5 Tips for Selling Your Sheep’s Wool

Clean It Up

The best wool is clean wool. You want to keep as much vegetable matter like hay, straw, and grass out of the fibers as possible. Trim off any fleece that’s stained with manure.

Aim for Long Fibers

Wool buyers are looking for fleeces that are approximately 3 to 3.5 inches long. That’s called “staple length,” and it’s what the commercial machinery and factories are made to work with.

Keep Wool Dry

Make sure the wool is dry when it’s sheared and when it goes into the bag. Don’t store wool in a black garbage bag because the wool will sweat. Burlap and specialty plastic bags developed for the wool industry are preferred.

Know the Price Points

Wool is graded and priced per pound, depending on the quality of the fiber and the animal it comes from. Black-face breeds bring less money from commercial sources because they usually have black fiber in their wool. Black fiber does not take dye, so there is a deduction.

According to the annual USDA Sheep and Goats report, the latest of which was released Jan. 31, 2024, the average price paid for wool sold in 2023 in the U.S. was $1.56 per pound.

Market Your Wool

Handspinners and knitters are a specialty market for your wool, especially if you have unusual breeds of sheep and varied-color fleeces. Selling your wool on-farm or at a fiber-related show allows you to market directly to individuals who are looking for specialty fleeces. Your sheep shearer may also be a good source of information on who’s buying wool in your area.