Culling Decisions Made Earlier

Each year, Robert sells all commercial wether lambs between October and December, as well as stud and commercial cull ewe and ram lambs. To avoid grain or silage feeding, these culling decisions need to be made early due to the short growing season in his area.

Using the Woven Optics Wool Scanner as part of his early classing process, Robert assesses fibre diameter alongside structural traits, visual wool traits (such as fleece rot and colour), and dag scores. Instead of sending wool samples off-site and waiting for results, Robert can make decisions on the spot. Cull lambs that meet processor specifications can be drafted and sold immediately.

This reduces mustering requirements, hits target grid specs more reliably, and avoids the cost of extra feed. While classing takes slightly longer with the Woven Optics technology, having real-time fibre data means his team makes better-informed decisions, faster.

Reducing Feeding Costs

Being able to sell cull lambs off grass — rather than after grain or silage feeding — delivers an estimated additional gross profit of $2,000–$3,000 per year, depending on seasonal feed costs and lamb prices.

Targeted Genomic Testing

Robert also uses genomic testing for traits like eating quality that are difficult to measure. With the Woven Optics Wool Scanner, he’s able to pre-select only the best candidates for testing, reducing the number of animals genomically tested. This targeted approach saves around $5,000 per year by avoiding unnecessary tests on lambs that are ultimately culled.

Measuring Mature Ewes for Long-Term Gain

The Wool Scanner is also used to test mature stud ewes annually to monitor fibre diameter trends. As ewes age, some move into higher micron ranges, and regular testing helps Robert identify and remove these animals.

This strategy has already delivered results — flock average micron has decreased from 27 to 24 micron over three years. With continued culling based on wool data, Robert expects to reduce his flock’s average to 22 micron without sacrificing reproduction, growth, or carcass performance.

This fibre diameter reduction has the potential to lift Robert’s wool price from 500 c/kg clean to 900 c/kg clean, adding around $14,000 per year to his wool clip value.

The Financial Outcome

By using the Woven Optics Wool Scanner, Robert has unlocked a range of cost savings and revenue improvements across his operation. These include reduced cull lamb feeding costs, savings on unnecessary genomic testing, and an increase in wool clip value through more targeted selection.

The estimated annual increase in margin from these combined improvements is $8,808, leading to an estimated 5-year benefit of $44,050.

When factoring in the cost of the Woven Optics Wool Scanner and Dashboard, this results in a return on investment (ROI) of 3.32 over five years—making it a valuable long-term decision for his sheep enterprise.

Enabling Better Decisions

While not all the benefits — like increased wool value or savings in genomic testing — are solely due to the Woven Optics Wool Scanner, Robert says the technology plays a critical role in enabling early, accurate, and confident decisions, which directly supports improved profitability.

Why it matters

Robert’s experience shows how better measurement tools can turn wool production in crossbred and composite sheep from a cost centre into a profit driver. With Woven Optics, precise fibre data is now available instantly, helping producers like Robert improve both genetics and margins.