MATTED WOOL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 280, 10 November 1931, Page 11

MATTED WOOL

LOSS TO THE SHEEP FARMER. Every sheep owner and wool buyer is familiar with the sight of a matted or “cotted” fleece, and such wool is in no sense good to deal with. These fleeces cannot be combed, as the staples refuse to bo opened out or to part each other’s company; hence they have to bo broken un by being wilted, or put through the “devil” this process disintegrating tho whole very quickly. Bur, such fleeces when broken up are still sadly deficient, and are never fit to bo used iu the ordinary way, and for regular made fabrics. These fleeces have always to be put to the “east” fleeces, and there to be used for something of a very secondary kind. The reason for this is that such wool is always badly grown; is usually rough in texture, even if off Merino sheep; is always tender, and there is a want of that life and vitality which is so essential in all wellgrown wool. When these characteristics are wanting, there is pronounced weakness and deficiency in the staple and stock.

The matting or cotting of tho sheep’s wool is one of the many disagreeable points connected with the. sheep-farm-ing industry, and always means a loss to the owner. The cause of this matting is interesting to inquire into. It is customary to lay tho blame upon wet weather, poor feed, or a hereditary tendency, but the real root of the evil lies in the failure of the sheep to produce a sufficient quantity of yolk, which acts as a lubricant or pomatum, and prevents the serrated edges of the fibre from interlocking and felting together. In individual cases the tendency may arise from any of the following causes:— 1. Poor-bred sheep are always more liable than well-bred ones, because tho hair is much coarser and the production or exudation of yolk up the core or pith of the fibre Is much less. This is especially noticeable when the sire is of poor breeding, and one that is a poor thriver should never be used.

In long-woolled sheep is is also moro noticeable than in Merinos or Southdowns, because the production of yolk in the short-woolled sheep is much greater in proportion than the longwoolled, and the fleece is more impervious to water, which is also a strongly predisposing agent. 2. As already said, wet weather may also influence and cause this, because it washes out tho yolk, which is more or less soluble in water, and this leaves tho fibre in a condition most ready to mat. The same thing applies to damp and marshy ground. If the sheep are washed too frequently, and at times and seasons when they cannot dry, the matting is almost sure to take place; but in these days fleece washing is a thing of the past, except among English farmers, who still river wash their sheep eight ' ■ ten days before shearing. 3 A poor feed has the same result, because a loss in condition means poverty of eoat. It is then that the fibre becomes dry, harsh, and brittle, there is not that soft, supple and elastic feel; and, in addition to this, the sheep will probably be more restless, so increasing the tendency to mat or f°lt. 4 If dipping has not been properly performed, and tho sheep are infected with vermin, ticks, scab and other skin diseases, it renders the sheep restless, and at the same time checks the production of yolk, and prevents it being evenly distributed over tho fleece. Careful attention to the food, health, and. shelter of sheep is therefore necessary, specially in these days when woolbuyers can pick and choose in almost any market in the world. Let the fleece be grown as near perfection as possible.