Story: Meat and wool

Wool production, 1885–2005

Wool production, 1885–2005

This graph shows changes in New Zealand wool production from 1885 to 2005, measured in greasy tonnes (unwashed wool that has not yet had the fatty lanolin removed). It reflects the general rise in both sheep numbers, and in wool weights per sheep over this period. Wool weights averaged about 2.25 kilograms per animal in 1885 compared with just over 5.8 kilograms in 2001. However there could be considerable variation in production between seasons. For example, after 2002’s hard winter and poor spring, the average wool weight per sheep fell to just over 5 kilograms per head.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Alistair Nicol and Caroline Saunders, 'Meat and wool - Wool products and marketing', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/graph/19237/wool-production-1885-2005 (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Alistair Nicol and Caroline Saunders, published 24 Nov 2008