Australian wool, with its superior comfort and durability, unrivalled quality and style has been developed naturally by generations of grazier families working tirelessly to develop a premium natural fibre.

The precise combination of sheep breeds and pastures produce the world’s most dynamic natural fibre - Australian wool.

Sheep - the natural source of pure new wool

In Australia the sheep breeds can be split into three main groups. Close to 72% are pure-bred Merinos farmed principally for their bright white and extremely soft fleece.

It is estimated 13% are first cross ewes (Merino/Border Leicester cross) used to mother high quality prime lambs. Other Merino-derived, dual-purpose breeds, have been breed in high rainfall areas for the production of wool.

The Australian Merino

The Australian Merino can be classified into four main distinct types according to the wool it produces - superfine, fine, medium and strong. Each is bred to suit a particular set of climatic conditions, and each type is characterised by a large quantity of soft-handling wool grown.

The various diameter grades (measured in microns) include; ultrafine, superfine, fine, medium and strong.

• < 17.5 micron - Ultrafine
• 17.6 - 18.5 micron - Superfine
• < 19.5 micron - Fine 
• 19.6 - 20.5 micron -  Fine Medium
• 20.6 - 22.5 micron - Medium
• >22.6 micron - Strong

Fine and superfine Merinos

Fine and superfine Merinos are found in the northern and southern tablelands of New South Wales, the western districts of Victoria and the midlands district of Tasmania.

The super-fine wool Merino produces wool that is of excellent colour, soft handling and dense, with a fibre diameter of 18 microns. Staple length is about 70mm.

The fine-wool Merino possesses a bright, white, dense fleece. Fibre diameter is 19 microns with a staple length of about 75mm. 

Medium-wool Merinos

Medium-wool Merinos are found throughout New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. They are grown primarily for wool production. Their wool is almost totally absorbed by the textile trade. Their fleece is heavy and soft handling, of good colour with a fibre diameter of 20-22 microns and a staple length of approximately 90mm.

Strong-wool Merinos

Strong-wool Merinos are most prominent in western New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. The strong-wool Merino produces a heavy seven-to-eight kilogram fleece of approximately 100mm staple length with a fibre diameter of 23-25 microns.

Poll Merino

Poll Merino is a relatively new breeding development. Poll rams have been selected and mated to Merino ewes and selection continues for the quality of pollness. The result is a pure Merino without horns. Poll Merinos are highly fertile and easy to handle and care for.

The Fonthill Merino

The Fonthill Merino was evolved by crossing American-bred Rambouillet Merino rams with a fine-wool Saxon strain of Merino. The major objective was to increase the genetic potential of an easy-care type sheep to produce wool. Fonthill ewes produce 20-22 micron wool.

The Booroola Merino

The Booroola Merino was originally developed on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and is the subject of a continuing developmental programme initiated by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Booroolas have a fertility rate as high as any breed in the world. Booroolas also have the ability to breed at most times of the year, thus extending the breeding season.

To obtain a copy of Wool Breed poster, please contact Jenni Trudgeon from Shiloh Wool for further details.