[Jacob-list] winter shearing

[Linda]

Thanks - I had not even thought of the effects of the extra wool growth come August.  We did have a case here one year of heat-induced sterility with an adult (proven to be fertile and negative for b.ovis) ram that came here the first of October with a 10 month fleece. Coupled with his rather enthusiastic pursuit of the ewes, he was rendered sterile for that year. I think I'd rather not go into another breeding season with that much wool growth on my rams.

Linda


> 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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http://www.patchworkfibers.com 
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