Another round of cuteness?

Blog #47

Yup, more Valais Blacknose

So …, it’s nice when gigs are close to home, and it’s also nice when we get the chance to see more of Georgia.  This bit of shearing really was just down the road, a right, a left, a right, and we were there, so close by was great.  Dede and I have sheared these Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep previously, and each time is a great chance to connect with friends, see what’s new on the farm, and shear what have been considered the world’s cutest sheep.  What was also cool about this round of shearing was having a co-worker bring her family out to Moreauville Farm to watch and help with shearing, then see the rest of the menagerie.  If you’re in or coming through middle Georgia, consider adding Moreauville Farm to a trip.

This shearing site is close enough Dede and I were able to enjoy breakfast at Between Friends Coffee in Kathleen before going to the farm.  Beyond having coffee, they have enough flavors and drink types to create over 2 million possible drink combinations.  Along with that, hot, fresh, filling breakfasts and it’s a winning location.  After breakfast burrito bowls and a chicken, egg, and cheese bagel, plus lattes and espresso, we were set to shear!

Dede and I pulled in and started unloading and setting up while the sheep stuck their heads out of the pen to see what’s up.  The sheep were snugged up in a single pen, bone dry and fasted overnight—both of those parts would come into play later.  The other sheep was in a separate pen, so while Dede and I prepped gear, the owners went to get the first sheep for the shearing board.

 

  

The first two sheep on the board were the biggest, Atlas and a second ram,  followed by a wether.  It can be rough to start or end with the biggest sheep in the flock, since that takes a lot of energy, but I’d rather start then end with one, if I have to.  Fortunately, both of these big boys are familiar with me, the pen, and how shearing goes, so beyond the initial “bowing up” to prove they’re rams, they sheared great.  In fact, things were going so smooth that Dede took off for the Perry Farmer’s Market to meet up with a friend who did some leatherwork for her. 

If you haven’t checked out your local Famer’s Market, find out when it is and check it out.  We have three close by, two on Saturday mornings and one on Thursday afternoons.  The International City Farmer’s Market has a FB page showing which vendors will be there, and the Saturday morning market in Perry has some of the same vendors, but enough variety to make them all worthwhile.  Local meat, eggs, dairy, and vegetables are staples at both, but also local crafts, baked goods, preserves, and honey can be found.  If there is something specific you’re looking for, check with Peg’s Preserves at any of the three markets and they can let you know who supplies what you’re looking for.

By the time Dede came back from Perry I was onto another wether, and one of my co-workers came out with her family to check out shearing.  Once the sheep settled down and was in a relaxed position I asked if the wide-eyed teenager would like to get in and help and she got right in the pen, paid great attention to what was going on to take care of the sheep and avoid injury, then made several great blows through the wool to get the fleece removed quickly and thoroughly.  After that sheep was sheared up the young lady and her family went on a tour of the whole farm.

  

I mentioned earlier visiting Moreauville Farm.  Yes, they have what you would consider standard farm animals.  Sheep, chickens, turkeys, goats, and geese.  Departing from old McDonald, though, there are alpacas, highland cattle, and hair sheep, plus a ringneck pheasant and peacocks! Farm tours are available, so check Facebook for more information.

Earlier I said this is a flock of Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep, and these sheep have a very distinct look and build.  Their head shape and coloration, combined with the horns can make a challenge out of what is usually quick:  Shear off the wool between the eyes, then do the cheeks and around the ears and the head is done.  Not so with these.  Horns curled tightly to the head, dark ears tucked under the horns, and a black nose that alters depth perception adds to the time required to shear. While not considered a longwool breed, they can grow a 5” staple of wool in about 6 months, requiring shearing twice per year.  They also grow wool right down to their hooves in a distinct pattern, and this needs to be sheared off as well.  Professional shearers don’t always care for this breed since they are time-consuming and considerable work, but a few sheep close by are fun to do as something completely different from other breeds.

While the tour was going on Dede and I kept on with shearing and hoof trimming.  Ten sheep aren’t that many to shear or to hoof trim, but it’s work to shear AND trim hooves for ten sheep.  It also added to the day when one of the sheep was done being sheared before I was done shearing it.  None of us expected the sheep to jump through the fence and get loose in the big pen.  Since most of the wool was sheared, that sheep was slick, and would have been slicker if wet. Fortunately it had been fasted and headed straight for the feed trough where it was simple enough to get a hold of and bring back to the shearing board to finish up.  We did get them all done and soon they were all on the far side of the pen, sitting in the shade or munching at the feed trough, ready to have their heads scratched or flanks petted.

Cleaned up, loaded up, and on our way by mid-afternoon, this was a great way to spend a Saturday in Spring in middle Georgia.

 

C-Ya!

*** No animals were harmed in the making of this post. Shearing is an important part of sheep farming for the wellbeing of the sheep. ***

Still the world’s cutest sheep?

 Blog #46

Maybe the cutest, but not right after shearing

So …, This particular shearing day was supposed to be back-to-back gigs near Athens, but as the Air Force is fond of saying, “Flexibility is the Key to Airpower.”  Well, flexibility is also key to working with livestock.  One site ended up being postponed since the owners, not the sheep, weren’t up for it.

I tend to focus on the livestock I’m to be working with and just assume the human side is up for it.  This trip was a good reminder that owning and shepherding livestock takes the whole person, and some days there’s just not enough of and in the humans to get everything completed.  Certain things must be done daily, things like feeding, watering, health and wellness checks, and predator control.  A lot of other things can flex a day or a week or two without significant detriment, and shearing falls into that category.  It’s much better to delay a bit so the owners, the sheep, and the shearers can meet the job’s requirements without undue stress or hardship.  I know the animals that were postponed are well cared for and we’ll get them sheared later this Spring.

On to the job we did complete—four Valais Blacknose sheep, consisting of two rams, a lamb, and a ewe. Early morning Spring drives through central Georgia are great, provided you’re not on I-75.  Taking state and US highways provides a much different view of the world compared to an interstate.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very thankful Eisenhower had the brainchild to create a unified network of high-volume roads, but passing through farms and small towns provides a view into history, not just the high-speed here and now.  Deer, cardinals, geese, ducks, ancient hardwood trees with wisteria starting to blossom all provide a more relaxing view than 17 bumpers in proximity.  Yes, it takes a bit longer, but that difference is measured in minutes, not hours, especially when volume is high on the interstate.  Leaving around dawn got us into the Athens area in full daylight, but not into the heat of the day.  We started to unload and get prepped to shear when the rams wanted to make us think they were in charge.

These two rams so far haven’t been used for breeding, so their energy goes into weight gain, wool, and attempting to determine dominance over any other creature in their pen, paddock, or view. With the owner and wrangler working the gates, one ram was let out into the pasture while Dede and I were setting up.  He still wanted to show us who’s boss, but with one eye on him, we got the gear set and started shearing.  These are Valais Blacknose sheep, which gives them the presentation of a longwool.  Even with twice-a-year shearing they have about a 4-6” staple to their fleece.  They’re also a coarse wool breed, without varying amounts of lanolin.  When all of those traits are combined, once sharing starts, they become very slick on the board, so when they kick, they’re out of position almost instantly.  Add in significant horns, and the game of “who’s-got-who” is on another dimension.  The wrangler, Dede, and I worked cooperatively to get the big fella into position, I’d shear a bit, then we’d move him again.  From the hair treatment he moved across the salon to get his nails done.  Each of these sheep was due for a hoof trim, so they were backed into a hammock.  I started working on hooves, the owner took shears to his head under the horns, the wrangler did his level best to hold him in position, and Dede took care of the wool, the board, getting water, and getting set up for the next sheep.

   

The second ram was so much like the first I could just repeat the previous paragraph.

  

Next up was the ewe and she sheared up well, but the rams still added to the challenge.  As soon as the rams were complete they were set out in the pasture, but they still came up to the barn and kicked, pawed, and butted anything they could find.  That included my drop cord and reel, so there I was, fat, dumb and happy shearing away when the shears just quit.  The rams had knocked the cord out of the plug-in and turned off the power switch.  Dede went out to plug everything back in and while she was doing that, one of the rams decided she was a good target for his horns.  Her situational awareness was incredible, and she turned, stuck out her hand and hollered “NO” stopping the ram in its tracks.  Not knowing how long that would hold, she hustled out of the pasture before the ram had a chance to take another run at her.  Of course, I missed most of that because once my shears started back up, I was head down in shearing.  We got her shorn up then it was her turn in the hammock.  Once again, I was convinced that trimming hooves without a Hoof Boss ® is too much work.  It’s still work with one, but the amount of control and precision you can achieve is fantastic.  Rather than using a knife or pick to gouge out open pockets, the high-speed grinding wheel is  like an emery board on a human thumbnail.  I could grind a bit, take look, grind again, take a look, and repeat as needed to expose the pocket to air while maintaining a beveled surface without going too wide or deep.

  

After that the lamb sheared up surprisingly well for the second time on the shearing board, then a quick trim on her nails and the work was complete.  One more thing on the Hoof Boss—whether I was doing big tough hooves on rams or more tender hooves on a yearling, they Hoof Boss gave tremendous control without being too aggressive in tight spots.

  

Time for a shower then on the road back home.  We took a similar route home, still avoiding the interstate and were home mid-afternoon to clean up, clean the gear, and get set for next weekend’s gig, which is—guess what? 

More Valais Blacknose sheep!

C-Ya!

*** No animals were harmed in the making of this post. Shearing is an important part of sheep farming for the wellbeing of the sheep. ***