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Having histograms done prior to shearing is helpful for doing a basic
farm sort and grade during shearing. Shearing sheep in order from light to
dark and within a colour, from fine to coarse, helps to avoid cross
contamination of fleeces. Having samples tested ahead of time helps set up
the shearing order. |
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Samples may also be taken during shearing. One easy way can be set up
while the sheep are waiting to be sheared. Wrap a handful of fleece
located at the correct point on each animal with a brightly coloured
elastic. This elastic and fleece can be plucked out of the shorn fleece
when it is on the skirting table. Check with your shearer for their
preferred method of sampling. |
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Samples can also be taken from the fleece when it is set out on the
skirting table for skirting but it may be a bit harder to judge the exact
point to sample. |
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Samples may be taken from one point (usually midside), from several
points (shoulder, midside and hip or britch), or from a large number of
points (grid sample) on one animal. Testing several samples gives a more
accurate picture of the consistency of the overall fleece than does
sampling at one point only. |
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In midside sampling, only one area of the fleece is selected for
testing. The idea is not to take the best fleece, but to take a sample
that will give a reasonable representation of the whole fleece. Taking the
sample too high or too low or too far back or forward on the animal may
give a misleading result. The lab you choose for testing may have a
specific protocol to follow for sampling. |
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When sampling, consider taking enough fibre for two samples. Keep half
of the fibre for your own records; send the other half for testing. Place
the retained fibre with the histogram when it is returned, in a binder,
for your own reference. |
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Keeping a reference binder of samples and histograms helps you develop
your own ability to class fleece. |
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Using a pick glass or loupe (10 x magnifications) or a good magnifying
glass can also reveal differences in fibre that are much harder to see
unaided. Using a sample of a known uniformity and micron count to compare
to ungraded fibre can help you develop your ability to assess fleece. |
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The fleece sample
labeled with breed, name, age, sex, location taken
from and date taken can be sent by mail to a testing lab for analysis. |
