Shearing is one of the most important activities in the care of sheep. To carry out the procedure correctly and not harm the animal, you will need high-quality equipment. Before you buy a clipper, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of existing models and the rules for their operation.
Sheep shearing season
Sheep shearing is carried out seasonally. Usually this is the period before release from the corral: for free range – in the spring, before launching into the stall – in late summer – early autumn.
Frequency and methods
The timing of the manipulation is determined by several main factors:
- breed;
- the age of the animal;
- climatic conditions of the region in which sheep are bred.
The first factor is the most important. Depending on the breed, several groups are distinguished according to the rate of regrowth of the coat per year:
- fine-crowned – 6–9 cm;
- semi-fine-fleece – 6-25 cm and more;
- coarse-haired and semi-coarse-haired – 15–30 cm.
Based on the above data, the first 2 groups of adult animals need to be sheared only in spring, all the rest – in spring and autumn. The exception is the Romanov breed of sheep – these animals are sheared 3-4 times a year.
Lambs belonging to the semi-fine and fine-wool group, born in January – February, are sheared in the fall only if they are sent for slaughter. By this time, their woolen cover reaches 4–5 cm. Those lambs that remain for growing are not sheared. Otherwise, they simply will not survive the cold. Coarse-haired and semi-coarse-haired young animals are sheared for the first time at the age of 4 months.
Important! If the wool coat of coarse-wooled and semi-coarse-wooled sheep is to be used for commercial purposes, then it is necessary to cut them in the spring before the start of the seasonal molt, until the tucking process begins. If the moment is missed, then the tonsure should be carried out anyway, otherwise the animals will be too hot, which will negatively affect their development and life.
Animals grown in the southern regions are tonsured in April, in temperate latitudes and northern regions – in mid-late May. In autumn, if there is a need for such a manipulation, it is done as early as possible so that the animal does not freeze in winter.
There are 2 haircut options:
- manual – involves the use of special scissors, more suitable for farms that contain up to 5 goals;
- mechanical – carried out using a machine, suitable for large, small and medium-sized farms.
Benefits of a clipper
There are 2 types of sheep clippers:
- manual;
- electric.
Both of them are designed to facilitate the process of cutting for the owner himself, and to minimize the risks of damage to the skin of the animal.
manual machine
Such a machine is essentially an improved model of scissors, featuring a more comfortable handle and an efficient arrangement of knives. It works from the mechanical effort applied by the farmer during the shearing, and not from the mains. Suitable for farms with a small number of sheep.
- Among the advantages it is worth noting:
- safety of use for animals;
- possibility of use if there is no electricity;
- ease of operation and maintenance;
- all parts are easy to change;
- low price
However, such models require much more energy than electric ones. In addition, the whole manipulation takes a lot of time, which is not convenient in the presence of a large flock.
Did you know? Newborn lambs from the very first minutes of life recognize their mother by the timbre of their voice.
electric car
- The electric option has many more advantages:
- allows you to cut a large number of animals in a short period of time;
- does not damage the fleece, which increases its value;
- minimizes the energy consumption of the person conducting the procedure;
- easy to operate and does not require special skills, which is a plus for novice farmers;
- does not damage the skin of animals.
Preparing for a haircut
Preparatory activities before a haircut are carried out throughout the year. The key to successful manipulation and obtaining high-quality wool is keeping pets clean. In winter, sawdust and other small components that can contaminate the wool should not be used as flooring in the sheepfold. It is best to use soft hay for this purpose. In addition, the floor litter must be changed in a timely manner as it gets dirty and wet, otherwise the animal hair will be smeared with feces and urine (such raw materials will simply have to be thrown away).
Throughout the season, sheep must receive good nutrition, otherwise, their coat will be dull.
Important! If you will be tonsured for the first time, find an assistant in advance.
Immediately before trimming, approximately 12–14 hours in advance, the flock should be transferred to a starvation ration. During this time, the intestines of livestock will be cleared of feces, which will avoid death from intestinal volvulus. The fact is that this type of artiodactyls has a very weak stomach, and during the shearing they will often have to be turned over and have a mechanical effect on the abdomen.
Lambs should be separated from lactating queens for the duration of the shearing, closed in another room or pen, located at a sufficient distance from the area where the manipulation will be carried out. It will be possible to let the cubs near the females only at the end of the entire procedure. Otherwise, hearing the bleating of the lambs, the females will begin to worry, which will greatly complicate the procedure.
In advance, you need to prepare the site on which the manipulation will be carried out. It can be a spacious outdoor area, protected from the wind, or a room with good illumination. Previously, the floor / ground should be covered with a thick tarpaulin so that the wool is not smeared
Popular models, characteristic
Rating of the most popular clippers:
- «KAISON-500» – American made model. It is distinguished by a powerful engine, the ability to control the speed of revolutions, as well as dual cooling systems. There is an air filter inside the device, which prevents pollution by dust and debris of various origins, which increases the service life. The machine is equipped with high precision bearings, which are responsible for reducing noise during operation, which greatly simplifies trimming. One such apparatus can process 400-500 head of cattle.
- “Vortex SC0903b” – the equipment is equipped with comb-shaped cutting knives, which are located in relation to the skin of the animal in a stationary state. It is possible to regulate the pressure between the cutting elements by means of a handle. There is a dual motor cooling system, as in the previous version. Allows you to shear in a short period of time up to 500 head of cattle.
- “MoCA 200” – equipped with an asynchronous motor that operates without carbon brushes, which reduces its heat loss. The work is carried out from a frequency converter that produces a safe 3-phase voltage, thereby increasing the power of the equipment. Such a machine can be continuously operated for 10-12 hours.
- BERGER F6-SA – a lightweight wireless version equipped with 2 lithium-ion batteries that can be charged at any time. Perfect for use in areas where there is no mains power. The knife block is replaceable.
- Urahan – has increased power. There is a turnover control system. Equipped with a double air intake grille to keep the engine cool.
What to look for when buying
You need to choose an electric machine, focusing on the following criteria:
- engine power;
- knife design;
- operational qualities – availability of repair, ease of operation;
- manufacturer.
Power
The performance of the equipment directly depends on this characteristic. If there are few sheep, then a powerful device is not needed – a device operating with a voltage of 36 V is enough. In the case when a rapid increase in the number of livestock is planned in a short time, a machine with a higher productivity should be preferred – in the range of 180–550 watts.
Important! When buying a machine with high power, pay attention to the presence of air filters and cooling systems in the equipment, as high performance is always associated with a strong engine warm-up. If there are no elements providing its cooling, the device will quickly fail.
The instructions for such equipment always indicate how many animals can be sheared per season, as well as the duration of continuous engine operation.
Knives
When choosing a shearing machine, special attention should be paid to knives. They must be interchangeable, located so as not to injure the animals during the shearing. It is also worth knowing in advance: is it possible to purchase these parts separately.
Ease of operation and repair
Performance characteristics are also important. The clipper must be:
- ergonomically designed to be comfortable to hold in your hand;
- light in weight;
- easy to maintain – lubrication of parts, change of knives, cleaning can be carried out by the owner.
It is worth paying attention to the complexity of the repair and the availability of replacement parts. If it is difficult to purchase some spare part, then it is not advisable to buy a machine.
Manufacturer
There is a wide range of machines of different brands on the market. Swiss, German and American models are of high quality. Domestic machines also showed themselves well in operation. They are used much more often, because it is quite difficult to find spare parts for imported models in our market. Another disadvantage of foreign manufacturers is the high price. It is advisable to buy them only for use on large industrial farms.
Features of care
Proper maintenance of your equipment will increase its lifespan. After use, the knives must be immediately cleaned of dust and fine wool with a brush (included with the equipment), and then lubricated with machine oil. If the machine will not be used for some time, the knives must be sharpened before lubrication.
Removable parts and the device itself are stored in a place protected from the sun, only in special cases in which they were when purchased.
DIY shearing machine
Many users are interested in how to make a car with their own hands. You can’t create it from scratch. The only thing that can be done if, for example, there is no network is to connect the wire of the electric machine to the current generator.
Did you know? The most expensive breed of sheep in the world is the Dolan. One lamb costs about $2 million.
Homemade machine
A home-made machine for sharpening knives for manual shearing equipment can be built from a belt grinder. To do this:
- Select emery belts 100 mm wide with a consistent increase in grit (180, 400, 800, 1, 000, 1, 500).
- Glue a piece of glass to the sole of the grinder to increase the smoothness of the surface.
- Attach sandpaper to the glass.
- Next, the knife should be laid on a flat surface. For fixing, you can hammer a couple of nails into the countertop, after biting off their hats with pliers. Place the part to be sharpened between them.
- Turn on the grinder, with translational movements (not circular) drive along the blunt surface of the knife until it is completely sharpened.
It is important to understand that this method is only suitable for hand-held devices (scissors, hand-held machine). Imported electric machine requires professional sharpening in specialized centers
operating rules
Basic rules for the operation of electric machines:
- Read the instructions for the specific type of equipment.
- Use only as directed.
- Do not drop the device.
- When cutting, make sure that the blades do not press too hard against the surface of the skin of the animal.
- For lubrication, use only machine oil intended for this equipment (diesel cannot be used for this purpose).
- Lubricate clipper blades every 10 minutes to improve glide.
- Sharpen blades only in special workshops.
- Store the device in accordance with the instructions for use.
Did you know? The viewing angle of a sheep is 300 ° due to the special structure of the eye.
accident prevention
Safety briefing:
- When connecting the device to the network, make sure that the switch is in the “off” position.
- Connect the plug only to a well-functioning socket, with a power corresponding to the performance of the device.
- Keep away from children.
- Cleaning and all other work with the blades should be carried out only after disconnecting from the mains.
- Check and tighten all pins before starting work.
- During the shearing, the ram must be fixed.
- While working with the machine, periodically tighten the pins, adjusting the pressing of the blades.
Sheep are a valuable source of meat, milk and wool. To optimize the production of the latter, you need to purchase a good shearer, which will have enough power to process the available animals. In addition to the power of the engine, focus on ease of use and the availability of replacement parts.
