One of the important measures for the care of sheep is a shearing. To carry out the procedure correctly and not to harm the animal, you 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

Shearing of sheep is done seasonally. Usually this is the period before release from the corral: on free-range - in the spring, before launching in the stall - in late summer - early autumn.

Frequency and methods

The timing of the manipulation determines several key factors:

• breed;
• the age of the animal;
• climatic conditions of the region in which the sheep are raised.

The first factor is the most important. Depending on the breed, several groups are distinguished by the rate of growth of the wool cover per year:

• fine-grained - 6–9 cm;
• semi-fine-crowned - 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. An exception is the Romanovskaya breed of sheep - these animals are sheared 3-4 times a year.

Lambs belonging to the half-fine and fine-fleece group, born in January - February, are sheared in the autumn only if they are sent for slaughter. Their woolen coat reaches 4–5 cm by this moment. Those lambs that remain for growing are not sheared . Otherwise, they simply will not survive the cold. Coarse and semi-coarse young growth is cut for the first time at the age of 4 months.

Important! If the coat of coarse and semi-coarse-haired sheep will be used for commercial purposes, then you need to have time to trim them in the spring before seasonal molting begins, until the browning process has begun. If the moment is missed, then shearing must be carried out anyway, otherwise the animals will be too hot, which will negatively affect their development and livelihoods.

Animals grown in the southern regions are tonsured in April, in temperate latitudes and northern regions - in the middle - end of May. In autumn, if there is a need for such manipulation, this is done as early as possible so that the animal does not freeze in winter.

There are 2 ways to cut:

• manual - involves the use of special scissors, more suitable for farms that contain up to 5 heads;
  

• mechanical - carried out using a machine, suitable for large, small and medium-sized farms.
  

The benefits of a haircut machine

There are 2 types of sheep shearing machines:

• manual;
• electric.

Both are designed to facilitate the cutting process for the owner himself, and to minimize the risks of damage to the skin of the animal.

We advise you to read about the features of manual shearing.

Manual machine

Such a machine is essentially an improved model of scissors, featuring a more convenient handle and an efficient arrangement of knives. It works from the mechanical effort exerted by the farmer during the haircut, and not from the mains. Suitable for farms with a small number of sheep.

• Of the advantages it is worth noting:
• safety of use for animals;
• possibility of use if there is no electricity;
• simplicity in operation and maintenance;
• all details are easily changed;
• low price.

However, such models require much greater energy consumption, unlike 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? From the very first minutes of life, newborn lambs recognize their mother by the timbre of their voice.

Electric machine

• The electric option has many more advantages:
• allows you to shave 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 beginner farmers;
• does not damage the skin of animals.

Haircut preparation

Preparatory activities before the haircut are held 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 may contaminate wool should not be used as floor litter in the shepherd. It is best to use soft hay for these purposes. In addition, the floor litter must be changed in a timely manner as it becomes soiled and wet, otherwise the animal's coat will be smeared with feces and urine (such raw materials will simply have to be thrown away).

Throughout the season, the sheep should receive proper nutrition, otherwise, their coat will be dull.

Important! If you will be tonsured for the first time, find yourself an assistant in advance.

Immediately before trimming, in about 12-14 hours, the flock should be transferred to a hungry share. During this time, the intestines of cattle will be cleansed of feces, which will help to avoid mortality from intestinal inversion. The fact is that this type of artiodactyl has a very weak stomach, and during cutting they will often have to turn over and have a mechanical effect on the abdomen.

Lambs need to be separated from the lactating uterus for the time of cutting, closing in another room or paddock, located at a sufficient distance from the territory where the manipulation will be carried out. It will be possible to let the cubs to the females only at the end of the whole procedure. Otherwise, upon 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. This can be a spacious outdoor area, sheltered from the wind, or a room with good illumination. Pre-floor / ground should be covered with a dense tarpaulin so that the coat does not smear

Popular models, characteristic

Rating of the most popular clippers:

1. "KAISON-500" is an American-made model. It features a powerful engine, the ability to control the speed of revolutions, as well as dual cooling systems. Inside the device there is an air filter that prevents pollution by dust and debris of various origins, which increases the duration of operation. 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 cattle.
   

2. "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 through the handle. There is a dual engine cooling system, as in the previous version. Allows to shear up to 500 cattle in a short period of time.
   

3. "ISU 200" - is equipped with an asynchronous motor, which works without carbon brushes, which reduces its heat loss. Work is carried out from a current frequency converter that produces a safe 3-phase voltage, due to which the power of the equipment is increased. Such a machine can continuously work for 10-12 hours.
   

4. “BERGER F6-SA” is a lightweight wireless variation equipped with 2 lithium-ion batteries that can be charged at any time. Perfect for use in areas where there is no power supply. The knife block is replaceable.
   

5. "Hurricane" - has increased power. There is a speed control system. Equipped with a double grille for air intake, which provides engine cooling.
   

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 equipment directly depends on this characteristic. If there are not many sheep, then a powerful device is not needed - a device working with a voltage of 36 V is enough . In the case when it is planned to quickly increase the number of livestock in a short time, you should give preference to a typewriter with higher productivity - 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, since high performance is always associated with a strong heating of the engine. If there are no elements ensuring its cooling, the device will quickly fail.

The instructions for such equipment always indicate how many animals can be shaved per season, as well as the duration of continuous operation of the engine.

Knives

When choosing a shearing machine, special attention should be paid to knives. They must be replaceable, positioned so as not to injure the animals during the haircut. It is also worth knowing in advance: is it possible to purchase these spare parts separately.

Simplicity of work and repair

Operational characteristics are also important. The clipper should be:

• ergonomic in design to make it 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 some spare part is difficult to purchase, then buying a machine is not practical.

Find out also how many years live sheep and sheep live.

Manufacturer

The market offers a wide range of machines of different brands. High quality distinguish Swiss, German and American models . Not bad have shown themselves in operation and domestic cars. They are used much more often, because spare parts for imported models in our market are quite difficult to find. Another disadvantage of foreign manufacturers is the high price. It is advisable to buy them only for use on large industrial farms.

Care Features

Proper maintenance of the equipment ensures an increase in its service life. 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 covers in which they were located at the time of purchase

DIY shearing machine

Many users are interested in how to make a machine with their own hands. Create it from scratch does not work. 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 sheep breed in the world is dolan. One lamb costs about $ 2 million.

Homemade machine

A homemade machine for sharpening knives of manual shearing equipment can be built from a belt grinder. To do this, you need:

1. Select emery tapes with a width of 100 mm with a consistent increase in grain size (180, 400, 800, 1, 000, 1, 500, 2, 000, 2, 500).
2. Glue a piece of glass on the sole of the grinder to increase the smoothness of the surface.
3. Attach sandpaper to the glass.
4. Next, the knife should be laid on a flat surface. For fixation, you can hammer a couple of nails into the countertop, after having bitten off their hats with pliers. Place the sharpened part between them.
5. Turn on the grinder, with translational movements (not circular) drive along the dull surface of the knife until it is sharpened.

It is important to understand that this method is only suitable for hand tools (scissors, manual machine). Imported electric machine requires professional sharpening in specialized centers

Terms of Use

Basic rules for the operation of electric cars:

1. Read the instructions for a specific type of equipment.
2. Use only as directed.
3. Do not drop the appliance.
4. During the haircut, make sure that the blades do not press too hard against the surface of the animal’s skin.
5. For lubrication, use only machine oil designed for this equipment (diesel should not be used for this purpose).
6. Lubricate the cutting blades every 10 minutes to improve gliding.
7. Sharpen blades only in special workshops.
8. Store the device in accordance with the requirements of the operating instructions.

Did you know? Sheep has a viewing angle of 300 ° due to the special structure of the eye.

Safety precautions

Safety briefing:

1. When connecting the device to the network, make sure that the switch is in the “off” position.
2. Connect the plug only to a properly functioning outlet, with a power corresponding to the performance of the device.
3. Keep out of the reach of children.
4. Only carry out cleaning and all other work with the blades after disconnecting them from the power supply.
5. Before starting work, check and tighten all pins.
6. During shearing, the ram must be fixed.
7. When working with the machine, periodically tighten the pins, adjusting the blade pressing.

Sheep is a valuable source of meat, milk and wool. To optimize the production of the latter, you need to get a good shearing machine, which will have sufficient 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.