So, you have decided you want to enter some of your fleeces
in a wool competition, but are unsure which ones to select
and what the judge will be looking for.  Some fleeces look
stunning on shearing day, but on closer inspection faults
become evident.  Well, better to find them at home than the
judge picking them out at the competition.

 

Let's examine what we need to be looking for at home, when  deciding which fleeces to enter.

Soundness is really important.  Strength is one of wool's key
characteristics. How strong is the actual fibre?  Grip a small
lock of wool at both ends and pull.  If the fibres don't break,
the wool is sound. If you hold the wool up beside your ear
when pulling, there may be a crackling sound but the fibre
doesn't break.  This is "tenderness" in the fibre, which could
make the fleece less sound.  Many things can cause
unsoundness in the wool, but usually it some kind of stress
on the animal sometime during the year.  This could be
lambing, illness or changes in feed.  A fleece that is unsound
can be processed, but is not suitable for competition.

 Next, is the cleanliness of the fleece.  This is probably the
biggest issue we have with wool.  In colder climates, we feed
our sheep for six months a year and the other half they are
on pasture.  Vegetable matter or chaff gets into the fleece,
significantly degrading its value.  There are various ways of
feeding the animals that reduces a buildup of vegetable
matter, or one can cover the animals with coats. The
presence of burrs, dags (pieces of manure) and stains from
urine or manure will reduce the fleece's value.  Much of this
can be removed when the fleece is skirted.
 "Handle" refers to the feel of the wool.  A good fleece will
have great resilience and softness, fineness, length and is
pleasing to touch.  This is based on breed specific
characteristics.

 Staple length is very important especially for wool destined
for the commercial markets where the wool is processed
using machinery.  Uneven fibres can result in waste or the
need for different machines.  Samples of wool gathered from
across the fleece are measured for evenness of length.  For
most shows, a minimum of two inches staple length is
required to enter a fleece.

 Crimp refers to the natural waviness of the wool fibre.  This
is a breed specific characteristic.  Fine wool breeds have
more crimps per inch than the down (medium) or longwool
breeds.  Crimp should be obvious the full length of the fibre.  

 Uniformity across the entire fleece is important. Judges will
select samples from at least three different areas of a fleece
for each judging category.  For this reason, skirting the
fleece to remove kemp or hairy areas from the hind legs, any
black hairs on a white fleece, marker paint, stains and belly
wool is important to present the best fleece.

Finally, all fleeces are weighed.  The fleece must fall within
the breed characteristic for fleece weights.  

 Most judges will also give their general impressions of each
fleece, which are recorded on the judging card.  These
comments are very helpful in preparing fleeces for
subsequent competitions or for sale.  

 Selection of fleeces for competition can be challenging  but
competing with your fleeces can also bring you much higher
returns for your wool than you ever expected.  There are
niche markets for all kinds of wool and breeds of sheep, so it
is worth the effort to explore where the demand may be and
possibly a different way to market your wool. 

 The next article will discuss the process of skirting a fleece
for competition.