The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 52

Sheep

EXPERT ADVICE ON EXHIBITING SHOW FLEECES
»»Many wool producers
will soon be entering fleeces
in Fleece competitions and
live sheep in Wool on the Hoof
competitions. BWMB’s Wool
Marketing Manager Stephen
Spencer advises:
“For Fleece competitions,
good wool presentation starts
with shearing - fleeces should
be shorn from the sheep in
one piece then rolled and
presented correctly, avoiding
contamination from other
materials, including from other
fleeces, particularly those
from different breeds. Fleeces
should be wrapped skin-side
out for all breeds except
Scottish Blackface, Rough
Fell and Herdwick, which are
wrapped staple-side out.
“Having removed any
daggings, fold the sides of the
fleece in and roll from the britch

end up to the neck. Keep the
fleece as tight as possible and
make a couple of twists with
the neck wool to tuck inside
the fleece to hold it together.
This helps with handling and
avoids broken wool which is
a lower value. Fleeces should
always be rolled on a clean, dry
surface and only best should be
selected for competition.”
Each fleece should be in
the correct class and meet
show requirements. “Fleeces
should be from that season’s
clip and should NEVER be

tied with any form of string or
nylon baler twine which can
cause untold damage if it gets
through to the manufacturing
process undetected. Judges
can disqualify tied fleeces.
Fleeces should never be
washed between shearing and
the show but should ALWAYS
be shown in their natural state:
greasy and as clean and free of
contamination as possible.
Fleece selection should also
ensure the fleece matches up
to the characteristics of the
breed or cross it is from.

“Fleeces should also be of
even length, quality, colour and
styl H][