A bit more about 'dead' wool
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
Rockingham, Australia
March 7, 2022 10:18pm CST
I wrote about collecting what we called ‘dead wool’ when we were kids. Several people asked what the wool would have been used for and as I wasn’t sure I went to good old Google to find out. I wasn’t sure I’d find anything but - Oh, me of little faith. Of course, there was some information on it although 'dead wood' wasn't one of the terms used. 
Pulled wool is the correct term for wool plucked from a dead sheep skin. It might also be referred to as ‘skin wool’. It is inferior and of less value than wool obtained by shearing the fleece of live sheep. The process of pulling the wool is called ‘fellmongering’.
Some breeds of sheep shed their fleece once a year and don’t need shearing. We didn’t have these in Australia when we were farming. When we were overseas, we saw sheep which looked very dishevelled as they were losing their wool.
In the collage, the top half shows a sheep that has lost most of its fleece. The lower section shows how some fleece has got caught on low tree branches.
Pulled wool is the correct term for wool plucked from a dead sheep skin. It might also be referred to as ‘skin wool’. It is inferior and of less value than wool obtained by shearing the fleece of live sheep. The process of pulling the wool is called ‘fellmongering’.
Some breeds of sheep shed their fleece once a year and don’t need shearing. We didn’t have these in Australia when we were farming. When we were overseas, we saw sheep which looked very dishevelled as they were losing their wool.
In the collage, the top half shows a sheep that has lost most of its fleece. The lower section shows how some fleece has got caught on low tree branches.24 people like this
21 responses
@1creekgirl (40529)
• United States
8 Mar 22
Judy, you have the most interesting posts!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
8 Mar 22
I wondered if you also gathered the wool that had gotten caught on brambles and briars, too. I've seen sheep that had to be sheared as well as the ones that didn't but had no idea about the differences between them.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
8 Mar 22
@JudyEv Oh, I see... Sheep here are just loose in a pasture with a fence around it. There can be trees, briars or brambles growing in a field here.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
@DaddyEvil Our sheep are in fenced pastures too but mostly with just a few big trees for shade. 'Vegetation' wasn't a good word choice; there might be plenty of grass/pasture but very few brambles or bushes for the wool to get caught on.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Mar 22
So the fleece that got stuck on fences was from the natural processes of the sheep losing their wool?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Mar 22
@JudyEv that makes sense. No point in having extra work if you can get two types of sheep. I wonder if any sheep farmers, it whatever they're called, want a bit of the pie in both camps- the wool and then the meat?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
@MarshaMusselman There are dual-purpose sheep. My father had Merinos for wool, and also Suffolks and Dorsets for breeding fat lambs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
Yes. There are sheep bred for wool and sheep bred for meat. The meat breeds are more likely to shed in which case you don't have to employ shearers.Wool sheep grow a much longer fleece and of a better quality for spinning, weaving, etc.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34375)
•
12 Mar 22
2 types of sheep wool? Are you shearious! Just kidding, very interesting and informative post Judy.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
If you are breeding sheep for their wool, then they are shorn. Meat breeds are more likely to shed. Wool that is shed isn't worth nearly as much as it's not the quality that buyers are looking for and it would be full of burrs, dirt, etc from being on the ground.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Mar 22
fascinating. I always thought it was just used to make clothes.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
8 Mar 22
Quite interesting but it’s something that we don’t do here.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
8 Mar 22
@JudyEv oh yes. A few farmers keep them for the restaurants. Not using the wools for anything.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar 22
Fellmongering was a new word to me too. The fells and dales in England are hills (fells) and dales (valleys). I don't know if that is where fellmongering came from.
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
8 Mar 22
Never heard that term now Judy. fellmongering.
I sheared a few sheep..yes me, years ago in the North of England.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
9 Mar 22
@JudyEv Oh dear ham string Judy aww I bet you felt badly
I used the electric shearers
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (15893)
• United States
9 Mar 22
Interesting facts about sheep. I didn't know some breeds automatically shed once a year. That would be the kind of sheep I would like to have. Less upkeep for me.
Around the corner from us, someone fenced in their lot and there are 3-4 small animals, sheep we think. They are staying in the back corner so we haven't gotten a good look at them just yet.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
9 Mar 22
Interesting. I didn't know that there were any breeds of sheep that shed. It makes sense though, especially when I think about other animals that shed or don't depending on the breed.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
8 Mar 22
Oh I did not know that sound breeds shed their fleece. I cannot remember the name of the YouTuber who shows her work on shearing sheep.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
8 Mar 22
Very interesting. You taught me something new and I thank you for that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
Our countries and backgrounds are so different in many ways I guess.
@wolfgirl569 (95261)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Mar 22
Pulled wool sounds better 
I am lazy. If I had sheep I would want the ones that shed
I am lazy. If I had sheep I would want the ones that shed1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
I would be wanting to bring them in and tidy them up.
