JUDGING WOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2885, 24 October 1895, Page 3

JUDGING WOOL.

The finest and softest wool is always on the shoulders of the sheep. An export in judging sheep always looks at the wool on the shoulders first. A writes of experience in rearing fine- woollod sheep and in handling gives tne following suggestions for selecting a good-woolled sheep ; —“Always assuming that the wool to be inspected is really fine, we first examine the shoulders as a part where the finest wool is to be found. This we take as a standard, and compare it with the wool on the ribs, the thigh, the rump, and the shoulder parts, and the nearer the wool from the various portions of the animal approaches the standard the better. First we scrutinise the fineness, and if the result is satisfactory we pronounce the fleece in respect of fineness even. Next we sorutinise the length of the staple, and if we find that the wool on the ribs, thigh, and back approximates favorably in length to that of our standard we again declare the fleece as regards the length of staple ‘ true and even.’ We next satisfy ourselves as to the density of the fleece, and we do this by closing the hands upon a portion of the ramp and loin wool, these points being usually the thinnest and most faulty. If this again gives satisfaction we designate all the wool ‘ even as to density.’ Now, to summarise these separate examinations: If the fleece is nearly of equal length on the shoulder, rib, and back, and density on the rump and across the loin, we conclude that we have a perfect sheep for producing valuable wool.”