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.
***
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