Estimate raw and processed fiber output from your sheep, alpacas, or angora goats. Get lbs of fleece, yarn equivalent after washing loss, and estimated market value.
Fleece yield varies enormously by breed. Fine-wool breeds like Merino and Rambouillet produce 8–12 lbs of raw fleece. Coarser breeds like Suffolk or Dorset produce 5–8 lbs. Shetland sheep produce only 2–4 lbs but the fiber is highly prized for its fineness and softness.
Raw fleece loses about 25–35% of weight through skirting (removing edges), washing, and drying. Merino can lose up to 50% because of its high lanolin content. Plan on roughly 65–70% of raw fleece weight as usable washed fiber, then another 10% in spinning.
Raw fleece prices range from $1–$2/lb for common commercial breeds to $4–$10/lb for premium fine wools, colored fleeces, or specialty fibers like Suri alpaca. Selling directly to hand spinners at fiber festivals typically returns 2–4x what a mill or co-op pays.