shearing slightly damp fleeces

[Neddy flanders]

sods law the shearers are coming tomorrow. have brought sheep into dutch barn all day out the worst of the weather, but they are 'slightly' damp. Can you actually shear damp wool (i.e heavy dew) or is it just uncomfortable for the shearers?

 

[Woolless]

Is the reluctance to shear damp sheep also possibly related to it decomposing in storage?

 

[spin cycle]

will the wool have risen this early

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

sods law the shearers are coming tomorrow. have brought sheep into dutch barn all day out the worst of the weather, but they are 'slightly' damp. Can you actually shear damp wool (i.e heavy dew) or is it just uncomfortable for the shearers?

The problem with shearing wet wool is that when packed it will heat up and go mouldy and be even more worthless than it is at the moment.
However if you have them in an open Dutch barn then there may be enough air movement to dry the fleeces.
Wool can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water without feeling wet, it is Hygroscopic in that it takes in and releases water and in the process of taking in water generates heat and when releasing water it cools which is why wool is such a fantastic insulator.

 

[Jerry]

will the wool have risen this early

Down here ewes are peeling but I must admit try and hold off shearing till mid May.

 

[yellowbelly]

will the wool have risen this early

Depends on the breed and the weather.

Some breeds will go anytime.........

...........clipped these in March

 

[Al R]

If it’s dry at all for an hour run them around a field in the sun, they dry off quickly like that.

 

[Global ovine]

You would be ringing the shearers to put off the shearing for a day If your legs and arms have ever had a decent breakout of grease boils because of handling damp sheep.

 

[neilo]

Depends on the breed and the weather.

Some breeds will go anytime.........

...........clipped these in March

Wow, some of them have certainly grown a lot of wool since March. The poor buggers can hardly see where they’re going already....

 

[yellowbelly]

Wow, some of them have certainly grown a lot of wool since March. The poor buggers can hardly see where they’re going already....

Damn, I should've gone to Specsavers

 

[irish dom]

If they are too damp for you to handle without oil skins then they are too wet. Nothing worse than wet sheep. Talk to your shearer and explain

 

[Skyline]

Either wet or dry simple as . Its all good fun till someone slips on a wet shearing board and sticks the hand piece in themselves. Stitches and time off work all for a few sheep. Try standing up on an ice skating ring and shearing a sheep !Talk to the contractor and rearrange, always a way round it . Frustrating that Shearer welfare is an after thought .