The sheep and the wool


The sheep Xisqueta

5,000 years ago there was the Iberian Peninsula primitive domestic sheep, Ovis aries ibericus, which arise in the course of centuries, some of the races that currently exist, including Xisqueta.

Small, robust, with a small head and no horns. Eyes with black spots (ullerada), ears, nose and paws end.
The breed is native Catalan Xisqueta extremely sober surviving in environments such as high hardness Pyrenees.
Since the mid-twentieth century, this breed has undergone a gradual and significant decrease in the census, which has been linked to a reduction in its distribution area. So Xisqueta 1995 race was classified as endangered breed (RD 3322, Official Gazette, no. 33, 1995), creating the following year, 1996, the grouping of its breeders .
Has been slowly recovering from the census in 1995 leaving a few years ago from extinction. Currently declared special protection.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOL

One. Xisqueta wool, wool entrefina. We talked micron…
Two. Therapeutic and / or medicinal
Three. Pica wool Xisqueta?!
4. Contact wool skin (allergies and sensitivities)
5. Protective wool: insulating the body and home
6. Differences between natural wool and synthetic wool


Xisqueta wool, wool entrefina. We talked micron…

The wool has a fine half Xisqueta fibers 28 microns. And what exactly does that?!
We talked to experts: Daniel Pallet, Technological Innovation Center CTF. Polytechnic University of Catalonia
"The fineness of the fibers is measured in microns (1 micron is one thousandth of a millimeter) diameter fibers. The result is the arithmetic mean of a set of 300 or 400 fibers measured and then establish a statistical calculation to establish the definitive micratge.
When higher average value means that the fibers are thicker. There are Australian merino wool 16 microns: the finest in the world. The wool of the peninsula were 22/23 microns (Merino Country, Type 2) to 36 microns types month “bastos”.
The fineness of the fibers is one of the parameters which define (among others) the price of wool (finer = more expensive) and it is very important for filabilitat capacity or spinning. Wools finer threads can get month to "


Therapeutic and / or medicinal

There are studies that collect the wool as a natural fiber, it has medicinal properties. Fat containing active self healing properties of the body, as long as this is in direct contact with the skin. The wool is washed only with water, it makes it rich in lanolin (wool fat natural)

The wool can be applied to affected areas in cases of muscular discomfort, also earache, leg ulcers, irritations.
In applications where direct contact with the skin, wool wrapping the chest or back helps improve processes bronchitis, as well as in the stomach, relieve colic.
And going beyond even the wool is also a transmitter emotional. Here, make your interpretations. But it is beautiful, is not it?!


Pica wool Xisqueta?!

The wool is wool xisqueta entrefina and contains hair. This can make us some cases, depending on the sensitivity of the skin, itching sensation made and / or can be bothered. If you have questions we recommend that you request a sample to check it directly to the skin.


Contact wool skin (allergies and sensitivities)

Allergies

Most medical experts, although do not rule out the discomfort caused by the sensitivity of wool, say allergies to wool are rare. A person with allergies to wool has an allergic reaction, like a person with an allergy to cats or pollen.
The most common side effect of allergy to wool is a rash on the face, arms and hands. This rash can occur immediately after contact with wool or can take a couple of days because the rash appears.

Sensitivity to wool

What is much more common than allergy to wool are people with sensitive skin who feel uncomfortable using wool. Especially coarse fiber. Can irritate your skin. But it does not have a true allergic reaction.


Protective wool: insulating the body and home

Wool is a natural insulation. Protect from cold as a protective layer. This is the system that protects just as the sheep.
The wool is heated in winter and cool in summer. Its insulating properties that will keep our body heat. It can also absorb moisture from the air to generate heat.
These same insulating properties apply to the structure of our house. In this sense, sheep wool insulation is one of the best that meet the criteria of thermal conductivity, heat resistance, fire resistance and has less environmental impact also occur as material.


Differences between natural wool and synthetic wool

Synthetic fibers are perhaps a little lighter, but contact with the skin becomes moist smell very quickly and are highly flammable.
In the case of our wool fibers are thick and so warm. These wools that are present in our body due to its consistency and weight. Natural fibers are easy to maintain, breathable and odorless when soiled.
While natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable. The production process is very senzil! Got a flock of sheep fed the high mountain pastures and crystal clear water are women. A very different production of synthetic chemical fibers, is not it?


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