The ‘cream-of-the-cream’ when one is looking for the highest priced Perendale wools. Unshorn as lambs, the majority of woolly hoggets fall within a 29-31 micron category range, and 125-150mm (5-6 inches) staple length. These wools are sought for worsted processing through to the highest quality apparels and are known to be blended with Merino wools on some occasions. Soft handling, good spinnability and low wastage properties are paramount. High standards of clip preparation are essential.
These wools are difficult to grow without deterioration in colour setting in warmer moist climatic areas. And because of the presence of the lambswool tip they are very prone to catching Scotch thistle heads, a serious problem as on carding the heads break down into many fibre-like particles and are almost impossible to remove.