Raising Sheep
For Wool
Raising Sheep for Wool - All You Need To Know
Raising sheep for wool was
the major income source for sheep breeding in the early
1900s. But as the value of wool as a commodity started
to decline, farmers and breeders adapted, raising sheep
for wool specifically for niche marketing. Fleeces sold
to specialty markets or hand spinners will fetch more as
opposed to being sold commercially. A pound of fleece
can bring as much as $15 compared to just 75 cents in
the local market. Cooperatives also help in adding value
to a producer's wool. Small quantities of wool can also
be made into custom yarn, blanket, or cloth.
Hand spinners desire high quality wool the most. A
producer who wants to produce high quality type takes
extra care in feeding, housing, grooming, and raising
the sheep. Farmers often skirt fleeces in fleecing wool.
Skirting is the process of removing undesirable parts of
the fleece. Parts removed include this type: belly,
coarse, cotted, stained, tags, and short.
In raising sheep for wool, most farmers often use covers
to keep the fleece from getting dirty. This also
protects the fleece from the sun's ultraviolet rays,
which causes fading and damage. Wool also grows more
under covers and generally softer than wool that grew
without covers. The covers have to be changed
periodically to keep the sheep well ventilated and
clean. An entire industry of producing sheep covers has
sprung up because of this. Regular sheep covers are made
of nylon.
Aside from raising sheep for wool that produces
excellent fleece, a producer must also be proficient at
shearing. Shearing is the process of cutting off the
woolen fleece of a sheep. A fleece's quality is
determined by wool classing; a process wherein wool of
similar grade and quality are grouped and sold together
to increase its value. It must also be cleaned, called
scouring, removing grease and dirt from the fleece. It
can be immersed in warm water, or can be cleaned with
detergents and alkali.
A wool's quality is very important in raising sheep for
wool. Factors that affect a it's quality include: color,
crimp, fiber diameter, staple strength and yield. Of
these factors, fiber diameter is the most important. The
finer it is, the better its price will be. Merino type
(generally agreed upon to be one of the best wool in the
market) grows about 3-5 inches in length and is very
fine (12-24 microns). In general, the smaller it is in
microns, the better it is. Those types which are finer
than 25 microns are used for clothing while coarser
wools are made into rugs and outerwear.
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Raising Sheep for Meat - 4 Important Tips To Start on
the Right Track When You Raise Sheep For Meat
Sheep Farming - Choose The Type of Sheep Breeds That
Will Be Most Suitable For You
Sheep For Sale - 5 Tips For Marketing and Selling Sheep
Sheep Handling - 10 Quick Tips To Proper Sheep
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Facts About Sheep Behavior to Help You Raise Sheep
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Sheep Production - What To Look Out For During Sheep
Reproduction
How To Start A Sheep Raising Business - 7 Easy Tips To
Get You Started Correctly
Raising Sheep For Wool - All You Need To Know
Sheep Handling Equipments - How It Can Help The Sheep
Owner to Manage The Flock Effectively |
