Just finished tearing through the house for the 5th time since reading your post.
I collected wool from all of my current sheep this year to have tested. I put them in a box, waiting for the wool of 2 new sheep I was getting. Can’t find it anywhere!! =(
Yeah, the registries all promote the historical micron size and the iffy use as orchard cleanup. Most Babydolls no longer have the fine wool, they became a pet breed and meat to some, so the wool was forgotten about. And many orchard owners have gotten upset out west with the sheep, since they assumed the sheep simply would not eat the leaves or stand on their hind legs, etc. Many people can keep them in orchards, but there’s rules and guidelines to it.
Anyway…This year is the first time I decided to try using their wool. I used to sell whole fleeces for free or very cheap. Their quality of wool has gone up a lot and now I sell it at a good price, still very low though. Some of my new sheep have bad wool and I’m hoping it’s grom feed and not genetics. I’ve bought others and when in my care, their wool improved. Have 2 from last year that their wool was blah, but better this year. Got 7 new ewes this year, all could improve some.
I took special care to get those samples…Really hope I find them…But can just wait for next year.
I’ve read that the micron count can be different year to year and that’s why most don’t bother to measure what their flock has.
