Speaker Notes

Written by: Gary Robinson, CSIRO Textile & Fibre Technology.

If the mean fibre length (MFL) in the top (also known as Hauteur), is determined by the amount of fibre breakage which occurs in processing, then an examination of the TEAM formula can tell us something about the quantitative advantage of increasing Hauteur. Some illustrative figures are included in this slide.

Another way that the value of the raw wool can be increased is by decreasing the amount of short fibre removed in combing, as measured by Noil%. Noil is sold as an input for woollen processing, but at lower price than top. It should be noted that the price relationship between noil and top varies depending on market fluctuations.

Both of these occurrences, decrease in H and increase in Noil, cost money. Therefore fibre breakage costs money.