By Chet Parsons

In recent years,the price of wool has been so low that shearing has become just another chore and added expense for many producers. Small producers are sometimes further frustrated because it is dif ficult to find professional shearers who want to stop and shear a small flock.Shearing doesn ʼt have to be a bad experience.With a better understanding of the shearing process,producers can do a lot to make it a more rewarding experience.

Let ʼs start with the sheep.Sheep should be kept clean.It is much easier to shear sheep that are clean than it is to shear sheep that are covered with hay and dirt.And,if they have manure stuck to them,if may be impossible to shear them.So keeping the sheep clean for ease of shearing is the first place to start.It also makes an incredible difference in the quality of the wool!Sheep need to be dry to shear,so anticipate any wet weather before shearing and keep them under cover if it looks like rain.

Sheep should also be kept off feed and water for at least 12 hours before shearing and 24 would be ideal.If sheep are full during shearing,sitting them up to shear puts added pressure on their heart and lungs.This makes them very uncomfortable and much harder to control and,in extreme cases, can cause death.They carry a seven to 10 day supply of feed in their rumen,so you don ʼt have to be concerned about them having enough to eat,even if they are eight months pregnant.

Having an area where you can con fine and catch the sheep is a must.Squeezing the sheep into a small pen makes it easy to go in and catch just one.It also keeps the sheep warm in cold weather which loosens up the lanolin and makes for easier shearing. Ideally,the sheep should be penned up adjacent to the shearing area where they can be easily caught by the shearer.

The next place of concern is the area where the sheep are to be sheared.The shearer needs an area of about 6-by-6 feet that is level and smooth.A 4-by-8 foot sheet of plywood will work,but two of them together will work even better.The name of the game in shearing sheep is balance,so if the area is not level,it gives the sheep an advantage and makes them more dif ficult to control.The area should be well lit and kept clean during the shearing process. If you expect a shearer to shear sheep in a pen that is dark,full of manure and not level,don ʼt be surprised if your phone calls are not returned the following year.

If you have problems getting a shearer,there are a few things that you can do to help.Be sure you follow the above suggestions.If you only have a few sheep to shear,you may be able to work with your neighbors to schedule your sheep to all be sheared on the same day.

When the shearer is shearing,stay out of his or her way and do not attempt to help hold the sheep unless speci fically asked to do so.The shearer has enough to do to watch out for himself and the sheep without having to worry about someone else in the way. Be patient with your shearer;there are only a few professional shearers in the Northeast.

I keep an updated list of shearers.You can find it on our web site at: www.uvm.edu/livestock/ or you can call and we will send you an updated list.If you know of someone who would like to be on the list,have them contact me.

Learning to shear yourself is an option.However,shearing is hard work and takes considerable practice. .Should I try shearing myself? Here is a good test that will give you a good idea of what it is like. Catch a sheep and sit it on its butt between your legs.Wrap your knees around it and see if you can let go with your hands and control it.If you can get it in the position and can hold it,sign up for the class now!!! If you are having trouble catching and holding the sheep, schedule a shearer now!

(Chet Parsons is a livestock Specialist with the University of Vermont Extension in St.Albans,Vt.Contact him at 802-524-6501,ext.212,or 800- 639-2130 in Vermont. His e-mail address is: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )