SHARING OPTIONS: Top class fertiliser can also be pelleted from wool clippings stated ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara. / Philip Doyle
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) has called for a reclassification of wool at EU level to allow the sheep sector to utilise shorn fleeces as a soil nutrient source.
ICSA sheep chair Seán McNamara made the call, saying wool should be categorised as a crop or commodity in recognition of its potential value.
“As it stands, wool is classified as category three waste, along with animal carcasses,” McNamara said.
“Wool is harvested from a live animal and is 100% natural. It should be classified as a valuable natural resource that is completely safe to spread on farms,” he continued.