Article
Article
Wool
Article By:
Watkins, Thomas D. Chabot College, Hayward, California.
Potter, M. David School of Business, San Francisco State College, San Francisco, California.
Last reviewed:June 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.749200
A textile fiber made of the soft undercoat of sheep and various other animals, including angoras, goats, camels, alpacas, llamas, and vicunas. Wool is the most widely used animal fiber in the world. In addition, wool provides warmth and physical comfort that cotton and linen fabrics cannot give. In general, wool technology is that branch of animal science concerned with investigating the structure, growth characteristics, and chemical properties of wool affecting and determining commercial use. The term wool covers the fibers of sheep, angoras, goats, camels, alpacas, llamas, and vicunas. In this article, however, wool technology refers to sheep fiber only. See also: Agricultural science (animal); Alpaca; Camel; Camel's hair; Cashmere; Goat production; Llama; Mohair; Natural fiber; Sheep; Textile; Vicuna
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