Editing Wool (section)

===Shearing===
{{Main article|Sheep shearing}}
[[File:Merino shearing.jpg|thumb|Fine Merino shearing in [[Lismore, Victoria]]]]

[[Sheep shearing]] is the process in which a worker (a [[sheep shearer|shearer]]) cuts off the woollen fleece of a sheep. After shearing, [[wool-classer]]s separate the wool into four main categories:

* fleece (which makes up the vast bulk)
* broken
* bellies
* locks

The quality of fleeces is determined by a technique known as [[wool classing]], whereby a qualified person, called a wool classer, groups wools of similar grading together to maximize the return for the farmer or sheep owner. In Australia, before being auctioned, all Merino fleece wool is objectively measured for average diameter ([[Micron (wool)|micron]]), yield (including the amount of [[vegetable matter]]), [[Staple (wool)|staple]] length, staple strength, and sometimes color and comfort factor.