What to do with sheep wool after shearing: processing at home

Meat and wool are equally significant sheep products, for which animals are bred all over the world. Sheep wool products are in constant demand, especially in cold regions. Sheep breeders must be able not only to feed and care for the herd, but also to receive and process woolen raw materials. Consider what to do with the wool of domestic sheep after shearing, so as not to lose a valuable product, to have a cost-effective production.

Types of wool raw materials

The value of sheep's wool is determined by its excellent spinning properties and the ability to turn into felt during processing. Breeds of sheep with different wool characteristics have been bred. The following types of raw materials are in demand:

1. Uniform coat. Dignity - the same type of fibers (down, transitional). From fine wool of merino and non-merino breeds, fine woolen threads are made for clothes, interiors, bed textiles, fine grinding.
2. Semi-thin. Obtained from semi-fine-fleeced sheep and crossbreeds. At the output of processing - fine-wool felt used in the shoe and clothing industry, when polishing.
3. Semi-rough. In the composition - awn, fluff, transitional fibers. They make felt for mechanical engineering, shoe making.
4. Rough. In the composition of all possible parts of the hairline of sheep. Given the timing of the haircut, the composition and quality vary. Rough wool is used to make technical felts.

Main characteristics of wool:

• fineness (fine-wool - from 25 microns and less);
• length;
• tortuosity.

Fine and semi-fine fleece sheep grow well in the Russian climate. Wool is always in demand, so private farms produce raw materials for sale or bring finished products to the market.

Features of sheep wool processing

Depending on the type of raw material obtained from sheep, the methods and features of processing are determined.

Fine rune direction

The thinnest fibers have a thickness of 10-14 microns, according to the standards of the direction - no more than 25 microns. In this case, the length varies between 75-100 millimeters. The raw material consists of one fluff, which has a white or close to white color. Such raw materials are obtained from sheep of fine-wool breeds:

• rambouillet;
• Merino Australian, Soviet;
• Kazakh;
• Krasnoyarsk;
• Stavropol.

New Zealand and Australian merinos demonstrate the highest quality of the fiber, their wool is considered a reference because of its elasticity (up to 20 thousand folds without breaking). Fine-wool raw materials are used for the manufacture of luxury clothing, the products are warm, delicate, light and soft.From one sheep per year, 4-6 kilograms of top quality wool are sheared.

Semi-fine rune direction

Semi-fine wool raw materials contain more hair than fluff. Raw material standard - 26-40 microns. Top Breeds:

• corriedale;
• half a wars;
• Lincoln;
• Romney March.

Not used for making premium clothes, wool is used for making felt.

Semi-coarse direction

The raw material contains a lot of transitional hair, in addition to fluff, there is also a non-rigid awn. Sheep belong to the meat and wool breeds, give a lot of fat. Representatives:

• Altai;
• Tajik;
• Armenian.

Wool is used in the production of blankets, carpets, felts. The highest quality types of this raw material are used in the manufacture of fabrics (Cheviot, Boston). Farmers should be aware that this direction of sheep breeding in Russia prevails, there may be problems with marketing.

Rough-haired direction

Karakul, smushkovy, Romanov sheep are representatives of the coarse wool direction. All wool is used without rejection, the composition of raw materials combines fluff and coarse hair of different colors. Sheep are bred for meat and milk, wool is not the main purpose of the breeds. The fibers are up to 60 microns across, coarse and hard.

They produce felt, which is in demand in industry and in the manufacture of shoes. Rough material has high strength, does not roll.

Processing tools

Sheep owners should provide on the farm equipment for obtaining and processing wool, as well as a dry warehouse for storage. For larger herds, mechanized shearing and handling methods are useful.

The simplest set of tools:

• clipper or scissors;
• combs made of wood;
• device for Chesky wool (carder);
• spindle, spinning wheel for making yarn;
• loom.

The processing of raw materials requires special skills, many small farms still do it by hand.

Sheep shearing

The time of cutting is chosen depending on the breed and the readiness of the coat. Ground rules:

• fine and semi-fine - spring, once a year;
• coarse and semi-coarse - spring, autumn (twice).

Fine wool breeds do not shed, so there is no hair loss. The time for a haircut is chosen when the coat after the winter becomes softer, fat accumulates.

Reference: the sheep herd is sheared before the start of the molt, so as not to lose part of the fleece.

For beginners at home, it is important to master the technique of shearing and the rules for handling sheep, so as not to spoil the wool and not harm the animal. Sequence:

• the sheep is laid on its side, the legs are tied;
• shorn from the abdomen and groin to the chest, the nipples are protected by hands;
• stray sections of wool are cut with scissors and removed so that they do not interfere with the manufacture of yarn;
• turn the sheep over, shear the other side;
• plant a sheep, hold the head, remove the wool from the back;
• the neck is cut from the head to the body.

The animal is released from the fetters, the trimmed material is sorted before primary processing and stored on a tarpaulin or a cleaned barn floor.

Further processing

After the haircut, perform:

• combing and cleaning from dirt;
• drying and frying until the characteristic odor is removed;
• wash, degrease, dry;
• comb and buff for softness and shine.

Then pure fleece is used to make thread (spin) or felt.

Automation of the production process

Hand processing is only possible with small amounts of wool. To mechanize the process, special equipment is used, which increases the cost of production, but helps to process a significant amount of raw materials and, as a result, makes the farm profitable.

Used for automation:

• line for washing and cleaning fleece from grease and impurities;
• machine for extracting tangles;
• washer and dryer;
• spinning machines;
• packers.

All devices can be connected with a conveyor and get an automated yarn manufacturing process. The initial investment pays off with the speed and quality of the final product.

How to choose the right breed

When choosing a breed for obtaining woolen raw materials, the cut from an individual, the quality of the resulting fleece are taken into account. Traditionally, fine-wool and semi-fine-wool sheep fiber is in high demand on the market. How much can you get per year per animal:

Soviet Merino 8-12Novokavkazskaya6-9Kuibyshevskaya Karakul Romney March

Breed	Annual cut in kilograms
Lincoln	6-10
Australian Altaic Ascanian	5-10 10-12 7-16
Mazaevskaya	6-12
5-6
3.5-5
8-9

Fleece of long-haired breeds is in demand on the market, the fibers have shine, high wear resistance. The Russian Longhair and Lincoln are valued for their softness and curly hairline. Lincoln sheep love coolness, grow well only under certain conditions. The output of the cleaned fleece is 55-60% of the weight of the cut.

Russian longhairs are less capricious in their care. They are distinguished by good he alth, unpretentious, give 3.5-6.5 kilograms of high-quality woolen raw materials.

You can get high-quality fleece from sheep of the Romney March, Kuibyshev, Tien Shan breeds. Sheep of hybrid species are distinguished by endurance, high-quality fine wool, undemanding food. Tien Shan sheep can forage all year round on pasture in warm regions.

How to Start a Sheep Wool Processing Business?

Business for the production and processing of woolen sheep raw materials can be organized in several ways:

1. Organization of own sheep farm and processing shop.
2. Procurement (reception from the population) of raw materials, primary processing, delivery to Russian factories or for export.
3. Mini raw material harvesting and processing plant for local sale.
4. Full-cycle plant with spinning capacity - in an area with a large number of sheep farms and the possibility of bulk purchase of raw materials.

The need of domestic factories for wool is great, raw materials of any quality are bought for different needs. The mini-factory (processing workshop) requires a small area, the number of workers is 5-30 people.

Tip: you can supplement the processing industry with lines for felting, making felt, spinning workshop.

Production of things

The far-sighted owners complement the small factories for processing raw materials with workshops for the manufacture of finished products. Handwork adds exclusivity to products, craftswomen create real masterpieces from felt, felt, knit unique products from spun thread. The following products are in demand:

• medical use - belts, insulation for joints, socks;
• handmade sets;
• blankets, blankets;
• felt winter shoes, outerwear;
• bath accessories;
• felt for making hats and other products;
• soft slippers.

Designer products are complemented with embroidery, decorated with beads. Fashion for natural materials is constantly growing. The obviousness of handmade, some simplicity of design and form do not spoil such items, but increase the cost.

Modern market trends

All types of sheep wool are in demand on the market, while sheep breeding in Russia is poorly developed. There are usually no problems with the sale of goods from sheep farms. The sale of finished products is always more profitable than the sale of raw materials, so the production of wool processing will be useful.

Own raw materials will increase the profitability of the mini-factory. Before creating a business, it is important to make sure that the final product is in demand, in demand in the market, its price will pay off the costs. The capacity of the plant must correspond to the quantity of raw materials (purchasing from outside).

When starting a wool processing business, you need to find suppliers of raw materials and buyers of finished products. Such factories pay off quickly in sheep-producing areas where farmers rent out wool. Own sheep farm will give the production permanent raw materials and the possibility of additional income from meat.

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