Editing Wool (section)

==Production==
Global wool production is about {{convert|2|e6t|e6ST|abbr=off}} per year, of which 60% goes into apparel. Wool comprises ca 3% of the global textile market, but its value is higher owing to dyeing and other modifications of the material.<ref name="Braaten 2005" /> Australia is a leading producer of wool which is mostly from Merino sheep but has been eclipsed by China in terms of total weight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheep101.info/wool.html|title=Sheep 101|access-date=17 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128052739/http://www.sheep101.info/wool.html|archive-date=28 November 2016}} According to this chart, US production is around {{convert|10000 |t|short ton}}, hugely at variance with the percentage list, and way outside year-to-year variability.</ref> New Zealand (2016) is the third-largest producer of wool, and the largest producer of crossbred wool. Breeds such as [[Lincoln (sheep)|Lincoln]], [[Romney (sheep)|Romney]], [[Drysdale (sheep)|Drysdale]], and [[Elliotdale]] produce coarser fibers, and wool from these sheep is usually used for making carpets.

In the United States, [[Texas]], [[New Mexico]], and [[Colorado]] have large commercial sheep flocks and their mainstay is the [[Rambouillet (sheep)|Rambouillet]] (or French Merino). Also, a thriving home-flock contingent of small-scale farmers raise small hobby flocks of specialty sheep for the hand-spinning market. These small-scale farmers offer a wide selection of fleece. 
Global woolclip (total amount of wool shorn) 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=FAOSTAT|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize|publisher= [[FAOSTAT]] (Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations Statistics) |access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable
! Rank !! Country !! %
|-
| 1 || China || 19{{efn|percent of global wool-clip (334 million kilograms [740 million pounds] greasy, 2020)}}
|-
| 2 || Australia || 16
|-
| 3 || New Zealand || {{0}}8
|-
| 4 || Turkey || {{0}}4
|-
| 5 || United Kingdom || {{0}}4
|-
| 6 || Morocco || {{0}}3
|-
| 7 || Iran || {{0}}3
|-
| 8 || Russia || {{0}}3
|-
| 9 || South Africa || {{0}}3
|-
| 10 || India || {{0}}3
|}{{Notelist}}
Organic wool has gained in popularity. This wool is limited in supply and much of it comes from New Zealand and Australia.<ref>{{cite magazine
 |last        = Speer
 |first       = Jordan K.
 |title       = Shearing the Edge of Innovation
 |magazine= Apparel Magazine
 |url         = http://apparel.edgl.com/old-magazine/Shearing-the-Edge-of-Innovation64530
 |date        = 2006-05-01
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150526050846/http://apparel.edgl.com/old-magazine/Shearing-the-Edge-of-Innovation64530
 |archive-date = 2015-05-26
}}</ref> Organic wool has become easier to find in clothing and other products, but these products often carry a higher price.

Wool is environmentally preferable (as compared to petroleum-based nylon or [[polypropylene]]) as a material for [[Carpetlayer|carpets]], as well, in particular when combined with a natural binding and the use of [[formaldehyde]]-free glues.

[[Animal rights]] groups have noted issues with the production of wool, such as [[mulesing]].