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Fleece Testing

Discover more about our fleece testing service

New Zealand has a long history and legacy with farming and the wool industry. NZWTA is proud to have partnered with the sector for over 50 years, delivering exceptional and consistent testing services and capabilities that benefit the entire industry.

Fleece testing can play a critical role in animal selection and flock management. Farmers and stock managers can select specific animals to assess their fibre characteristics – typically micron, length, strength and yield – and use this information to inform on-farm decisions. Fleece testing is relevant for all sheep breeds both in New Zealand and across the world.

Available tests include:

  • Micron 
  • Yield
  • Staple length and strength
  • Colour
  • Bulk

NZWTA uses the Laserscan instrumentation for its fleece testing service because it is the most accurate and repeatable equipment for fibre testing and as a result is the most commonly used form of fibre testing for fine wool, fleece and fibre worldwide. NZWTA provide micron analysis using Laserscan technology that measures hundreds of 2mm snippets.

When the appropriate number of snippets have been measured, the following results are produced:

  • The average fibre diameter of the specimen;
  • Three measures of fibre diameter distribution:
    • Standard deviation
    • Coefficient of variation
    • Percentage of fibre less than 30 microns (comfort factor); and
  • Fibre curvature (in degrees/mm)

Request a test

Tickets and sample bags are supplied free of charge within New Zealand.

Please advise your contact details and fleece test requirements using the form below. From the information you provide, NZWTA will send you sample ID tickets and sample bags to accompany your fleece samples (if in New Zealand). When completing the online form, it is important to:

    • Fill in a separate section for each group/mob that you want tested.
    • Advise the tests required for each group (different groups may have different testing requirements).

Please provide an estimate of the number of ID tickets required for each group. The ID tickets will be printed with the Group ID name to ensure that you use the correct ID tickets with each group (i.e., spare tickets from the one group are not to be used with animals from another group).

Upon submitting the form, you will receive an email confirmation. This email will also include guidelines to assist with providing the samples back to NZWTA in the most effective manner.

Online test request form

Email results in post

If you have any general queries about sheep fleece testing, please contact our team for assistance at testing@nzwta.co.nz or phone +64 (06) 835 1086

Click here to view our Terms & Conditions for fleece measurement testing

Carpet and flooring tests we offer:

  • Constructional details
  • Appearance retention
  • Performance
  • Fibre content
  • Flammability
  • Colour fastness to various agencies 
  • Compression testing
  • Staining
  • Delamination
  • Fibre loss
  • Pilling and fuzzing
  • Underlay tests
  • Abrasion
  • Static propensity
  • ACCS tests
  • Insect resist agents (Permethrin, Bifenthrin)

Products we regularly test:

  • Wool and synthetic carpets
  • Hard flooring
  • ACCS graded carpet
  • Underlay

Request a test

Request a Carpet or Flooring Test via the online form here or email the team directly at textiles@nzwta.co.nz for more information.

Downloadable fact sheets

Carpet bulk