| Australia not only produces about a quarter of the world's total wool clip, but most of the world's fine and superfine Merino clip. Most wool production in other countries is oriented more to coarse wool sheep that are are also, or predominantly, bred for meat. The Australian Merino is a fine wool specialist, with a smaller body frame, and a fabulous thick fleece.
Fine woolgrowing is concentrated around the southwestern parts of Victoria, Tasmania, and the New England region of New South Wales. These are areas with generally lower temperatures and higher rainfalls than most of Australia, although they can still get very hot in summer. Because they wear the world's finest fibre, Merino sheep breed comfortably year-round in these conditions, and woolgrowers are able to raise their flocks with little or no artificial intervention in their pastures. As long as the grass grows, so does the wool. Australian Merino has always been acknowledged as the highest quality wool available, and is the fabric of choice for the most sought after and exclusive tailoring and couture from the world's leading fashion houses. |