[grumpsgarden]

hi last year when i had my black sheep shorn there skin split badly the shearer said it was because they are black sheep and there skins is thiner then white and to have them done earler this year as there fleece will be lighter so shouldnt split there skin so much  but with this bad weather we have been having i dont want to have them shorn if its going to get very cold so will there skin split again if i leave them a little longer they are zarbutals that  was done last year plus this year i have 1 thats a cross with texal she is black so im asking will black sheep skins always split when shorn or was it just a late shearing that caused it thank you

[lachlanandmarcus]

ermm I have never had that issue with the few of my flock who are black....but perhaps it might be a breed thing. I do know it is harder to shear them without nicking the skin with the shears, simply because the 'rise line' isnt as clear on the drak sheep (I shear by hand mostly) and the skin/wool line is also harder to see.

do you meant Zwarbtles, havent heard of Zarbutal?

[grumpsgarden]

yes sorry about the spelling i spell how i say things its the dslixya , they wernt just nicked they had spits longer then my hand lenth one was split along her back min about 5 inchs long jsut want to try and avoid it happing again thank you

[lachlanandmarcus]

I cant talk about spelling, in my post Ive spelt dark as drak...:-)))

[Fronhaul]

My Black Welsh Mountain sheep definitely don't have that problem but if it is right it may be breed related perhaps.

[Fleecewife]

We have lots of black sheep - never had a problem.   Get a different shearer.

[dixie]

Hmm I'd rethink the shearer too, I have a black ewe, 2 until last year, they shear beautifully.

[kelpy]

hmm,
i have black sheep too & never had a problem,
i'd get another shearer.

[grumpsgarden]

thank you all just need to find a shearer now that will do my 5 

[dixie]

Where are you? Contact the singing shearer www.singingshearer.co.uk he does small flocks and is brilliant, he travels all over too.

[grumpsgarden]

im in wales ceredigan where the sun is out today 

[Blacksheep]

I think you have a shearer issue.  We have a flock of Zwartbles, when I took some skins to be tanned I was told that as they were Zwartbles they would cost a bit more due to Zwartbles having thicker skin than most breeds!! However we did have a problem one year with a shearer cutting along their throats but we haven't had him back, I think part of the problem might be that they are less fat than some breeds so maybe easier to catch the skin, but there shouldn't really be an excuse if the shearer is careful.

[LOCHBYRE]

Erm odd , we have quite a few black sheep, shetlands and soays and have not had a problem.......even with me at the helm of the hand shears 
Fleecewife and hubby taught me well 

[robert waddell]

yes get another shearer    i cant believe he told you that pound o mince
what would happen if it scratched its arse

[grumpsgarden]

it was only the 2 black ones he cut and it was bad they where sprayed all over with blue spray but then he did say my sheep where too frendly and that made shearing them harder he likes wild ones not tame ones , now its trying to find a shearer that will come and only do the 5 he was the only one i could find last year that did a small number i had 10 last year but all the boys have gone now