Shearing and wool

In short

• Shear once a year, from mid-May to the end of June (hill flocks in July), when the cold nights are over but before the big heat.
• Shear only dry sheep, after 12 hours without feed, water available. Wet wool rots in the bag.
• Never catch or drag a sheep by the wool: it leaves bruises in the meat and hurts.
• Pack fleeces in wool sheets or paper sacks, never in plastic bags.
• Crutch before lambing and in summer, and check for fly strike every day in warm weather.
• A freshly shorn sheep needs shelter from cold rain and strong sun for 2–3 weeks.

What's inside

Chapters

1. When to shear
2. Yourself or with a shearer
3. Tools and kit
4. Preparing the flock
5. Catching and turning a sheep
6. Shearing step by step
7. Cuts and safety
8. The fleece: from board to bag
9. Wool: what kind and what to do with it
10. Fleece and skin care through the year
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Shearing-day plan
• Shearing and fleece log
• Wool and shearing cost calculator
• Fleece grading and plan for use
• Shearing and fleece-care calendar