[Jacob-list] shearing

[Dan Kennedy]

Electric should work ok but you have to be sure that they have a sheep head
or you will have all kinds of trouble.
Dan Kennedy
Killorglin Farm
Prince Edward Island
Jacob & Dorset Horn Sheep
www.attcanada.net/~dankennedy
----- Original Message -----
From: shepherd <iseespots at email.msn.com>
To: <dazazel at usit.net>; <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] shearing


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> Hi all,
>
> The shearing expeditions have sounded fun.  I routinely shear my flock
(this
> year didn't because of hand problems) with hand blades without any
problems.
> It didn't start out that way.
>
> A dull pair of blades of any sort will make the person trying to do the
> cutting say and think some pretty nasty things.  My blades were getting
way
> out of shape in the middle of one of my rams, so I shipped one of the kids
> in to get a pair of kitchen scissors.  They at least got me through the
area
> while my hubby dutifully sharpened up the blades for me so I could finish.
> I have one pair that will NOT hold an edge, and since they were my
> grandfather's, I was bound and determined to make them work.
Well-----they
> are historical pieces now and I am using the current ones that will hold
an
> edge.
>
> I had one sheep one time (Thom---Doris' mom) that dulled THREE blades as I
> worked on her.  She had the worst fleece of any Jacob I think I have ever
> seen!
>
> If you aren't going to show your fleece in some fleece judging
competition,
> it matters not one stitch if that fleece comes off in 50 pieces or one.
> What is important is that if you are shearing your sheep and spending the
> time with them in the process that you and them somewhat enjoy the process
> (or make the best of a bad situation).  I have tied mine to trees, fence
> posts.  I have set them on their rears and laid them down on their sides
> (always watching they don't stay too long with rumen activity).
>
> The results I have had and what I have seen with household scissors
> generally are not as good as the blades will provide after a little
> experience.  The blades are designed to do this job.  Sort of like using a
> pocket knife to cut open a head of lettuce----will do the job, but there
are
> better knives on the market for the task that will make it much easier.
>
> I have a question for those of you with much more 4-horned experience than
> me------with the ram lambs------the lateral horns when they are coming
> up---aren't they usually smaller than the top horns?  I have a 6-horned
ewe
> that has a very nicely separated 4-horned ram lamb (named Nuts because I
> said, "Oh nuts!" when I realized he was not a she and had everything else
> going for him) with what I am anticipating will be fusing on the lower
> lateral position.  They will have to come on up further, and he was born
> about 10 days ago, so there is plenty of time yet.  I am just getting
> curious and antsy.
>
> Funny thing happened as I walked into the sheep shed the other
day-----there
> were NO girls in there that did not have 4 horns!  That was a rather
> interesting site for me, but made me think that slowly I am moving in that
> direction even though I keep plenty of 2 horns around and will because of
> their ease in care as well as lower cull rate.
>
> Mary Ellen
> ISeeSpots Farm www.iseespots.com
> Home of Jacob Sheep, Shetland Sheep,
> and German Angora Rabbits, colored German Angora crosses.
> Renewable fleeces, loving personalities, friends.
>
>
>
>
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