Processing sheep skin is a lengthy process that requires a significant investment of time and labor. To get high-quality wool and sheepskin, you need to strictly follow a certain sequence of actions. It is necessary to process the skin with the utmost care in order to protect it from mechanical damage and prevent coarsening. Read more about the preparation of raw materials for processing, a description of the main methods of canning, as well as a description of each stage of sheepskin manufacture and self-processing of wool - further in the article.

Preparation for dressing sheep skin

Before you make sheep skin, you need to properly remove it. In order not to violate the integrity of the sheepskin, this procedure must be performed carefully, observing the following sequence of actions:

1. Make a small incision in the neck, and then hold the knife to the root of the tail along the entire abdomen.
2. Carry out circular cuts on the carpal joints of the front legs. On the hind limbs, perform the same incisions near the hocks.
3. Skin the carcass carefully, making small cuts along its inner surface. It is impossible to allow violation of the integrity of the sheepskin.
4. Remove all debris from the skin surface. Gently scrape off the remnants of tendons and meat from the mezra.
5. Fold the sheepskin in half so that the mezdra (not the front side of the skin) is inside. Leave it in a cool room for 2 hours to cool.

Did you know? Felt is made from sheep’s wool, which absorbs noise well and is used in construction and aircraft manufacturing.

Tools and equipment

To quickly and accurately repair a sheep skin, you will need special equipment. On large livestock farms, additional equipment is used to clean and dry the sheepskin qualitatively.

A list of the main tools and fixtures used during dressing is presented below:

1. A sharp knife - with its help the sheepskin is separated from the body of the sheep.
2. A wooden deck with a perfectly smooth and even surface - designed to spread skins on it.
3. Tray for collecting cut sections of mezra.
4. Mezdryak is a special knife with a curved flat or serrated blade and two handles. It is intended for cutting off the remains of meat and fat on the underside of a sheepskin, and on large farms it is replaced with a mezdral machine.
5. Capacious containers for soaking hides in solutions at different stages of dressing.
6. Centrifuge - designed for the accelerated extraction of wet sheepskins, which contributes to their quick drying.

Raw materials

The technology for producing sheepskin depends on the type of raw material used and is selected taking into account the purpose for which the finished product will be used. Moreover, the quality of the skin made depends on how carefully and accurately its processing was carried out, and the best result can be achieved only in the production environment.

There are several types of raw materials for sheepskin:

1. Fur - its source is fine-fleece and semi-fine-fleece sheep, which have thick and fluffy fur with a uniform structure. Such skins contain an increased amount of fat and are intended for the manufacture of things that are worn with fur outside. Dressing fur sheepskin is the most time-consuming and consists of the largest number of stages.
2. Fur coat - such skins are removed from coarse-haired sheep, under whose skin is a relatively small layer of fat. The resulting sheepskin is used for the manufacture of durable products that are resistant to moisture. In order for the finished material to acquire such characteristics, during dressing, special attention should be paid to the processing of the mashra.
3. Leather - in terms of the quality of the fur, such skins are not suitable for the production of fur clothes, so they are used to make suede and leather products.

Ways to preserve skins

Sometimes sheep skins begin to be made immediately after they are removed from the carcass, but more often a certain period of time passes between these two stages. Small pieces of muscle and adipose tissue remain on the fresh sheepskin, which quickly decompose upon contact with air and spoil the finished product, causing hair loss, so skins must be preserved .

This procedure can be carried out in several ways, each of which subsequently allows you to get a product of a certain quality and softness. The main preservation methods are listed below.

Did you know? About 4600 years ago, the first toy teddy bear was made from sheep's wool.

Wet salted

This method of canning is used in the cold season, when it is not possible to dry fresh skins. In order for the salt to be well absorbed in the mezra, no more than 2 hours should pass from the moment of slaughter of the animal to the beginning of conservation. The resulting canned sheepskin is considered the highest quality after freshly removed skins.

Step-by-step action algorithm for wet-salted canning:

1. Arrange fresh skins with mazra up in a dry and cool place, protected from sunlight. Under the sheepskin, it is recommended to lay a fabric lining to absorb the released fluid.
2. Carefully spread the surface of the sheepskin and sprinkle it with plenty of salt, spending at least 800 g of product on each sheepskin.
3. Leave skins for a week for salting. For storage, roll up each sheepskin in the form of a roll and put it in a cool place.

In order to properly roll up a preserved sheepskin, it is necessary to bend its upper part with mazra a quarter inward, fold the side parts toward each other towards the middle, and then bend the skin in half along the spine and roll it into a roll

Dry salted

This method is used to store sheepskins for personal needs for a long period of time.

In the canning process, they adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Spread pre-peeled skins on a flat surface with the mezdra up.
2. Sprinkle the top surface of the sheepskin abundantly with small table salt so that it completely covers all areas of the material. The amount of salt consumed should be about 30-50% of the weight of the raw material.
3. Fold the skins in a pile with mazra to mazra, covering them on top with a clean burlap.
4. Put the resulting stack on a wooden pallet or inverted trough for draining the brine. The lower sheepskin in the stack should not get wet.
5. After 2-3 days, when the brine ceases to stand out from the salted mezra, shake the skins a little from salt crystals and then dry them in a straightened state at a temperature of + 20 ° С.
6. Sheepskins preserved by the dry-salted method are stored in a dry and cool place, protected from sunlight. Periodically carry out treatment with moth agents.

Acid salt

This method of preserving sheep's skins is one of the best, because it is based on the use of a special acid-salt mixture. It allows you to effectively disinfect the sheepskin and remove excess fluid from it, contributing to the long-term storage of the skin, even in the warm summer months.

Important! In order to protect the skins from being damaged by insects, it is possible to add naphthalene along with salt in the amount of about 0.8% of the total weight of the raw material during canning.

The step-by-step algorithm of the acid-salt method of conservation:

1. Fold the sheepskin on an even horizontal surface with the mazra up.
2. Prepare an acid-salt mixture consisting of 85% sodium chloride, 7.5% aluminum-potassium alum and 7.5% ammonium chloride.
3. Rub the mixture thoroughly into the mezra, spending about 1.5 kg of the product on each skin. On the sheepskin should not remain unsalted areas.
4. Leave the skins for 5–7 days in a cool and shaded salting room.
5. After the specified time has elapsed, shake the sheepskin to remove any remaining mixture and dry it.

Fresh dry

This method of preserving sheep's skins is the simplest, but the finished product is characterized by low quality, because it can become coarser and brittle. The fresh-dry method is usually used in regions with a cold climate and is performed without salt.

Important! Sheep skins cannot be dried in the sun and near heat sources, because they can become brittle, and when they are in a damp and cold room, the sheepskins begin to heat up and deteriorate.

When choosing this method of canning adhere to the following sequence of actions:

1. Rinse the skins in clean, cool water to remove stains and dirt.
2. To put on sheepskin on wooden frames of suitable size, placing them with hair inside. In this case, the surface should not have wrinkles or too much tension.
3. Place the straightened skins in a shaded room and dry them at an air temperature of up to +30 ° C and a relative humidity of not more than 60%.
4. After there are no wet areas on the surface of the sheepskin, wipe the sheepskin with dry sawdust from hardwood. To them add a little turpentine or ammonia to better degrease the sheepskin.

Stages of dressing

Sheep sheepskin need to be in several stages, each of which performs its function. It is recommended to start this procedure as soon as possible after removing the sheepskin so that the finished products turn out to be of high quality and have an attractive appearance.

A description of the main stages of sheepskin manufacture is presented later in the article.

Soaking

This procedure is carried out in order to soften the rough sheep skin. It is recommended to carry out it immediately after removing the sheepskin, adhering to the following sequence of actions:

1. Prepare a deep container suitable in size and fill it with water with a temperature of about + 18 ... + 20 ° С.
2. Add salt to the water (40-50 g per 1 liter of liquid), 1 tablet of furatsilina and about 2 g of any washing powder.
3. Soak the freshly skins in the prepared solution for 12 hours so that they are completely covered with liquid.
4. After a specified period of time, check the readiness of the skins for the next step. If the sheepskin has not softened, and the mezdra is not scraped off, then the described sequence of actions is repeated again.

Coagulation

After soaking, the softened sheepskin is laid down on a flat and dry surface with the fur facing down and the procedure of coppering is carried out. For this, the smooth surface of the skins is treated with a scraper or a blunt knife, removing all residues of meat, fat and films. During processing, it is recommended to move in the direction from the back of the sheepskin to its head.

Degreasing

The purpose of this procedure is the final removal of residual fat located under the skin of the animal. To degrease the skins, a special solution is prepared, the composition of which depends on the degree of fattening of the animal and the thickness of the fat layer on the sheepskin.

Did you know? Wool fibers have a special scaly structure that allows them to effectively repel dirt while maintaining cleanliness.

The main features of sheep skin degreasing are listed below:

• to prepare the solution, use moderately warm water (about + 18 ... + 20 ° C);
• thin sheepskin with a small fat layer, degrease with a solution of washing powder or laundry soap, spending about 3.5 g of the product per 1 liter of water;
• for degreasing skins with a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, use a solution of 3 g of oleic acid and 12 g of soda ash dissolved in 1 liter of water;
• place the prepared sheepskin in a container of suitable size and pour the solution for 30 minutes, stirring the sheepskin throughout this time;
• rinse skimmed sheepskin in cool water and squeeze it carefully, and then knock it out with a wooden stick from the side of the fur;
• the surface of the Mezra is then wiped dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Picking

This stage is called so because the word "pickling" comes from the English word "pickle", and the procedure itself allows you to make the sheepskin more plastic and soft. Thanks to this, the skin can be further used for sewing fur clothes, carpets and bedspreads.

Step-by-step picking algorithm:

1. Prepare a solution of 9% table vinegar and water mixed in a 1: 2 ratio. For each liter of the mixture add 40 g of salt.
2. Fill a capacious container of the appropriate size with the resulting solution. Dip the skins into the mixture for 5-12 hours so that it is completely covered with the solution.
3. Remove the sheepskin from the container with the mixture 5 hours after soaking, fold it four times and sharply squeeze along the fold lines. If, after unfolding the skins, a clearly visible light cross appears on the folds, the procedure is considered successful. If there are no traces at the bend sites, continue pickling.
4. To neutralize the vinegar solution, which fed the sheepskin, you need to soak it for 1 hour in a soda solution (10 g of substance per 10 l of water).
5. At the end of pickling, rinse the skin in clean water, washing away the remains of all solutions.

Soaking in a soda solution reduces the strength of the skin, but as a result of this procedure, the sheepskin becomes hypoallergenic

Tanning

Unlike pickling, this procedure is carried out to strengthen the strength of the sheep skin. To achieve the desired effect, the sheepskin must be treated with a solution that contains natural fertilizer for the skin - tannin. This substance has a good tanning effect and makes the sheepskin resistant to damage.

Important! To neutralize the unpleasant odor emanating from the sheepskin, alum must be added to the tannin solution (7 g per 1 liter of mixture).

A step-by-step tanning mechanism is described below:

1. Place 500 g of oak or willow bark in a container with 2 liters of water. Bring the mixture to a boil on a stove, and then boil the solution over low heat for half an hour.
2. Remove the hot mixture from the heat. Leave it to stand for 24 hours, and then strain, adding 8 liters of water and 0.5 kg of salt.
3. Sheep skins are placed in the prepared tannin solution for 1-2 days. You can also apply the mixture to the surface of the mezra with a brush.
4. After 48 hours, cut a piece from the sheepskin and examine the color of the cut through a magnifying glass - it should be uniform.
5. Dry the skin for 1-2 days, and then treat it with a soda solution (as with pickling) to neutralize the effect of the salt mixture.
6. Rinse the sheepskin in clean water. To make the fur softer, you can apply a little shampoo on the outer surface of the skin, and then rinse it thoroughly with water.

Zhirok

To make the sheep skin soft and supple, it should be saturated with a special fat emulsion. It is possible to prepare a mixture for carrying out the fatliquoring in various ways, and it is necessary to apply it only on the mezdra with a cotton swab or brush.

Step-by-step recipe for preparing a fat emulsion:

1. Grate 100 g of laundry soap and place it in a dish of a suitable size.
2. Pour 1 liter of water in a container with soap and boil the solution over low heat until the soap is completely dissolved in the liquid.
3. Dissolve 1 kg of pork fat in a hot mixture. After boiling the mixture, remove the container with the solution from the fire.
4. Add 10 ml of ammonia to the hot mixture. The emulsion is ready.

If during the course of the livelihood the emulsion fell on the fur, then the stained area should be immediately cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in gasoline

Drying

The final stage in the production of sheep skin is its drying. This procedure takes about 3 days, and the optimum temperature for drying the sheepskin is approximately + 30 ° C. In the process of drying, the skin needs to be periodically kneaded with hands and slightly stretched to make it softer. If white dry spots appear on the surface of the mezra, they must be treated with a scraper.

What can be done from sheep's clothing

Sheepskin is a natural material with an attractive appearance, antiseptic composition and hypoallergenic properties. It retains heat well and is easily stained, therefore, dressed sheepskins are used for a variety of purposes:

• sewing fur clothes;
• making rugs and flooring;
• production of covers for automobiles;
• making shoes;
• production of souvenirs for interior decoration.

Did you know? Refractory clothing is made from sheep’s wool, because this wool belongs to materials with increased fire resistance.

How much wool does a sheep give per year?

When breeding sheep and sheep, the farmer annually shears animals in order to obtain natural wool. The amount of rune obtained depends on the breed, age and sex of the individual, as well as on the conditions of keeping the livestock and the quality of the feed.

On average, from one sheep you can get from 2.5 to 7 kg of high-quality wool, and cutting a lamb brings a livestock farmer about 3.5-11 kg of natural fleece

Stages of self-processing

Many farmers grow sheep in order to obtain thick wool, from which they subsequently make high-quality yarn. This process is carried out mainly in industrial factories, but if you want to process sheep’s wool, you can at home . To do this, you need to know the main stages of this procedure and clearly observe their sequence.

Sorting

Experienced farmers understand that sheep of different breeds produce wool of various qualities. But even in individuals belonging to the same breed, fur can vary in density or length. Поэтому первым этапом переработки является обязательная сортировка полученного сырья.

При выполнении данной процедуры принимают во внимание такие характеристики шерсти:

• порода овцы, с которой получено руно;
• длина волокон;
• густота шерстяного покрова;
• с какой части тела состригали шерсть;
• степень загрязнённости руна;
• толщина и плотность шерсти;
• возраст овцы на момент стрижки (самую мягкую шерсть даёт стрижка ягнёнка);
• время проведения стрижки животных.

Шерсть рекомендуется сортировать в сухом помещении с хорошим освещением и вентиляцией. Её раскладывают на столе и разбирают на отдельные порции, руководствуясь перечисленными критериями. Сильно загрязнённые порции рекомендуется выбрасывать, т. к. они не годятся для переработки.

Cleaning

Этот этап переработки является самым сложным и кропотливым . В густой овечьей шерсти со временем накапливаются остатки травы и другого мусора, а также пыль и грязь. Чтобы получить качественное баранье руно, шерсть тщательно очищают руками, выбирая из неё все перечисленные посторонние примеси.

Также нужно устранить и все имеющиеся свалявшиеся участки, которые портят внешний вид руна и делают его поверхность неоднородным

Промывка

Овечья шерсть загрязняется не только в результате контакта с землёй, растительным мусором и испражнениями, но и от выделяющихся животными пота и жира. В результате этого руно становится непрезентабельным и приобретает жёсткую структуру, поэтому нуждается в обязательной промывке.

Пошаговый алгоритм выполнения данной процедуры представлен ниже:

1. Подготовить глубокую ёмкость подходящего размера и наполнить её горячей водой с температурой около +50°С.
2. Растворить в воде стиральный порошок для шерстяных тканей, расходуя по 250–300 г средства на 1 кг сухой шерсти.
3. Замочить руно в полученной смеси на 1, 5–2 часа. В процессе отмокания рекомендуется разминать шерсть руками, уделяя особое внимание загрязнённым и слипшимся участкам.
4. Вымытую шерсть тщательно прополоскать в чистой горячей воде, чтобы полностью смыть с неё остатки стирального порошка.

Если после промывки на овечьей шерсти остались грязные или пропитанные жиром участки, то данную процедуру необходимо провести повторно (до 4–5 раз)

Drying

После промывки овечья шерсть подлежит обязательной просушке. Для этого её подвешивают на натянутой леске в расправленном состоянии или раскладывают на горизонтальные решётки слоем около 1, 5 см. В таком положении обеспечивается равномерный доступ воздуха ко всем участкам руна.

Сушить шерсть можно на открытом воздухе под навесом, выбранное место должно хорошо проветриваться . К следующему этапу переработки приступают только после того, как руно станет абсолютно сухим.

Вычёсывание

В процессе промывки и сушки волокна шерсти могут приминаться и спутываться между собой, что ухудшает внешний вид готовой продукции. Поэтому после просушки руно нужно тщательно вычесать вручную.

Important! Для шерсти небольшой и средней длины процедуру вычёсывания можно проводить с помощью карды — специальной щётки из тонкой и жёсткой металлической проволоки.

При первичном вычёсывании используют деревянные гребни с редкими зубцами, чтобы разделить скомканные пряди без разрыва волокон. Затем шерсть расчёсывают гребнем с частыми зубцами, который расправляет отдельные волокна, придавая руну объёмную, мягкую и пушистую структуру.

Spinning

Чистая и вычесанная шерсть в дальнейшем используется для изготовления шерстяной пряжи. Самостоятельно выполнить данный этап переработки руна можно с помощью обычного веретена или современной механической прялки . Если нет возможности прясть самим, то есть другой выход — сдать переработанную овечью шерсть оптовым производителям пряжи.

Где и для чего используют шерсть овец

Пряжу, полученную в результате переработки овечьей шерсти, используют для изготовления тёплой шерстяной одежды, ковров и напольных покрытий, а также в качестве сырья для производства пледов, покрывал, наволочек и одеял, декоративной отделки интерьера.

• Полученные из руна изделия обладают множеством положительных свойств:
• предотвращают развитие воспалительных процессов в организме;
• устраняют слабость и повышают иммунитет;
• способствуют нормализации уровня кровяного давления;
• помогают устранить болезненные ощущения в суставах;
• обладают гипоаллергенными свойствами;
• благотворно влияют на состояние кожи;
• способствуют выведению токсинов вместе с потом;
• хорошо защищают тело от холода и сырости.

Самостоятельная обработка овечьей шкуры — долгая и кропотливая работа, состоящий из чёткой последовательности важных этапов. Она требует значительных затрат времени и усилий, и перечисленные рекомендации помогут выполнить заготовку и переработку сырья правильно. В результате этого можно получить качественную овчину и пряжу в домашних условиях, а затем использовать их для производства различных изделий из кожи и меха.