Annual autumn shearing

[beardface]

Anyone doing this? Pros and cons?

 

[neilo]

For the last 10 years or so, my April lambers have been shorn after weaning, so August, and more often early September after getting rained off in August.

I put half rate Clik (or you could use a ClikZin) on when I do the lambs in early June, then nothing after shearing, so saving about 50p/hd in chems.

Pros: shearing is easier with less labour needed as you’re not shedding lambs off. Wool has usually lifted and easier to shear. Ewes are cleaner on roots through the winter as they have less wool. I don’t mess about crunching pre-tupping, as many feel the need to do (but then 8 don’t with those shorn earlier either). Less chem used (as mentioned above). Winds the locals up, who can’t understand why you haven’t shorn your ewes, when they chiselled dry wool off theirs in May.

Cons: none whatsoever, other than the odd walker complaining that you haven’t shorn your sheep yet in July/August. Sheep are no more bothered by hot weather than the others here that are shorn in June, none of which want running about when it’s 35 degrees.

 

[Six Dogs]

Exactly the same as @neilo,Romney ewes here which then get wintered on roots so cleaner and less wool at lambing,wouldn’t go back to June shear now on our system

 

[beardface]

@neilo What's your blowfly season like and do you get many cast in warm summers? Much wool rot in a wet one?

 

[beardface]

Exactly the same as @neilo,Romney ewes here which then get wintered on roots so cleaner and less wool at lambing,wouldn’t go back to June shear now on our system

Brining more Romney into the flock here. Whats the longer wool like in August of the weather's crap? What month do you shear? What's the quality like? Do you find you have to be more observant for blowfly and cast ewes through summer as opposed to an early summer shear?

 

[neilo]

@neilo What's your blowfly season like and do you get many cast in warm summers? Much wool rot in a wet one?

We can get a few struck from late May/early June here, hence the Clik in early June. I've never seen wool rot, well only once, many years ago when we were shearing March lambers at a more conventional time. That was a bacterial infection, sorting by putting through a jetter with a home brew of OP, Zinc Sulphate and a bit of Virkon.

I very rarely get anything cast here full stop, apart from the odd one when grazing the field where we've lifted beet (so small ridges left every 20") when heavily pregnant. Even then, it's only one or two. I never check twice a day, or ever want to get into a system where that's necessary.
However, I do breed all my own replacements and getting cast has always been a culling offence.

Most of my ewes are Highlanders, so plenty of wool, although not as much as Romneys. I'm more likely to go shedders than ever bring more wool into the flock.

 

[Bill dog]

I’m all outdoor lambing here( all Romney), and am planning on clipping them with a cover comb in feb, then clip again in aug. I’ve discussed it with my kiwi neighbour and he assured me it will be grand. Have double clipped may/ sept for a number of years anyway, so just trying to not have to shed off lambs !!

 

[Six Dogs]

Brining more Romney into the flock here. Whats the longer wool like in August of the weather's crap? What month do you shear? What's the quality like? Do you find you have to be more observant for blowfly and cast ewes through summer as opposed to an early summer shear?

We generally shear the first week of September,good quality wool with 4-5kg .We apply full rate Clik in late May which gives us cover through to shearing.No problem with cast ewes and even better no problem with cast ewes pre lambing now as less wool!

 

[beardface]

I’m all outdoor lambing here( all Romney), and am planning on clipping them with a cover comb in feb, then clip again in aug. I’ve discussed it with my kiwi neighbour and he assured me it will be grand. Have double clipped may/ sept for a number of years anyway, so just trying to not have to shed off lambs !!

Do you plan to house them or just have well sheltered paddocks?

 

[beardface]

We can get a few struck from late May/early June here, hence the Clik in early June. I've never seen wool rot, well only once, many years ago when we were shearing March lambers at a more conventional time. That was a bacterial infection, sorting by putting through a jetter with a home brew of OP, Zinc Sulphate and a bit of Virkon.

I very rarely get anything cast here full stop, apart from the odd one when grazing the field where we've lifted beet (so small ridges left every 20") when heavily pregnant. Even then, it's only one or two. I never check twice a day, or ever want to get into a system where that's necessary.
However, I do breed all my own replacements and getting cast has always been a culling offence.

Most of my ewes are Highlanders, so plenty of wool, although not as much as Romneys. I'm more likely to go shedders than ever bring more wool into the flock.

Ewes are moving more towards Romney lleyn types so not asich wool as full blood Romney. I'd say as much depth of wool as a good quality mule, but much more coverage with no belly shedding.

 

[Bill dog]

Do you plan to house them or just have well sheltered paddocks?

Hopefully some fair weather and any shelter available, but not housed . My neighbour says it’s pretty much the norm in nz, so I’m going to give it a bash !

 

[DanM]

We pre lamb shear Romneys. Lambing starts 15th April all outdoors. Ewes get clean shorn last week of March and put in sheltered paddocks. Lambs find teats quicker. Ewes take lambs to shelter. Has removed summer fly strike as an issue for us - all ewes are cliked when we tail lambs. Highly recommend it!

 

[Tim W]

We pre lamb shear Romneys. Lambing starts 15th April all outdoors. Ewes get clean shorn last week of March and put in sheltered paddocks. Lambs find teats quicker. Ewes take lambs to shelter. Has removed summer fly strike as an issue for us - all ewes are cliked when we tail lambs. Highly recommend it!

Some folk have gone one better

 

[DanM]

Some folk have gone one better

Didn’t think talking about my shedders was relevant to the op.... but there great too!!! ?

 

[beefsheeparable]

Was in NZ last back end and a fair few folk where clipping sheep early and leaving the belly’s on, think it was just so they weren't getting too chilled when they where led down, was right in the south and most folk either shore twice every 12 months or twice every 18 months, not directly relevant but....