Wool Breeds and Quality Grades
topic
Major wool types: Merino (Australia, 17-23 μm, finest, softest, 40% of world apparel wool—suits, knitwear), Crossbred (25-32 μm, New Zealand—blankets, outerwear), Medium wool (Suffolk, 25-30 μm—general apparel), Carpet wool (35-45 μm, coarse, durable), and Specialty wools (Comeback 23-25 μm, Downs 27-33 μm). Quality determined by: fibre diameter (micron), length (staple length 50-150 mm), strength (>30 N/ktex), color (white preferred), crimp frequency, and contamination (vegetable matter, pigmented fibres).
Role
Fibre diameter is primary quality determinant affecting price exponentially—19.5 μm Merino commands $15-18/kg vs. 24 μm at $8-10/kg and 30 μm crossbred at $4-6/kg—driving selective breeding programs focused on reducing micron while maintaining strength and yield.