Fiber contaminated with foreign material degrades its value and can cause many problems further down the value added chain.  Fiber received from AFCNA producers has contained a broad range of foreign materials, including wire, baling twine, dead rodents, cigarette butts, glass, and more.

While some of these materials most likely found their way into the fiberat or after shearing, a good portion were clearly the result of animal husbandry and farm operations during the time the fiber was still on the animal.  These include:

• Baling twine - polypropylene twine is one of the worst contaminants of fiber.  Even small amounts an cause big problems further down the value added chain.  It will end up interspersed throughout yarns and batts where it will effect both handle and the ability to accept dyes.
• Excessive vegetable matter - large amounts of vegetable may not be successfully removed in scouring and processing.  There comes a point where the fiber has no commercial value due to contamination with hay, burrs, blackberry vines, grass seed heads, etc.
• Metal - pieces of metal fencing wire, nails, screws and other items can find their way into the fiber.  If these are allowed to enter processing equipment they can lead to serious damage.

 Fortunately, much of the above contamination can be eliminated through basic changes in daily operations and herd management.

Groom Your Pastures

Keeping one's pastures in optimal condition will pay huge dividends when shearing day comes, and throughout the year.

1. Mow regularly - Mowing leads to many benefits.  It eliminates seed heads forming on the grass.  It can encourage forage growth. It can assist in weed control.  And, it looks good.
2. Visual Inspections - Walking the pastures and fence lines regularly (at least weekly) provides opportunity to remove potential contaminants, to identify maintenance issues, and to assess the health of the soil and forage.
3. Weed Control - Some weeds, such as thistles, burrs, blackberries and such need to be aggressively controlled before they can establish themselves.  (Remember, one year's seeds, seven years weeds!)

 Routine Maintenance

Regular, preferably daily, inspection of areas used by animals is a good habit to acquire.  Carrying a hammer, pliers and wire cutters will allow for immediate "repair" of many issues.  Wearing a tool belt with a nail apron provides a nice place to deposit contaminants while making the daily rounds.  It only takes a few seconds to pound a nail or fence staple, nip off the sharp end of an exposed wire, tighten a gate bolt or pick up a bit of bailing twine.  It may take many hours to attend to an injured animal.

Never leave loose materials about that may find their way into the fleece. This would include pieces of wire, screws, nails, fence staples, rubber bands, etc.

Baling Twine

Baling twine can find its way into fiber via a number routes.  Often times the cutter on baling equipment will get out of adjustment, or dulled, with the result that every bale of hay will have loose pieces of twine at all the knots.  These should be removed from animal use areas when the bale is opened, as should the twine that is cut from the bale.

Using a dull knife to cut twine from a bale can also lead to loose pieces.

Baling twine seems like such useful stuff it is not uncommon to see it in animal use areas, being used to tie a gate open, tie a window shut, suspend a fly trap, or other mundane chores.  Tempting as it is to "recycle, reuse and reduce", baling twine should be kept out of animal use areas in order to avoid fleece contamination.

Feeding

A fair amount a vegetable matter contamination results from feeding practices.

Feeders are best when low to the ground.  Overhead feeders will lead to hay being deposited on the necks and backs of animals competing with each other over food.  (It can also lead to wastage and or illness as hay is dropped onto the floor, where it is walked on and then eaten.

Shallow feeders are better than deep feeders, since they will prevent animals from burrowing their head under the hay looking for "the good stuff."

Conclusion

As in most things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to fleece contamination.  Keeping the nasty stuff out of the fleece is a whole lot easier than trying to remove it after the fact.