Author Topic: Re: SHEARING (Read 2066 times)

kelly58 · « **on:** August 01, 2016, 01:34:27 pm »

Because of the unpredictable weather we have been having , our shearer has been put back with his jobs and doesn't know how long hes going to be before he can get to us ?
Could anyone advise me please whats the latest time of the year he can shear ?
Starting to panic a bit now $:-\$ We are in the Highlands so the sheep are not suffering with the heat.......... far from it but l know they would benefit having it done.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2016, 03:43:41 pm »

You can shear any time, but the closer it gets to Autumn, the more you might ask the shearer to give them a 'winter cut', where they leave an inch or so of wool on. I wouldn't worry if they can get to them before August is out, though. Or even early Sept. But much beyond that....

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2016, 05:59:53 pm »

The fleece has to come off, or when it gets soaked in winter the sheep can cowp - get stuck on its back with its legs waving in the air unable to get back up.

Watch out with eagle eyes for flystrike.

If you don't have many sheep then learn to shear them yourself - gives you total freedom to shear when the sheep are ready.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2016, 06:02:43 pm »

Have you crutched them?

shep53 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2016, 07:42:40 pm »

Some extensive hill flocks only gather once or twice per year , so in SEPT they gather clip everything , wean all the lambs , take off draft ewes , apply pour -on to the ewes and sometimes finally remove the rams . Many ewes in the highlands are clipped in august , I will finish tomorrow but my shearers recon another 1,000 still to do