SHEEP SHEARING WITH BRITISH WOOL
Here at byLaxtons whilst we might be experts in spinning, we are always looking to improve our knowledge of the steps before the raw wool reaches us and to ensure that everyone in our close-knit team understands the best practices for which we advocate. This month our ecommerce manager Rochelle took a day trip to Reagill Grange Farm in Penrith to take part in a beginner’s machine sheep shearing course hosted by British Wool.
AN ESSENTIAL PROCESS
Shearing is the process of removing the heavy wool fleece from the sheep. This is the raw material that we work with to make yarn for many different textile uses but shearing has essential health and welfare benefits to the animal too. Sheep grow wool continuously to protect them from the weather and typically need to be shorn once a year. This annual shearing helps to prevent issues related to excessive wool growth, such as overheating in the warmer months, discomfort and mobility issues, and potential parasitic infestation such as flystrike.
CLIMATE CONTROL
Wool is a fantastic natural insulator protecting the sheep from extreme cold in winter months. However, wearing a thick fleece during the summer is uncomfortable and can be stressful for the sheep. The exact timing of shearing can vary depending on the breed and local climate. Due to heavy rainfall in the UK this year, there has been quite a delay to the shearing season, but generally, late spring to early summer is the preferred period, allowing adequate wool growth to avoid sun burn in high summer and full fleece growth by the time the colder weather arrives.
ANIMAL WELFARE
Shearing can reveal underlying health issues that would otherwise be missed and therefore allows diagnosis and treatment that can save the lives of many sheep. In fact, one of the sheep that we saw had maggots under the fleece, which would not have been discovered without shearing. Removing the fleece considerably reduces the risk of disease as it removes the potential breeding ground for insects.
HANDS ON
The day course was an introduction to machine sheep shearing for beginners, aiming to teach the basics of the techniques, equipment and best practices for shearing sheep efficiently and humanely. Most of the attendees on the day that we participated in were farmers who own and manage their own flocks, but it was a diverse group in age, gender and experience. British Wool created a supportive and collaborative learning environment with hands on guidance and practical demonstrations by experienced professionals. We learnt the specific techniques and patterns for shearing effectively, which not only minimises stress for the animals but also ensures a clean cut to maintain the whole fleece. There can be an inclination to hold and pull the wool, but this is detrimental and can cause cuts to the sheep as well as damaging the fleece.
WEIGHING IN
The sheep that were shorn on the day were a mix of Mules and Texel. Once shorn, the fleeces are collected and graded by staple length and micron. The wool then undergoes sorting, scouring and carding. The end uses for this wool are myriad including carpets and rugs, insulation, crafts, and household items.
The weight of each fleece can vary depending on the breed of the sheep and the condition of the wool.
Fine Wool Breeds (e.g. Merino): a fleece typically weighs between 1.8 to 4 kgs.
Medium Wool Breeds (e.g. Suffolk or Texel): a fleece usually weighs between 2.5 to 5 kgs.
Long Wool Breeds (e.g. Romney): a fleece can weigh between 4 to 5.5 kgs.
A DAY’S WORK
For an experienced shearer, it would typically take about 2 to 3 minutes to shear 1 sheep. Beginners may take longer, around 5-10 minutes, as they develop their technique. An experienced shearer can shear between 100 and 200 sheep in a full working day (approximately 8 hours). This may fluctuate as it can be dependent on the breed of sheep, the condition of the wool and the working conditions. We were in awe of the physicality and stamina of the professional shearers, especially on one of the hottest days of the year!
LEARNING
Hands on education is a fundamental part of our ethos of innovation. Understanding each and every process that a yarn goes through from sheep to finished garment is important to us, and we are committed to sharing our knowledge of fibre and our passion for best practices. We believe that the more we know about the fibres we work with the better choices we can make for a more responsible future for textiles manufacturing.
For more information about British Wool visit britishwool.org.uk
