Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
One of the most important factors to consider when a producer starts preparing for the shearing season, is the welfare of both the sheep and the shearers. Izak Klopper is in charge of shearer training at the National Woolgrowers’ Association of South Africa (NWGA) and in this article he shares a few of the most important measures that apply when preparing shearing facilities on the farm.
Stockfarm also spoke to Tienie de Plessis, a seasoned shearing contractor who farms just outside Venterstad in the Eastern Cape, about a shearing contractor’s responsibilities when preparing for the shearing season.
All round preparation
To maintain biosecurity and prevent wool contamination that may occur during the shearing season, it is important and proper to fully inspect and clean the sheep handling facilities approximately a week before the shearing team arrives.
For most of the year the shearing shed is often used a storage facility for items such as salted sheepskins, empty feed bags, feed concentrates, feed bales, and bale rope. In some cases, the holding or inspection pens are used as an infirmary for sick animals that require treatment.
This environment poses the risk of wool pollution and can affect animal health during the shearing process. Therefore it is important to remove all unnecessary items from the shed, and then properly sweep and wash the shed to get rid of any unwanted dust and other items. This includes removing loose pieces of metal (iron), and bird nests that can contaminate the wool.
The shearing shed must be checked to ensure that all slatted floors are intact and that those requiring attention are replaced. At the same time, all the gates and catch door latches must be checked, replaced, or repaired so that they are in working order.
Disinfect the shearing shed
Thereafter the shed can be disinfected using a 3 to 5% formalin solution, Virkon®S, F10® or Jeyes Fluid. Follow the instructions on the products closely to ensure that the correct concentrations are applied. Once done, keep the shed kept closed for 24 hours, after which all the doors and windows must be opened to allow the harmful fumes to escape. Measure out some of the disinfectant to disinfect the shearing team’s equipment, and make sure all staff are wearing clean clothes when they start working.
Time is of the essence during the shearing process, as shearers and wool workers are remunerated daily per sheep and per fleece. Efficient sheep handling facilities are therefore non-negotiable. Like the shearing shed, the sheep handling facilities must also be cleaned and disinfected before shearing commences to prevent wool contamination and the spread of diseases.
During the shearing process, all the sheep move through the sheep handling facilities within a short period of time. This means a lot of pressure on the staff who must get the animals into the shearing shed on a continuous basis to ensure a smooth process; this is one of the reasons why the sheep pens must be checked ahead of time. This will ensure that flocks of sheep do not mingle and that animals are not unnecessarily injured while moving through the pens.
A shearing contractor’s programme
For Tienie du Plessis of the farm Damfontein near Venterstad, the administrative tasks preceding the shearing season are crucial. “It is important for a shearing contractor that his clients’ shearing processes run smoothly. I work according to a shearing programme that goes hand in hand with good pre-planning and record-keeping. It clearly shows who can shear and when.
“Sometimes it is difficult to plan that far in advance because unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather can put an end to the process. Another crucial step is good communication between the contractor and his clients – and between the contractor and his shearing teams.
Aspects that are part and parcel of the administration process include:
- Keeping records of the number of sheep sheared.
- Continuous evaluation of shearers (who work in the NWGA area).
- A process currently under consideration is the ongoing evaluation of classifiers so as to monitor the quality of the classification process.
The NWGA is currently working on a database containing shearers’ information. Among others, it will contain information regarding shearers who operate at a commercial level, along with records of shearers currently occupied and those available for outsourcing. Another important administrative task that Du Plessis performs as a shearing contractor, is sending invoices to the producers once the shearing process has been completed. A small business depends on good cashflow.
Equipment
“It is important to keep records of where the equipment is at any given time,” he says. “This helps to supply your shearing teams with the necessary equipment in a timely fashion. For example, shearers must have winter and summer combs available as the client must be able to choose how much wool he wants sheared.”
He finds that a ‘numbers’ book is useful for keeping count of the number of sheep each shearer has sheared. “The shearers are paid per sheep, and classifiers and fleece throwers are paid per fleece. Good record-keeping is therefore essential to ensure that the numbers add up; the process must be controlled with the producer daily.”
Good record-keeping is also essential in respect of the Responsible Wool Standard’s (RWS) standard and Cape Wools’ sustainability standard. “As a shearing contractor, I supply my clients with the necessary documentation to maintain their certification. It is my responsibility to understand the content of these standards and then convey it to my clients in an understandable manner.”
Du Plessis considers it good ethics to inform his clients about decent working hours and facilities, and to suggest improvements or changes to make things easier for the shearers and the animals. “For example, if the shearers are able to handle the animals with more ease they will not tire as quickly, which is beneficial for both the sheep and the producer.” – Carin Venter, Stockfarm
For more information, contact Izak Klopper on 082 446 2162 or izak@nwga.co.za, or Tienie du Plessis on 084 247 1717 (WhatsApp).
