ANSC: Chapter 6-Notes: Wool and Mohair

Figure 6.2: Cross-section of a medullated wool fiber
- Demonstrates a wool fiber with a medulla (central canal) within the fiber structure
Figure 6.4: Preparation steps for wool quality improvement
- Outlines the sequence of activities or considerations to improve wool quality prior to processing
Figure 6.6: Skirting the fleece
- Refers to trimming or removing unsuitable fleece portions to improve overall wool quality
Figure 6.8: Cross-section of magnified wool fibers demonstrating the wool grades based on fiber diameter measured in microns
- Indicates that wool grades are defined by fiber diameter in microns (μm)
- Emphasizes the importance of micron measurement in classifying wool quality

Table 6.1: Market Grades of Wool and Breeds of Sheep That Produce These Grades of Wool
- Provides a correlation between wool market grades and the sheep breeds that produce them
- Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Table 6.2: World Production of Greasy Wool
- Key point: Major producing countries include Australia, China, New Zealand, and Great Britain, which together account for about 50% of world production
- Source: USDA and FAO; adapted data
Figure 6.9: Sheep being shorn for their yearly production of wool
- Visual representation of the shearing process and volume of wool produced annually
- Angora Goat!

Table 6.4: Leading States for Greasy Wool Production
- Identifies top states in the U.S. by greasy wool production
- Source: USDA, NAS S (National Agricultural Statistics Service)
Figure 6.10: Annual U.S. wool production—clean basis
- Data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC); used with permission

Wool anatomy matters: understanding follicle structure and the components of wool fibers informs processing and quality assessments
Fiber diameter (microns) is a key determinant of wool grade; grades are visually validated via magnified cross-sections
Quality improvement and skirting are standard pre-processing steps to enhance value and uniformity of wool
Global production is heavily concentrated in a few countries (Australia, China, New Zealand, Great Britain) contributing about half of world greasy wool supply
U.S. production has declined over the 1990–2017 window in headcount and clean basis mass, with prices fluctuating across years; latest data show a gradual decline in shorn production and varying domestic prices
Leading states and annual clean-basis production figures help track regional production patterns and market supply
Clean wool prices to mills provide critical input for producer planning and profitability