Real men wear wool

One sheep
Approximately 90 percent of the world's sheep produce wool. One sheep produces anywhere from 2 to 30 pounds of wool
annually. The wool from one sheep is called a fleece, from many sheep, a clip. The amount of wool that a sheep produces
depends upon its breed, genetics, nutrition, and shearing interval. Lambs produce less wool than mature animals. Due to
their larger size, rams usually produce more wool than ewes of the same breed or type.

Long wool sheep

Long wool sheep usually produce the heaviest fleeces because their fibers, though coarser, grow the longest. Hand spinners
tend to prefer wool from the long wool breeds because it is easier to spin.

Some sheep produce very coarse fibers. This type of wool is called carpet wool, and as the name suggests is used to make
carpets and tapestries. According to the International Wool Textile Organization (I.W.T.O.), 41 percent of world wool
production is classified as coarse wools.

Medium wool sheep

Medium wool sheep, raised more for meat than fiber, produce the lightest weight, least valuable fleeces. Medium wool is
usually made into blankets, sweaters, or socks or it is felted. According to the I.W.T.O., 22 percent of world wool production
is classified as medium wools.

Fine wool sheep

Fine wool sheep produce fleeces which usually have the greatest value due to their smaller fiber diameter and versatility of
use. Garments made from fine wool are less likely to itch. According to the I.W.T.O., 37 percent of world wool production is
classified as fine wools.

Hair sheep
Hair sheep shed their coats and produce no usable fibers. The "fleeces" from hair sheep and hair x wool crosses should be
discarded. Their inclusion in a wool clip can contaminate the entire clip. Even raising wool sheep along side hair sheep or
other shedding animals could affect fleece quality of the wooled sheep. Hair will not accept dye.

Value of wool
The value of wool is based on its suitability for specific end uses, as well as the fundamentals of the world wool market. Raw
wool is usually purchased on the basis of grade. Grade denotes the average fiber diameter and length of individual fibers.
The grade (or price) is reduced if the wool is dirty and contains a lot of vegetable matter or other contaminants.

Color
In the commercial market, white wool is more valuable than colored wool because it can be dyed any color. Even the wool
from sheep with white faces is more valuable than the wool from sheep with dark or moddled faces because the fleeces
from non-white face sheep may contain colored wool or hairs which cannot be dyed. In contrast, naturally colored wools are
often favored in the niche markets.

Wool marketing
In the United States, large producers of wool usually sell their wool to warehouses or directly to wool mills. Sometimes, the
wool is sold on a clean (scoured) basis with the lower quality belly removed from the clip. Small producers often sell their
wool (raw) through wool pools.

A wool pool is a collection point for wool from many producers. At the pool, wool is sorted and packaged into different lots.
The entire pool is sold to one mill, often via silent bid. Some producers sell their wool to hand spinners or have it made into
yarn or blankets. When prices are low, some producers throw their wool away or give it to their shearer.

In the United States

In 2013, the average price paid for wool sold in the United States was $1.45 per pound (grease) for a total value of $39.2
million. In 2014, 26.7 million pounds of wool was harvested from 3.68 million head of sheep and lambs. In the U.S., the
average fleece weight is 7.3 pounds (3.32 kg), compared to almost 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) in Australia. In the US, Nevada sheep
boast the heaviest fleeces weights: 10.4 lbs. in 2014.

Sheep producers can get more money for their wool if they direct market it to hand spinners or add value to it. In niche
markets, there is no upper limit as to what wool can sell for.

Globally
Wool is a freely-traded international commodity, subject to global supply and demand. While wool represents only 3% of
world fiber production, it is important to the economy and way of life in many countries. Though China is the largest
producer of wool, Australia dominates the world wool market. China is the largest wool buyer. The United States accounts
for less than 1 percent of the world's wool production and is a net importer of wool. In the U.S., the top states for wool
production are California, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Amazing Products That Come From Sheep &
Wool
2:48 pm on Thursday, March 26th, 2015

Sheep produce an amazing variety of different products that can be used for many purposes. We will go

over some of the more popular products that come from sheep and what they are used for.

1. The most widely known sheep product is wool , which is used in many different types of clothing. It’s also
used to make carpets and other diverse products, such as being used to fill mattresses and create tennis
ball covers.
2. Lanolin or wool wax, is a byproduct of wool. Lanolin is used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well it is
used in making tape, printing inks and motor oils. Almost all beauty aids such as lipsticks, mascara and
shampoos contain lanolin.
3. Sheep cheese is used to make some of the world’s most famous cheeses . Cheeses such as Rogquefort,
Feta and Ricotta are made using sheep’s milk. Sheep’s milk is also used to make yogurt, butter and ice
cream.
4. The skins from the sheep are used to create high quality leather. Also, sheepskin is commonly used to make
the chamois cloth that is used for car washing.
5. Persian lambskin is often used in fur coats and in fur trimmed accessories.
6. Alternative uses for wool are increasing. For example, bricks reinforced with wool are stronger and less toxic
than traditional bricks.
7. Wool is being used for science and technology as the wool proteins are being used to create new wound
dressings, bone graft implants and medical sutures.
Wool Products