Hey Deb.
I agree that Merino wool makes great socks and stuff.
Re the mulesing though, this is seriously a nasty piece of work. I did some farm work in the early 90's while between regular jobs and while tailing lambs they were also mulesed. Now I am a hunter and have been round farms since I could walk but it even turned my head.
Effectively the loose bit of skin up the back of the leg is sliced off to prevent fly strike. Good intention but hellish painful to the poor wee lamb at the time. Bit like having the web between your thumb and index finger sliced out. OUCH! :shock:
I am pretty sure it has been stopped in New Zealand where I am and instead selective breeding has been used to produce sheep without the saggy bit of skin on the leg.
Ironically I don't normally agree with groups like PETA but I will on this one.
Won't stop me buying Kiwi merino though and I took a pair of merino possum scarves to AL with me in July when I visited my friends back in July.
