[Jacob-list] winter shearing

[Cathy Robinson]

Linda and all....

Thoughts on this easily vary from region to region, farm to farm, etc.

There are so many things to consider.  I am sure the cleanest, nicest 
fleeces are those that come off prior to the winter months of feeding 
hay. Having everyone sheared prior to lambing is really nice, but  does 
not always happen for us.  I love it when it does!  

Comfort of the sheep is a major concern for us, not only in winter but 
also in summer.  Winter in the southeast can be quite variable, but I 
expect that a few days could be found in any of the winter months in 
which shearing could be accomplished ahead of the "norm" (March-April).  
All of our animals (not just sheep) tend to handle (even prefer) cold 
_way_ more than heat.  Heat of summer can start as early as May and last 
until early October.  Some of our sheep handle heat better than others, 
but the biggest drawback for me, living where I do, would be those three 
extra months of wool growth to carry by the time we hit the temps of 
July, August and September if shearing were done in winter months.  If I 
lived somewhere else, with shorter and more moderate summers, and had 
adequate shelter for everyone after shearing, I'd probably love to do it 
earlier than we do.

Cathy
Perfect Spot Farm, NC

Linda wrote:

> I really like to shear before lambing, although we don't always manage 

> it.  We usually lamb in mid to late March and shear the first or 

> second week of March. This year, we staggered breeding and will have 

> lambs coming in February through April, with a break the first week of 

> March (hopefully :-)

>

> I'm in northern Georgia, where we don't have the bitter cold temps of 

> further north. It can be below freezing for a few days, though, and 

> ice storms are not unusual in January and February. Our shelter is 

> fairly basic - a 30' by 16' three sided barn. It's backed into a bank 

> and has a low ceiling, so does retain some heat, but is not "toasty". 

>  The rams are in the woods with a tarp barn.

>  

> For those of you that will be shearing this fall or winter, how cold 

> can be it be before you worry about shearing? What sort of shelter do 

> you provide?  Is it perhaps better to shear two months before lambing 

> if you manage to get a good day for it? I'm wondering about shearing 

> in December.

>  

> Thanks for any advice.

>  

> Linda

>  

>

> http://www.patchworkfibers.com

> Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

>

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