It takes time and experience to learn how to shear a sheep. Before you go out and buy sheep shearing materials, attempt to observe and question a professional sheep shearer. The first few times will be frustrating unless you grasp the basics of sheep handling, what shearing materials to buy, and how to utilize them. During peak shearing season, skilled sheep shearers make flipping a sheep appear effortless since they shear hundreds of sheep every week.
Shearing is unavoidable while keeping sheep unless you are growing hair breeds such as Barbados Blackbelly or Katahdin sheep. You should also have proper knowledge of ace shearing combs before you take up shearing. Read below the facts about shearing before you go for it.
Why Do Sheep Remain Silent When Shorn?
You may be wondering why sheep are so calm when shorn. For one thing, the quiet indicates that sheep shearing is not harsh and that animals do not dislike being shorn. Sheep would not be silent if it harmed them. Fortunately, it is normal practice in the sheep business to handle and treat sheep humanely, which means that sheep are kept calm, confined, and therefore silent when being sheared.
Why Doesn’t Shearing Hurt Sheep?
Consider the last time you visited the hairdresser or the dentist. You are undoubtedly paid to get your hair trimmed or your teeth cleaned by a skilled expert. You may not have had the most riveting or delightful experience, especially at the dentist, but you most likely left feeling good with no cuts or other injuries. The same is true for sheep shearing. There is very little likelihood that a sheep would suffer cuts or other injuries and feel pain if the shearing is done by a professional or someone who has had a lot of experience shearing sheep.
How Do Sheep Survive Without Shearing in the Wild?
Shearing varies according to the sheep breed. Some breeds have been carefully developed and nurtured to have thick coats. Others that haven’t been selectively bred don’t produce much wool, so they don’t need shearing and may shed spontaneously. Wild sheep, as a result, spontaneously produce the amount of wool required to keep warm throughout the winter and shed it when it is no longer required.
Shorn Ewes Are at Peace
Shearing the sheep before lambing is beneficial to the ewe because it makes her more comfortable before lambing by removing the thick wool coat. Lambing is a stressful process for a ewe, and stress can cause a weak spot to form in the wool fiber. Shearing before lambing collects the fleece at its best condition and length in terms of wool quality.
When it comes to lambs, they might become confused about where the udder is and what to suck on. If there are any dried-up danglers of muck or dung hanging from the ewe’s underbelly. Having the teats as the sole likely option minimizes options and allows the lamb to nurse rapidly.
Sheep shearing is best done by a qualified expert unless you are taught. This does not prohibit you from learning! Shearing with a professional shearer at your side to guide you may teach you a lot. If you are unsure about your ability to manage the physical demands of the work, it may be best to employ a professional.
Author’s Bio – Benjamin Fulmer owns a shearing farm and he writes about ace shearing combs. Here he explains some facts about shearing a sheep.
