Hamstring Sheep

Shearing is a physically demanding job and can lead to severe back pain and fatigue. We have gone over the back pain and its remedies before, today we will focus on hamstring injury to sheep.

A hamstring injury occurs when there is a tear or cut to large muscles or tendons in the back of the thigh. If you aspired to become a shearer, you must be familiar with the injury. But how do hamstring injuries take place in the shearing industry?

Let’s go through the reasons why shearers face this issue and how to avoid this situation.

During the Shearing Process

If you race someone, you may cut the tendons of the thigh. But of course, you are shearing above your ability and  roughly treat the sheep.

What else happens is that the sheep tend to kick when you are shearing their last hind leg. This is a common issue when the sheep are full and feeling uncomfortable. Experts suggest taking extra care around the tendons by rolling the handpiece around to the sides of the hamstrings and avoid driving the comb directly over the tendon. An even greater amount of care should be taken while using a cover comb.

Not Using the Right Tools

Lack of proper tools and equipment plays a critical role in putting sheep in danger. Safety at the workplace has become a gruelling issue in farms across Australia.

Broken handpieces, worn out gears and outdated equipment are another reason why sheep suffer from hamstring injuries.

Not Preparing Sheep

Just as you cannot shear a sheep with a full stomach, there are other things you should follow. It is essential to know how you should prepare a big sheep for shearing. During the crutching and shearing, big sheep make the workers exhausted.

As a result, the shearer becomes out of focus and errors occur. Sometimes shearers also get injured.

No Training

Not every shearing farm provides relevant training. Giving a young shearer a handpiece won’t do the job itself.

Besides safety, a lack of interest in training workers is quite prevalent. It is better to educate shearers about how to shear every type of sheep, when to shear and pre- and post-shearing rituals they should follow. Also, it is important to prepare the sheep before shearing.

Without proper training on the shearing technique, hamstring injuries among sheep will only multiply.

The best way to steer clear of any risks of hamstring injury is to know what you are doing. Go through the safety manuals, use the proper equipment and ask for training if necessary. Stay tuned for more info on shearing!