To start with, there is no standard knot strength test, meaning all claims of knot strength need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Secondly, there are two different ways of constructing twine which change the strength of the product, but this is rarely if ever mentioned on the product label.
These two ways are split tape and fibrillated, with split tape being the most trusted and common variety.
Pope Packaging has been manufacturing 100 per cent split tape twine since the Australian company entered the market, but this season they are extending out into fibrillated.
Regional manager Jack Wetherall said the decision was made to launch a new fibrillated product because some customers preferred it, depending on their balers.
“Split works really well in the Krones while fibrillated seems to work really well in the Masseys,” Mr Wetherall said.
“Every machinery brand has their own way of feeding the twine and we think it’s got something to do with that.”
Fibrillated twine is designed to be smoother through the baler and softer on knotters, but it also has a reputation for getting stuck in sheep hooves more easily.
Venus is one twine brand which has moved strongly into fibrillated twine.
According to Venus, sheep and wool growers prefer the natural fibre sisal twine over any Polypropylene fibre twines when feeding out.
Market leader Tama Australia hasn't openly entered the fibrillated versus split tape discussion yet.
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