The development and role of objective measurement in the marketing of Australian wool

Objective measurement has been an integral component of the Australian wool-selling system since the introduction of Sale-by-Sample and pre-sale testing in 1972. Today, virtually all wool is tested for yield, vegetable matter and mean fibre diameter; 72% of all combing wool is tested for staple length and staple strength; and 23% is measured for average yellowness. A commercial service for diameter variation was introduced in 1996. The remaining parameters likely to be specified are those which will improve the prediction of processing performance and/or provide a more complete objective specification of greasy wool prior to sale. Electronic access to information stored in the pre-sale test data base provides buyers with on-line up-to-date intelligence regarding will due for sale and has facilitated the development of electronic selling systems.