All from UK farms

All wool handled by Ulster Wool comes from Northern Irish (NI) farms, we do not grade and sell wool from anywhere else so all wool can be traced back to NI farms.

 

 

Farm Traceability

We can trace every bale back to the farm. Helping connect our wool producers to brands and consumers and giving an additional layer of transparency.

 

 

Farm Wool Projects

We can support farmers who want to turn their own wool into finished products, providing guidance, expertise, and practical resources every step of the way.

 

Traceability

Ulster Wool ensures full traceability on every bale sold, meeting the growing demand for provenance and authenticity. Traceable wool commands a premium above auction prices, with this added value returned to our farmer members. We offer various levels of traceability to suit different business needs 

 

FARM TO DEPOT TRACEABLE PROCESS

Step 1

Farmer Identification

  • Every consignment of wool received from a farmer is allocated a unique document number.
  • This is used to identify for that wool throughout the process.
  • This document number is highlighted in the farmers Receipt of Wool document.

 

Step 2

Grading

  • We grades every farmers wool into 1 of 100 different grades based on the colour, strength, uniformity, cottinesss.
  • As wool is graded it is sorted into Skeps.
  • Each Skep carries a unique data card which allows the wool to be tracked through the depot.

 

 

Step 3

Data Capture

  • After grading the wool is weighed and the data cards are scanned to record the wool against each farmer’s account.
  • Each farmer is paid based on the quality and quantity of wool they deliver each year.
  • Farmers are paid once the annual clip has been sold.

 

 

Step 4

Wool Amalgamated

  • The skeps are placed into packing lines until there is enough wool of each type to pack a bale.
  • Each bale weighs approx. 350kg to 400kg and may contain wool from multiple farmers.
  • In the event that wool from several farmers is placed in a single skep. The skep will have multiple data cards to keep track of each farmer’s wool.

 

 

Step 5

Wool Packed

  • Data cards are scanned at the packing machine as wool is packed into bales.
  • Each bale holds between 350kg and 400kg of wool and will take wool from up to 9 skeps.
  • As the bale is completed a label is printed with a unique identification code, this in turn enables the contributing farmers to be recorded for each bale of wool packed ensuring full traceability.

 

 

Step 6

Lot Created

  • A typical lot of wool comprises 24 bales and weights over 8 tonnes.
  • The wool within a lot is of a consistent type but will have been gathered from many farmers.
  • After packing every bale within the lot is reweighed and core tested to ensure that buyers have an accurate weight and technical data prior to purchase.