Should You Shear Sheep When They're Wet?

mikefoxo

The neighbour was shearing a few weeks back. The rain came one day and the Father said that puts paid to the shearing for today. I asked him why you couldn't shear them with a wet fleece and he basically went a bit OTT and said the wool would "rot". Is this true or is he talking crazy?

endacl

You should only shear them wet if you're styling and blow drying them.

solerina

We would never, ever shear when wet...damn nuisance this year as they are wet most of the time

J.O. Farmer

mikefoxo wrote: »

The neighbour was shearing a few weeks back. The rain came one day and the Father said that puts paid to the shearing for today. I asked him why you couldn't shear them with a wet fleece and he basically went a bit OTT and said the wool would "rot". Is this true or is he talking crazy?

The wool won't rot but have you ever worked with wet sheep it's not that pleasant.

ganmo

I've been told that wet wool when packed in tight is liable to heat like hay does

The shearer that comes here won't shear if they're wet

rangler1

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

The wool won't rot but have you ever worked with wet sheep it's not that pleasant.

would the wool merchant pay for it either, shearing wet is very bad for the shearer too

Green farmer

rangler1 wrote: »

would the wool merchant pay for it either, shearing wet is very bad for the shearer too

Slightly damp probably OK, any more the merchant will tell you to take it home and dry it. Happened here when I started out first. Ended up putting it on heras fences in a shed and turning it every few days. A lot of work, leading to bits falling off every time you turn and the wool dries out yellow. So from then on if , it started raining I stop shearer straight away. Waisting both your time. I even don't like shearer a turning up too early in the mornings as sheep can still be damp from night before. This doesn't go down well with the shearer a though.

J.O. Farmer

rangler1 wrote: »

would the wool merchant pay for it either, shearing wet is very bad for the shearer too

Well he'll pay for the wool but the problem is that he won't want to pay for the water in it so the answer is pprobably no.
Better for everyone if the sheep are dry. I don't think many shearers would entertain wet sheep.

Lano Lynn

wet wool will heat and turn black in the pack and is useless for processing.

I assume you cannot shear so next wet day why don't you get a few sheep in and do their feet (no roll over crate) good old catch turn up n trim let us know what you think of it.:rolleyes:

working wet sheep is just stupid:mad:

mikefoxo

It's not the 'wet' part I'm confused about - it that my Father said that the wool 'rots'. When I hear that word I think of rotting meat, not wool. It struck me as a very strange word to use when talking about wool, which is why I started this thread, to see if there was anything to it

razor8

He's right, it will rot if left in the bag as it will heat up. But usually you will smell it before it gets that's bad and as said you will have to take it out of the bags and dry it. Some people put it over slats to dry. When I used to contract shear I never minded shearing wet sheep as long as the owner knew the story. Was fine for small flocks to go through hassle of drying it

mikefoxo

But what is there in wool to rot? Is it not just fibres and lanelin (probably spelled that arseways!!)

ganmo

mikefoxo wrote: »

But what is there in wool to rot? Is it not just fibres and lanelin (probably spelled that arseways!!)

just like wood rots

razor8

mikefoxo wrote: »

But what is there in wool to rot? Is it not just fibres and lanelin (probably spelled that arseways!!)

put wet wool or hay in a bag for a few weeks and you'll find out!