Self-shedding sheep make life easier for the farmer
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340216)
Rockingham, Australia
October 14, 2023 6:15pm CST
The photo shows one of the self-shedding sheep at our last house-sit.
There are several of these breeds in Australia now and they are gaining in popularity as, because the wool comes away of its own accord, the sheep don’t need shearing. It’s one less expense for the farmer as you don’t need shearers or shearing sheds. Of course, you don’t get an income from the wool either but the lambs they produce are sold for meat. Because the wool comes away quite easily, you see a lot of it on the netting and gates where the sheep have scratched themselves. They look very messy with half their wool missing.
While we were there, one of the lambs escaped from the paddock and we had a huge task to get it back to its mother. We could have cheerfully cut its throat by the time we got it back.
14 people like this
12 responses
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
15 Oct 23
Eh, they don't gather the wool then to make money? I guess that would be a job and a half.
Oh the dear little lambs but I know..I know Judy.
Yes they escape..
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
16 Oct 23
@JudyEv I see Judy..very light is it.
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@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm It's not good quality at all. Maybe good for carpets if they did shear them.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
15 Oct 23
That is easy work but is somehow spoiling their beauty as well
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@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
16 Oct 23
@JudyEv yes...so true. That is the feeling it urges
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@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
17 Oct 23
I can just imagine you and Vince chasing a poor, little lamb around the yard... Poor baby! I hope you both had fun and got plenty of exercise from the chase. 
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@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Oct 23
@DaddyEvil It was panting by the time it went through the gate but then, so were we.
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@wolfgirl569 (106397)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Oct 23
They would be easier to take care of
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Oct 23
So for sheep that aren't self-shedding, do they become miserable in the hot summers if nobody sheds them? It would be like us wearing a thick coat or jacket in the summer.
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@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Oct 23
@JudyEv Wool may insulate from the heat as well as the cold, but you’ll never catch me wearing a wool coat in the summer. I’ll be hanging out in the shade with all the sheep!
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@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Oct 23
@moffittjc I know it sounds strange and it may not even be true but that's what I read somewhere. I know some farmers shear the sheep before lambing so that the ewes have a short fleece like the lambs and take them to shady areas or warm places as the weather dictates.
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@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 23
Merino sheep have to be shorn but they're grown for their wool anyway. Fashions on when-to-shear change but mostly they're shorn either autumn or spring. As I understand it wool is an insulation for cold AND heat but in hot weather you see the sheep all bunched under any shade they can find.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I've never heard of self-shedding sheep. It's like a self-defrosting freezer. I'm sorry the lambs gave you such fits. Have a good Sunday.
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@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 23
@LindaOHio No, the wool is worth very little.
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@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
16 Oct 23
@JudyEv Do they sell the wool? It would make sense to.
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@Beestring (14563)
• Hong Kong
15 Oct 23
I have never heard of self-shedding sheep. In any case, she looks gentle.
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