JOHN Kingston, Wal Wal, would be smiling after fortuitous timing saw his wool clip sell to its best potential at Melbourne last Wednesday.
He was spotted at the wool stores last week waiting to see how his 80-bale clip sold, but at the time didn't know the market would begin to ease only an hour after his lots went under the hammer.
He had held the wool since shearing in March with the hope of higher prices this week.
"Prices weren't all that great in March, and it just worked out that we could truck it to Melbourne now," he said.
The 80 bales averaged 752 cents per kilogram clean.
Top price of 855c/kg was achieved for a 19.2-micron line with a yield of 71.9, strength of 36 Newtons per kilotex (Nkt) and 95 millimetre staple length.
Mr Kingston runs 2800 head of medium-fine wool Merinos just west of Stawell, although he was intending to boost numbers back to 3200 in the next year if a good season permitted.
Although broad-micron wool had become better value in recent years, his flock had maintained its fleece weight, but gone finer in micron through careful classing.
"The micron was also finer this year because of the season, but they're averaging about 6kg, including weaner fleeces," he said.
"With wool prices as they are, you can still make a bit of money off of that."
The flock run on Charinga and Banavie-bloodlines.
The Kingstons' wool broker Don Murphy, Landmark Stawell, was also at Brooklyn to catch the sale, and described the clip as "stylish wool".
"Under the circumstances I think we got the best prices of the week," Mr Murphy said.
"With pieces making 600c/kg, bellies making 535c/kg and crutches making 535c/kg, it adds up to not a bad price.
"Ultimately you'd like a bit more, but that's all they're giving us."
Dannika Bonser
Journalist for Stock & Land.
Journalist for Stock & Land.
