Sheep Industry News January 2023

“All wool in our blankets is 20 to 23 microns, has a 90- to 100-mil limeter-long staple length, and a minimum comfort factor of 98.5 percent,” Tracie said. “Since the Targhee breed participates in NSIP, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of breeding for better wool. Testing through the Montana Wool Lab confirms it. We grade fleeces in a traditional, subjective sense, but also have the numbers to back up our decisions objectively. We are grateful for the pioneering genius of Dr. David Notter in the development of NSIP. Without him and the Montana Wool Lab, our hope of developing a consistently soft, warm wool blanket would not have been possible.” Montana Wool Company is unique because it reflects Montana

and the West. Each blanket style has a story attached to it. For instance, Legacy blankets reflect the character of Montana, while limited-edition blankets represent a snapshot in time. Latitude blankets express their rural nature. The Littles blankets demonstrate the promise seen in children. Through time blankets in each category will be added honoring heroes of Montana – past and present – while promoting wool as renewable, sustainable and humane. “What we do here matters,” Tracie said. “We need to tell our story through our products. We are involved in agriculture. We must claim our culture, so it is not lost.” To learn more, visit MTWool.com.

20 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org