Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers Limited

Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers Limited

Canada's sheep population has varied considerably but today there
are 700,000 with the largest flocks in Ontario and Alberta. Most
Canadian sheep are bred for meat. Suffolk, Southdown,
Hampshire, Dorset and Cheviot are among the most popular breeds.
Wool breeds include Rambouillet, Corriedale, and Columbia.

Shearing: The usual practice is to shear in the Spring before
lambing. Fleeces are sacked and shipped to the Canadian
Co-operative Wool Growers for grading and marketing.

Grading: Wool is weighed when it arrives at the wool Growers
Warehouse and then graded. Grading is very labour intensive.
The raw wool is spread out, inspected by hand and classified by
average diameter and length of fibre, colour, lustre and crimp
(tight, natural wave). From Carleton Place the graded grease
wool is packed in 600 pound bales and shipped to world markets.

The complexity of wool processing is why the wool is graded
before it is sold. Medium wool goes to the Woolen system and
becomes sweaters, knitting yarn and tweed fabrics. The finer
wool enters the worsted system, undergoing an additional process
called combing and drawing which removes short ends (noils) and
further straightens the long, smooth fibres. This wool makes the
finest of wool fabrics. Coarse wool is streamed into the carpet
system.

CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC MARKETING ACTIVITY

Although Canada's two million pounds is a fraction of world
production, Canadian wool has a niche because of its high
elasticity. This elasticity of springiness enables wool to
retain its original shape. Canadian wool is blended with wool
from other countries with less of this desirable characteristic.
Since there is virtually no wool processing in this country,
only ten percent of Canada's production is sold here. Ninety
percent is exported to Britain, France, Spain, China, India, Japan and the United States.

Certificate of Merit - Commercial Wool Production in Canada. To
recognize those growers who best support the co-operative method
of marketing wool through their knowledge and efforts of
producing wool that goes far to promote Canadian wool to buyers.
The selection is made by a panel of judges representing the
shearing, warehousing, grading, selling, and buying aspects of
wool. Consideration is given to volume, breeding, care of the
fleece, proper preparation, and shipment to the Co-op. Factors
such as geographic location are considered as well as allowances
for unavoidable variations in things such as climate. Canadian
wool producers are eligible for consideration by December 31.
Plaques are awarded at the annual meeting. Established in 1980.

Honorary Knights of the Golden Fleece. For recognition of
achievement and contribution to the Canadian Co-operative Wool
Growers Limited and to agriculture in Canada. Personnel and/or
directors of the Co-operative are eligible. A plaque is awarded
when merited at the annual meeting. Established in 1937.

Company Details

Year Established: 1918

Total Sales ($CDN): $1,000,000 - $5,000,000

Number of Employees: 35

Company Information

Eric Bjergso
Title: General Manager
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Telephone: (613) 257-2714
Fax: (613) 257-8896
Email: Click Here

John Balderson
Title: President
Telephone: (613) 257-2714
Fax: (613) 257-8896
Email: Click Here

Products

Wool In The Grease

Raw Wool
Marketing Canadian wool to global markets

Services