EARLY SHEARING RISKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 18

EARLY SHEARING RISKS

EFFECT ON WOOL GROWTH ADVANTAGE WITH BLADES MACHINES CHANGE CONDITIONS BY 11.8. T. In the days when sheep wore shorn with the blades, and most, of tho wool was shipped by sailing vessel for sale in England, there were many advantages, and not many drawbacks, to an early shearing. In tho first place, shearing tho larger llocks of thoso days with tho blades was a long operation, and unless the sheepman wanted a long-drawn-out shearing, with the probablo disadvantage of having to hold his ewo flock in oaten-out. homestead paddocks, whero lack of both water ntul feed provided a serious problem in the hot, dry months of December and January, he got his dry sheep shorn as soon as ho considered tho weather conditions reasonably safe. Tho shearing gang then went 011 to other stations for tho dry sheep shearing, and returned in December, January or February, for tho ewo shearing. Advantages of Early Dry Shearing This arrangement had several advantages, the chief of which was that the big job of shearing was divided into two, and thus saving musterers, dogs, and station hands from becoming jaded with weeks on end of daylight starts and long, strenuous days. It enabled the pastures of the home holding paddocks to recover before the ewes and their lambs required to be mustered, and had the further advantago that tho early shorn wethers, and other dry sheep which wero to be disposed of, put on condition rapidly once their lleeces wore off, and grew sufficient wool to make them attractive before they wero offered for sale. Another advantago of early shearing was that this wool was very light in condition, thus effecting a considerable saving in transport whero this was charged for by weight. Further, this light wool suffered no appearance on the lone journey Home, and was disposed of in the early sales in London when buj-ers of light-conditioned wool for American and other manufacturers made a point of being present to fill their requirements. Wool at these early sales thercforo always realised tho best prices of tho reason, and most station holders made a strenuous effort to get their dry sheep shorn, and the clip Home, in time to participate in the high prices. Conditions Now Changed

All this has changed since shearing machines have displaced the blades, and fast motor-lorries rush the wool to tho local sales centres. The one-timo advantages of an early dry sheep shearing aro now nearly all disadvantages, but custom dies so hard that one iinds tho old practice of shearing the hoggets, wethers and dry ewes in October still in vogue on most of tho larger sheep farms and stations.

One of the most serious disadvantages of early shearing in these days is tho risk of considerable losses should a cold snap occur during, or within a few days after, shearing. In the old days when the blades were used a fair amount of wool was left on the sheep, and this afforded some protection against th& elements. With the thin combs used on machines now, however, the sheep is practically shaved, and the contrast in temperature between a full fleece and the nude condition in which they are turned out must be severe even in normal spring weather. In the event of the newly-shorn sheep having to face a cold rain driven by wind, their suffering must be considerable. If the sheep are fat, the risk of losses occurring is considerably increased. The fat. and especially that round the kidneys, appears to solidify with extreme cold, and -when this occurs nothing can save tho sheep. Encourages Medullated Fibre Very early shearing is also a disadvantage in that it encourages the growth of "hairy-tip," or medullated iibre, in the wool of the following clip. Especially is this so since shearing machines displaced tho blades. The explanation of this is that., having no wool left to shelter it from the cold, nature provides that the sheep's skin thickens rapidly to give it what protection is possible. This thickening straightens out and enlarges tho wool follicles, which arc also encouraged to push up as much growth as possible. The result is a quick growth of straight, coarse, imperfect fibre which is medullated until a sufficient growth has occurred to protect the sheep from the inclemencies of the weather, and the skin resumes its normal thickness. Thus we get "hairy tip" and medullated fibre, particularly in early shorn sheep. For tho foregoing reasons this is much more prevalent since close-cutting machines replaced the blades. "Condition" ol Wool Important Particularly with Longwool sheep, this early-shorn wool lacks a reasonable amount of yolk, and is consequently harsh and unattractive in handle, besides which the grower loses a considerable amount in weight. An allowaneo for "condition" is always made by buyers, and if tins is not present in the wool the grower is tho loser. In the old days when we used to wash the Merinos 011 tho ba-k country Australian stations to save weight in cartage, and in tho "dumps" when shipping, wo always allowed tho sheep a fortnight of fine, warm weather on a clean pasture after washing to get tho yolk to rise through the lleece before shearing. This amount of grease was not noticeable in the washed wool, except that it considerably improved its handle, making it soft where, if shorn immediately it was dry after washing, it would be harsh and unattractive. Crossbred wool, early in the spring before warm weather and a flush of feed has raised the yolk, is in this harsh condition, and neither so weighty nor so attractive as when shorn later. On the smaller holdings nowadays general in New Zealand, it is rather a disadvantage than an advantage to make '"two bites of a cherry" over shearing. It is also much safer to complete shearing in one operation later m the season when the weather is reasonably settled. The advantage, too, of avoiding "hairy-tip" in the ewe hoggets' wool at the following shearingmust not be overlooked. This medullated fibre problem is being concentrated upon scientifically by research workers at Massey College, and while they have proved that hairiness can be inherited, —because, of course, a thick skin over part, or the whole, of tho body can bo inherited —this does not alter the fact that the skin can be temporarily thickened, and thus cause. the growth of medullated fibre, by its exposure to cold. This is of considerable interest to the sheep farmer in that, if ho is compelled to shear his hoggets early 011 account of their getting cast, and must use the machines in preference to the blades, 110 would bo woll advised to uso an unusually thick comb. This would ensure that sufficient woo] was left on to protect tho sheep from a cold snap, and at tho same timo aid in suppressing "hairy-tip."