Sheepskins go from being worthless to in demand in a year
A buoyant wool market is driving up the value of Australian sheep skins, reversing the dramatic downturn where worthless skins were dumped in landfill just 12 months ago.
The upward trend is being fuelled by a spike in merino wool prices and demand from Chinese buyers, who are purchasing more due to low supply.
Farmers just one year ago were forced to pay meat processors to dispose of the by-product, but now can expect some of the strongest prices seen in years.
Sheepskins are sheep hides that have been treated and preserved with the wool still attached, making them soft, insulating and widely used for things like rugs, boots and clothing.
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) senior market information analyst Emiliano Diaz said the turnaround was linked to increased demand for wool, which had reached seven-year highs.
“So, one year ago, the skin value was nearly zero, and …
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Original article and photo by "ABC News"
