Australian Wool Innovation’s bioharvest project gets approval from WA woolgrowers at Katanning demo day

WA woolgrowers have cautiously welcomed a “game changing” method to harvest wool without the need for shearers after seeing Australian Wool Innovation’s latest biological harvesting option with their own eyes. The Biological Harvesting Demonstration Day, held at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Katanning Research Station on October 25, attracted a large crowd of more than 100 woolgrowers and industry representatives. Woolgrowers had their first glimpse at how easy it could be to harvest wool that has developed weak points in its fibre through the injection of a protein derived from corn. The Biological Harvesting research project, funded by Australian Wool Innovation in conjunction with the University of Adelaide, started last year as a way remove wool without the need for traditional shearing. AWI chair Jock Laurie said the industry needed a robust alternative to traditional shearing that was practical, cost effective and efficient. “COVID put huge pressure on the work force across Australia and with only one option available for wool harvesting by means of the traditional and labor-intensive shearing process — there is too much pressure on woolgrowers,” he said. The University of Adelaide Professor Philip Hynd said his small research team found out 18 months ago how the protein affected the wool follicle. “We worked out how the biochemistry of how it works — it’s the most exciting discovery of my life,” he said. “It’s a natural occurring amino acid. and the fleece can be pulled off two to four weeks after a sub contagious injection of a slow-release pellet that contains the agent.” “Letting that wool grow out for two to four weeks and then have a non-cutting and non-dangerous safe method to pull the fleece off the sheep would make this system commercially viable.” Prof. Hynd said there was more work to do to discover if it was safe for pregnant animals and if it works on all genotypes and if it would work across all seasons. “We will trial hundreds of sheep for all the answers, including measuring the residues in the meat, and to provide data to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for full approval,” he said. “We know its not going to stay in the animal very long.” With confidence in the project, AWI chief executive John Roberts said he put out an expression of interest to engineers around the globe to submit ideas for a wool harvesting model that would coincide with bioharvesting. “The next stage is to get wool off the sheep in an efficient way.” he said. Frankland River woolgrower Alex Coole said she was excited about the prospects of bioharvesting. “If they can get it to commercial stage within five years, they are doing well,” she said. “It will offer us more flexibility for remote farms and could potentially harvest wool more quickly and efficiently — the animal welfare aspects of it will be the best benefit,” she said. “Who knows what the cost will be, but if it is going to be the same or cheaper than shearing, I think people will take it on.” Kojonup woolgrower Ian Robertson said bioharvesting had potential but there were lots of things to work out — like how sheep would be held and contained during the process. “If they have to drag them out, that’s half the effort of shearing — I would think there will be quite a few issues that will have to be solved — If I were a shearer, I wouldn’t be too worried,” he said. “It has potential to work, and if you’re in a dire situation and can’t get shearers, and you have to get stock off — then this could be a real benefit.”