Sheep shearing is an essential task for maintaining your flock’s health and ensuring high-quality wool production. While it can seem daunting, the process becomes much easier with the right preparation, tools, and techniques.
Here's our practical guide to help you shear your sheep safely and efficiently, with minimal stress for both you and your flock.
Preparing Your Sheep for Shearing
- Withhold Feed : Avoid feeding sheep for at least 8 hours before shearing. A full stomach can make them uncomfortable when handled and increase the risk of health issues, such as gas build-up (known as "gasper"), which can cause breathing difficulties during shearing. If a sheep shows signs of gasper, gently bring it back to its feet to prevent suffocation, as this condition can be life-threatening. Always prioritise the sheep’s health and wellbeing throughout the shearing process.
- Keep Wool Clean and Dry: Ensure the sheep are kept in dry conditions before shearing. Wet or damp wool is harder to shear and may reduce the quality of the fleece. If the wool is moist from dew or frost, wait until it dries completely.
- Choose the Right Location: Select a sheltered, well-ventilated area for shearing. If the conditions are hot, you should look for signs which indicate that a sheep is stressed due to heat. These signs can include the sheep’s tongue hanging out and fluctuations in their respiration. Avoid penning the flock on concrete floors, as dirt and moisture can soil the fleece and affect the quality of wool sheared from them.
Shearing Day Tips
- Handle Sheep Gently: Building trust with your sheep can make the shearing process much smoother. Calm, cooperative sheep are easier to handle, but some may still resist despite your efforts to reassure them. For those that are particularly wary, patience and compassion are key. If needed, gently lead the sheep using a rope, with another person assisting from behind. Hold the sheep securely but carefully, and wait until it has calmed down before beginning to shear. A gentle approach will help minimise stress for both you and the sheep.
- Minimise Distractions: When shearing is being performed it is always better to not have any distractions around. Other animals such as cats, dogs and cattle that are not required at the event should be kept away. Their presence may unsettle the flock. Excessive movement under the shears can be dangerous, increasing the risk of accidental nicks or cuts to the sheep or hander.
- Sanitise Equipment: The shearing equipment used to shear wool should be properly disinfected before it is used on the sheep. Special precautions and care must be taken in the case of those sheep that are suffering from an infectious disease. Once the affected sheep has been sheared, the sheep shears should be sanitised so as to prevent the condition from spreading. Our Andis 5-in-1 cool care blade spray contains additional disinfecting ingredients to clean the blades between animals and maintain hygiene.
Mastering the Shearing Technique
- Learning to Shear: If you’re new to sheep shearing, the best way to learn is by working with an experienced shearer. They can teach you essential strokes and handling techniques to ensure the process is both efficient and safe. You’ll also learn how to remove the fleece in one piece, separate any dirty sections, and care for the clean wool properly. In the UK, organisations like British Wool offer shearing courses that provide expert-guided, hands-on training. These courses cover everything from using hand shears to electrical shears, helping you build the skills and confidence needed to shear your flock successfully.
- Confident, Steady Strokes: The way you handle sheep shears has an impact on the sheep’s willingness to play ball. Making confident and strong blows somehow lets the sheep know that you know what you’re doing and inevitably puts them at ease. Developing a rhythm will help you make fewer mistakes and you will easily navigate the sheep shears from one section to another. Ensure to hold the skin taught to avoid nicks from the blades.
- Avoid Second Cuts: Avoid making second cuts if the first cut failed to shear the wool properly. A second cut is a small piece of fleece left on the sheep after an incorrect shear that requires a second pass with the shears to remove. The wool derived from second cuts is undesirable because they can make yarn weaker and may not be good enough to be placed alongside properly sheared wool, so save both yourself and the sheep the unwanted effort.
- Focus on Ergonomics: Position yourself and the sheep correctly to make the process as efficient and as comfortable as possible. Use a well-maintained shearing stand or hold the sheep in a secure yet gentle manner to ensure stability.
- Take Care of Yourself: Shearing is physically demanding, so take regular breaks to avoid fatigue. Staying well-rested and hydrated will help you maintain your focus and accuracy throughout the process.
TOPTIP: Dagging blades with straight teeth on the comb are ideal for beginner shearers and can be used for full shearing.
Additional Tips for a Flawless Shear
- Choose the Right Shears: Whether you use hand shears or electrical shears, invest in high-quality shearing equipment suited for your flock's size and wool type. Sharp, well-maintained blades will improve efficiency and reduce strain. At Masterclip, we have a range of hand shears and lightweight, heavy duty electrical shears to choose from including both mains powered and cordless options for shearing small or large flocks of sheep.
- Check Your Equipment: Different models of electrical clippers and shears have varying methods of tensioning and setting of the blades on the clipper head. Familiarising yourself with your model of shears by checking the instruction booklet will help to avoid frustrations on shearing day. You can find visual tutorial guides on our range of sheep shears and clippers on our YouTube channel here.
- Blades and accessories: For electric shears, ensure you have a few extra sharp blades to hand should you need to swap blades. Keep a couple of bottles of clipper oil close by to lubricate the clipper to keep it working efficiently. Andis 5-in-1 cool care blade spray is a brilliant product to have ready for shearing. Not only will this keep the blades lubricated, but the additional cooling properties will also ensure the blades don't overheat when shearing sheep back to back.
TOPTIP: Double Bow shears are ideal for beginners as there are less tiring for the hands.
- Inspect Sheep Before Shearing: Check for cuts, bruises, or health issues beforehand. Address these concerns to avoid aggravating them during shearing. Flystrike is a common issue in the warmer months. You can find more information of flystrike in sheep in our blog here.
- Foot Care: Handling sheep for shearing provides and ideal opportunity to take a look at their hoof health too. Keep a pair of foot rot shears to hand to clip any overgrown hooves and check for signs for foot rot.
- Plan for Wool Collection: Prepare a clean surface or collection bags to store the fleece immediately after shearing, ensuring its quality is preserved.
Sheep Shearing Confidence
Preparation is Crucial: Ensure sheep are clean, dry, and fasted before shearing. Check equipment and that you have enough essential shearing supplies such as sharp blades, clipper oil and cool care spray.
Gentle Handling Matters: Keep the environment calm and distraction-free to minimise stress for your sheep.
Use Proper Tools and Technique: Invest in quality shears, maintain steady strokes, and avoid second cuts for clean, high-quality wool.
For more tips and guidance, explore our range of professional sheep shears and accessories designed to make shearing easier and more efficient. If you’d like personalised advice, feel free to get in touch with our team—we’re always happy to help!
