From Shearing to Market:
The Canadian Wool Process
From Shearing to Market:
The Canadian Wool Process
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The Canadian Wool Process
History of Wool in Canada
From early settlement to modern global markets, wool has played a meaningful role in Canada’s agricultural history. Today, the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited (CCWG) continues that legacy — collecting, grading, and marketing Canadian wool from coast to coast.
More than three million pounds of raw wool arrive annually in Carleton Place, Ontario, where it is professionally graded and prepared for domestic and international markets.
About the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited
Founded in 1918, Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited is a farmer-owned co-operative established to market Canada’s wool clip and return value to producers.
The national headquarters is located in Carleton Place, just 30 minutes west of Ottawa. The co-op operates from a historic stone structure built in 1887 by the railway as a locomotive repair facility. Architectural traces of its original purpose remain visible today.
Wool is graded year-round at this facility. The Wool Growers, The Real Wool Shop, and CCWG Livestock Supplies & Equestrian Centre share this historic location.
Sheep in Canada
Sheep were first brought to Canada by early French settlers around 1650.
Today, most Canadian sheep are raised primarily for meat production, though wool remains an important secondary product.
Common Meat Breeds
Arcott
Cheviot
Dorper
Dorset
Hampshire
Southdown
Suffolk
Texel
Wool-producing Breeds
Rambouillet
Corriedale
Columbia
Targhee
Shearing Practices
Shearing typically takes place in spring, often before lambing. Skilled shearers use specialized electric equipment similar to large barber clippers. An experienced shearer can remove a fleece in under five minutes, rolling it off in a single piece.
Fleeces are then skirted, sacked, and shipped to CCWG for grading and marketing.
Wool Grading at Carleton Place
When wool arrives at the CCWG warehouse, it is:
Sorted
Weighed
Graded by hand
Core tested
Grading is a detailed, hands-on process. Each fleece is spread out and evaluated for:
Fibre diameter (micron)
Staple length
Colour
Yield
Presence of foreign matter
After classification, the raw “grease wool” is pressed into 1,000–1,200 pound bales and prepared for shipment to domestic and international buyers.
Grading ensures buyers receive consistent wool quality suited to specific manufacturing systems.
Marketing Canadian Wool
Although Canada produces approximately three million pounds of wool annually — a small fraction of global production — Canadian wool holds a valuable niche position.
It is recognized for:
High elasticity
Excellent resilience
Soft handle
Strong blending capability
This natural elasticity allows wool to retain shape and durability in finished products. Canadian wool is frequently blended with fibre from other countries to enhance performance.
Because domestic wool processing capacity is limited, approximately 90 percent of Canadian wool is exported. Major export markets include:
China
United States
India
Czech Republic
Egypt
Bulgaria
Uruguay
Roughly 10 percent remains in Canada for local manufacturing and specialty uses.
Wool Processing Systems
Wool Processing Systems
Wool is graded prior to sale because different fibre types enter different manufacturing systems.
The Woolen System
The Woolen System
Medium wool is used for:
Sweaters
Knitting yarn
Tweed fabrics
The Worsted System
The Worsted System
Fine wool undergoes additional combing and drawing processes that remove short fibres (noils) and align longer fibres. This produces smooth, strong yarns used in:
Fine suiting
High-quality fabrics
The Carpet System
The Carpet System
Coarse wool is directed into durable applications such as:
Carpets
Heavy-duty textiles
Understanding fibre classification ensures the right wool reaches the right market.
Wool Handling at the Carleton Place Warehouse
The co-operative grades and markets close to three million pounds of raw wool annually, primarily sourced from Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta.
Wool is categorized into three general classes:
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Each class is marketed where the strongest return is available, ensuring competitive pricing for Canadian producers.
Wool Resources
Wool Handling Procedures at Carleton Place Warehouse
Care and Handling of Your Wool Clip
Download your copy today to maximize the value of your wool clip.
Printed copies are available upon request.
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