NWGA Prestige Awards Honors to Regional Shearing Sheds
The NWGA Prestige Awards honors to regional shearing sheds for achieving outstanding results in developing their sheep project for an increased wool income was recently staged. During the meeting an overall winner was elected as the Best Communal Shearing shed. These awards were handed over at the National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) Annual General Meeting early June.
NWGA Winners
Lumanyano Woolgrowers situated in Tsolo, received an award for the most improved shearing shed.
Region 20 – Lumanyano Woolgrowers situated in Tsolo, received an award for the most improved shearing shed. They produced 52 bales, with no bin bales, which shows good improvement and received an average price of R66/kg, with an average micron of 19.6.
Region 21 – Allen Waters Woolgrowers situated in Whittlesea have reaped the benefits of being involved with the NWGA for many years, receiving training in essential management practices. They produced 46 bales, of which 1 bin bale was identified, received an average price of R109/kg, with an average micron of 18.8. The market price was R169/kg, with the hoggets recording 16.8 micron.
Amazing results are achieved if farmers are prepared to buy good quality rams and improve flocks without only relying on government for assistance. Allen Waters was also selected as the overall winner.
Region 23 – Ludumo Shearing Shed, situated between Dordrecht & Queenstown produced 73 bales, receiving average price for wool clip of R108-77, with hogget price fetching R150/kg and an average micron of 18.8.
Region 24 – Luzie Shearing shed, Mount Fletcher produced 83 bales for the season, receiving average price of R107-20/kg, with highest price of R135/kg paid for hogget wool and an average micron of 19.7.
Region 25 – Upper Tele Shearing shed, situated in Sterkspruit on the Lesotho border, produced 69 bales, receiving R118-75/kg, with hogget price fetching R196/kg and an average micron of 19.2. The average micron for the hogget line was 16.9 micron.
All the above shearing sheds, besides Lumanyano, purchase their own rams to increase the quality of sheep flocks. NWGA production advisors are actively busy with training in sheep shearing, wool classing and sheep management in the respective shearing sheds, contributing to the success of increasing profitability in wool sheep farming.
The 5 communities will each receive animal health products from a global animal health company, who is the sole sponsor of the competition. It vouched to continue with their annual procedure of handing out the prizes later in the year when their field officers will liaise with NWGA production advisors to visit the respective communities and administer the animal health medicine according to number of livestock in that village.
The animal health company representative, Khanyo Moshoeshoe expressed delight in partnering with the NWGA for the past years and would like to strengthen relations as they can see much progress in communal flocks. They have seen tremendous growth in their own business. NWGA