Comments on: Save a Sheep’s a*se - say no to wool! http://experimentsinliving.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/save-a-sheeps-ase-say-no-to-wool/ Improving my life one habit at a time Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:43:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: katesaltfleet http://experimentsinliving.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/save-a-sheeps-ase-say-no-to-wool/#comment-288 katesaltfleet Mon, 05 May 2008 19:41:51 +0000 http://experimentsinliving.wordpress.com/?p=162#comment-288 Hi Alexandra, Thank you for your comment. The hygiene problems I referred to are specific to merinos being kept in Australia, whose climate I believe to be unsuitable for sheep with a heavy fleece, hence the problem with fly strike. As a layperson, it appears to me that sheep would not need to be sheared, clipped, mulesed, etc if it were not for the fact that they have been selectively bred for profit in the first place. That is what I meant by the fleece causing them problems - in the wild they would only have the amount of fleece needed to keep warm. I do appreciate that some breeders take better care of their livestock that others. However, the focus of the article is why, as a vegan, one should not wear animal fibres, specifically wool in this case. Kind regards Kate Hi Alexandra,

Thank you for your comment. The hygiene problems I referred to are specific to merinos being kept in Australia, whose climate I believe to be unsuitable for sheep with a heavy fleece, hence the problem with fly strike.

As a layperson, it appears to me that sheep would not need to be sheared, clipped, mulesed, etc if it were not for the fact that they have been selectively bred for profit in the first place. That is what I meant by the fleece causing them problems - in the wild they would only have the amount of fleece needed to keep warm.

I do appreciate that some breeders take better care of their livestock that others. However, the focus of the article is why, as a vegan, one should not wear animal fibres, specifically wool in this case.

Kind regards

Kate

]]> By: blackramfarm http://experimentsinliving.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/save-a-sheeps-ase-say-no-to-wool/#comment-284 blackramfarm Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:57:54 +0000 http://experimentsinliving.wordpress.com/?p=162#comment-284 As a sheep breeder, specifically Merino, I would like to present another viewpoint. I raise my sheep for their wool and for breeding stock, mostly sold to other folks who wish to raise their own fiber. I do not practice mulesing and I believe it is being phased out in other parts of the world. My flock helps me to keep my land open which provides a diverse habitat for bear, deer, fox, woodchucks, owls and many other critters. I would rather wear a natural product, including,wool, hair, down and leather then materials made from petroleum based synthetics. Merinos can run into hygiene issues if not cared for properly, as can any living creature. But the comment that merinos have all sorts of health problems because of their heavy fleece is simply wrong. I think with any industry there are folks who practice it well and others that practice it poorly. If you are ever in Vermont, please get in touch with me and I will give your a tour of my farm and you can meet my flock. I would ask that you take a look at the American Sheep Industry website for more correct information about the sheep industry. Some of the information you have is simply wrong. respectfully, Alexandra Black Ram Farm Morrisville Vt. As a sheep breeder, specifically Merino, I would like to present another viewpoint. I raise my sheep for their wool and for breeding stock, mostly sold to other folks who wish to raise their own fiber. I do not practice mulesing and I believe it is being phased out in other parts of the world. My flock helps me to keep my land open which provides a diverse habitat for bear, deer, fox, woodchucks, owls and many other critters. I would rather wear a natural product, including,wool, hair, down and leather then materials made from petroleum based synthetics.

Merinos can run into hygiene issues if not cared for properly, as can any living creature. But the comment that merinos have all sorts of health problems because of their heavy fleece is simply wrong. I think with any industry there are folks who practice it well and others that practice it poorly. If you are ever in Vermont, please get in touch with me and I will give your a tour of my farm and you can meet my flock.

I would ask that you take a look at the American Sheep Industry website for more correct information about the sheep industry. Some of the information you have is simply wrong.

respectfully,
Alexandra
Black Ram Farm
Morrisville Vt.

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