As spring approaches, it’s time to get ready for shearing. Winter’s chill wanes off, and the annual ritual kicks off gradually. Shearing is widely acknowledged as physically demanding, but shearers have their own routine to get through the long day. Here, we will highlight a day in the life of a shearer.
What goes on throughout the day
Usually farms focus on two things - grain and sheep. A single farm tends to have a few thousand sheep and the sheep are shorn for their wool. Therefore, more than two-three thousand sheep are shorn for thick wool that farmers ship later. Every farmer has a shearing shed which features passageways and compartments outside.
When the time of the year approaches, farmers hire shearers to execute the physical job of removing wool. And a shearing team has four people - four roustabouts and four shearers. They arrive in the morning, work two hours and then take a break.
Professionals use hi-tech shears and start the process. At first, they grab the front legs and carefully shear the wool off. Shearers make sure the fleece comes off, just like peeling off a jacket.
Preparing for the day
Shearers need adequate lighting for shearing and handling, so farmers should provide a well-ventilated shed. In most cases, shearers bring disinfected and clean shears and focus on white-wool sheep before coloured sheep. They set up a shearing floor to shear on a level surface.
After shearing sheep, the team checks possible risks of abscesses. They mark and isolate sheep with abscesses.
Post shearing day
It is highly important to store wool in a clean dry place. The farmers can monitor sheep for comfort and ensure they are regularly eating. Of course, farmers must identify the wool lots.
If you are looking for the latest shearing equipment, kindly check out our website. Of course, stay tuned to our blog section for more information!
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