EDUCATION

Meeting Requirements

Having the requirements of their clients/customers who put much importance upon sheep welfare must be helpful to sheep farmers in their wanting to do and maintain business with those people, and with others. And the input can assist towards removing any tendency in sheep farmers to get ‘set in their ways’.

A business with high standards is the Finnish weaving company Lapuan Kankurit which provides products of linen and wool and other fibres. On its website, (lapuankankurit.fi) Lapuan Kankurit provides much information about the wool it uses.

It says in Home > Responsibility > Responsibility manifest under the heading ‘WOOL’:

‘We have made significant investments in order to be able to produce wool yarn from Finnish sheep. Some of it usually ends up in the landfill’.

And it goes on to say:

‘… we acquire our wool from different parts of the world: Finland, the Nordic countries, New Zealand, Australia, South America and South Africa. 60% of all our wool fibre come from EU year 2024 …. We aim to focus on using wool fibres that come from countries emphasising the welfare of animals … We do not condone animal abuse and we procure solely wool that is certified and mulesing-free.’

In Home > Journal > ‘Buying Finnish Sheep’s Wool from our contract producers’ under the heading ‘FINNISH WOOL’ it says:

‘We launched our first collection made fully of Finnish sheep wool in Autumn of 2023’.  

In Home > Journal > ‘Buying Finnish Sheep’s wool from our contract producers,’ it says:

‘We are buying good quality, pure and clean wool from Finnsheep and Kainuu Greys from our contract producers. We collect the Finnish sheep wool from local farms ourselves, in approximately 300-kilometre radius around Lapua.’

Then in Home > Journal > ‘Buying Finnish Sheep’s wool from our contract producers’ – ‘Our sustainable wool requirements’ it continues:

‘A healthy sheep

The wool comes from animals that have been cared for in a safe and holistic environment that promotes their health. They have had ample space to move, the freedom to express their natural behaviors, and access to the outdoors with consideration for weather conditions.

Each operator has a written welfare plan, The Farm-Specific Welfare Plan for Sheep and Goats. Lapuan Kankurit strives to support farmers and seeks assistance from ProAgria in drafting welfare plans.

[ProAgria describes itself as “the largest provider of agricultural advisory and training services in Finland.”]

Sheep farming must comply with animal welfare laws and international recommendations for the care and well-being of wool-producing animals. The animals have not undergone mulesing or tail docking.

A balanced environment

The cultivation, production, and processing of wool are carried out with respect for the soil, the environment, and their biodiversity.

Each operator follows a cultivation plan that considers environmental factors, carbon sequestration, vegetation cover optimization, nutrient runoff reduction, and erosion prevention.

Wastewater and manure are managed appropriately.’

What Lapuan Kankurit describes of what it requires of sheep farmers, in terms of high standards of care of the sheep providing wool to the company, gives demonstration of the strong position which clients/customers of sheep farmers have for bringing about best, and most enlightened, care of sheep from sheep farmers.

11th June 2026