Sheep in a tutu
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (344821)
Rockingham, Australia
June 11, 2017 3:27am CST
One of the attractions we’ve visited in Ireland was Loughcrew, a megalithic site of passage tombs which is older than the pyramids. It was quite a steep climb to the top but worth it for the view. I’ll write more about it another time perhaps but I thought I’d share this photo with you.
I’ve written before about sheep that don’t need to be shorn as they shed their wool each year. You can see from the photo that this ewe has had quite a prolific coat. However she is a bit slow to lose the last of it so she is now sporting a ‘tutu’ of wool over her hindquarters.
I’m not sure what breed she is but perhaps she is a Wiltshire as I know they are white but shed their wool.
32 people like this
32 responses
@manasamanu (3746)
• Bangalore, India
11 Jun 17
How weird they shed their wool and not every sheep does that. Interesting.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 Jun 17
Isn't the beauty astounding!!!
I do not know what kind the sheep is, but wow, look a the lovely soft green too and the lone little house there.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 17
@TiarasOceanView I'd rather pretend I know what I'm talking about. 
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37521)
• India
11 Jun 17
This one is something new , I don't know that sheep shed their wool. Lovely. .
2 people like this
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 17
@LadyDuck In Australia, they sometimes shear the ewes so they don't have a lot of wool when they lamb. Otherwise the ewes don't feel the cold weather and they don't take the trouble to seek shelter which means that the lambs can get very cold and perhaps die.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
11 Jun 17
I want to grab sheers and finish the job for her!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
11 Jun 17
@JudyEv she just looks uncomfortable!!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Jun 17
oh so the wool what, falls off?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Jun 17
@JudyEv so guessing they arent raised for that wool and it just goes to waste? It's not useful?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 17
@Jessicalynnt I guess these are being used to raise fat lambs for meat. Maybe they can muster and shear the sheep before they start to shed if they want the wool. Wool from self-shedding breeds, if it were collected, would only be suitable for rugs or carpets.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
12 Jun 17
{gigglin'!} what a sight to see! dang, wished i'd one'f those self-sheddin' sheep 'round here. interestin' they've painted their necks?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@JudyEv gigglin'! yes ma'am, they do, particularly when ya got a bunch'f 'em.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Jun 17
It looks like somebody did that on purpose!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161881)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I would ask the purpose of the other one being painted blue.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 17
The colour is sprayed or drawn on with a crayon and would mark, perhaps, which ones are for sale and which ones are to keep. Damian put a red mark on one doe and her two kids so he could distinguish which kids belonged to which ewe. There is also a ram harness which contains a crayon 'pad'. This marks the rumps of the ewes that have been served by a particular ram.
@allknowing (139703)
• India
12 Jun 17
Looks like she is wearing a woollen skirt. Shedding would mean the farmers do not get the wool. Am I right?
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Yes, you had mentioned the self shedding sheep before. Interesting to see how that comes about. What is the blue on the other sheep in the photo?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun 17
THere are different coloured 'raddles' which farmers use for various reasons - maybe to mark males from females or individuals they might want to keep.
@JudyEv (344821)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 17
Usually the self-shedders don't have such a prolific fleece but maybe up in this type of country they need it. It's usually the African breeds that shed although merinos sometimes lose their wool if they have been badly flyblown.
