5102.20.00.00 - Coarse animal hair

This HTS category, "Coarse animal hair," encompasses animal hair that is not fine hair and has not undergone carding or combing. These are typically the longer, coarser fibers obtained from various animals, excluding those from sheep and lambs, which are covered under "fine animal hair." Examples include the hair of animals like goats (excluding cashmere, mohair, and angora), cattle, horses, and certain breeds of dogs. The key determinant for classification here is the inherent coarseness of the hair fibers and the absence of any processing beyond simple cleaning or mechanical separation.

The distinction between this category and its sibling, "Fine animal hair," is crucial for accurate classification. Fine animal hair, such as cashmere, mohair, or angora, is characterized by its extreme fineness, softness, and crimp, often used in high-quality textiles. Coarse animal hair, by contrast, is typically less voluminous, stiffer, and generally possesses a larger diameter. This difference in physical properties dictates their respective end-uses, with coarse hair often being utilized in more robust applications like upholstery, brushes, or industrial felts, rather than fine apparel.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories within "Coarse animal hair" at this level of the HTS. Classification within this code is determined by the animal of origin and the absence of further processing like carding or combing. Any subsequent processing, such as carding or combing, would typically result in classification under a different HTS heading, indicating a move to a more refined stage of textile material preparation.