Woolshedders for dummy’s

[Wood field]

Just had our first bunch sheared, it was hot unpleasant, dirty and not only hard work but another expense that a small farm can ill afford.
So to all of you running shedders .. where do I start , I quite literally know nothing about them
Can I breed my chev welsh cross ewes to become shedders ?
Or do we have to start buying in shedding sheep
Your thoughts ladies and gentlemen

 

[unlacedgecko]

Just had our first bunch sheared, it was hot unpleasant, dirty and not only hard work but another expense that a small farm can ill afford.
So to all of you running shedders .. where do I start , I quite literally know nothing about them
Can I breed my chev welsh cross ewes to become shedders ?
Or do we have to start buying in shedding sheep
Your thoughts ladies and gentlemen

Yes. Will take 2 generations to have full shedders. If you can afford to keep plenty of ewe lambs you'll complete the switch within 4/5yrs.

Lots of ram breeders avail. Find one you like and buy rams from them.

Some first cross will shed clean. But even those that don't will have reduced fleece weight, quite often be self crutching and clean on the belly.

 

[Wood field]

To exasperate the point , mrs just gone off to work and phoned “ I’ve left a moor ewe between the gates , it’s full of maggots “
Nice start to the day !

 

[unlacedgecko]

To exasperate the point , mrs just gone off to work and phoned “ I’ve left a moor ewe between the gates , it’s full of maggots “
Nice start to the day !

Don't you house for a period pre lambing?

 

[Wood field]

Don't you house for a period pre lambing?

Yes the inbye ewes come in late Jan till lambing mid March
Moor ewes and outlying ewes are brought home to lamb ( outside) April

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yes the inbye ewes come in late Jan till lambing mid March
Moor ewes and outlying ewes are brought home to lamb ( outside) April

Shear at housing.

As an aside, shedders can still get struck. They don't need prophylactic pour on, but observation, treatment and culling is necessary.

 

[Tim W]

Chev/Welsh might be a faster process than some
We will have rams at Carlisle on 28thAugust if you want to look

 

[Wood field]

Shear at housing.

As an aside, shedders can still get struck. They don't need prophylactic pour on, but observation, treatment and culling is necessary.

Funny bunch these sheep shearers!
They were saying some were still sticky yesterday, fortunately only one had mildly struck
Lord knows how they would react to being asked to clip in January

 

[Wood field]

Chev/Welsh might be a faster process than some
We will have rams at Carlisle on 28thAugust if you want to look

Thanks , I will try and convince her who owns the cheque book that we need a day out

 

[unlacedgecko]

Funny bunch these sheep shearers!
They were saying some were still sticky yesterday, fortunately only one had mildly struck
Lord knows how they would react to being asked to clip in January

They will probably shear better as they should be in better body condition.

I've pre lamb sheared cull shetlands in Apr for the last 4 yrs. Never had a shear complain, but plenty of food and beer helps.

 

[firther]

Yes. Will take 2 generations to have full shedders. If you can afford to keep plenty of ewe lambs you'll complete the switch within 4/5yrs.

Lots of ram breeders avail. Find one you like and buy rams from them.

Some first cross will shed clean. But even those that don't will have reduced fleece weight, quite often be self crutching and clean on the belly.

that would make me about 55 then, perfect

i do sell live though as the markets only a couple of miles away, will that matter

 

[Wood field]

that would make me about 55 then, perfect

i do sell live though as the markets only a couple of miles away, will that matter

Youngsters
I’ll be 59 in 3 weeks, not only the crap that goes with shearing, but the mess and the trying to get done when every other farmer wants there’s doing !
As much as a cost saving , I am thinking a labour saving for my old joints

 

[firther]

Youngsters
I’ll be 59 in 3 weeks, not only the crap that goes with shearing, but the mess and the trying to get done when every other farmer wants there’s doing !
As much as a cost saving , I am thinking a labour saving for my old joints

yes well i do me own an believe me its a slow drawn out job at my pace hate doing it but when i've got through a batch i get a buzz from it, that strangely makes it worth while

 

[unlacedgecko]

that would make me about 55 then, perfect

i do sell live though as the markets only a couple of miles away, will that matter

Depends on your buyers. But it's possible to get shapely shedders. Dock their tails and castrate if you're really worried.

Or use a terminal sire.

 

[firther]

Depends on your buyers. But it's possible to get shapely shedders. Dock their tails and castrate if you're really worried.

Or use a terminal sire.

My guess would be that they'll be more an more shedders in next few years, so I should crack on and get on with it

 

[unlacedgecko]

My guess would be that they'll be more an more shedders in next few years, so I should crack on and get on with it

@hendrebc

 

[Tim W]

My guess would be that they'll be more an more shedders in next few years, so I should crack on and get on with it

The switch to shedding is a massive leap for many people ---they just can't get their head around not having to deal with wool, just as a switch to lambing without sheds & labour has been an eye opener to many

There is a large interest from all over the world in shedders & i've hosted 5 visits from international breeding companies this year so far (with more booked in)

Even the traditional buyers in marts will get used to it eventually

 

[Wood field]

The switch to shedding is a massive leap for many people ---they just can't get their head around not having to deal with wool, just as a switch to lambing without sheds & labour has been an eye opener to many

There is a large interest from all over the world in shedders & i've hosted 5 visits from international breeding companies this year so far (with more booked in)

Even the traditional buyers in marts will get used to it eventually

I will try and get up to Carlisle and see if I can have a chat if that’s ok
Not only the shearing costs but going forwards we need to look at every cost saving we can ( and labour saving of course )

 

[Troward]

Shear at housing.

As an aside, shedders can still get struck. They don't need prophylactic pour on, but observation, treatment and culling is necessary.

I see a lot of people running shedders still using prophylactic pour on...I assume for ticks ?

This is probably a stupid question, and i'm prepared to be told so, but are shedders more prone to ticks because they have no cover?

One of the main reasons I would be interested in shedders would be to stop using pour ons, but are most shedder owners still having to use something?

 

[firther]

The switch to shedding is a massive leap for many people ---they just can't get their head around not having to deal with wool, just as a switch to lambing without sheds & labour has been an eye opener to many

There is a large interest from all over the world in shedders & i've hosted 5 visits from international breeding companies this year so far (with more booked in)

Even the traditional buyers in marts will get used to it eventually

Thank you and it know you're breeding some quality stock