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Sheep
Way back in time, wild sheep would shed their own fur. As sheep became domesticated, humans selectively bred them to increase the amount of wool they produce. Because of this, sheep must be shorn 1-2 times per year for the animals' welfare. Today, most sheep are kept for meat and dairy and since the wool they produce is of too low quality for textile production, most is either incinerated or dumped.
There are breeds of sheep that do not need to be shorn (hair sheep), but they are typically only raised for meat and leather. Basically, as long as there are wool and dairy sheep farmers, there will be wool waste.
- Sheep shearing is a labor-intensive profession and is outsourced by most farmers.
- Sheep must be shorn at least once per year or they will become uncomfortable.
- There is one type that does not need to be shorn, hair sheep (10% of sheep globally).
- Pros: Better for meat and leather, better at vegetation control, uses less water, also disease/parasite-resistant, and better breeders.
- Cons: Not great with cold temperature, not good for dairy, smaller lambs.
- The price of wool varies greatly from year to year. In Ireland, wool "only covers 20% of the cost of shearing" and farmers are being told to hold on to their wool and wait for a better market. In Sweden, only 37% of wool produced is utilized, the rest is discarded.
Wool as a material
- Biodegradable
- Insulating: can reduce energy costs associated w/ heating and cooling
- Breathable: absorbs and releases moisture
- Resilient: able to stretch and return to the natural shape
- Anti-static: dust resistant and safe around electronics
Waste wool uses
- Bricks: combined with seaweed extract to make stronger bricks that do not need to be fired (better results with low-quality wool)
- Garden material (mulch, fertilizer, insect repellent): it is absorbent, biodegradable, high in nitrogen, repels slugs and snails, may prevent fungus gnats from laying eggs
- Wall insulation: sound dampening, safer for workers, breathable and keeps heat in summer and cool in winters, flame retardant
- Packaging: insulating, flame retardant, anti-static, and reusable
Resources
- American Wool
- Sheep 101
- The Swedish Wool Initiative
- Evolution of the sheep coat: the impact of domestication on its structure and development (Jackson et al., 2020)
- Global warming contributions from wheat, sheep meat and wool production in Victoria, Australia – a life cycle assessment (Biswas et al., 2010)
- Clay-based composite stabilized with natural polymer and fibre (Galan-Main et al., 2010)
- Update on how to dispose of waste wool. (The Farmer Network)
Last updated: Dec 2021