Method
Pressing and branding are typically carried out by a woolpresser in the larger shearing sheds. In small sheds, the pressing may be done by the woolclasser, wool handler or sheep owner. A woolpresser may perform the combined duties of woolpressing and penning up the sheep for the shearers. The latter arrangement means less interruption to the flow of the wool across the table and into the wool bins.
The woolclasser oversees the duties of the woolpresser during the entire shearing. The presser ensures that the wool pack is free of any contaminants before he places it into the wool press and secures it there. He then carries the wool from the selected wool bin, removing any contamination, before placing it into the press.
It takes about 60 skirted fleeces to fill a wool bale, depending on the size and age of the sheep. The presser closes the bale with four internal and five external metal bale fasteners, before weighing the bale, if the press does not have an inbuilt scale. Bales should weigh between 110 kg (242 lbs) and 204 kg (449 lbs), unless the wool is under 18.6 microns, in which case they may be a minimum gross weight of 90 kg (198 lbs). Bales that weigh less than 110 kg are known as a butt and those over 204 kg will not be sold at auction without repacking at the vendor’s expense. The maximum wool bale length is 1.25 metres (49 inches). Overlong bales may create problems with over wide loads when trucking, in brokers' stores and in the jamming of dumping equipment.The presser is responsible for completing the wool book and then branding the bale head and face with the owner’s brand, contents description, number and wool classer ID.
Read more about this topic: Wool Bale
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