Sara writes: <<"Diversity" may by choice, or in some cases, simply less than rigorous culling.>>
And some would say that sheep that aren't white should be culled rigourously, while others value a multitude of natural colors. Fortunately, not all of us choose to be guided by commodity wholesale selling, and therefore we have the freedom to choose niche-market sheep, thereby conserving valuable genetics. Our diversity is by choice, and we cull rigorously for sheep who can't make it. We're much less worried about fleece type in a naturally variable landrace breed than we are about sheep that can thrive in spite of harsh weather, can lamb without assistance, don't have to be wormed, etc. Those who have a large enough flock to sell commercially will of course have different wool standards. That's OK, too--there is more than enough room in the US for a multitude of approaches to raising sheep with handspinning wool as a major product. Holly
