In 2024, average prices paid to UK farmers for wool were £0.20-£0.57 per kilogram, depending on the wool type, but these prices often fail to cover the cost of shearing, which can be around £1.50-£1.75 per ewe, leading to financial losses for many sheep farmers.

Recent increases are seen as an improvement, but the market remains volatile, and some farmers have even chosen to burn their wool in protest at the low returns, which have plummeted significantly since the 1950s.

Current Price Range (2024 Season Averages)

• Fine wool (e.g., Suffolk): £0.20/kg 
• Medium wool (e.g., Texel): £0.26/kg 
• Mule wool: £0.28/kg 
• Romney wool: £0.29/kg 
• Hill breeds (e.g., Welsh, Swaledale): Often as low as £0.10-£0.30/kg, though some are fetching slightly more in 2024, around £0.50-£0.55/kg. 

Key Points

• Losses are common: The price paid per kilogram of wool often does not cover the cost of shearing the sheep, leaving farmers with a net loss. 
• Historical decline: Wool prices have fallen dramatically from over £14/kg in the 1950s to less than £0.75/kg in recent years. 
• Market volatility: Factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, high energy costs and the rise of synthetic fibres have contributed to a depressed and volatile wool market. 
• British Wool: Most farmers sell their wool through the British Wool cooperative, which handles the processing and sale of the wool. 
• Focus on Added Value: Some farmers are exploring new markets, such as insulation, compost, or other sustainable wool products, to add value to their wool and create a more viable income stream. 

MW Engineering & Fabrication have produced various systems to help sheep farmers including our sheep dressing stand,  anti-reverse sheep gate and our sheep shedding and drafting gate. If you have any requirements not in our catalogue already, don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss.