A flock of sheep has always accompanied a person. History does not know a civilization that could do without this animal. Sheep receives healthy meat from the sheep, uses its milk, and sheep’s wool serves to make clothes and many household items. Since the beginning of the XXI century, sheep breeding has again become a popular activity. People began to return to the earth, remembering many forgotten crafts. Again master the art of shearing sheep. The farm is reviving.
Sheep breeding in Russia
Since ancient times, our ancestors mastered the art of raising sheep in harsh climates. We learned to process wool long before the advent of statehood. In our conditions, the climate did not allow the cultivation of fine-wool rocks, but the production of coarse wool reached significant heights.
Almost everyone owned the art of shearing sheep, given that at the end of the 19th century, 129 million people were 15 million sheep. For export alone, the country sold at least 34 thousand tons of wool, which amounted to more than half of all England's production and more than Australia had. According to 2016, Russia produced only 55.8 thousand tons, which is almost 4 times less than more than 100 years ago.
When wool is harvested
The reserve for increasing production is quite obvious, but a novice farmer has to learn almost everything from scratch. In order not to look like Griffin when cutting a sheep, it’s worth a little to master the theory.
It is quite natural that during our winter frosts no one will be engaged in harvesting for the winter. But the summer heat is also not the right time. It is best to start after the establishment of stable warm weather: the second half of May - early June. Many breeds of sheep manage to grow well over the summer and the second favorable period of shearing begins: end of August - beginning of September. A truly Russian Romanovsk sheep breed in the South manages to get under scissors for shearing sheep three times a year - March, June, October.
When choosing a time, one should not forget that the animal is subject to molt. This period must be taken into account.
Haircut preparation
The choice of place and time for processing sheep depends on their age, state of health and a number of other factors. In any case, before using a clipper, a ram must be prepared. About a day is not recommended to feed. They stop giving water in 12 hours. Each animal is inspected. Patients are not admitted to the procedure, and with wet hair removed for the duration of drying. The length of the coat in young animals should be more than 4 cm.
Room preparation
Before the procedure, the workplace must be carefully prepared. It should be dry, well-lit and clean. Drafts are not allowed. You can make a low table - about half a meter high. It will be more convenient to work on it. In the absence of a table, the ground is covered with a tarp. Work is carried out indoors or under a canopy.
Nearby are all the necessary tools:
- scissors;
- a machine for shearing sheep and sheep;
- twine;
- means for treating wounds;
- preparing a chest or bags for receiving wool.
Tool for work
The choice of tool should be treated very carefully. For small farms, it is enough to have special scissors, one of two types:
- Double, made in the form of a heart. The tool lies well in the hand, it is easy to operate, it allows you to trim the sheep short enough.
- Single lines. They are equipped with a blade resembling a knife. As a rule, only professionals use this tool. They are very traumatic, but they allow the animal to be treated with high quality.
Large farms have long been using electric tools. It is more expensive, but it’s convenient and fast for them to work. Requirements for professional equipment are lower than with manual processing. A farmer with more than 2-3 animals should have a clipper.
Lacosta may be an example of such a technique. She uses carbon steel knives to work with any type of wool. The adjustment of the degree of pressing is applied. Price - affordable for any farmer.
Work technique
Processing a ram requires not only dexterity, but also great physical strength. The main thing is to fix the animal correctly. Usually their legs are tied crosswise, but the most experienced are tied only for one leg, the other three are held by hand.
Consider a step-by-step instruction for cutting a lying ram:
- The animal is cleaned of impurities and laid to one side.
- First they cut their limbs, then their heads.
- From head to back, moving toward the tail. It is important that the movements are smooth, without jerking.
- From the back they pass to the sides and end with a stomach.
- Particular care should be taken when processing places near the nipples and scrotum. There, the skin is very delicate and easily injured. Usually these places are covered with a hand.
- At the end of the work, all places of cuts are treated with a disinfectant.
- Immediately after work, all tools, including a ram clipper, are cleaned of hair and wiped.
Sheep care after shearing
After the haircut, the animals are sanitized and released into the stall. It is worth starting carefully to feed, so as not to overfeed. This can cause indigestion.
Strongly not recommended:
- Exposure to insects when walking on a distant pasture.
- The delicate skin of animals without coat protection should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
- Sheep can not be overfed.
Otherwise, your pets do not need special care. If everything is done correctly, then they will soon be covered with new wool, and you will be the owner of excellent raw materials for the production of various products.
Primary processing of wool
After shearing sheep, work with wool is just beginning. It must not be stored dirty. You can not wash only in one case, if you immediately transfer it to wholesalers for further processing. In any other case, it is worth washing. By the way, in the washed state it costs much more. The washing procedure is not very complicated:
- Pre-wool is sorted out, removing all the debris. You can use a normal dog brush to comb out foreign objects.
- It is treated in a hot solution of water with a fat remover for 30 minutes. Do not allow lanolin to remain on the wool. While rinsing it is not recommended to mix and squeeze.
- Next step: high temperature wash. As detergent, you can use any one designed for woolen products.
- After washing, without squeezing, placed in hot soapy water for 1.5 hours. When cooling, the water is changed.
- Rinse gently, often changing water, until all soapy solution is washed off.
- After rinsing, the wool is carefully disassembled and dried on the net with a layer of not more than 1.5 cm in a well-ventilated area. It is possible under the sun.
- Subsequent treatment consists in combing, until the strands are formed. The wool is ready for further use.
How to store
The prepared wool is neatly rolled up. Further storage is carried out in canvas bags. The room should be dry and well ventilated. The temperature does not matter much. The main thing is that the coat does not dry out.
Thus, the prepared fleece can be used for the manufacture of numerous products and this can be done in the winter, when there is less work on the farm. And you can sell to wholesalers. As already noted, the price of washed wool is significantly higher than raw.
What can be made of wool
Sheep wool is a valuable raw material for the production of many useful things:
- It is impossible to imagine the carpet industry without sheep's wool. Such carpets are not electrified, repel dust, and store heat well. They create comfort and beauty at home.
- Woolen blankets and rugs are not only convenient to use, but also have healing properties. They are recommended for patients with radiculitis, help with circulatory disorders, suffering from nervous disorders.
- Mattresses stuffed with wool are a little harsh, but very useful for patients with osteochondrosis and arthritis, as well as for a number of other diseases.
- Woolen clothing has excellent “climate control” qualities. Air passes easily inside, and heat is stored, excess moisture and sweat are quickly removed.
- Recently, the fashion for felt products from wool began to return. Masters make exclusive items of clothing, shoes, toys, various accessories and much more.
This is only a small part of woolen products.
When choosing a subject of activity, farmers should pay special attention to raising sheep. Be sure to remember that this is not only meat, but also high-quality wool. Learning to shear a sheep is very simple.