EARLY v. LATE SHEARING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2606, 14 August 1882, Page 4

EARLY v. LATE SHEARING.

An English journal, quoting from a presumably American contemporary in an article on shearing cheep, says :—" We have known of loss by early shearing, but in both cases the sheep were not in prime oondition, and the shearing was followed by a cold snowstorm and very chilly air. Sheep will usually draw the feet a little nearer together if oold weather immediately follows shearing, but who has not seen them lie and pant in a hot May sun when unshorn, suffering with heat ? Oae of the benefits of early shearing ii that it is the best way to destroy lice. Fowls will clean them all off if allowed to go where the sheep are—both sheep and fowls enjoy it. Another, the necessity for washing is obviated. Sheep having heavy fleeces sometimes do not dry off well after washing. Sometimes the farmer may suffer in selling unwashed wool; but not washing at all is better for the conscience than washing slightly and shearing after the' grease has started again. On the other hand, don't shear early unless the weather is fine or superior protection oan be given, and do not shear weakly Bheep unless very tioky ; when thus, they may improve under such treatment. Shear before the lambs are dropped, if possible, having none but men experienced in the business to handle them. A sheep a few days well over shearing is all right if not allowed to etay out overnight or through stormy weather. It is important that shearers should learn to leave from one third to one half inoh of wool on the sheep for protection, which they may easily learn to do with tha coarse wool and medium sheep without seriously affooting the appearance of the animal, after a tittle time. It is not a good practice to shear too olose in June, as the hot sun may cause the shedding of wool to the skin." The "Prairie Parmer" believes in moderately early shearing, if proper shelter is provided against storms in oold snaps. It does not believe in the policy of allowing sheep to acquire warmth by drawing their feet closer together. It does not believe in trusting to fowls to keep the sheep olear of ticks) neither does it believe in leaving half an inoh of wool on the sheep for protection. If cool weather intervene after shearing, it is better that sheep receive shelter and extra food. We should not 'shear ewes with lambs, especially early ; we think it better in suoh oases to wait until so long after lambing time that the ewes be entirely reoovered from the accompanying disability, and are thriving. If done before lambing time it should be early enough that the reaction thereafter be fully established, though it is better that they be shorn before than immediately after lambing time.