A980
Wool - Management and Harvesting

Wool Management:

Introduction: Wool is an annual crop and takes 365 days to produce. Because of the time it takes to produce, it must be managed for the entire 365 days. Properly managing wool requires that attention be given to the effects that climate, facilities, other livestock, and nutrition may have on the wool.

  1. Climate and Weather: Extremely wet, humid periods can cause disease and problems with the wool and skin. Severe extremes of cold or heat can also cause "stress" damage to the wool fibers. Special attention should also be given in the winter months when sheep may be in a drylot or small enclosed area where supplemental hay is being fed. Hay (vegetable matter), twine (poly plastic), and dirt are the main environmental factors that reduce the value of raw wool for further processing. These are all contaminants that cause significant price discounts at selling time.

  2. Facilities: Facilities such as barns, corrals, fences, chutes, etc. all have a bearing on management of the wool clip. Facilities or sheep housing can cause damage to the fiber if it is caught on splintered wood and painted surfaces. Poorly maintained facilities that have high levels of manure present can damage the fiber. Feces will stain the fleece and fiber, making it either difficult or impossible to dye a color by the processor.

  3. Livestock: When colored or blackfaced sheep are in the same flock with white, fine fleeced sheep, contamination of the white fibers with colored fibers can occur. Cattle, horses, hair goats, and other farm animals that share pastures, paddocks, watering, or feeding stations can also cause fiber contamination. Generally, it is recommended that other species of animals be kept away from sheep. Llamas and alpacas may be an exception when their presence is required in protecting sheep from predators like coyotes, wolves, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, feral dogs, and domestic dogs.

  4. Nutrition: Wool, like any other agricultural commodity, is grown as a crop; however, it is not cultivated in the soil directly, it is grown on an animal’s skin. The wool fiber has roots deep in the dermis that must be nourished and fed with nutrients, water, and oxygen. Like any crop that is not fed, fertilized, and watered at appropriate times, a reduction in crop (fiber) yields and quality (soundness) can result. If additional supplements are not supplied when nutrient deficiencies occur, poor and unsound wool production will be the end result. For nutrition information, refer to page B575.

* Additional factors that influence the quality of wool that is produced can be found on page A972.

Shearing:

Preparation of Sheep for Shearing: Clip preparation is an acquired skill, but not beyond the ability of most wool growers. No matter how well grown the wool is, poor management and sloppy practices at shearing can knock dollars off the wool price. Increased returns can be acquired by following simple rules:

  1. Mustering: Dust can spoil the brightness of good colored wools, thus lowering their prices. Avoid herding sheep over very dusty trails or roads prior to shearing. Whenever possible, avoid keeping sheep in dusty holding yards.

  2. Dirty Sheep: "Taggy" sheep contaminate other fleeces and are a nuisance in the shearing shed or trailer. Taggy sheep are ones that have a high amount of fecal material in the wool or dung locks. They contribute greatly to the loss of efficiency in shearing and wool handling. Taggy sheep should be cleaned up before being penned for shearing.

  3. Fecal Stains: Wool contaminated with feces lowers the class and the price paid for it. Sheep penned overnight must have the opportunity to empty out their intestinal contents beforehand. Be sure to hold them off feed and water at least 12 hours prior to shearing.

  4. Dryness of the Fleece: A fleece should be dry when it is shorn and packed or pressed in a bale. Wool shorn wet or damp will discolor. A good rule of thumb in deciding whether to proceed with shearing is by handling the shorn wool. Wool shorn too damp will become cold very quickly. Dry fleeces will remain warm for hours or even days.

  5. Drafting or Sorting: Sheep need to be separated by breeds or at least separated into "blackface" and "whiteface" groups. The wool from these different groups of sheep has different end uses and should not be sacked or baled together. Producers who purchase part of their flock on an annual basis from different sources or have sheep with different wool lengths are strongly advised to sort their sheep back into these groups prior to shearing. This allows those handling the shorn wool to package the wool according to lengths and breeds. Wool with mixed lengths and from different breeds is discounted in price.

Pre-shearing Check List:
  1. Adequate Labor - A rule of thumb is one hand per 175-200 sheep shorn per day.
  2. Adequate Space - The shearing floor should be at least 8 feet wide, with 5 feet or more between shearers.
  3. Clean Facility - The shearing area should be clean and all contaminants removed (straw, shavings, burrs, twine, etc.).
  4. Shed - If a shearing shed is used, make sure it has adequate light and ventilation.
  5. Equipment - Provide sacking stand, hydraulic baler, skirting table(s), wool bags, brooms, and tarps.
    6.
  6. Planning - Contact the intended shearer or shearing contractor frequently to set dates and discuss what materials they will supply or what the producer must provide.
  7. Classer/grader - If a classer or grader is to be used, provide him/her with full information prior to shearing. This would include the following:
    1. Any new sheep brought onto property since last shearing.
    2. Descriptions of all the sorted groups and whether stained wool has been removed (tagging).
    3. The order of groups to be shorn and any changes as they occur during shearing.
    4. Any special requirements for preparation of clip.

 

Sheep Management and Handling the Wool During Shearing:
  1. Shear as early in the spring as weather and availability of a shearer permits.  If weather or housing facilities permit, consider shearing before lambing.  This allows housing for more animals in a given space along with easier observation at lambing.  From the wool standpoint, it prevents the loss of wool by tagging or removing tail area and udder wool prior to lambing.  It also reduces the possibility of wool becoming stained.
  2. Take sheep off feed several hours prior to shearing.  A full stomach contributes to animal discomfort during handling and shearing.  In the case of pregnant ewes close to lambing, a full stomach at shearing can be dangerous to the well being of ewes and unborn lambs.
  3. All persons involved in handling the sheep should be in reasonably good physical condition before the shearing season begins.
  4. Shear only sheep that have dry wool. Wet fleeces are not only difficult to shear, but will mold and deteriorate in quality if improperly handled.
  5. Shear sheep only on a dry, clean area such as a concrete or wooden floor. Frequently, a canvas or tarp can be spread over the floor, ground, or corner of the shearing pen area to help provide a clean surface. An 8 x 8 foot wooden shearing floor can also be used. This type of floor provides shearer comfort and is easy to clean.  This can be made of two, 4 x 8 foot, 1/2 inch plywood sheets on a 2 x 3 or 2 x 4 frame.  Sweep the shearing area floor after each sheep to provide a clean shearing surface for the next animal.  This will prevent the fleece from picking up chaff, dirt, or other material.
  6. Handle sheep gently to avoid injury to both sheep and handler:
    1. Catch each sheep in flank area and hold on to the skin under the chin.
    2. Lead each sheep carefully with left hand under the chin and right hand on the dock.
    3. Set the sheep up gently on its rump.
    4. Hold each sheep carefully while shearing to help reduce struggling.
  7. Remove straw and/or dirt that is hanging on the fleece prior to shearing. Frequently sweep bedding and droppings from the shearing floor.
  8. Learn the new shearing technique (the Australian patented method) thoroughly. Each blow (stroke) is important and should be done in a specific location. It should also be completed in the proper sequence of blows.
  9. Cut each wool fiber close to the skin and avoid "second cuts" (going over the same area twice). Fleeces can be "sweated-out" prior to shearing to help reduce second cuts. Sweating out means to place a group of sheep in an enclosed area and let the body heat cause the wool grease to heat.
  10. Keep the fleece intact during the shearing process to facilitate tying or packing in baler.
  11. Remove all dark fibers, leg hair, fecal tags, and paint brands from the fleece before tying or baling. Belly wool and tags, and all off-color, burry, seedy, cotted, stained or dead wool should be handled and bagged separately.
  12. Every sheep producer should know how to properly skirt, roll, and tie a fleece.  A properly prepared fleece (the saleable product) helps create a favorable impression on the buyer or grader.  Throw the fleece flesh side down, on either the shearing floor or a skirting table, so the dirty outer edge of the fleece faces up.  Remove off-color wool, such as wool from legs, and solid wool, such as tags from around the breach. Other contaminated areas and very short or matted wool should also be removed.  Then roll the two sides of the fleece in toward the middle and roll the fleece from one end to the other.  The flesh side will now face out, creating a clean attractive package.  See page A988 for additional details about skirting.
  13. Pack fleeces either tied or loose in regulation wool bags.  These bags are available from supply houses, wool buyers, or pool managers.  Do not pack fleeces in plastic grain or trash bags. This can trap moisture in fleeces and can cause the fleece to mold.  If such bags must be used, keep the tops open to allow moisture to escape.  Most grain bags are made in part from fiberglass, a major contamination source in fleeces.  Avoid them, if possible.  If not, turn them inside out to minimize loose fiberglass contaminating a fleece.
  14. If tying the fleece is practiced, use only official paper twine. Absolutely NO BALER TWINE, PLASTIC CORDS, WIRE, etc.! All twines other than paper are considered CONTAMINANTS and the price paid for the wool will be discounted appropriately!
  15. After packing or baling the shorn wool, store it in a clean, dry area that is protected from water, dust, and rodents. Wool marketing is seasonal in nature.  Wool is perishable and will pick up moisture, so it must be properly packed and stored to remain in good condition until sold.  This process is often overlooked at shearing time.

Summary: Using the above principles, even the smallest wool grower can produce a high quality fleece for sale. Dissatisfaction in marketing wool to local buyers has brought about the development of wool pools. Pooled wool offered on a volume basis is more attractive to buyers and gets a higher price because it saves the buyer time and money.