WOOL TYPE 409 



Quality.— The wool type of sheep possesses an unusual 

 degree of refinement. This is natural, however, considering 

 the purpose of the animal. Naturally an animal producing 

 a fine quality of wool would show correlated characteristics 

 in other respects. While smaller, more angular, and less 

 symmetrical than the mutton type, these animals possess 

 unusual quality. The head is clear cut, the bone fine, the 

 skin soft and pink, and the hair of fine quality where it 

 appears on the animal. 



A close examination of the fleece on a fine-wool sheep 

 will indicate the possession of these attributes. The close- 

 crimp, soft, compact nature of the fleece is indicative of 

 correlated qualities otherwise. Other than the points men- 

 tioned the wool sheep is judged largely the same as the 

 mutton animal. The fleece should be given first considera- 

 tion, mutton-producing qualities being secondary. 



Fleece Characteristics. — The fleece of the fine-wool breeds 

 is shorter, finer and denser than the wool grown on any other 

 breed. The term fine wool is significant of quality as related 

 to fineness. As extreme length and fineness are antagonistic, 

 the fleece on the fine-wool breeds is comparatively short. 

 The staple usually ranges from two to three inches in length 

 having a close crimp and being very dense, meaning tech- 

 nically a large number of fibers per square inch. It contains 

 an excessive amount of yolk, scoured wool often shrinking 

 as much as 60 per cent, or more of its original weight. 



The fieece of the fine-wool breeds completely covers the 

 body from the muzzle extremity to the pasterns. Absence 

 of wool over any part is seriously objectionable. The area 

 or surface for prodiicing wool has been materially increased 

 by the development of the folds' or wrinkles over the body. 

 These folds are excessively developed in the American 

 Merino, less so in the Delaine, with the fewest number 

 appearing in the Eambouillet. The fineness and density 

 of the fleece ranks in the same order, the American Merino 

 producing the finest and the Rambouillet the coarsest wool 

 of the three breeds. 



In judging fine wools, the length, crimp, density, distribu- 

 tion, lustre, soundness and condition should all be carefully 



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