The white sheep get pretty woolly and need annual shearing.
The black sheep will shed their own wool, but shearing will clean them up.
Before.
The shearer uses hand scissors. This sheep is Cuddles.
Obaaaaama was caught outside. Once they are turned onto their backs, they are docile.
The wool comes off in one big sheet weighing about ten pounds.
Stompy gave us quite a chase, but, in the end, he got a good haircut, too.
Must be extremely hot under all that wool.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by the fact that the white sheep need human hands to help them shed their wool whereas the black sheep accomplish most of it on their own. What a task for the talented shearers. I wonder if Willa will want to observe and learn the task in the far future?
ReplyDeleteThat is quite an operation especially using hand sheers.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to shear sheep is getting to be a lost art in this country. Being able to hold up a fleece like that show the shearer knew their craft.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I do agree with "Taken for Granted", a lost art in this country it is! Seeing that entire fleece is awesome!! Great captures for the day, Jack, as always!! Enjoy your weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea the fleece came off in one piece like that, Jack!
ReplyDeletePhew, after struggling to avoid it I would think the sheep might be glad in the end to lose that hot weight.
ReplyDeleteI guess when it's done they do feel better to have all that hot wool off for the summer.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this?
ReplyDeleteThis takes a lot of skill. The only time we've seen a sheep sheared was at a dinner show in Sydney, distorted by jet lag and Foster's.
I've only seen this done with electric shears (and it was done remarkably fast).
ReplyDeleteHaha your pics make it look so easy! I love the narrative, dad:)
ReplyDelete