Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers Limited
Carleton Place, ON
Company Overview
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 Information
Physical Address
142 Franktown Rd.
Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P3
CA
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 130
Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P3
CA
Additional Details
Legal Name: Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers Limited
Number of Employees: 35
Total Sales ($CDN): $100,000 - $200,000
CA
Contacts
Eric Bjergso
Title: General Manager
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Phone: Show phone
Fax: Show fax
Email: Show email
Products
-
Raw Wool
Marketing Canadian wool to global markets
- Wool In The Grease
NAICS Categories
Additional Information
411190