The British Wool Marketing Board has recently released its 2026 outlook, with prices set to be some of the strongest in the industry in the last 10 years. Although trade may not quite pay the rent as it did in the 1970s, the significant drive in demand paints another positive outlook for the industry.
The 2025 returns are up over 30% year-on-year, and 2026 is forecast to be even stronger. Outlooks for all grades of wool are up following increased demand, with many wool types set to double in value between the 2024 average returns and the expected 2026 returns.
Northern Mule rose from 47p/kg to 74p/kg and is expected to rise to 102p/kg for the 2026 return. Likewise, the Southern and Welsh Mule breeds, alongside the Cheviots, are set to almost double from the 2024 return in 2026, with the breeds rising by an average of 58p/kg.
So, what has caused this renewed demand for the product?
British Wool reports that consumer attitudes towards the product are shifting, with growing concern around fast fashion and synthetic fibres driving demand for more sustainable materials.
British Wool has also invested in marketing, promoting the quality of the product and showcasing its superiority across the world. Consumers and processors are demanding greater traceability with all products, and British Wool can offer this full traceability, making it more attractive than fast fashion fibres.
British Wool is expecting this renewed demand to continue and is investing in the sector, with over 100 shearing courses set to take place in the coming year. The organisation is also investing in education and in many wool product innovations alongside industry partners in order to further promote and strengthen the industry for years to come.
Based on average fleece weight and predicted price rises for many breeds, the 2026 wool clip may just cover the costs of shearing, allowing some room to cover other associated costs such as labour, handling and haulage. This positive outlook brings renewed focus to wool production on farm. However, shearing is undoubtedly a remarkably busy period for many sheep farms and a potentially stressful period for sheep if not well managed.
Planning ahead for a smooth day of shearing
The first step, particularly if using a contractor to shear, is getting the day booked in plenty of time to allow for forward planning for both the farm and the contractor.
Consider when the best timing is for shearing for your flock - aim to avoid peak lactation (three to four weeks post lambing) - as this is when ewes are at the peak of their nutritional demands. Putting additional metabolic stress on ewes during this period may go on to affect future performance the next breeding season. Ewes should ideally be shorn while on a rising plane of nutrition and when wool is showing signs of growth.
Crutching or dagging prior to shearing will benefit both wool quality and ewe welfare. It reduces the risk of fly strike before clipping, lowers the chance of cuts during shearing, and helps minimise the level of potential contamination to the wool clip. Daggs should always be removed prior to rolling the fleece to save deductions.
Think about your shearing set-up during the day, also taking time to plan the handling system - especially if reliant on a temporary set-up for shearing. How will the sheep flow into the trailer or into catching pens? A bend or curve can aid flow into the race and prevent ewes coming back, also easing pressure on staff and ewes alike.
When planning, check you have everything ready - sufficient staff (keeping sheep in front of shearers, packing wool and moving mobs, etc.), wool sacks, labels (remember to pre-populate membership number if sending to British Wool), bag string, packing needle, marker spray, spray for any cuts and tarpaulin to keep the shed clean, as well as collect any offcuts.
Where possible, it is best practice to run sheep in the night before shearing and keep them either housed or in covered yards to keep them dry and allow them to empty prior to shearing. Sheep should always be shorn dry to avoid spoilage of the fleece once packed but also limit the chance of slips for shearers.
Emptying ewes is important to ease stress on the ewe at shearing, reduce risk of fleece contamination, reduce kicks and ease pressure and risk of injury to shearers (a ewe's gut contents can be up to 15% of ewe weight during lactation). If there is no covered yard or shed available, consider options to keep ewes and lambs overnight in a tighter area with limited grazing to reduce gut fill prior to shearing.
Optimising the wool clip
With prices favourable, optimising the value of wool sold off farm is even more important than ever. For this, presentation is key.
- Keep coloured wool separate. If there are only a couple of coloured fleeces, these can be rolled and packed in a clean feed bag and sewn into the top of a wool sack.
- Pack wool in breed-specific bags, keeping wool from hoggs or rams separate, as this may affect the grading. Keep this breed type clearly labelled.
- Only rolled fleeces can be graded. Aim to keep any loose wool separate to optimise wool value. For most breeds, the fleece should be rolled inside out, removing any soiled wool, folding in the sides, then rolling from the hips and tied with the neck piece.
- Aim to limit organic matter in the fleece - things like straw and vegetable matter (gorse, hedging, needles from bushes, etc).
- Limit markers on the fleece. Only use British Wool approved stock markers - a list of these can be found on the British Wool website.
2026 presents an opportunity to put wool back on the priority list. Ensure the farm and flock are as prepared as possible for a successful clip, helping producers to maximise returns from the wool clip.
The sheep industry is in a strong position and the news of a strengthening wool trade helps to further support this - producers should harness the opportunity to make the most of it.
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