We sheer sheep to stop them overheating and to provide wool for spinning and weaving. But farmers haven’t always had to remove the fleece from sheep. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors reared breeds that moulted in warm weather.
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The fleece shed naturally and was collected by hand from the fields. But when the textile industry flourished and people realised there was money to be made from wool, sheep that kept their fleece were selectively bred until moulting virtually disappeared. By the Middle Ages, English wool was a valuable commodity and made many merchants very rich indeed.
The livestock aren’t harmed by the shears or clippers. In fact, a newly shorn sheep will be relieved that its winter ‘coat’ has gone. But if we have a cold spell, young sheep might be kept in sheds for a few days to protect them.
There are two ways to get the fleece off an animal’s back: blade shears, which look like a giant pair of scissors, or machine shears, which are like the electric clippers used in barbers’ shops. The hard work tends to take place on a wooden shearing board that can be cleaned to avoid infection and ensures the wool isn’t marked or damaged. At the end, the fleece is often thrown on to a wool table.
I’ve sheared sheep for decades and like to think I’m pretty good but the very best are the Australians and New Zealanders who visit UK farms every year. They can shear a sheep in a minute or two and as they’re paid per fleece, it can be a great way to make a living.
What happens to the fleece?
The livestock aren’t harmed by the shears or clippers. In fact, a newly shorn sheep will be relieved that its winter ‘coat’ has gone. But if we have a cold spell, young sheep might be kept in sheds for a few days to protect them.
After being rolled and put into a woolsack, the fleeces are taken to a grading depot and the farmer will be paid by the British Wool Marketing Board depending on the type, weight and quality of the wool.