Shearing

By Chris R.

With the onset of spring comes the need for the PVAS flock to be shorn. Shearing is essential for our sheep friends. While the nights can still have a chill, with September comes flies, which can cause terrible issues for sheep as the weather warms.

The woolly residents were yarded and readied for their annual all over haircuts.

We are fortunate to have found a wonderful shearer who is experienced and gentle with all our residents, paying particular care to the seniors and ailing members of the flock. Paul, the blind ram, was surprisingly calm, being yarded with best friend Phillip.  Paul responds very positively to contact and did well in his shearing session.

 

Another milestone was Lucas Lamb’s first shearing!  He was also surprisingly calm (more so than his nervous human). He came out looking half his size once his wool was shorn.  Lucas has an amazing merino fleece of pure white. He did suffer some small cuts, an unfortunate outcome of his very wrinkly skin underneath that magnificent coat. Digby Damara Lamb was chief onlooker for the morning, not requiring shearing due to his self-shedding coat.

 

In six months, the shearer will visit again to crutch the flock. Wool around faces, tummies and back ends is kept short to avoid fly and prickle issues.