Shearing in September?

[Kazak]

Hi, thinking of shearing in September this year. I bit under pressure now so was thinking of clicking ewes now and shear later on.
Do many people do it here? Any drawbacks or any advantages?
Thanks

 

[Six Dogs]

Yes we do with Romney-no real disadvantage last year they grazed more than shorn ewes in the heat of the day
Probably more stubborn in the yards in the day due to the wool,like you we Clik now so no extra fly control costs but easier to handle at shearing time than with lambs at foot

 

[tr250]

Hi, thinking of shearing in September this year. I bit under pressure now so was thinking of clicking ewes now and shear later on.
Do many people do it here? Any drawbacks or any advantages?
Thanks

Some will do ewe lambs in sept. But can’t see any point using chemical when shearing will do the job. You can then decide if you need to click later and it will protect them right through

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

@neilo

 

[andybk]

what breed ? are you going to have issues with them getting on back ?

 

[Kazak]

what breed ? are you going to have issues with them getting on back ?

Yes thought about that...
Lleyn x and belclare x mainly..
None of them fat [emoji57][emoji57]so shouldn’t b too much of a problem.. having said that you never know..

 

[devonbrion1998]

I understood post lambing and pre shearing was when they are likely to get stuck
on their backs, did have one last year do it, with a big old heavy coat

 

[neilo]

I’ve been shearing my April lambers after weaning for ten years or so now, and no plans on changing that. I aim for mid-August, but (would you believe) have been rained off until September several times.
Ewes shear well as wool has lifted well and shearers haven’t got every Tom, Dick & Harry on the phone squealing like they do in late May/June when they see a maggot. Having the lambs weaned off and bags dry makes life a lot simpler all round ime.

I put 20ml of Clik (lower rate of ai just doesn’t last as long, but is still double the rate of ClikZin) at the same time as I’m Doing the lambs, then know they are covered. I’ve never had to treat them after shearing, so actually use less chemical & save a few quid too.

Wool is a very good insulator, so protects from heat as well as from cold. Obviously you wouldn’t want to dog them lots in 30 degrees of heat, but I wouldn’t do that with shorn ewes either. They were happy enough last summer, living round all day under shady trees, just the same as my earlier lambing flocks, which are shorn in early June.

Getting cast doesn’t seem to be an issue, but then I’ve always culled them if they do it twice so those ewes don’t genes don’t generally get a chance to proliferate in the flock. Propensity for getting cast has little to do with confirmation imo, as I hardly ever have to sort one in my Charollais flock, whereas plenty of narrow backed mules do get stuck. For whatever reason, some sheep just seem to be good at it. I aim to cash them in before they do it for me.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Its ok, and wool will keep the sun off actually, its a very good insulator which works both ways... of course but try to be more careful handling/yarding to watch for heat stress .

Also 'Sweating 'them up in that situation ( a lot of handling in hot weather) also m akes more of a maggot possibility so make sure the cover for that is done well.

 

[Gulli]

I’ve been shearing my April lambers after weaning for ten years or so now, and no plans on changing that. I aim for mid-August, but (would you believe) have been rained off until September several times.
Ewes shear well as wool has lifted well and shearers haven’t got every Tom, Dick & Harry on the phone squealing like they do in late May/June when they see a maggot. Having the lambs weaned off and bags dry makes life a lot simpler all round ime.

I put 20ml of Clik (lower rate of ai just doesn’t last as long, but is still double the rate of ClikZin) at the same time as I’m Doing the lambs, then know they are covered. I’ve never had to treat them after shearing, so actually use less chemical & save a few quid too.

Wool is a very good insulator, so protects from heat as well as from cold. Obviously you wouldn’t want to dog them lots in 30 degrees of heat, but I wouldn’t do that with shorn ewes either. They were happy enough last summer, living round all day under shady trees, just the same as my earlier lambing flocks, which are shorn in early June.

Getting cast doesn’t seem to be an issue, but then I’ve always culled them if they do it twice so those ewes don’t genes don’t generally get a chance to proliferate in the flock. Propensity for getting cast has little to do with confirmation imo, as I hardly ever have to sort one in my Charollais flock, whereas plenty of narrow backed mules do get stuck. For whatever reason, some sheep just seem to be good at it. I aim to cash them in before they do it for me.

I've sheared in August the last couple of years, fits my workload well and no problems with lambs tripping me up or milky ewes going out and ending up with mastitis after a chilly night.

Haven't even clikd them yet this year but I might have to this week.

Roll on the days when I've got rid of all my woolly ones and just have those funny goaty things running around