Kemp is a brittle, weak fibre forming the residual traces of a secondary coat in some breeds of sheep, which may be mixed with normal fibres in a wool fleece. This hair is not desirable in a fleece, as it does not accept dye, minimizing both the quality and the value of the wool. Kemp fibre is also hollow, which is the reason it does not hold dye.[1] There are three parts to kemp. First is the root, which is often frayed and swollen and has completed its growth or has already been shed. Second is a clear transparent section, and third is central core surround by a clear coat which takes up the majority of the fibre. [2]
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