HOOF

According to Ministry for the Environment (2014) there are two main areas that may greatly affect the production of raw materials in the NZ wool industry. Firstly, the research shows that there would be a great impact on water resources. The water demand have increased due to the longer period of summers with high temperature and lower rainfall. This climate condition will also likely to reduce soil moisture and groundwater supplies. Harle, Howden, Hunt, & Dunlop (2006) also outlines that the growth and quality of pasture and fodder crops may be affected by changes in rainfall amounts and variability as well as higher CO2 concentrations. Water resources in many regions are predicted to decrease and become more variable. 

These climate changes that are occurring in NZ environment as a consequence of global warming, have a great impact not only on NZ environment but also on NZ wool industry. The raw materials for the wool production may be affected because there is also a strong possibility of increased competition for water and land resources from other agricultural activities, particularly cropping and meat production. The soil quality has dropped due to decreased amount of water supply, and the amount of dissolved CO2 also increases. Once CO2 reacts with water in the soill, this increases H2CO3, which decreases pH causing acidic condition in the soil (Fundamental of Environmental Measurements, n.d.). As a result, the acidic condition of the soil will restrict root access to water and nutrients which will slow down plant growth, nutrient availability and microbial activity (Soil Quality, n.d.). Eventually, sheep growth will decline due to the insufficient amount of nutrients supplied through food. Furthermore, ewes experiencing low feed intake during gestation produce lambs in which secondary follicle production has been impaired. Such an impairment has consequences for longterm wool production (Entwistle, 1974). Continuous decline in the amount of rainfall and increased temperature will eventually cause decrease in the sheep growth due to malnutrition, poor wool quality and decreased NZ wool industry profit. 

Based on the study Jolly and Lyne (1970),  increasing temperature of 5 °C from current level will enhance the growth of sheep wool, however, it also outlines the consequence of the further increase in the temperature. If the temperature was further increased, wool growth will gradually decrease and then ceased. Naturally increased temperature due to global warming may enhance and accelerate the growth of the wool at first, however, the temperature of 5 °C have to maintained by cooling and heating systems. This mechanism may not be feasible in the wool industry due to the amount of cost that may be needed in order to operate the systems.