:: September 2002 
Advice
Using Wool from a Sheep raised for Meat
It is a basic rule of thumb that a sheep bred and raised for its meat does not produce a fleece of good quality for spinning into yarn. This results from a combination of genetics and environment. Sheep raised for meat are bred for the characteristics that make them taste good, while sheep raised for wool are bred for the characteristics that make their fleeces beautiful, durable, and warm.
The major source of contamination for a sheep's fleece is vegetable matter. The cleaner the sheep's wool is kept, the less particulate matter – briars, seeds, dirt – accumulates among the fibres. Naturally, sheep bred for meat are not likely to wear protective coats provided by their owners as some of their bred-for-wool cousins do.
These facts notwithstanding, CyberFibres acquired a callipyge fleece in the grease (straight off the sheep) and washed it. After being dried and carded, the callipyge fibre was handspun. Surprisingly, it made a nice, springy yarn suitable for handknit clothing. If you have shunned working with a meat fleece, take a good look at the next one you encounter. If the fibres look fairly even in length and the amount of vegetable matter in the fleece is not daunting, give it a try. The worst that can happen is still of benefit: you can wash the fleece in very warm water (hotter than for regular washing) and agitate it to make felt for other projects