Insurance Products Claims Knowledge Hub My Account 08000 66 55 44 Sheep shearing best practice Farming 4 min read With shearing season well and truly upon us, farmers and contractors are being encouraged to be mindful of upholding industry standards by adopting the National Sheep Association’s guidelines to ensure sheep are handled correctly avoiding stress and injury during the process. Before Shearing Do not feed sheep for four hours before shearing as full-bellied sheep will experience discomfort in the process. Ensure all sheep are dry. Do not shear sheep until 8-12 weeks after lambing. Enlarged milk veins will make shearing much more difficult. Do not combine drenching, parasite control or other procedures at the same as shearing. This will increase stress levels and any products applied pre-shearing may affect the job. Ensure experienced livestock handlers are on hand to assist Shearing Check references, training awards and recommendations before employing a shearer. If you are contracting out shearing, be prepared to charge extra for badly presented sheep, dirty sheep, sheep with full bellies or poor working facilities. Discussions between the farmer and shearer should be held in advance regarding proper procedure in the unlikely event of sheep falling ill or getting injured. Trainees should be properly supervised as well as overseas shearers new to the team, until it can be established that they are capable of shearing competently and professionally. Never shear under the influence of drugs and alcohol. After Shearing Clean and disinfect all equipment to prevent spreading diseases. If you are moving between farms, change clothing and footwear. Was this article helpful? Yes, love it! Eh, not really Related articles The Covid-19 has forced livestock marts to rethink how they buy and sell Over recent months, farming has been hugely affected by the rapid spread of Covid-19 which has spearheaded... Farming 3 min read Getting ready for sheep breeding season Even though breeding is a few months away yet, September is a good month to prepare and assess your flock of ewes... Farming 3 min read Farming heroes of Covid-19 The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly affected all aspects of our lives, especially within our farming community Farming 4 min read Protect your farm against rural crime Crime doesn’t just occur in cities and towns, it happens in rural areas too... Farming 5 min read A dog’s dinner – the dangers of Christmas foods Some of the festive treats that we feast upon over the Christmas period that really aren’t a good idea for your pets... Living 3 min read Protect yourself and your livelihood Falls from a height are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on farms across Northern Ireland. Farming 3 min read Tips to keep kids safe now school is out With the schools off and children at a loose end, farm safety is vital Farming 4 min read Home / Knowledge Hub / Farming / Sheep shearing best practice Need to speak with us? 08000 66 55 44 PRODUCTS Car Insurance GAP Insurance Home Insurance Travel Insurance Business Insurance Farm Insurance Van Insurance Motorcycle Insurance Taxi Insurance COMPANY Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Social Media Policy Careers Terms of Business Advertising Claims SUPPORT Contact Us Branches Claims Sitemap ©AbbeyAutoline. AbbeyAutoline is a trading name of Abbey Insurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – 434752. Registered in Northern Ireland (NI053754) 10 Governors Place, Carrickfergus, Co.Antrim, BT38 7BN.