a national information resource for value-added agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

Wool


Overview


Shorn wool production in the United States was approximately 33 million pounds of greasy wool in 2008, down 5 percent from 2007. U.S. wool output, in general, is about half the amount compared to 10 years ago. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 4.43 million head, down 5 percent from 2007. The top states for wool production are Texas, California and Wyoming.

The average price paid for wool in 2008 was 99 cents per pound, with a total value of $32.5 million, up 7 percent from $30.2 million in 2007.

While lamb meat production has grown during the past 20 years, U.S. wool production per animal has remained fairly constant. The average wool output per animal is 7.43 pounds over multiple shearings.  March 2009 ... Wool


Marketing


Processing/Manufacturing

Production

  • Montana Farm Flock Sheep Production Handbook (or pdf), Montana State University - This handbook provides chapters on sheep selection, breeding, reproduction, nutrition and flock management. It discusses breed selection as it relates to wool.
  • Sheep and Goat Fund, National Livestock Producers Association - A revolving fund for sheep and goat businesses to further the development of value-added products.
  • Sustainable Sheep Production, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), 2000 - This site provides information related to sustainable sheep production. The topics include breed selection, grazing, pasture lambing, alternative health management and innovative marketing ideas for wool and lamb products.

Businesses/Case Studies


Links checked March 2009.

 

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