An excellent point. In a recent talk, Judith MacKenzie McCuin noted that the manufacturers of high-quality European knits prefer the wool from American sheep because we're very good at feeding and caring for them. Good feed & care = healthy sheep = long, strong fleece.
Dawn Jacobson http://dtjacobson.blogspot.com/ On 4/30/07, Sara wrote: > > <snip> > Third, let's remember that wool is there to keep the sheep feeling well > and > healthy during its lifetime. Just because the "spinner" > "waaaaaaaaaaaaaants" > it, doesn't mean it is good for the sheep. For anyone wishing to follow > this > thread - check the example of the famed Saxony Merino in 18th century > Germany - known for its super fine wool produced in part by not feeding > the > sheep well. Because of the fixation with just one characteristic of the > sheep to make more money from the wool clip, these animals very nearly > became extinct - the few remaining fertile animals being shipped to > Australia, where they have never made a comeback to their original status. To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
