This week it was sheep shearing time. Before our lambs are born, we have Kevin Ford, a professional sheep shearer come to the farm to remove their thick winter coat. This helps keep the sheep clean when they are birthing and nursing their babies. He uses the old fashioned method, instead of an electric razor. It’s a beautiful and quiet process.
Our boer goats were very interested in the process. I think they were wondering if they were next.
Kevin keeps his blades sharp, which makes the process very smooth.
This guy works magic with the sheep. He learned “blade sheepshearing” in the village of Kilskeagh, in Galway, Ireland. He sheers more than 4,000 sheep and goats from the Northeast all the way down to North Carolina. He even has an instructional book, “Shearing Day: Sheep Handling, Wold Science, and Shearing with Blades“.
The sheep remain very calm during the process, which reduces the stress on the flock.
We were lucky to have an opportunity to share the experience with the Carlisle School second grade class, who eagerly watched the whole shearing process. They seemed enthralled.
Kevin showed the kids how soft the wool was, and how it’s able to be spun into yard.
The sheared sheep spent the rest of the afternoon in the barn, eating hay. I think the goats were relieved to keep their fur.
Thank you to Paul Cary Goldberg for documenting the experience!
