🧶 Wool & Fibre: The Complete Guide for UK Sheep Farmers

🧶 Wool & Fibre: The Complete Guide for UK Sheep Farmers

🧶 Wool & Fibre: The Complete Guide for UK Sheep Farmers

From fleece on the sheep to fibre in the marketplace, wool has an incredible journey. Whether you’re a smallholder or running a large flock, understanding wool types, grading, storage, and selling can hugely improve the value of your clip. Here’s a complete breakdown of everything you need to know.

1️⃣ Different Types of Wool and What They’re Used For

Not all wool is created equal — different sheep produce fibre suited to different industries.

Fine Wool (e.g., Merino, Saxon, Rambouillet)

  • Soft, thin fibres (below 22 microns)

  • Used for next-to-skin clothing, base layers, premium knitwear

Medium Wool (e.g., Corriedale, Romney, Lleyn)

  • Stronger fibre, 25–35 microns

  • Used for sweaters, blankets, socks, upholstery

Longwool (e.g., Lincoln, Wensleydale, Cotswold)

  • Long, lustrous curls

  • Highly prized for hand-spinning, weaving, rugs, artisan crafts

Hill & Mountain Wool (e.g., Swaledale, Herdwick)

  • Coarse, durable, weather-resistant

  • Used for carpets, insulation, felt, mattress filling

Hair or Shedding Breeds (Dorper, Wiltshire Horn)

  • Little usable wool

  • Fibre often discarded or used only for mulch or compost

Each type has a market — the key is knowing how to present and sell yours.

2️⃣ How Wool Is Graded in the UK

Wool grading is essential for determining value. The British Wool Board uses the following standards:

Key Grading Factors

  • Breed type – each breed has a standard grade

  • Micron / fibre thickness – finer = higher value

  • Staple length – long, even staples make processing easier

  • Colour – bright white sells best; yellow/dingy lowers price

  • Vegetable matter – brambles, seeds, hay = lower grade

  • Condition – no dags, no sweat-fragile tips, no felted patches

British Wool Grades (Examples)

  • AA / A – top grade (fine, clean, long staples)

  • B – good quality, minor faults

  • C / D – coarser, shorter, or vegetable matter present

  • Specialty Grades – Wensleydale, Teeswater, Herdwick etc.

Grading ensures farmers receive fair payment based on the true quality of their clip.

3️⃣ What Happens to Wool After Shearing?

The wool industry has a fascinating process from field to finished product.

Step-by-Step Journey

  1. Fleeces are skirted – dirty edges removed

  2. Rolled and packed into wool sheets on shearing day

  3. Transported to British Wool depots

  4. Graded and sorted by experts

  5. Washed and scoured – lanolin extracted

  6. Carded and combed into smooth fibre

  7. Spun into yarn

  8. Used in:

    • Clothing

    • Carpets

    • Upholstery

    • Insulation

    • Craft wool

    • Bedding

    • Felt products

Very little wool is wasted — even belly wool and short fibres have industrial uses.

4️⃣ Why British Wool Matters

British wool is globally respected for sustainability, traceability, and durability.

Key Reasons It’s Important

  • 100% natural & biodegradable — unlike synthetic fibres

  • Renewable annually — sheep grow a new fleece every year

  • Supports UK farmers through fair pricing

  • High welfare standards

  • Ideal for carpets and insulation due to durability

  • Heritage breeds produce famous fibres like Herdwick and Wensleydale

  • Reduces landfill waste and microplastics

Supporting British wool helps preserve ancient breeds, rural jobs, and the environment.

5️⃣ How to Store and Sell Your Wool for Best Price

Storing Wool Correctly

  • Keep fleeces dry and well-ventilated

  • Avoid plastic bags (causes sweating and mould)

  • Use wool sheets or breathable sacks only

  • Store off the floor to avoid damp

  • Keep away from rodents

  • Do NOT store near strong-smelling chemicals (contamination risk)

Selling Options in the UK

  1. British Wool (BW)

    • Most common route

    • Graded professionally

    • Pooled pricing

  2. Direct-to-spinner sales

    • Hand spinners pay a premium for:

      • Longwool

      • Rare breeds

      • Clean, well-skirted fleeces

  3. Farm shops & local craft fairs

    • Great for small flocks

  4. Online marketplaces

    • Etsy

    • eBay

    • Facebook groups (Wool & Fibre Crafts)

    • Rare Breed marketplaces

Tips to Increase Wool Value

✔ Keep sheep dry before shearing
✔ Crutch/tag before clipping
✔ Avoid contamination (twine, hay, dirt)
✔ Separate different breeds
✔ Roll fleeces neatly, cut side out