For carpeting.

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Note added at 17 mins (2005-09-07 02:08:40 GMT)
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Oh, I found this at http://www.carpet24.com/en/portal/02_herstellung/wolle01.htm...

"Sheep wool is the most used material for carpet making. It is not only heat retaining and water repellent, but it does not change neither volume nor tension and has great elasticity.
The quality of an Oriental carpet depends mainly on the wool used. Depending on the breed of the sheep, the wool produced is of considerable difference in quality. It makes a decisive difference if the long stapled breast- or back-fleece is used, or if short hairs
of other parts of the body are used. It is also important under which climatic conditions the sheep are living. Difficult living conditions for the sheep, for example long dry spells or extreme temperature fluctuations, have an adverse effect on the obtained carpet wool.

All carpet producing countries also produce their own wool. But often high value material must be additionally purchased form Australia and New Zealand.

Two totally different terms are mentioned time and again. Tanning wool, also called Tabachi, which is inferior wool from dead sheep, pale and dull in appearance, and the very superior cork wool. For especially fine carpets the soft underhairs, also called down, are used. Their beauty and softness is comparative to silk. This so-called cork wool is a quality mark for the finest wool fibres."