Related Keywords: Australian farmer, certifies bale of wool, honours breeders, Italian textile giant, Loro Piana, New Zealand Stud Merino Breeders Society, produce finer fibre, produced 11 micron bale, records micron fibre count, Superfine Wool Growers' Association, worlds best raw material
A competition was started in 2000, designed to push farmers to produce an even finer fibre. In its 14th year, the competition was won by Australian farm Pyrenees Park in Victoria. Farmers Pamela and Robert Sandlant produced an 11-micron bale.
The Italian textile giant, Loro Piana, honours the breeders that produce the finest bale of wool, and then takes the fibre to produce just 40 bespoke men's suits.
This equalled the effort by New Zealand farmers Yvonne and Barrie Payne, from Timaru, however the Australian fibre was judged to be slightly stronger.
