of renegade fleeces which appeared to fall outside the normal visual class/fibre diameter relationship, the effect of removing stronger neck mohair at skirting and, the accuracy of visual classing compared to EGT classing at various ages.

Results/Key Findings
A preliminary study on classing and measurement data from the author’s Cudal Mohair Stud demonstrated that classing between age groups did not remove the age effect on fibre diameter and was a relatively ineffective at placing fleeces within the “correct” micron range especially at the second and third shearings. Some 60% of fleeces were placed incorrectly and some 28% were placed two or more categories away from the correct class (as defined by measured fibre diameter). Applying EGT classing to an initial group of 12 month old animals achieved a good separation in visual appearance and measured fibre diameter but the 2 sale lines were 0.9 and 2.2 microns broader than expected based on the mid side averages, and failed to meet the target specification. Despite this buyers offered a $2.30 and an $8.70 premium over traditional lines of similar micron but this was $4.00 and $1.30 under the price paid for lines with the target specification.

Over the course of the trial, two ultra fine lines were produced and sold. These measured 22.0 and 21.5 microns in fibre diameter and sold for $26.70 and $29.10 compared to the Fine Kid lines at the same sales which measured 23.9 and 23.4 microns and brought $25.20 and $29.50 respectively. This was generally disappointing and indicated a lack of a premium for the very fine fibre. This was attributed to poor competition for the type. Buyers pointed to the “tippy” and generally “fluffy” appearance to the fibre as reasons for a lack of a premium price. It was concluded that the lack of a premium and the cost of preparing such lines from the very small fleeces (0.42kg) made the production of this type of line uneconomic in the current market.

Over the 5 sales some 17 EGT lots were offered. These lots achieved an average CV value of 27.7% compared to 29.5% for matching traditional lines and all but one had a lower CV value. While not all lots received a premium the average price received was $19.62 compared to $17.80/kg. At least some of this premium was attributed to the traditional line failing to reach its specification for fibre diameter. This might actually prove the point that EGT classing produces a more predictable outcome.

It was concluded that while there was a benefit from EGT classing a true premium might only be received if the classing was connected with specific niche market promotion and that small volumes of such lines probably precluded efforts to sell such superior lines on the Australian market.

While 6 (0.4%) of fleece measurements appeared to be in gross error, some 28 of the 32 fleeces identified from the first 1400 as falling outside the normal class/fibre diameter relationship gave a retest value similar to the original suggesting testing is generally repeatable and that there is a small number of fleeces which actually do fall well outside the normal relationship. This has implications for visual selection.

Removal of “strong necks” is considered necessary for visual uniformity. While the strong necks in the experiment on 12 month old animals only averaged some 11% of the fleece and measured at most, 3.6 microns higher than the skirted fleece, their inclusion was calculated to increase the average diameter by only 0.56microns. There was a strong correlation (0.84) between the neck measurement and that of the skirted fleece.

Several small studies indicated that the mid side measurement was between 0.5 and 2microns finer than the whole skirted fleece. The effect is slightly larger at the fine end of the range and if mid side measurements are used to place fleeces in specific sale lines, conservative ranges are required. The use of Fleecescan® measurements on the whole fleeces do not suffer from this effect and core tests on lines produced by whole fleece measurement fell almost exactly between the specified ranges.

Considerable evidence was found to suggest that grower classed lines varied from the specified range.

Some 52% of lines were reassigned after testing. It is of interest that the errors were in both directions and largely cancelled each other (though no doubt increasing the CV). Nevertheless, a number of sale lines were identified from both brokers suggesting that failure to meet specification usually resulted in a price penalty so there is considerable justification for testing and reassigning grower classed mohair.

It remains to be seen if those lines having a high CV are poorly classed or have breeding and management reasons for high CV values.

Implications for relevant stakeholders
Mohair growers should recognise that age effects remain after classing into visual standard types and that it would be wise to separate lines from different age groups particularly for the first 4 shearings.

Visual variation between fleeces within age groups is likely to overstate micron differences so grower and classers should restrict lines to 1 or 2 or, only remove obviously finer and stronger fleeces to younger and older age groups. EGT classing has been shown to produce better classing outcomes and might well be used to produce lines which fall clearly into specified types.

Breeders, buyers and show judges might rely less on subtle differences in visual fineness and appreciate that there is a variation in the fineness/fibre diameter relationship within age groups, within flocks and certainly between flocks. Breeders might rely more on fibre testing but recognise that the mid side test probably underestimates the fleece fibre diameter by as much as 2 microns, especially in finer animals.

Brokers might well adopt the grower line testing and use these results to pool fibre for sale. This practice is likely to result in sale lines which more accurately meet specification and prevent the problems of discounting of lines testing above specification and the failure of buyers to pay premiums for lines described in terms above what the test indicates. Brokers might look further at the CV of grower lines to determine whether high values indicate poor classing and whether re-classing can assist the correct valuation of the grower’s lines. It may be determined that low CV figures indicate both superior classing and superior styled fibre and this might form the basis for offering “super” styled lines.

Buyers might well consider what price signals are sent to the industry when bidding on special lots, and while realising the commercial reality of the competitive market place, continue to support efforts to improve the presentation of Australian mohair.

Recommendations
1. Growers, breeders and judges should be made aware of the limitations of visual appraisal of fineness and the beneficial use of both mid side tests and whole fleece tests for breeding and mohair classing purposes.

2. Growers should be encouraged to separate classes on animal age. Within each age group, in-shed classing should be approached to either:

a) create a limited number of fleece classes (say 2), or
b) establish one class for the majority of fleeces and only remove obviously finer and broader fleeces to fleece lines from younger (and older) age groups.

3. Brokers should be encouraged to adopt the practice of core testing main grower fleece lines and the use of measurement to place these lines into sale types.

4. Further work be initiated to assess the value of the CV(D) measurement on grower classed lines to determine if high variation is due to visual differences and poor clip preparation, or is a function of breeding and management practice. CV might be useful in identifying superior quality mohair to be offered separately as “super” lines.