
The diagram shows a fleece with all the areas which may require skirting.
Skirting involves removing all inferior wool from the fleece wool. Each fleece
is a little different, but most fleeces will only need fribs (sweat points),
short crutchings, topknots and stain removed, as stain is the worst type
of inferior wool to leave on the fleece.
All fribs are removed from behind the front and back legs. If cotted edges
and/or clumpy vegetable matter (burr on burr) are present these will also
need to be removed. Pieces of skin, which remain on the fleece after shearing
due to small cuts on the sheep by the shearing machine, will need removing.
The back and neck will only need removing if the wool is tender or water
stained.