[Jacob-list] shearing

[Mary Hansson]

Barbara,
 
I have had many a yearling (shearling) fleece that weighed 1 pound when shorn and then 3/4 pound when skirted.  Weight can be your two pounds easily as well, and I would presume that people further north do have heavier fleeces off their animals than we do in NC.  Remember these sheep lamb out, spend the summertime, and fall in 80-95 degree weather most of the months (between March and October) of the year.  We have had an exceptionally cold spring here, and had no days that I know of up to 60 degrees.  Usually, we have 70-75 days more often than not mid-Jan on.....
 
As to the quality of the shearing....Don't blame your ewe for a shearing job that sounds like it could have used a bit of improvement.  Maybe your shearer was new to shearing this breed of sheep.  Maybe your shearer has never met a spinner and doesn't realize that second cuts are the worst nightmare for spinners fleeces.  If you have a small flock, I would suggest purchasing a B&B set of hand blades and learning how to shear your own sheep.  If I didn't have such an excellent shearer and such a large flock, I would shear my whole group that way.  I do have 1 ram we held back that I will need to get down and shear---because he is in with a ram that is leaving and I didn't feel like collecting them for the shearer....call it laziness on my part.  
 
Separating out fleece colors:  There are people that have a "need" to separate out colors of fleece.  Separating out colors works best when you have large areas rather than small spots on your sheep.
 
Jacob fleeces are supposed to be open fleeces.  They do hang together if taken off by the shearer in one piece.  I believe you might have a group of variances with your first fleece, and this might be another one.....
 
Good luck and have fun.
 
Mary Ellen


Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
ISeeSpots Farm
Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
www.iseespots.com
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