Spring is here

Here at the ranch, a sure arrival of spring is shearing. We shear the sheep right before lambing. It is the best thing for the ewes, lambs, and the wool quality.

The ewes are bred in December so they will lamb starting the second week in May. It is the optimal time of year for lambing in our operation. Lambing later in the spring maximizes our feed ability while minimizing our weather risk. It is important to shear the ewes before lambing in order to allow them to feel the weather. If they can feel the cold weather, the ewes will seek shelter to protect themselves and their lambs. The ewes are also much more comfortable after shearing. Right now they are carrying an average of ten pounds of wool around. Now that it is getting warmer that wool is HOT.

Wool is a commodity. It is used in carpets, blankets, clothing, insulation, and many other things important to our way of life. It is fire resistant, renewable, biodegradable and durable. Maintaining the quality of the wool is important to preserving the value of the wool. By shearing before lambing, the wool does not come in contact with the messiness of birth fluids.

A crew of 5-7 men can shear 800-1000 sheep in a day. The men (and the occasional woman) on the crew we use are generally from Australia and New Zealand. They shear sheep around the world, traveling from one country to another, following the seasons. They go to England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. It is generally young unmarried people, looking for adventure and quick (but not easy) money. Shearing is incredibly hard, but skilled work. We enjoy seeing and meeting the shearers every year.

I am the cook for the crew. It is the job for the mother of the small children who cannot be outside for 8-12 hours. However, someone needs to cook for the hardworking crew.

Shearing is a busy time of year for us. It requires coordination with the foreign shearing crew, the sheep, and the timing of the lambing. We begin tomorrow and will continue for about five days.