The document provides an overview of wool, its types, and its properties, detailing the significance of sheep as the primary source. It distinguishes various types of wool fibers, such as fine wool and carpet wool, while also explaining the qualities that make wool desirable, including its moisture absorption and durability. Additionally, it introduces specialty fibers from different animals and includes a glossary of terms related to wool processing and production.

1. Introduction to wool
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2. INTRODUCTION
 Wool is one of the important products obtained from
sheep.
 Wool is the thick, wavy and fibrous protective covering of
the sheep.
 It mainly consists of insoluble protein called keratin,
containing sulphur containing amino acid, cysteine.
 In comparison to hair, it is more elastic, flexible and curly.
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3. Important fibers from different species
Sl. No Fibres Species
1 Wool Sheep, rabbit
2. Pashmina, Cashmere
down
Goat
3. Mohair Angora goat
4 Kashgora Angora x Feral doe (Mohair x
Cashmere)
5. Fur (pelt) Karakul, Persian lamb
6. Shahtoosh Tibetan Antelope(chiru)
7. Bristles pigs
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4. North Temperate
North- Western
Arid and Semi-
Arid
Southern Eastern
Bhakarwal (CW)
Changthangi (CW)
Gaddi (CW)
Gurez (CW)
Kamah (AW)
Kashmir Merino (AW)
Poonchi (CW)
Rampur Bushair (CW)
Chokla (CW)
Hissardale (AW)
Jaisalmeri (MCW)
Jalauni (MCW)
Kheri (MCW)
Magra (CW)
Malpura (MCW)
Marwari (MCW)
Muzaffarnagari
(MCW)
Nali (CW)
Patanwadi (CW)
Pugal (MCW)
Sonadi (MCW)
Munjal (M)
Bellary (MCW)
Coimbatore (MCW)
Daccani (M)
Hassan (M)
Kanguri (M)
Kilakarsal (M)
Madras Red(M)
Mandya (M)
Mecheri (M)
Nellore (M)
Nilgiri (AW)
Rammand White
(M)
Tiruchy Black(M)
Vembur (M)
Balangir (MCW)
Bonpala (MCW)
Chottanagpuri
(MCW)
Ganjam (MCW)
Garole (M)
Tibetan (CW)
Source: Arora, et al. 2007 (AW)-Apparel wool; (CW)-Carpet wool;
(MCW)-Mutton and Carpet wool; (M)- Mutton
Breeds of Sheep in different agro-ecological regions in India
and their major products
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5. Sheep vary considerably in the
type of wool they produce.
Fine wool from Merino Carpet wool from a Karakul
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6. The term wool refers to the whole fleece, which
contain mainly three types of fibres.
Fleece- Fibre coat that covers the sheep
1.Fine wool fibres generally have no medulla or hollow core
and keep on growing, e.g. Merino fibre has no medulla.
2.Hairs are continuously growing long fibres with medulla in
part of their length.
3.Kemps are coarse as well as short fibres having medulla
throughout their length.
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7. QUALITIES OF WOOL
1. Wool is porous and will absorb moisture more readily than any
other textile fiber.
2. It can absorb as much as 18% of its own weight in moisture
without even feeling damp.
3. Wool generates heat.
4. It is a superior insulator keeping the heat of the body from
escaping and the cold air from entering.
5. Wool is light.
6. It is very elastic, the average fiber will stretch 30% of its normal
length and still spring back in shape.
7. Dye stuffs are less likely to fade.
8. It is durable.
9. It is almost non-flammable. It will stop burning almost as soon as
it is taken away from flame.
10.It can be felted or matted easily.
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8. Specialty fibers with respect to processing
industry
Angora wool: is from the Angora rabbit. This soft fiber is used in
sweaters, mittens and baby clothes.
Mohair: is from the Angora goat and is highly resilient and
strong. Mohair is used in home decorating fabrics as well as
garment fabrics.
Alpaca fleece: is very rich and silky with considerable luster. It
comes from the Alpaca.
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9. Glossary of terms of wool processing
1. Apparel wool: very fine wool suitable for manufacture into
apparel fabrics.
2. Bale: A highly compressed package of either greased or
scoured wool.
3. Blood grade: It is used to describe the proportion of Merino
(fine wool) breeding represented in a fleece.
4. Britch or breech wool: Wool from the hindquarters of
sheep, usually the coarsest wool in the fleece.
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10. 5. Staple length:-It is the total length of a fiber
in its natural condition. It is obtained by
measuring the natural staple without stretching
the crimps out of the fibre.
6. Fiber length:-It is the total length of a wool fiber after
removing the crimps or waviness by straightening it.
7. Crimpiness: - It refers to the waviness of the wool fiber. Its
number varies from 2 to 12 per cm depending upon the quality.
It is a valuable property in spinning and increases the elasticity
of the yarn and fabric. Crimps are more pronounced in fine
wool.
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11. 9. Carbonizing: A chemical process used to remove excessive
vegetable matter (VM), such as burrs and twigs from wool.
10. Clip: One or more fleeces, one season's production of wool
from a common source.
11. Combing: A process in which long fibers are laid relatively
parallel and short fibers / (noil) are removed.
12. Heavy wool: Wool with a high proportion of impurities,
especially sand and dirt. A low yielding wool.
13. Kemp: Opaque, highly medulated wool fibers that shed
periodically, considered a serious defect.
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12. 14: Shearing/clipping: Removal of fleece from the sheep.
15. Luster: A natural gloss or shine caused by light reflection,
typical in mohair or wool from the long wool breeds.
16. Pelt: The skin of sheep, including the wool.
17. Pulled wool: Wool pulled from the skin of slaughtered
sheep.
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13. Scouring: The process of removing grease, soil, and suint,
usually by washing in hot water and detergent. A mild alkali is
added in some situations.
Fellmongering: Removing wool from sheep through the use
of chemicals (sodium sulphide).
Skirting: A procedure where the less valuable parts of fleeces,
such as bellies, stained pieces, sweat locks and neck wool, are
removed from fleece.
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14. Sorting: Breaking a fleece into part or sorts based primarily on
fineness and length.
Wool grease: A complex mixture of esters secreted by the
sebaceous (wax) glands in the skin of sheep.
Crutchings: Wool removed from the area around the dock
and/or udder of sheep.
Felting: The property of wool fibers to interlock when agitated
in warm, moist conditions. This property results in wool fabrics
that shrink when washed in machines if not treated to resist
felting.
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15. Yield: The proportion of clean wool (at standard conditions)
present in a given amount of grease wool.
Yolk: A combination of sweat salts and wool grease (waxes)
deposited on wool from the sweat and wax glands in the skin
of sheep.
Raw wool or grease wool: Such wool contains not only
grease but impurities of mineral, vegetable origin and suint.
Shrinkage: The difference between clean and grease wool is
called shrinkage. This depends on the breed of sheep,
nutrition, the type of soil and so on. The buyer estimates the
shrinkage and pays for clean wool only.
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16. •Thanks
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