Net regret

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By Dwain Duxson

Net regret -- Wool and Sheep Farmers will remember BioClip? A CSIRO-developed Fleece Harvesting process using a protein injection and nets to hold the Wool on once injected. It never really took off, and the company that had the licence to sell and distribute it went into liquidation in 2017.

Why didn't it take off when the technology seemed to be an alternative to Shearing? There are probably a few reasons why, it was very labour-intensive, the net process was clunky, and sometimes the Wool seemed to rub off in the yards.

An independent costing was done in 2015, and the BioClip process came in at $10.50 a head as opposed to Contract Shearing rates of $7.50 at the time. That's probably the main reason why the technology never really saw the light of day.

I'm told AWI is now working on a new protein injection, but this time the process doesn't require a net. That would be a good start.

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