Ep 23: Shearing Innovations with The Wool Industry

EPISODE 23:

The wool and shearing industry is probably not the first people think of when it comes to agtech, being one of the more traditional within agriculture.

But the shearer shortage and rise of large sheep within the industry has encouraged the sector to develop new technology that will offer wool growers more options and help attract and retain shearers.

In this episode we speak to Carolina Diaz from the Australian Wool Innovation about some of the new technology coming through the pipeline, in particular biological wool harvesting.

We also talk to brothers Glenn and Chris Haynes about shearing modules that eliminates the need for shearers to catch and drag the sheep, the part of the process that often leads to the most injuries.

Glenn is from the Shearer’s Contractors Association Australia (SCAA) Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc. And designed the modules in collaboration with AWI, woolgrowers and champion shearers.

Meanwhile, Chris is from Haynes Engineering, one of several companies building the shearing modules and seeing them implemented by growers across the country.

And we catch up with wool grower Will Shippen who started using the shearing modules out of necessity during a flood, but found they improved efficiency and so has continued to use them ever since.

FEATURING:

CAROLINA DIAZ – AWI

Carolina Diaz is the Program Manager for Animal Wellbeing and Industry Resilience at Australian Wool Innovation. After working as a veterinary practitioner in Spain for some time, she led national and European projects for the Spanish government that focused on improving and conserving livestock breeds, traceability, and animal identification. Six years ago, she moved to Australia with her family and joined AWI to continue pursuing her passion for Innovation. She is deeply committed to delivering innovative solutions to make wool production more efficient and sustainable.

GLENN HAYNES – SCAA SHEARER WOOLHANDLER TRAINING INC

Glenn Haynes was born and bred Naracoorte, South Australia, where he still resides. He was a full time professional shearer for 27 years, including being a contractor for 18 years. Glenn has been involved with shearer training since 2000 and is now the Executive Officer of the SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc. Glenn designed shearing modules that eliminate the need for shearers to catch and drag the sheep, in collaboration with the AWI, champion shearers and woolgrowers.

CHRIS HAYNES – HAYNES ENGINEERING

Chris has been working in the engineering industry for almost 36 years and then, in 2004, decided to open Haynes Engineering at the home workshop in Naracoorte. Haynes Engineering was the first company to build shearing modules that reduce the need for shearers to catch and drag sheep.

WILL SHIPPEN – WOOL GROWER

Will Shippen is part of a family operation based in the Riverina at Moulamein, with properties at Wagga Wagga and Mortlake, Victoria. The family run a self-replacing Merino flock with cull ewes going to their Wagga and Mortlake properties for prime lamb production. Will started using the ‘no-catch-and-drag’ shearing modules as a necessity during a flood but found they improved efficiency, so he has continued to use them ever since.