When people think of sheep shearing, they picture wool sweaters and warm blankets. My journey into sheep care started with a Border Collie who needed a job. Before becoming a professional cattle hoof trimmer, I kept a small flock of only six to give my eager herding dog something to do!
What began as a solution for an energetic pup evolved into a deep understanding of sheep health and care. My connection to them stems from our shared professional territory—they have split hooves! This guide combines resources around current best practices to help you master shearing for optimal flock health.
Hidden Health Risks of Skipping Shearing
Modern sheep farming has transformed wool-gathering into an essential health practice. Unlike their wild ancestors, domesticated sheep cannot naturally shed their fleece, so regular shearing is crucial for preventing health issues.
Why Modern Sheep Can’t Shed: Understanding Wool Growth
Centuries of selective breeding have created sheep breeds that produce wool continuously throughout their lives. This genetic modification, while beneficial for wool production, creates three critical health challenges:
- Temperature Regulation: Excessive wool can cause dangerous overheating, especially in the summer. A full fleece can add up to 10% of a sheep’s body weight, significantly impacting their ability to manage body temperature.
- Disease Prevention: Wet or matted wool promotes bacterial growth and parasites. Veterinary studies show damp fleece significantly increases the risk of flystrike and skin infections.
- Reproductive Health: Excess wool around the udder can impair lambing success and nursing efficiency for breeding ewes. The Ontario Sheep Farmers’ guide emphasizes that proper wool management correlates with improved lamb survival rates.
According to the Ontario Sheep Farmers production manual, most commercial flocks require shearing at least once annually, ideally 3-5 weeks before lambing.
Seasonal Timing for Optimal Results
Timing your annual shearing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about maximizing health benefits and operational efficiency. Research shows that spring shearing, 3-5 weeks before lambing, reduces birthing complications and gives ewes time to adjust before the demands of nursing. This timing also prepares the flock for increasing temperatures, preventing potentially dangerous heat stress during late pregnancy.
Fall shearing offers different advantages, particularly for commercial operations. Sheep with shorter fleece utilize winter feed more efficiently and stay cleaner in winter housing. This timing also makes pregnancy checking more accurate and reduces wool contamination during indoor housing.
Pre-Shearing Preparation: Setting Up for Success
Successful shearing begins long before the first sheep enters the shearing area. Industry guidelines recommend booking your shearer at least two months in advance, as experienced ones maintain tight schedules throughout the season.
The day before shearing, focus on creating ideal conditions. Keep sheep dry and protected from precipitation, as wet wool significantly slows the process. Prepare a clean, well-lit workspace with non-slip flooring and reliable power sources. Arrange for experienced handlers; their help will prove invaluable in maintaining a smooth, efficient operation throughout the day.
Preparing Your Sheep
Proper flock preparation impacts shearing efficiency and wool quality. Withhold feed (but never water) for 12 hours before shearing to reduce stomach content and ease handling for the sheep and shearer.
Sort your flock into manageable groups based on wool type and handling requirements. Pregnant ewes need special attention and should be scheduled early in the day when handlers and shearers are alert. This approach reduces stress on the animals while maximizing efficiency.
Professional Shearing Techniques: A Methodical Approach
Professional sheep shearing combines precision, speed, and animal welfare. The most effective pattern, refined over generations of practice, starts with careful positioning known as “tipping.” This technique places the sheep in a secure sitting position that allows full access to the belly while keeping the animal calm and supported.
A skilled shearer moves methodically around the sheep, removing the fleece in one continuous piece. This approach maintains wool quality and reduces the risk of injury to both animal and handler. The traditional pattern—starting at the belly and working outward—ensures no wool is missed while keeping the sheep comfortable.
The Shearing Pattern
An experienced shearer’s movements tell a story of efficiency refined over generations. The process begins at the belly, where long, controlled strokes remove the wool in a precise sequence. According to Penn State Extension experts, this approach allows skilled professionals to complete a full shearing in 2-5 minutes while maintaining animal comfort and wool quality.
The shearer’s pattern flows naturally around the sheep’s body, focusing on sensitive areas near the udder and legs. Each stroke builds upon the last, removing the entire fleece as one connected piece—a technique that preserves wool value and minimizes sheep handling.
Post-Shearing Management: The Important First Weeks
The hours and days after shearing are crucial for your flock. Without their protective wool coating, sheep become vulnerable to environmental challenges. The Ontario Sheep Farmers’ guide emphasizes that careful management during this time impacts flock health outcomes.
Even skilled shearers occasionally create small nicks in the process. Professional ones typically apply protective sprays such as Repiderma to these areas immediately, but monitoring these spots during the first 48 hours helps prevent infections. Sheep need time to adjust to their weight loss and temperature regulation changes.
In the first two weeks post-shearing, sheep need appropriate shelter—protection from direct sun in warm weather and wind and rain in cooler conditions. This transition period also allows for thorough health assessments, particularly of areas typically hidden by wool, especially hoof assessment.
Maximizing the Shearing Day: Health Assessments
With wool removed and each animal already being handled, efficient producers use this time to perform thorough hoof inspections and necessary trimming. The Ontario Sheep Farmers guide recommends this timing for its practical efficiency—sheep are already being managed individually, making it a suitable moment for additional care procedures.
During this vulnerable period, professional hoof care products like Repiderma are crucial for maintaining hoof health. Proper hoof maintenance during shearing time ensures your flock stays healthy and mobile in the coming months, whether addressing minor trimming nicks or providing preventative care.
Wool Management: From Shearing to Sale
Many view wool as a byproduct of sheep production, but proper handling after shearing can transform this resource into a valuable income stream. The moments following shearing are crucial—the way you handle the fleece now affects its market value.
The Ontario Sheep Farmers guide outlines a systematic approach to wool handling that begins the instant the fleece hits the shearing floor. First, perform careful skirting, removing contaminated wool from the edges. Then roll and store the wool in breathable containers, never plastic bags, which can trap moisture and encourage mould.
Quality assessment determines your marketing strategy. Clean, well-handled fleeces can command premium prices from hand-spinners and fibre artists, while lower-grade wool is better directed to wool pools or commercial buyers. Local festivals provide direct access to craft markets willing to pay premium prices for quality fleeces.
FAQs About Sheep Shearing
When should sheep be shorn?
Most commercial breeds require annual shearing, typically scheduled 3-5 weeks before lambing. Some long-wool breeds need it twice yearly. Watch for signs like matted wool, heat stress in moderate weather, or excessive rubbing against fences—these indicate it’s time to schedule your shearer.
How stressful is sheep shearing?
Professional shearing, when properly performed, causes minimal stress—similar to routine grooming. The brief handling during shearing prevents the long-term stress of carrying excessive wool in hot weather or during lambing. A crucial aspect of stress reduction is working with experienced shearers and handlers who maintain calm throughout the process.
What makes a good shearing setup?
Success depends on having a clean, dry area with good ventilation and proper lighting. Work with experienced handlers who can move sheep calmly and efficiently. After shearing, return them to familiar surroundings with access to appropriate shelter for their newly shorn condition.
Conclusion
Proper shearing is essential for sheep health, comfort, and productivity, whether managing a commercial operation or a small hobby flock. By understanding the process and providing appropriate care before, during, and after shearing, you ensure your sheep remain healthy and produce quality wool.
For information on maintaining healthy hooves in your flock, explore our Repiderma products as part of your sheep care program.
