SELLING most of his wool clip in January was a lucky decision by Portland producer Keith Millard as the market dipped last week.
While Keith sold about 20 bales of fleece wool from wethers, and pieces, locks and belly wool at last week's southern sale, he managed to sell his main fleece line in late January, where it attracted better prices.
However, Keith said he was reasonably happy with the end result.
Last week Keith's main line of wether wool, with a 19.9-micron and a yield of 74.2 per cent, sold for 924c/kg greasy.
And in January his top ewe wool with a micron of 19.7, a 75.9 per cent yield and a strength of 41 Newtons per Kilotex sold for 970c/kg.
"Mostly I was just very impressed with the way the wool yielded and its strength, especially considering the season."
With an average of 19.5-micron across the Glenlivet flock, Keith was aiming for a big framed sheep that could produce good "20-micron wool" and a prime lamb.
Keith also watched as Elders showfloor manager Mal Nicholls shaved off his beard - which he had been growing for 39 years - as part of the World's Greatest Shave.
What started out with Mal joking to the wool buyers he would shave off his beard if he received $1000 in donations ended with a clean face and more than $4000 raised for the cause.
"The wool buyer's social club put up $1000 straight away so I had no choice but to shave," he said.
