Taranaki's shearing competition featured world champions. Made with funds from NZ On Air.

It might sound like something straight out of the 2006 horror comedy Black Sheep, but woolly mutants are leading our scientists toward intriguing discoveries - and innovative new products.

New Zealand lamb wool prices continued to decline at this week's auction amid lacklustre demand during the peak production period. The

Prices continued their downward trend at last week's South Island wool sale.

Three shearers from different corners of the country have smashed a world shearing record - 1611 strongwool ewes between them in just eight hours. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Wool prices at this week's auction fell, particularly for varieties sourced from the North Island.

One of the biggest weaknesses - and thus opportunities - for the meat and wool sector is the lack of a coherent New Zealand "brand"

The chance to get your hands Tirau's giant animal couple has now gone - with the corrugated sheep and ram sold to a buyer this week.

Sheep and beef farmers are in for a 13 per cent fall in income this year, particularly if the NZ dollar remains high, according to Beef and Lamb NZ.

New Zealand wool prices generally advanced at the country's latest weekly auction, which featured the greatest number of bales on

It's all about the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final today. Plus Maori Language Week, politics, weather, wool...and Metallica.

It's the whole show in one go! Today The Country is brought to you by Brexit, Shexit and Wet, Wet, Wet. Yes the appalling music continues

NZ Merino has signed a five-year, $45 million deal to supply fine wool to Italian luxury fabric manufacturer Successori Reda.

Wool prices rose at the first auction following the Christmas and New Year holiday period, helped by the lower New Zealand dollar.

The prices eased in the first sale of the new 2015/16 season as demand weakened.

MPI forecasts revenue from primary industries will drop to $35.2 billion in the year to June.

New Zealand's smallest annual wool clip in six years reflects the lowest sheep flock in more than 70 years.

Wool auction volumes are set to increase next week as farmers who have been holding out put their bales on the market.

The risk of the kiwi dollar remaining high is the biggest risk to Government forecasts for growth in the nation's farm, forestry and seafood exports, a new Government report says.

A fall in global commodity prices and the strong kiwi dollar meant New Zealand producers were squeezed in the first quarter.

A hanging meadow planted in wool may be adapted to create more affordable "green walls" for the rebuilding of Christchurch.