Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Lower

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Wool trading remains slow. Demand is light to narrow, following continued decline in the Australian market.

In Territory trading, Colorado sold 40,000 pounds; farm flock wools, staple length 60-62's, brought 15 cents grease, delivered, 54's-58's were 10 cents, and black wool, tags and bellies five cents; 40,000 pounds of lamb wool, whiteface 19-22 micron, 1.5-3 inch length, was 13-16 cents f.o.b. the feedlot, blackface and crossbred 22-26 micron eight cents; in Montana 20,000 pounds of blackface wool, 24-29 micron, staple, was 15 cents grease; Arizona sold 30,000 pounds of six-month ewe wool, 21-22 micron, 1.5-2 inch length, at 12 cents grease.

In Texas, for fall delivery, 200,000 pounds of original bag 21-22 micron wool, three inch-plus length, sold at $1.10 clean delivered to the processor.

Midwestern areas sold 80,000 pounds of farm flock wools, 60-64's, staple length, at 15-20 cents grease, delivered to the warehouse; 56-60's were 5-10 cents; 48-54's five cents; blackface lamb wool 5-10 cents.

In warehouse trading a total of 80,000 pounds sold recently, graded 23.0-24.9 micron, staple length, 65 cents clean, delivered to the processor.

Australia's eastern market indicator was up two to close at 549A per kilo clean. A total of 74,217 bales were offered and clearance was 83 percent. The grease wool 21 micron contract for October was up eight cents at 531A, December down three at 546, February down four at 567 and April down three at 585. The 19 micron cash settlement clean wool contract for October was down 15 cents at 951A, December down seven at 959, February down seven at 966 and April down 11 at 955. The 23 micron cash clean wool contract for October and December was unchanged at 390, February unchanged at 399 and April unchanged at 447.

In New Zealand at Christchurch, compared to September, 30 strong wool was up eight cents at 368NZ cents per kilo clean, medium down five at 401NZ, fine up two at 888. Of the 1348 clean tons offered, 81 percent sold. The U.S. exchange rate is $1 US to $.5208 NZ, up one percent.

In Texas near 50,000 pounds of mohair recently traded, mostly in small lots. No. 1 yearling brought $4.21, No. 2 $3.35 and No. 3 $2.85; fine adult hair was $2.65-3.60, mostly at the upper price level; young goat matchings made $5.20. Small lots of fall kid brought $7 and spring kid $5.

The South African Cape mohair sale was active with nearly 100 percent clearance of the 746,076 pounds offered. Kid and young goat hair sold firm, fine adult 20 percent higher, strong adult hair 15 percent higher. Kid hair averaged $107.78 rands per kilogram, the highest lot at 148. Young goat hair averaged 60.63 with the highest lot at 89. Fine adult hair averaged 36.29 with the highest lot at 58.60. Strong adult averaged 17.58 with the highest lot at 19.30. One U.S. dollar equals six rand. The next sale is October 19.