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Classification:
Sheep and Lamb Skins:
The Crossbred sheep are grown mainly for meat production. As such,
Crossbred sheep have a higher slaughter rate and these skins account
for about 60% of Australian sheep/lamb skin production. Skins are
assorted in three categories:
- New Season Unshorn Spring Lambskins
- Shorn lambskins
- Sheepskins from mature sheep
There are two major classifications:
- Fellmongering types - primarily for wool recovery while pelt
quality is of secondary importance.
- Dressing type - for wool on dressing, wool and pelt quality is
equally important.
Preservation:
Airdried:
Skins are hung over racks and dried in the shade in well ventilated
sheds, sprayed regularly by insecticides and pesticides. Drying time
varies according to weather conditions.
Drumsalted:
Skins are headtrimmed and placed in a slow turning drum with fresh
fine stoved salt containing bactericides and fungicides. Drums are
rotated for approximately 90 minutes. 2.5-3kg of salt per skin is
used.
Wool Style:
Good/Super:
Good colour; free or nearly free of burr and/or seed; may include
light dusty but high yielding skins.
Ordinary:
Light to moderate bury and/or seed and/or dusty and/or heavier
conditioned wool and/or discoloured wool. May include slightly damaged
wool.
Pelt Quality:
First:
Abattoir standard pelts of good shape may include light rib, free from
flay and knife cuts, free from seed.
Seconds:
Abattoir standard pelts may include light rib, neck and/or flank cuts,
slightly misshapen, light belly seed, otherwise similar to firsts.
Thirds:
Abattoir standard pelts may contain medium rib and/or light to medium
seed and/or cuts, misshapen. Prime area free of main defects.
Damaged:
May contain cuts and/or heavy rib and/or seed and/or misshapen, or
otherwise damaged. Badly damaged skins or inferior pelts are excluded.
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