SHEEP PRODUCTION 191 



Shearing the Flock. The season for shearing may be regarded as the 

 flock owner's harvest time. Usually this time is about April 1st or somewhat 

 later. The condition of the weather and opportunities to house and protect 

 sheep that have been shorn, from cold, determines how early one can com- 

 mence the work of shearing. Shearing is sometimes delayed in order to in- 

 crease the weight of the fleece by the additional amount of yolk or oil that 

 accumulates faster in warm weather than it does in winter. Everything 

 considered, this practice does not increase the profits in sheep practice and 

 the best flock owner's aim is to shear as soon as the weather becomes warm to 

 the extent that sheep begin to show signs of being uncomfortable, and one 

 is sure that the weather is riot going to be changeable and unsuitable for 

 sheep that have been shorn. Delaying the time of shearing not only incurs 

 discomfort on the part of sheep, but results in more or less loss of wool that 

 is shed about the legs and underside of the body or that becomes soiled to the 

 extent that it is unmarketable. 



The earliest, quickest and best job of shearing can be done with a 

 shearing machine which is now mostly used. Hand or power machines may 

 be secured and for flocks of considerable size or in neighborhoods where 

 there is considerable shearing to be done it will undoubtedly pay to have 

 a power machine. 



The following precautions are worthy of mention in shearing: 



Handle the sheep as quietly and gently as possible. Struggling is espec- 

 ially bad for pregnant ewes and ewes nursing lambs. 



Keep shears or 'knives sharp and run them as closely to the body as 

 possible. More wool and a better clip for manufacturing purposes is thus 

 secured. 



Avoid cutting the sheep's skin by keeping the skin stretched by the free 

 hand and holding the cutter flat to the body. 



Particular pains should be taken not to cut off the end of the teats of 

 ewes or the end of the vagina. This precaution is important to insure ewes 

 nursing their lambs and to insure their breeding successfully. 



Method of Shearing. Where the machine is used it is considered the best 

 plan to shear on a clean floor. The sheep can be kept in a better balanced 

 position and turned to the several positions that enables the shearing to be 

 most quickly and easily done Shearing, the belly and inner side of the thighs, 

 then the lower side of the neck, the left side of the head and finishing with 

 the right side, is one of the common methods of shearing with the machine. 

 One should develop a system that comes most natural to him and that at 

 the same time accomplishes the work in the quickest time and with as little 

 shifting of the sheep as possible. 



Tying the Fleece. The fleece should be kept intact and not torn apart 

 any more than is necessary in taking it off the sheep and tying it. Buyers 

 prefer to have wool rolled and tied neatly although wool tying boxes are 

 used in many instances. Only twine that is especially prepared for tying 

 wool should be used for the reason that the use of other twine reduces the 

 value of the wool for manufacturing purposes and buyers must take this into 



