DECEMBER 2018 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Wool classifying can add value


to sheep flocks Wool is a versatile material, not just a textile fibre


by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER


PENDER ISLAND – A group of 16 sheep producers and wool enthusiasts came together for the first wool classification course in BC, taught by Lisa Surber, wool education coordinator for the American Sheep Industry Association. But it wasn’t all about wool. “To stay in the fibre


business, you have to sell lamb,” says Surber. “In Canada, most of the income comes from lamb. Driving the sale of lamb is important to build the sale of wool.” The course aimed to


improve wool education for producers and fibre enthusiasts, and the overall quality and economic value of the Canadian wool clip. Participants came to


Pender Island from around BC and the US for the course, held October 25-27. Two local farmers who provided sheep for the shearing


demonstration and hands-on wool classification also participated.


The course was organized


by Charlene Thompson, a wool enthusiast who saw a need and way to support the growing interest in local fibre and the new mill in the Saanich Peninsula. Surber is a certified wool- classing instructor who has offered this curriculum across the US. She emphasized the potential for increasing the value of BC and Canadian wool, including diversifying into non-textile products. Surber was born in


Medicine Hat and attended Montana State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, a master’s in


ruminant nutrition, and a doctorate in forage genetics. She worked in the wool lab at MSU for seven years. She took every opportunity “to see more wool,” becoming a level 4 wool classer by visiting ranches and farms in her spare time to practice her classifying skills. “A wool classer is a


professional who provides expertise to growers, shearers and wool marketing agencies, following an industry- accepted code of practice in the preparation of wool and sorting by quality,” says Surber. Pieter DeMooy was the


shearer for the course. DeMooy trained in Australia and New Zealand and has sheared for 40 years. He understands how a sheep should be managed prior to shearing, and how to quickly and accurately shear a sheep with few “second cuts," which can result in downgrading of a fleece. He handles the sheep humanely so as to minimize stress to the animal. He shared this information, and more, with the class. “There was a unanimous sense that those in the workshop had the ability to make positive change in the Canadian wool market,” says Thompson. “Dr. Surber made it a point to acknowledge the smaller, more specific Canadian market while informing on the state and status of the American market. We were all encouraged that we have a role to play – something valuable to contribute.” Surber emphasized the


importance of supporting the entire sheep industry. “There has been infrastructure loss. Only 40%


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Lisa Surber demonstrated how to skirt a freshly shorn fleece during a workshop on Pender Island this fall. CHARLENE THOMPSON PHOTO


of domestic demand for lamb is met,” she says. “Ask for local lamb. Join sheep organizations as associate members. It is so important to support national, provincial and regional sheep organizations even if you don’t have sheep.” Given that a lot of BC wool ends up being used as mulch due to the low global price of coarser wools and the emphasis on meat production, some question whether it is worth improving wool quality and classifying wool before it is shipped or


sold. With fine-wooled breeds, the wool cheque can pay the feed bill, according to Surber. “If you can find a way to engage a company or direct market, step your game up to get a premium price. All wool has value,” she says. Options to explore include


non-textile wool products such as felting around new trees, as well as for roadside reclamation projects and erosion prevention. Pelleted wool can be a garden amendment or used as insulation, while wool booms


can help clean up oil spills. “Ninety per cent of the


Canadian wool clip is exported to six countries, led by China,” says Surber. “In California, 1% of the wool clip is worth 10% of the value because it is prepared and classified locally, aiming for a specialty market.”


Surber added that sheep should be promoted more as part of a multi-species improvement enterprise, given their role in controlling noxious weeds and reducing forest fire risk through grazing.


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