The Rural Voice, 1999-04, Page 17shearing competition.
She found out later that
Steve, who was showing
purebred Shorthorn
cattle, and a friend had a
bet on whether the
diminutive Judy would
be able to handle the
sheep. She did, coming
in third.
Being short, Judy
has developed her
own style of
shearing. Steve, who is
tall, has a different style. Though only five years old, Nicole already has her
Either way it can be hard jobs like bottle feeding lambs. She also has her own
on the back as the day flock of eight sheep.
goes on.
The skill required in shearing not
only comes with the use of the
clippers, but in the handling of the
sheep. Sheep have different pressure
points and when a hand or knee is
applied to that sensitive point, the
animal will change position as
required by the shearer. It's
important to keep the skin pulled
tight to keep the sheep from being
nicked by the shears.
Different breeds of sheep provide
different challenges. A Suffolk will
sit up quietly to be sheared but
Dorsets can be lurchers. Oxfords,
with hair on their faces, need to be
sheared from nose to toes.
Rambouillets are slouchers and have
loose skin that is difficult to pull tight
when shearing.
Judy, who still competes in
shearing competitions, explains that
judges look for a number of things
including the shearer's manner and
ability to control the sheep, the
absence of cuts on the sheep, the skill
of the shearer in getting long fleece
in one pass (double -cutting makes
short fibres which are worth less).
Time is important in competition but
only when other qualities are taken
into account.
Spring, from March to June, is
still the busiest time of the year as
they shear two or three flocks a
week. The fall is increasingly busy as
shepherds discover that they can fit
more sheep into a barn if they've
been shorn than if they have all their
wool. Judy estimates that if you can
fit eight full -fleeced sheep in a pen
you can probably get 10 or 11 after
they've been shorn.
Most of the Shelleys' own flock
can be traced back to a Iamb Judy
received from her parents when she
was eight years old. Her parents
operated a sheep farm east of
Hanover, near where the couple have
their own Shel-Run Livestock
operation today.
Today Suffolks and Southdowns
make up the majority of the flock hut
they have a few Lincolns as a hobby.
Steve, with his background in
purebred cattle, wanted to add some
purebreds to the flock and liked the
s
Attention:
SHEEP FARMERS
Atlas Tanning
is accepting
Wool
as usual
Custom Tanning
Available
Call 519-523-4595
Atlas Tanning
1 mi. south of Blyth on
Hwy. 4 behind
The Old Mill
Leather & Woolen
Specialist
WELLESLEY LOADING
CHUTES
SHEEP FEEDERS
ROUND BALE
FEEDERS
11p
t
"° "`
LOADING
CHUTES
: • Heavy
Construction
• 3 Pt. hitch
(both sides)
• Ramp settings
26" - 42,.
SHEEP FEEDERS
.itlitimi
. f
,imill
}( i
01.Ye 11,1
_______„_____
L R..
, ..._
• Ruggedly built yet convenient feeder
• Manufactured with 1" x 1" tubing and
14 gauge sheet metal
• 32" wide trough with 3/8" rod V -type manger
Rods are 21/2" apart for less hay waste
• Grains and other fine particle feeds can be
fed. Sizes available: 4', 6' and 8' long.
Other sizes available upon request.
ROUND BALE FEEDERS
NI
IuNuI
MB
• 7' x 8'
• Feeds approx. 18 cattle
• Holds 5' x bales
(anddsmaller) )
• 1 1/4" tubing CANADWN MADE
• Heavy duty construction
TILMAN SHERK
R.R. #3 Wellesley, Ontario
519-656-3338
519-656-3429 evenings
APRIL 1999 13