Blog #21

Tanks or Sheep?!

So …, Southdown Babydolls have been bred to be short, compact, wool producing dynamos.  The conformance standards for the breed state that in more glowing eloquent terms, but that’s what theses sheep were designed to be. 

These excerpts were taken from the breed standards: (https://www.nabssar.org/breed_standard_with_photos.php)

* The ears … covered with some degree of fleece.

* The muzzle … is covered with short fuzzy fleece

* Off-white fleeced sheep

* The fleece … on the muzzle of the black-fleeced sheep should be solid

   black

* The legs should be short and straight 

* Overall body length slightly longer than tall. 

* Adult sheep should be 18" to 24" tall 

* Fleece: Of fine texture, tight with great density and of sufficient length   of staple, covering the whole of the body.

* Fleece should go down the hocks and knees and right up to the cheeks

* … often kept as pets, but they are also used in a variety of ways such    as grass mowers and weed eaters in vineyards and orchards

 

 

 

These four sheep in the photos do a very good job of meeting conformance standards, but the younger ones weren’t really keen on shearing and were more than a bit kicky.  I’d shear a bit according to pattern, and they’d kick out.  I’d shear a bit more, and they’d kick out.  I’d reset them, and they’d kick out.  At that point I worked to keep them relaxed, sheared a bit out of position, then worked them back into position.  When all was said and done, they were all sheared and prepped for a warm, sunny Georgia summer with a minimum of comb pokes and nicks, plus they all got mani-pedis.

 

 

Dede and I packed the truck and cleaned up, then spent some time cooling down and chatting with the owner who has the wool processed, then she spins it into thread, then yarn, and knits it into consumer goods for an endeavor in one of the mid-Atlantic states.  The hats and socks we saw were so soft, so thick, and so beautifully accented with colors knit into the just barely off-white wool that these would be well-received by anyone who appreciates quality-made goods.

One of the things that makes Babydolls a challenge, besides having wool everywhere, is that they are so compact.  Modern shearing gear is designed for full-size sheep, which means the handpiece is sized for larger axilla regions, and combs are made to maximize wool gathered in a single pass, so it’s like using high school football pads on junior high school athletes.  It sort of fits, but it takes a lot of care to keep all involved from getting hurt.  Since babydoll and miniature breeds are a niche, it’s unlikely gear will be developed especially for that size animal.  To keep us all safe I focus on pattern, patience, relaxing, and not rushing the job.  Any time I might gain trying to speed up will be lost should I have to calm the animal or treat a wound caused by inattention or speed.  Again, like Ed said, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

 

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. ***