Preparation Steps for Wool Quality Improvement Step 1

Minimize Wool Contamination

Contamination in the domestic wool clip gives every U.S. sheep producer a bad image. Contamination lowers the overall yield or useful quality of the wool clip. Common sources of wool contamination: dirt, vegetable matter, paint, polypropylene twine, colored fibers, and tags.



The shearing area must be kept clean with frequent sweeping to reduce risk of contaminating freshly shorn fleeces.

Packaging/Labeling

Use only new and approved wool packaging materials. Used bags and packs contaminate wool and cause identification problems.



Properly label all wool packages for: grower name, line or type of wool, individual bag number, and classer number (when applicable).