Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to try it yourself, then you'll have to learn how to shear. Shearing lessons are
usually offered in early spring for 1 or 2 days at a nominal fee through county
Extension offi ces and other organizations. They usually limit their instruction
to electric shearing, but what you learn is valuable regardless of whether you
use electric or hand shears.
Electric clippers, although quicker to use than hand shears, are quite
expensive and more apt to result in cut hands and cut sheep, especially when
used by an inexperienced shearer. For small-fl ock owners who want to shear
their own sheep, hand shears have a number of advantages:
■
They provide an inexpensive way to get started and can be ordered from
any sheep-supply catalog.
■
They require no electricity, so you can shear anywhere.
■
They are easy and quick to sharpen with just a hand stone.
■
They are lightweight and easy to carry with you.
Don't shave the sheep too closely, in order to minimize loss of body heat
in cold and rain.
Having a set of blades around is a good idea. They come in handy for the
occasional trim job that comes up — like trimming excessive wool from around
the udder of a new mom. “Rigged” blades have a leather strap taped onto the
left handle (for right-handed use), and a rubber stop is taped to the top of the
right handle at the base of the blade. These hand shears are more comfortable
to use, and the strap prevents them from being kicked out of your hand.
Sharpening Blades
To sharpen, reverse the normal position of the blades, crossing them over
each other. Using a medium sharpening stone, grind the stone along the exist-
ing bevel of each blade with long strokes. Do not sharpen the “inside” surface
of either blade. If there are any slightly rough edges when you've fi nished
sharpening, run the stone fl atwise along the inside surface of the back (not
the edge) to remove the edge burrs. For touch-up sharpening while shearing,
close the shears fi rmly so that each cutting edge protrudes beyond the back
of the other blade. Using the fi ne side of a small ax stone, follow the existing
bevel of each blade.
Preparing to Shear
Sheep should be gathered up to 12 hours before you plan to shear and put in
a handling facility that minimizes stress on you and them. The pen that holds
