Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Mixed

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Wool trading was slow last week, many areas at a standstill. Demand was light to very light, as was seller interest.

In Texas, a warehouse sale at Ozona the previous week totaled 336,000 pounds, including 20.5-22 micron, paint-free, original bag, 1.5-2.5 inch wools ranging 16-34 cents grease, f.o.b. the warehouse, mostly 24-30 cents; a few 10-12 month wools of 2.5-2.8 inches brought 26-48 cents, mostly 30-35; whiteface lamb wool of 19-20.5 microns, 1-1.5 inch, was 34 cents, 1.5-2 inch 20-37 cents, mostly 25-30; handling and storage costs were not deducted.

In Territory trading, Idaho sold 36,000 pounds of 12-month ewe wool, 23-24 microns including some short and tender wool, at 15 cents grease, net the producer.

Midwestern areas reported fine whiteface 12-month ewe wool, 22-24 microns, at 15-20 cents net producer, 24-28 micron 5-10 cents, and coarse whiteface and blackface 5-10 cents, all net the producer.

In warehouse trading a total of 260,000 pounds sold: graded 21-21.5 micron, staple length, was 90-94 cents clean, f.o.b. the warehouse, 22-22.5 micron, staple, 85-92 cents;

23.5-24 micron, 2.8-2.9 inch, including 25 percent short and tender, 60 cents clean, delivered to the processor; 28-29 micron, 3-4 inch, 50 cents clean, f.o.b. the warehouse, 32 micron 3.5-4 inch 60 cents and 30-32 micron black wool 14 cents.

Australia's eastern market indicator was up eight cents to close at 576A per kilo clean. A total of 76,590 bales were offered with clearance at 91 percent. The grease wool 21 micron contract for December was down 11 cents at 548A, February down seven at 575, April down four at 595, and June down five at 616; the 19 micron cash settlement clean wool contract for December was up four at 980A, February up two at 993, April up four at 1005 and June up nine at 1019; the 23 micron cash clean wool contract for December was unchanged at 400A, February up six 415, April unchanged at 457, and June up four at 425.

New Zealand strong wool was up two at 376NZ cents per kilo clean, medium down five at 408NZ, fine down six at 896. Of 1161 clean tons (9611 bales) offered, 92 percent sold. The New Zealand dollar to U.S. dollar rate was $.5080.