Wool JudgingWool Judging

Wool FiberWool Fiber

Growth

Wool fibers grow from follicles in the skin

Growth and elongation occurs at the base of the fiber and not at the tip

Processes of growth are continuous

Shearing apparently does not particularly stimulate growth of wool fibers.

The Wool FiberThe Wool Fiber

Feature of Wool Fiber Diameter may vary from .0003 to .002 inch.

Length may vary form 1 to 20 inches.

Practically all wool has crimp. Crimp is the natural indentation of waviness in the fibers. The number of crimp per inch of fiber ranges form 10-36. Crimp affects the length of wool may increase length by 30%. In general, the more crimp per inch, the finer the fiber.

The Fleece or Grease WoolThe Fleece or Grease Wool

Variation of wool fibers on the body.The finest and dense wool fibers are found on the shoulders about midway between the top of the shoulder and the floor of the chest.

The shortest wool is on the belly.

General characteristicsGeneral characteristics

PurityRelated to the kind and color of the fiber of which

the fleece is composed. Kemp is the most important of the purity defects.Black fibers may also be called an impurity.

Color Color is partly tint ,luster or brightness. White is preferred.

UniformityFibers of uniform grade over the badly. Sought

but never completely achieved.

Three types of fibersThree types of fibers

Wool fiberstrue fibers and referred to as crimp or waviness found on the fiber

Medhair or heterotype- medullated and tend to be finer than kemp fibers as well as true fibers , yet generally lack crimp.

Kemp-coarsest fibers grown by sheep and are shed seasonally. Tend s top be short, chalky white, brittle, and do not appear to accept dyes well. They are harsh handling, yet important in the manufacturing of weeds.

Material in raw woolMaterial in raw wool

Not necessarily disadvantages as they may be essential to the proper preservation of the fiber while it is being developed to a length suitable for use.

Yolk- Primarily cholesterol and is secreted for the preservation of the fiber. More yolk is secreted by fine, dense fleeced sheep.

Suint-(pronounced swint) A potassium salt produced by the sweat gland. Usually mixed with yolk and may be the source of odor associated with sheep.

Vegetable Matter - such burns, chaff, seed, etc.Dirt- varies from one part of the country to the other.Moisture-gives a certain character to wool which

makes it easier to work. I some cases these materials make up a greater percentage of the entire weight than does the wool fiber.

Grades of WoolGrades of Wool

Wool Class American Bradford Breed

Fine Fine 80-70-64 Merino, Ranbouillet,

Debouillet

Half-blood 62-60 Targhee, Southdown

Three-eights blood 58-56 Corriedale, Columbia, Hampshire

Medium Quarter Blood 54-50 Shropshire, Dorset, Cheviot

Low quarter blood 48-46 Romney and coarse

crossbreds

Common 44-40 Lincoln, Cotswold,Leicester

Long Braid 36

Sheep vary considerably in the Sheep vary considerably in the

type of wool they produce.type of wool they produce.

Fine wool from Merino Carpet wool from a Karakul

One type of wool is not better than the other. They just have different uses.

Breeds of sheep are grouped Breeds of sheep are grouped according to the type of wool they according to the type of wool they grow.grow.

FineRambouillet, Merino

Crossbred (fine x medium)Targhee, Corriedale, Columbia

Medium (fine x long)Suffolk, Hampshire, Dorset, Cheviot, Montadale, Southdown, Shropshire, Tunis, Polypay

Long (coarse)Romney, Border Leicester, Lincoln, Cotswold

Carpet (double-coated)Scottish Blackface, Karakul, Icelandic

Hair (shedding) - not shearedKatahdin, Dorper, Barbado

Rambouillet (fine wool) sheep

FleeceFleeceThe wool from one sheep. The wool from one sheep.

Sheared off in one piece.

Grease or raw wool is wool as it is shorn from the sheep.

Fineness – Fiber DiameterFineness – Fiber Diameter

Thickness of the wool fiberMeasured in microns (one millionth of a meter - µ)

Fineness - Fiber DiameterFineness - Fiber Diameter

Fine$$$$

CrossbredMedium

LongCoarse

Grade refers to the relative diameter of the wool fibers (fineness).

Thicker Thinner

< 17µ> 40 µ

Fiber Fiber diameterdiameter

Coarser

C

oars

er

BritchBreech(hairy)

Short, dirty, kinky

Short, dirty

Polypay

CrimpCrimpNatural curl or waviness in the wool fiber.Natural curl or waviness in the wool fiber.

Fine wool usually has more crimp per inch than coarse (long) wool.

StapleStapleRefers to the length of a (unstretched) lock of Refers to the length of a (unstretched) lock of shorn wool.shorn wool.

Coarse wools are usually longer than finer wools.

Fine

Long, coarse

Medium

Vegetable matter (VM)Vegetable matter (VM)Any material of plant origin found in Any material of plant origin found in the fleece (hay, grass, seeds, etc.) the fleece (hay, grass, seeds, etc.)

High VM lowers yield.

PurityPurityFreedom from pigmented fibers, hair and kemp.Freedom from pigmented fibers, hair and kemp.

Black fiber/hairsHairKemp

The commercial wool market favors white wool that can be dyed any color.

From a hair sheep

TagTagWool that has manure attached to it.Wool that has manure attached to it.

SkirtingSkirtingRemoving the stained, unusable, or Removing the stained, unusable, or undesirable portions of a fleece (bellies, top undesirable portions of a fleece (bellies, top knots, tags).knots, tags).

Show fleeces and other high value fleeces should be skirted at the time of shearing.

Wool Judging Score CardWool Judging Score Card

Characteristic Points

Estimated clean yield 35

Length 25

Quality or fineness 10

Soundness (strength) 10

Purity 10

Character and color 10

Total points 100

You will judge “like” (same type or grade) kinds of wool.

Yield Yield The amount of clean wool that remains after The amount of clean wool that remains after scouring. Expressed as a percentage.scouring. Expressed as a percentage.

Wool yield is quite variable: 40 to 70%.

Long wools have higher yields than fine wools, due to less grease.

Bulky fleeces have higher yields.

Clean wool yield = Raw wool – shrinkage (VM, grease, impurities)

Vegetable matter affects yieldVegetable matter affects yield

Other contaminants: soil, dust, polypropylene from tarps, feed sacks, and hay baling twine, paint, skin, external parasites, and foreign objects.

LengthLength

Look for uniformity of length

Staple length adds weight to the fleece more than any other characteristic.

Quality or finenessQuality or fineness

Appropriate grade for breed or type.

Look for uniformity of grade (fineness).

Finer wools are permitted less variability.

Soundness (strength)Soundness (strength)Tender wool is wool that is weak and/or Tender wool is wool that is weak and/or breaks due to poor nutrition or sickness.breaks due to poor nutrition or sickness.

This wool does not have a break or tender spot.

CharacterCharacterGeneral appearance of a fleece: General appearance of a fleece: crimp, handle, and color.crimp, handle, and color.

Weathered tipsWeathered tipsAffects dyeingAffects dyeing

“Tippy” wool