Author Topic: Pre-shearing trim?  (Read 4233 times)

Blackbird

  • Joined Jul 2012
Pre-shearing trim?
« on: June 04, 2016, 05:59:04 pm »
Numpty question - sorry! Shearer is coming in 2 weeks, meanwhile the 2 Dartmoors have a huge amount of wool on and are huffing and puffing. I'm thinking of giving them a trim with my hand shears just to help them keep cooler till they are shorn (I won't be doing anything with their fleeces). They are too huge for me to turn and handle by myself, but are stupidly docile and friendly will stand reasonably OK while I do things to them. Where is it best to focus on clipping them - belly or back? flanks or face? or is it just a case that summat is better than nowt?? Bums are already clipped and sprayed with Dyna-mite against flies. Any thoughts welcome thank you!
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Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2016, 07:21:13 pm »
Our GFD were shorn last Saturday :relief: .  Even though they seemed dry, they were damp on the belly and throat area.  The main thing though is what you have already done - the rear end  :thumbsup: .  In future we will trim out the throat/chest and some belly wool as it all gets thrown away and only dry fleece is put in the wool sack. 
Your shearer will need plenty of tea and biscuits ;) .

Blackbird

  • Joined Jul 2012
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2016, 07:41:02 am »
Thanks Bramblecot - that's a good thought about clipping the areas of fleece that would be discarded anyway - I will go up and do throat, chest and as much belly as I can reach without turning them. They are mighty woolly sheep - last year they produced about 10kg of wool each - glad you've managed to get yours shorn!  :relief: for you!
Where are we going - and why am I in this handcart?

Hellybee

  • Joined Feb 2010
    • www.blaengwawrponies.co.uk
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2016, 10:26:08 am »
I Dagged on Friday, was tempted to go through the nape of neck and chest but just did back ends in the end, fingers are still feeling the burn, must have trimmed up at least forty sets of pantaloons  :roflanim:   :thumbsup:  Shearing early July so we sprayed them and sent them up the headland in the wind

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2016, 11:29:37 am »
Ours are put in a windy field with plenty of shade if it gets hot before the shearer arrives.

shotblastuk

  • Joined May 2013
  • Proper Gloucestershire !!
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2016, 06:59:31 am »
I clip out all wool  from neck, chest, belly and backend in February. (Cotswolds) Seems to prevent felting/matting , helps lambs get to the teat easier, and your shearer will be a happy man with no matted wool to fight through. :thumbsup:

Blackbird

  • Joined Jul 2012
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2016, 11:19:43 am »
Our field is fairly breezy and has a good hedge for shade so  :fc: they will be OK till shorn. The GFDs looked so different after I clipped their heads and bibs that the little Shetland ewes decided they were imposters and spent the morning trying to beat them up! Sheep are deeply strange......
Where are we going - and why am I in this handcart?

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2016, 07:41:02 pm »
We have GFD's and Shetlands too.  Strange mix, I'm glad we are not the only ones. And our little Shetlands were feisty post-shearing  :sheep: :furious: :sheep: .

Blackbird

  • Joined Jul 2012
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2016, 01:30:31 pm »
I always think of Shetlands as the Jack Russells of the sheep world - no concept of their diminutive size and up for a scrap with anything! Just as well the (approx 65 kilo) GFDs are quite placid and just looked rather hurt that their friends were beating them up  :hugsheep:
Where are we going - and why am I in this handcart?

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Pre-shearing trim?
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2016, 06:46:04 pm »
Blackbird, That sums up the Shetland and GFD relationship beautifully. ;D

 

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