In the midst of winter

As a farmer, this is always a tough time. For a start, the days are short and cold meaning it's hard to get a lot done. Secondly it's a busy time for us sheep farmers. We shear at the beginning of August every year and have done for many years.

Why? You ask.. Well there's a few reasons. I think the most important reason is that the ewes have their lambs at the beginning of September (spring) and if they have a thick woolly coat on, then they won't go and seek shelter if the weather turns sour. They're fine as they have their jackets on, but their little lambs suffer hugely as they haven't grown enough of a jacket yet. It's been proven that if the mothers haven't much wool on, they go and seek shelter and take their lambs with them. This means a much greater lamb survival rate.

There are other reasons, such as that winter here is a tough season and the sheep often lose a little condition which affects the strength of their wool. If we can make any weakness in their wool occur as close to shearing as possible, then it is less likely to be a problem for the people who buy the wool.

Another reason is that flies become a problem for the sheep in the summer time here. If the sheep have a big woolly jacket on at all in the summer, then they are more likely to get hot and sweaty and the flies get in onto their skin and lay their maggots there. Mmm gruesome I know.

The above photo is of the back end of a sheep who has suffered fly strike. It is a terrible thing to have to deal with as a farmer/caretaker of animals. I took this photo a year or two ago in response to the mulesing arguments. That is a whole other blog post in itself.

So, if we shear them now, the worst they'll have in summer is half their wool and hopefully they won't suffer any fly strike.

The last reason I can think of just now, is that a lot of people think they grow their wool much faster when they're cold. I'm not sure how well this is proven, but I guess if there's a chance of more wool on your sheep then you should take it.

So, all in all, we shear in winter. Wool being our biggest money earner here means that shearing is the most important time on the farm. If we get that wrong not only do we lose out on our potential profits, but it is expensive, so could incur a big expense.

At the same time shearing is happening, our cows start to have their calves, which is a joy, but also an added stress if they have any troubles. We check them and feed them every day and if we find one in labour who cannot calf unassisted we will bring her to the yards and help her. Again this can be a joyous occasion or a devastating one.

All the while in the midst of winter the grass is short and brown from the constant harsh frosts. I wait with anticipation the first wattle blossoms to arrive.

They are so close by now and they symbolise for me the beginning of the end of a long hard winter.

In the midst of winter

As a farmer, this is always a tough time. For a start, the days are short and cold meaning it's hard to get a lot done. Secondly it's a busy time for us sheep farmers. We shear at the beginning of August every year and have done for many years.

Why? You ask.. Well there's a few reasons. I think the most important reason is that the ewes have their lambs at the beginning of September (spring) and if they have a thick woolly coat on, then they won't go and seek shelter if the weather turns sour. They're fine as they have their jackets on, but their little lambs suffer hugely as they haven't grown enough of a jacket yet. It's been proven that if the mothers haven't much wool on, they go and seek shelter and take their lambs with them. This means a much greater lamb survival rate.

There are other reasons, such as that winter here is a tough season and the sheep often lose a little condition which affects the strength of their wool. If we can make any weakness in their wool occur as close to shearing as possible, then it is less likely to be a problem for the people who buy the wool.

Another reason is that flies become a problem for the sheep in the summer time here. If the sheep have a big woolly jacket on at all in the summer, then they are more likely to get hot and sweaty and the flies get in onto their skin and lay their maggots there. Mmm gruesome I know.

The above photo is of the back end of a sheep who has suffered fly strike. It is a terrible thing to have to deal with as a farmer/caretaker of animals. I took this photo a year or two ago in response to the mulesing arguments. That is a whole other blog post in itself.

So, if we shear them now, the worst they'll have in summer is half their wool and hopefully they won't suffer any fly strike.

The last reason I can think of just now, is that a lot of people think they grow their wool much faster when they're cold. I'm not sure how well this is proven, but I guess if there's a chance of more wool on your sheep then you should take it.

So, all in all, we shear in winter. Wool being our biggest money earner here means that shearing is the most important time on the farm. If we get that wrong not only do we lose out on our potential profits, but it is expensive, so could incur a big expense.

At the same time shearing is happening, our cows start to have their calves, which is a joy, but also an added stress if they have any troubles. We check them and feed them every day and if we find one in labour who cannot calf unassisted we will bring her to the yards and help her. Again this can be a joyous occasion or a devastating one.

All the while in the midst of winter the grass is short and brown from the constant harsh frosts. I wait with anticipation the first wattle blossoms to arrive.

They are so close by now and they symbolise for me the beginning of the end of a long hard winter.