1. Wools qualities Insulation warmth or cooling Fire retardant Durable Fashion and synthetics

2. Why wool? Military use in uniforms Superwash eliminates itch and shrink eliminates itch scales on wool fiber helps hold spun yarn together ASI purchase and installed superwash in Chargeurs Wool USA in Jamestown, S.C

3. Wool travels As Robert Chesebro, president of Wigwam Mills Inc., put it, “Before the superwash process was re-introduced into the United States last year, American wool top had to be shipped to China (7,227 miles) to be treated, then to England (5,070 miles) and finally to South Carolina (4,094) before it could be manufactured into socks.” Jan 2012

4. Wool Grading systems Blood Spinning Micron SD Fine64, 70, 80 20.6-17.7 4.1-5.2 Half blood60, 62 24.9-22.1 5.9-6.5 3/8 blood56, 58 27.8-24.9 7.1-7.6 ¼ blood50, 54 27.9-31.0 8.2-8.7 Lo ¼46, 48 31.1-34.4 9.1-9.6 Common40, 44 34.4-38.1 10.1-10.7 Braid36 38.1 11.2 25,400 micron equal an inch

5. Length Grade StapleFrenchClothing Fine2.751.25-2.75 <1.25 Half3.01.5-3.0 <1.50 3/8s3.252.25-3.25 <2.25 Quarter3.5 <3.5 Lo ¼4 <4.0 Braid5+ <5.0

6. Yield World pricing is based on clean fiber Yields, 40-60% Coarser wools are higher Cleaner are higher

7. Wool Coring All wool is bought on objective measurement in territory states and AU and NZ. Farm flock states, grease basis on visual appraisal white versus black ½ blood versus rest

8. Grading system Based on what the wool can be used for. Strength Color Woolen vs clothing Contamination paint poly

9. Shearing day Off feed and water 8-12 hours Dry, Dry Dry Adequate space and help and light 20 per hour is normal shearing rate Classing, skirting, bellies in or out Tying fleeces

10. Shearing day Wool bagging. Manual stomped bag Hydraulic sack stuffer Baler

11. Shearing day White face first Black face last Ewe lambs first Biosecurity