Montana's Wool Industry

1. About how many sheep and lambs were in Montana on January 1, 2025?

About 25,000 head About 85,000 head About 185,000 head Over 1 million head

2. About how many pounds of wool did Montana produce in 2023?

About 138,000 pounds About 1.38 million pounds About 13.8 million pounds About 40 million pounds

3. Why is wool such a good material for winter clothing?

Wool is perfectly smooth and doesn’t trap air Wool fibers have natural crimp and elasticity that trap warm air and help keep you dry and insulated Wool melts in the cold Wool is made of plastic

4. What is the big, single piece of wool called that comes off a sheep during shearing?

A blanket A fleece A hide A tuft

5. What is scouring in wool processing?

Dyeing the wool bright colors Washing raw wool in hot water and soap to remove dirt, grease, and burrs Cutting the wool off the sheep Spinning wool into yarn

6. After scouring, what is carding?

Pressing wool into boards Using fine combs or rollers to separate and straighten the fibers so they’re soft and smooth Mixing wool with sand Sewing wool into sweaters

7. What is lanolin, and what is it used for?

A grain that sheep eat The natural oil from wool, refined and used in lotions, creams, and other products A type of fencing A medicine for sheep

8. What does it mean that sheep are ruminants?

They have four completely separate stomachs They have one stomach with four compartments that help them digest grass and roughage They only eat meat They can’t chew their food

9. Which animals besides sheep are also raised for fiber that can be spun into yarn?

Angora goats, Angora rabbits, llamas, and alpacas Cows and pigs only Fish and frogs Only chickens

10. Where in Montana are most sheep and wool produced today?

Mostly on city rooftops in Billings Mainly east of the Rockies on rangelands and mixed farms Only in Glacier National Park Along the ocean coast

Agriculture & Business

Montana Sheep & Wool Quiz