Fasting of Sheep Before Shearing

Whatever your opinions about fasting sheep, there's no doubt that your shearer will appreciate you for keeping the flock off food and drink before shearing. However, your sheep will also appreciate it. Although there are many different perspectives on fasting, research has shown that it has considerable advantages for sheep and shearers.

So why is it important? For the sake of the shearer's safety and the health of the sheep. If the sheep's stomach is full, it can significantly increase the weight of the animal, adding to the downward pressure on the organs as it is being sheared, making the sheep feel uneasy and stressed. As a result, the sheep frequently get more stressed as a result of their discomfort and increased kicking and struggling.

Additionally, there is a higher chance that the sheep will slip when it stands up after being shorn if the sheep urinates or defecates on the shearing floor. Another major risk for the shearer is a slick shearing surface.

Before entering the shearing facility, the sheep must urinate, defecate, and clear their digestive tracts. The amount of time a sheep may go without eating or drinking will vary depending on its stage of development. The minimal fasting periods ensure that the stomach is emptied, while the maximum periods protect the sheep's wellbeing.

It's crucial to remember that sheep shouldn't go longer than the recommended amount of time without food and water, which can occur on long shearing days. Remember that if all sheep are confined at once, the last sheep to be shorn will have fasted for a longer period of time than the first.

The purpose of fasting is also to enhance the wool clip's quality. The shearing floor will be cleaner since there is no longer a chance of sheep urinating or defecating there. Also a slip made from clean wool is typically better and more expensive.

Fasting Time Recommendations for Sheep

The Ewes

A pregnant ewe's intestinal contents can make up more than 20% of its body weight, according to scientific studies, adding 2 to 5 tonnes to the daily weight of sheep a shearer must catch, drag, and handle on the shearing board. Full sheep make an already difficult task even more difficult, especially if the ewes are large-framed and in good shape or if the ewes are sheared in the late stages of pregnancy when the conceptus can weigh up to 10 kg.

Prior to shearing, ewes who are neither pregnant nor nursing should fast for at least 20 hours and no longer than 32 hours. Ewes that are sheared in the early or middle stages of pregnancy should fast for at least 18 hours and no longer than 30 hours. A sheep should fast for no less than 12 hours and no more than 24 hours before being shorn during late pregnancy or lactation.

For wethers

Prior to shearing, adult wethers must fast for a minimum of 18 hours and a maximum of 32 hours.

For hoggets

Hoggets weigh less than adult ewes; between the ages of seven and fifteen months, their weight ranges from around 55 percent to about 85 percent of the mature ewe's live weight. Prior to shearing, a hogget that is neither pregnant nor nursing must fast for at least 18 hours and no longer than 30 hours. Before being sheared, this hogget needs to be without water for a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 24 hours.

A hogget that is sheared while pregnant or nursing needs to fast for at least 12 hours and no longer than 24 hours. This hogget must go without water for no less than 8 hours and no more than 20 hours before shearing.

For lambs

Lambs that are off feed for an excessive amount of time prior to shearing may have a drop in carcass weight. Various studies have demonstrated that 24 hours without food results in a significant drop in lambs' stomach fill but no loss of carcass weight. However, even when lambs have access to water, prolonged fasting can reduce carcass weight.

Young lambs should be off feed for no less than 6 hours and no more than 24 hours prior to weaning before being sheared. Prior to being sheared, this lamb must be without water for a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 20 hours.

Before being sheared, a weaned lamb must go without food for a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 24 hours. This lamb should go without drinking for at least 8 hours and no more than 20 hours before shearing..

Every recommendation made in this article is based on scientific research. The recommendations have been based on industry best practices in areas where there are gaps in scientific understanding. It should be noted that the suggestions in this guideline pertain to the minimum and maximum amounts of time that each individual sheep should go without food and drink before being sheared. If you need more information on shearing and shearing gears, visit shearquantity.com for more information.