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A study of a wide variety of Australian wools shows that their specific gravity varies about a mean of 1-3042, with a standard deviation between wools of 0-0028. This variability has a negligible effect on the accuracy of the air-flow method of measuring the diameter of wool samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tested yields of 122 sale lots of greasy wool are compared with the buyers' and valuers' estimates of yield. Good agreement is shown between the average of buyers' yields, the average of tested yields, and the actual mill yield of top and noil. The average of valuers' estimates is biassed by a 1.3% overyield. Correlation coefficients between the two sets of estimated and tested yields do not differ significantly from zero. The differences between the tested and estimated yields were separately determined for buyers' and valuers' estimates. The distributions of these differences are compared with differences generated by replacing estimated yields with random normal numbers and random numbers. The buyer estimates result in the largest concentration of observations around the zero difference (i.e., the closest agreement is between buyers' estimates and tested yields). Both the buyers' and the valuers' distributions are significantly better than those generated from random normal numbers and random numbers. The implications of these results to wool-buying brokers and wool growers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates are reported for the variance of staple length within bales for each of 33 bales taken from separate sale lots of skirted classed merino wool. These variances range from 0.59 to 2.90 cm², with an average of 1.53 cm². Variances between bales, within sale lots of merino wool, were small and not significant. Within-bale variances for comeback and crossbred fleece ranged from 0.61 to 4.62 cm², with an average of 2.64 cm². The highest variances occurred within lots of broken and pieces, these ranging from 1.83 to 6.33, with an average of 3.44 cm². Evidence is presented which suggests that the removal of short wool during skirting makes the largest contribution to staple-length uniformity, classing having a secondary effect. Of the variation occurring within a bale, about half is found within fleeces and half between fleeces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey is presented of measurements of the variability of yield, vegetable-matter content, and fineness between core samples within growers' or auction lots representing a variety of types of wool from the Australian clip. The pattern can be represented, in part, by a linear relationship between the within-bale standard deviation of a particular characteristic and the mean value of that characteristic for the lot. The data presented do not suggest that a change from the present sampling schedule is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]