Glossary of Terms

The Merino strains of sheep are the dominant breed of apparel wool sheep grown in Australia.

A unit of measurement used in assessing the diameter of a fibre which equals one millionth of a metre.

A group of sheep, usually run under the same conditions for the full wool growing season eg. a mob of ewes that have been run in the same paddock, drenched and mated/lambed at the same time.

Teeth on either sides of the top and bottom jaws used for grinding food.

The plate used to compress the wool within the press. It is moved up and down manually by bars or by hydraulics; technical name is Platen

Fibre obtained from animal, vegetable or mineral sources, as opposed to those made from chemicals.

Part of a fleece from the neck region of the sheep.

The short fibre left over from combing wool.

Term for all other lines of wool other than Fleece ie. Pieces, Bellies, Locks etc. Wool that does not meet the wool classer's standards for main lines.

Shorn sheep immediately after shearing. Remedies registered for off-shears treatment may be applied for up to 7 days after shearing.

An instrument for measuring fibre diameter mean and distribution using an automated microscope and image analysis techniques.

Removing good fleece wool and down grading that wool into pieces lines while skirting.

Any wool that has more than 12 month's growth.

An organism living at the expense of another (the host). Can be classified in various ways, such as external and internal.

Sheep skin with little or no wool on it.