Wool production in this country has decreased greatly in the face of constantly increasing demands for wool. The decrease has taken place largely since World War II. Wool is a very essential product to a nation during war time. Therefore it is necessary that the decline in production be stopped if possible.

Purpose Wool is still the most valuable and the most versatile fiber used by man. Many questions regarding its production have gone unanswered for centuries. This problem is undertaken in the hope of contributing information which might be used in further study on the problem of wool density. It is recognized that wool density is one of the four major factors affecting the total clean wool production of a sheep. If length of staple, diameter of fiber, and total surface area remain constant, an increase in density brings about a corresponding increase in total production of clean wool. Wool fibers are produced by glands, called fiber follicles, beneath the surface of the skin. Density is controlled by the number of these follicles functioning within a given area. Before great improvement in density can be made, it is necessary to know the mode of inheritance, it is necessary to know the density of each individual involved. Counting the fibere from any sizeable area is not practicable. Therefore, a technique is necessary for sampling the sheep and estimating the density on the basis of sampling figures. Scope The Wira Fleece Caliper is probably the most popular instrument used in sampling for density. To determine the most effective method of using the Wira Caliper, different-sized samples are taken from a given area. Both sides of each sheep are tested, and sheep from different breeds are sampled. Density on all samples is determined by a standard laboratory procedure. The results are statistically analyzed to determine the variation in density as obtained by the different sample sizes. In addition to the main objective, the variation in density between breeds, between sheep of the same brood, and the variation in density between sides on the same sheep is determined.

Wool has been an important product in Utah since the pioneers arrived. The Mormon pioneers had with them 358 head of sheep upon entering the Salt Lake Valley. At that time there were also 12 head of sheep near Ogden, Utah belonging to Miles Goodyear, a trading post operator. These early people were very dependent upon wool for their clothing and numerous other products.

Woolgathering aims to speculate around ways to reduce the wasteof wool and how wool can catalyze the regeneration of ruralvillages in the north of Sweden. In Sweden today, we producearound 1000 metric tons of wool per year, yet only about half of it isused. This is due to its varied quality and a lack of political support,economic incentive and a low demand on global and nationalmarkets causing a loss of knowledge in wool management andfailing value chains. Modern monocultural agriculture has phasedout traditional sheep breeds and vital semi-natural pastures whichhas had detrimental effects on biodiversity, cultural heritage andland ownership. Björkå, a rural village Västernorrland, has had adwindling population and is in need of regeneration in order toalleviate symptoms of rural neglect. Inspired by the architecutralaccpuncture employed in Songyang and the Brown sugar factoryin Xing village as well as the cooperative management of thefarms in Marinaleda, and a visits to Björkå and one of the manylocal sheep farms, I identified wool as a potential catalyst forthis development along with a series of devices to be employedin a rural regeneration strategy: rural-urban links, tourism, localeconomy, cultural heritage, industry and nature. The woolgathering strategy, like the darning of woolensocks, introduces these devices along with local and regionalactors as threads that feed into the fabric of Björkå aiming torestore its integrity. There is a focus on locally controlled industrywhere economical profits feed back into the community but alsoon collaboration between local and national wool actors. Thecentral core of the strategy merges the 6 devices with the 5 actors. The different threads and wool programmes merge andform new associations, or become integrated into new (virtualand physical) networks that expand well beyond the rural locality. With wool as the catalyst, the strategy can start to mend thegaps in the territory, reconnecting links to endogenous networkswithin the wool industry and exogenous networks between actorsand create economic viability for sheep farmers locally and across Norrland.

Purpose – This study aims to compare existing certification schemes to the legislation in Sweden to see which measures the best are to ensure the sustainability of Swedish wool when using it as a raw material. Design/methodology/approach - The study follows a qualitative research approach. The comparative analysis research design was chosen as the data analysis method. Data is collected from desktop research and interviews with experts in wool, farmers, and companies working with Swedish wool and certification schemes. Findings - Regarding Swedish animal welfare legislation covers more than the wool certifications. It is suggested to have a certificate for foreign wool as it might not have as strong animal welfare law. The consumer should be educated about animal welfare, social rights, and environmental regulations in Sweden for the legislation to be enough to prove the sustainability of Swedish wool. Research limitations/implications - This study does not include a detailed description of all the existing global wool certifications as not all are relevant in the context of the Swedish market. Only some Swedish legislation about animal welfare and farming practices is included. This research excludes the barriers of the existing Swedish wool SC and the process from raw material to fabric. Practical implications - Swedish wool industry and market can acknowledge the opportunities and barriers connected to the sustainability of wool and consider the right tool to support that. The comparative analysis describes the inputs and challenges of the Swedish legislation and three wool certifications for companies and farmers to decide what is best for them. The study revealed essential aspects for the Swedish wool industry on how they can grow to utilise more wool and have sustainable growth. Originality/value – A comparison between certifications and legislation in Sweden has not been conducted before. It is essential to see the differences and similarities between them to support the growth of the Swedish wool industry. Certifications can bring critical knowledge of the quality and sustainability of the wool. Swedish animal welfare regulations and laws are extensive and more comprehensive than other countries.

Exploring the expressive abilities of overspunnen woollen-based knits . This project focused on the influence of over-spun woollen yarns in knitted material and the overall material quality. The use of over-twisted yarns focuses on the reactionary design and explores the colour rituals and patterns of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. This exploration of heritage opened up new patterns and expressive material development methods with a regenerative alternative to fossil fuel-based elastics. The exploration was focused on the transformative possibilities of knitted textile tubes that interact with elasticity activated by the body. Furthermore, it is defined through technical knits and sensitivity to poetic aesthetics. This artistic and poetic expression is researched using colour and patterns. The colours used are based on the original colours utilized in Uli, a practice of body painting. The texture is inspired by the concept of ritual pollution, which is closely linked to the earth. The patterns are developed through drawings on the body employed in the Nigerian practice of Uli and then translated into jacquard knits. Close attention is paid to in conveying dynamics and movement by utilizing opaque and non-opaque areas, focusing on elastic and non-elastic properties. The results show a great range in conveying adaptive colour, textures, and interactive patterns for the body through woollen-based elastic yarns. This project showcases the great potential and encourages rethinking of elastic materials.

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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-207) A local intradermal technique using colchicine to estimate cell division rate in wool follicles is refined and used throughout the thesis. Statistical methods used to analyse data obtained with this method are described and discussed. The implications of the findings are of great significance to research into the influence of physiological changes on wool production, and suggest experiments should be conducted under controlled environmental conditions, with a minimum of stress imposed on the animals.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-207) / ix, 207 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / A local intradermal technique using colchicine to estimate cell division rate in wool follicles is refined and used throughout the thesis. Statistical methods used to analyse data obtained with this method are described and discussed. The implications of the findings are of great significance to research into the influence of physiological changes on wool production, and suggest experiments should be conducted under controlled environmental conditions, with a minimum of stress imposed on the animals. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences, 1992

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 209-213) / x, 213 leaves : ill. ; 26 cm. / "January, 1973" / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Economics, 1973