Tips For Wool Handling

While the wool market is a little uncertain at this time, we as producer want to strive to package the best clip possible. Here are a few tips you may consider implementing.

Proper Wool Handling

Proper harvesting, packaging, and storage of the wool is important to realize the full value of the wool clip. Since wool sales represent a very small portion of the gross returns for most sheep enterprise, wholesale changes to the genetics of the flock to improve fiber diameter and fleece weight are likely not justified for most Mid-Atlantic producers. However, there are several important steps that should be considered to maximize the value of the wool clip:

A. Minimize Contamination:

1. Keep shearing area clean and free of straw/hay and
    other potential sources of contamination.
2. Avoid use of plastic baler twine in sheep operation that
    may contaminate fleeces (this contamination occurs
    throughout the year, not just at shearing time).
B. Use Proper Packaging Material:
1. Do not use plastic feed sacks to store or package wool.
2. Plastic film bags are available and preferred. Points to
    consider with plastic film bags:
a. Sheep need to be dry when sheared. Plastic bags will not
    breathe as well as jute bags (more possibility for wool to
    mold and rot).
b. Plastic film bags will tear easier when handled.
c. Tie plastic film bags shut in similar manner to jute bags.
3. Store wool in dry place, avoid cement or dirt floors to
    prevent moisture uptake.
C. Sort Wool at Shearing Time
1. Shear white-face sheep first, blackface sheep last to
    avoid contamination of white-faced wool with black
    fibers.
2. Package lamb and ewe wool separate.
3. Remove tags at shearing and discard.
4. Sort belly wool and bag separately. Also sort wool caps
    and leg wool out if justified.
5. Off-type fleeces (black, high vegetable matter, etc.) as
    well as belly wool should be packaged first in a small
    plastic garbage bag or paper sack. The small bag may
    then be added to the large polyethylene film bag. The
    small bag serves to keep these wools separate and
    prevents them from contaminating other fleeces already

    packaged, and results in a more uniform lot of wool.

6. Do not tie wool with paper twine.