Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Higher

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading remained at a virtual standstill last week. Demand was light for the limited available fall supplies.

In North Dakota the Missouri Slope pool sold 14,000 pounds, original bag wool in both plastic and burlap bags, some bellies in, some out, whiteface 22-27 micron, staple length at 26 cents f.o.b. grease, blackface 26-32 micron 17 cents, 1.5-2 inch lamb wool 26 cents and tags three cents. Colorado, mixed ewe wool, 1-2 inch, 22-28 micron, mostly 25-26 micron 20 cents grease. Wyoming, a total of 77,000 pounds, staple length, OB, bellies out and untied, 23-25.5 micron 62.5 cents grease f.o.b.; also small lots totaling 40,000 pounds, staple length 21-23 micron 30-35 cents f.o.b. grease.

The Australian market indicator closed up 12 at 710A cents per kilo clean, last year 729. A total of 65,886 bales were offered with clearance at 91 percent. The grease 21 micron futures contracts for December remained the same at 639A, February up one at 631 and April down four at 626, June down four at 630. The 19 micron clean wool contracts for December were up 45 at 838A, February up 42 at 843, April up 40 at 858 and June up 17 at 840. The 23 micron cash clean wool contract for December was up nine at 646A, February up six at 626, April up two at 625 and June up 20 at 607. The current exchange rate of the Australian dollar to the U.S. dollar is .5004, last year .5211.

New Zealand's market indicators were mixed. Compared to two weeks ago, strong wool was up one at 404NZ, medium down 15 at 607, fine up 108 at 1018 and lamb wool 433. A total of 5604 bales were offered and 71 percent sold. The current exchange rate is .4177 New Zealand to the U.S. dollar, compared with .3989 last year.

At the 15th South African Cape mohair sale of the season last week, prices were unevenly steady, but the value of the rand declined slightly to reach 9.55 to the U.S. dollar. In summary, 84 percent of the 30,732 kilos of kid hair sold averaging $3.07 U.S. per pound, 93 percent of the 18,274 kilos of young goat averaged $2.04, 96 percent of 21,578 kilos of fine adult averaged $1.43, and 93 percent of strong adult hair averaged $1.29. Specifically, on kid hair in U.S. dollars per pound, long 26 micron and finer ranged $3.80-6.07, average $4.50; 26.1-28 micron $3.11-6.66, average $3.71, over 28 micron $2.63-3.42, average $3.01; fine young goat, less than 30 micron $3.14, 30.1-32 micron $2.14-2.85, average $2.32, over 32 micron $1.42-2.04, average $1.64; fine adult, less than 34 micron $1.67-1.76, average $1.70, 34.1-36 micron $1.36-1.64, average $1.47, 36.1-38 micron $1.22-1.43, average $1.34, and over 38 micron $1.14-1.33, average $1.24.