Industry practitioners from a variety of fields provide feedback on the use of OFFM.

1. Most of the benefits come from using OFFM as a tool to assist sheep breeding and selection. Additional benefits can also accrue from clip preparation - but these will depend on short-term wool market conditions.
2. Portable OFDA2000 and Fleecescan OFFM instruments produce equivalent results that are only slightly less precise than laboratory-based fleece measurement.
3. The mid-side is the preferred site when taking a wool sample from the sheep.
4. OFFM is practical and efficient to use. Woolgrowers can choose a sampling and measuring system that suits their needs, and work it into their wool production cycle without affecting throughput or reducing productivity.
5. Testing animals at first shearing only and re-using the measurements is likely to be the most cost-effective, strategic use of OFFM - you don't have to test every sheep in the flock each year.
6. By using an individual identification system, woolgrowers can add value to their OFFM program by including other measurements such as fleece weight or other traits that increase profitability.

What the industry says about on-farm fibre measurement

"Woolgrowers using OFFM can more reliably identify their most valuable wool-cutting sheep and are able to make decisions based on objective information that directly relates to the profitability of their enterprise."

Michael Jackson, Managing Director, Australian Wool Testing Authority

"We've been recommending OFFM to our clients for the last five years. OFFM is not just about getting better micron - it's about selecting the most productive sheep on the property to achieve greater productivity and profitability for the sheep enterprise."

Mark Rodda, National Wool Manager, Elders Limited

"We recommend our clients attend the OFFM grower workshops so they can find out more about using OFFM as a tool to help them make more informed decisions on all aspects of flock management - even a simple OFFM program can make a great difference to the bottom line."

Rowan Woods, Chairman, Inland Wool Brokers Association

"Using OFFM as part of our selection process, we have established guidelines in conjunction with our visual selection. We recommend OFFM to our ram clients who are dedicated woolgrowers for better use of their flock and greater quality assurance in selection and breeding."

Tom Ashby, North Ashrose Merino Stud, Gulnare

"OFFM is a convenient and easy-to-use system that enables growers to fully understand the individual performance levels of their whole flock. We see its greatest strength in bringing woolgrowers long-term benefit in genetic improvement of their flock."

Ross Bawden, National Wool Manager, Landmark

"Since introducing OFFM three years ago, we've noticed an improvement in the consistency of the wool quality we are producing. We now know that the ewes we select are going to produce consistently good quality wool throughout their breeding life."

Tom Hanson, President, South Australian Stud Merino Breeders Association

"Using OFFM, our clients have been able to make significant and rapid advances in their flock structure. They have been able to decrease their fibre micron and select sheep that are most appropriate for their target market. Before OFFM, wool measurement was labour intensive and involved a greater margin of error."

Michelle and Paul Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, Burra

Read what the woolgrowers say about OFFM workshops