SHEEP SHEARING

Interested in having Austin shear your flock this year and live in eastern WI? Give him a call at (920) 851-4295

 Our first lambing season was right around the corner and I needed to get shearing lined up. My mentor suggested that I call a well-known shepherd a few towns away and ask if I could slip our small flock in amongst their 300 that were getting shorn. They knew the source of my sheep and felt it was safe from a biosecurity standpoint, so agreed.

Unexpectedly, we arrived to a party. There was nearly 20 people hanging out and chatting about fiber and sheep. The barn was packed with ewes ready to be shorn, and the air was rich with laughter and conversation, as well as the smell of sheep, of course. The shearer was zipping off fleeces in a state of flow, where they would end up on the skirting table to be cleaned and bagged. We learned a lot about wool and sheep that day. But the energy amongst the place sealed the deal - I was hooked.

Sheep shearing in Wisconsin usually takes place during two main time periods - early Winter for those lambing in late December or January, and in March for those lambing in April and May. Timing is important. Sheep should be shorn 3 to 4 weeks before lambing starts. Taking off their fleece prior to lambing helps reduce the amount of moisture brought into the barn, helps lambs find the teat more easily, allows the shepherd to observe signs of imminent lambing, and keeps things more clean and healthy in general.

It also reduces the ewe’s thermal tolerance, which encourages them to drop their lambs in the shed and not out on the cold mud. Lambing before shearing can also cause a break in the wool fiber, reducing its quality.

Sheep shouldn’t be shorn too close to lambing - getting shorn with big twins or triplets is probably pretty uncomfortable. It’s also harder for the shearer. Lastly, I personally think it’s much easier to administer CDT booster shots with their fleeces off, the day or so after shearing. Make sure your sheep have shelter post-shearing. Otherwise, let your shearer know they’ll need to use a cover-comb to keep some extra wool on the ewe - as mentioned, their thermal tolerance drops.

So, you’ve hired a shearer to come to your farm. Pen up your flock in an area with clean dry bedding, about 16 hours before shearing starts. If there is rain forecasted, they need to be under a roof. Wet sheep cannot be shorn. The sheep should be off feed for this entire duration, and water should be pulled 12 hours prior to shearing. Sheep that have empty rumens and bladders while being shorn are much more comfortable while getting rolled around and folded over. It also keeps the shearing floor slip-free (safe) and clean. You should have a 4’x8’ sheet of 1/2” plywood ready as a shearing floor. Some shearers will bring these, but it does pose a biosecurity risk.

Before shearing starts, your animals should be in the chute or penned up adjacent to where shearing will occur. Dragging sheep further than necessary is exhausting and makes for a tough day. Once shearing begins, let the shearer do their work! Do not ever try and trim hooves or administer vaccine boosters while a shearer is working. The shearer’s job is to shear sheep - if you will not be able to catch/tip/drag sheep or handle wool, make sure your shearer knows this ahead of time and expect that they will charge accordingly.

Shearing sheep is one of the toughest jobs in the world. It combines a highly specific skill with a demand for stamina and strength. Treat your shearer well! A hot meal and warm drink go a long way, as does access to a bathroom and a draft-free shearing area. Lastly, if you want to know why your shearer charges the price they do, try shearing a sheep yourself!

Sheep Shearing Day Checklist

• Sheep off feed starting 18 hours before shearing

• Sheep off water starting 12 hours before shearing

• Sheep on dry, clean bedding and out of rain

• 4’ x 8’ sheet of 1/2 plywood for shearing floor

• Electric source available at shearing area

• Adequate lighting above shearing area

• Sheep penned up/in chute before shearer arrives

• Water, warm drinks, snacks or meal for shearer if full day