How to Shear Sheep and Why It's Important

Directed by Jody Shapiro, this compelling 12-minute film showcases the beautiful dance between sheep and shearer, the importance of sheep shearing to the health and well-being of sheep, and the impact that Slow Fashion and local wool have on the economy and local community.
Dr. Temple Grandin, award-winning author, professor, and animal welfare advocate, introduces the ethical and humane handling of sheep for shearing. In this video, viewers will also
🐑 Meet expert shearers and rare breed sheep
🐑 Learn tips on the best way to shear humanely, including preparing the sheep for shearing and best tools for the job
🐑 Understand why shearing is important for the health of the sheep
🐑 Watch the art of humane sheep shearing
🐑 Discover how you can support a sustainable industry and help save rare sheep breeds from extinction. (Hint - it's by supporting those that raise them, shear them, and make products from their fiber)
Interested in using wool and fiber for crafting? Learn more about the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em Initiative at livestockconservancy.org/get-...
Learn more about The Livestock Conservancy at livestockconservancy.org

[@AndreaS-cp8wz]

I had no idea watching a film on shearing sheep would make me so emotional! As a knitter it's good to be reminded where the wool comes from, and I'm in awe of these incredible women and the care they all have for the animals and their craft. And so beautifully filmed, too. I'm going to share this far and wide in the hopes that I can educate people as to why we should be using more wool in our lives - clothing, bedding, carpets, insulation... let's get those fleece prices up up up!!

[@amyanselmo]

What a lovely mini documentary. These Shepherds/Shearers are so lovely and so good at their craft. Thank you all for being so awesome.

[@Angela-hn6mb]

Meridian Jacobs! Yay!

[@clammyfaye]

so well done and so informative - wonderful video! Stephany is a badass!

[@lcrain7840]

thank you women!

[@AcornGladeMelbourne]

Great video, more on the subject please.

[@lesliejacobs3002]

To get more shearers .. one has to start shearing.. I plan to start this year.. and I won’t be even very good.. for years.. but I will start and my sheep will have received their shearing for that year.

[@duckmama]

IMPORTANT content!

[@lisaknight3844]

I will have to look at some Jacob wool. Such beautiful animals!

[@EweTube]

Thank you for making this video! I have been raising sheep, creating and selling products from their wool for years and have dealt with many misconceptions from my customers. I will be sharing this video far and wide!

[@helenel4126]

Btw, Jacob wool is wonderful ! A pleasure to spin and knit.

[@amydelpiere9315]

That was so well done. Good job everyone 🙂. I believe in the dream.

[@cwdresmker]

Beautiful piece for watching and educating. So many don't understand that shearing needs to be performed for the health of the animal, not to harm them. Thank you!

[@tedspirakis627]

What a great video. Thank you for producing this as we will share this with many farm visitors who want to learn more about what we do at our farm! A big shout out to Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill: We love the "magic" you produce for us with the wool we send you from our farm that you work with! - Wellspring Farm, Burnsville, NC

[@Spinsjal]

As a knitter, spinner, and wool lover, I do love this video. This video highlights the fact that humans have influenced the genetics of sheep and made shearing necessary for many breeds. (This isn't production shearing which emphasizes more speed and I'm sure less care for the animals). As an occupational therapist, the shearers' posture and potential for cumulative spinal injury makes me cringe. Medical literature has documented that use of a sling (for the shearer) reduces the possibility of long term spine injury.

[@stephanywilkes3598]

Hello. Thank you for watching! I am one of the shearers in the film and wanted to address two points you made. First, production shearing can emphasize speed, but being able to shear quickly and well is also a sign of greater skill, not less. Animals are kept in an awkward position for less time, and that is part of the motivation. I have sheared on production crews and the sheep were sheared cleanly and well, with care for the animals. If nothing else and at the very least, all sheep are someone else's product. A shepherd or rancher spends tens of thousands of dollars a year on supplemental feed, vet bills, etc. If we arrive and ruin the harvest or don't show respect for their sheep, we will be asked to stop and leave. Second, part of what is visible in my posture is the result of fused vertebrae, with which I was born. Given all that, I'm glad I can shear at all. Otherwise, bending at the hips has served me well for 10 years of shearing and, with the help of the back warmer I wear in this film, I have avoided back injury (and would say my mobility has actually IMPROVED with shearing, and I'm now 45). A sling is definitely a big help when shearing larger numbers of animals, yet creates some risks if not set up properly. Animals can get horns caught in the sling and things like that. There is always a lot to think about!

[@charleneloftis7571]

Thank you for a wonderful demonstration of your trade!!! I wish people from PETA would actually watch this who thing to see for themself what is done to take the wool off of the sheep,. I would rather wear a jacket of wool than a jacket made from plastic bottles (yeah for recycling)!!!! Yes, polar fleece is not fleece at all it is plastic bottles made into a fiber.

[@jupitersangel]

Gorgeously shot and brilliantly explained. Well done all.

[@stephanywilkes3598]

Thank you, honey!

[@cynthiamason4069]

So well done. Wonderful to see the great Temple Grandin. More folks need to understand that domestic sheep do not shed and need to be sheared for their well being. ♡

[@1st1anarkissed]

I was pleased to see her in this too. As an autistic myself, she's kind of a hero.

[@JoshJordison]

Awesome to see this! I hope you can put more videos such as this one out for us to view. I feel that there is little high quality content on heritage breeds and their products, so it's great to see this!

[@49lucky]

Oh I love this

[@chrisyovino5754]

Well done and good information. Thank you for sharing!

[@woolmarch4010]

Thank you! A great and important overview about the necessity of shearing! The general public needs to see this. Thanks Isabella and great to see Temple! A hero!

[@katherinehawes950]

Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@VickiAndFlawn]

Thank you for this beautifully done project, and for so clearly delivering such an important message.

[@user-rs6vu4cq4y]

Beautiful video!

[@Sinfully_Soft]

Fantastic Video! Thank you!

[@spotteddogfiberdesigns]

Excellent movie, thank you!

[@Stacieleighmay]

Where can you go to train to be a shearer? Absolutely loved this mini documentary.

[@TheLivestockConservancy]

For more information on shearing in the US: Team USA - www.americansheepshearerscouncil.org/ ASI Certified Wool Programs - www.sheepusa.org/researcheducation-woolpelteducation Grants - www.sheepusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2024-Developing-Shearer-Mentor-Grant.pdf American Sheep Industry (ASI) provides certified sheep shearing clinics around the U.S. You can go to their website to find one near you. www.sheepusa.org/events

[@skog125]

Such an inspiring video!

[@lightofathousand]

Our house isn't zoned for large ruminants, but they're fun to watch. Almost as much fun as the equine pedicure videos. I'd rather have more of these than those "First Amendment auditors" getting stupid with the cops.

[@1st1anarkissed]

Three quarters of my current fleece is waste due to poor shearing and handling. A good clun forest black fleece should be worth a couple hundred or more but this poor thing was overpriced at $65. Even in insulation, shorts and second cuts are a liability. That wool is valuable. If you have a large quantity and want to insulate with it, soak it in washing soda/borax to impregnate it with the chemical and kill any baby moths thst hatch and munch in the wall.

[@mikefoley360]

No men in this video? Odd.

[@AltereggoLol1]

These tourist poseurs are so obnoxious. None of them grew up in the industry, they all got English degrees and started scam "non-profits" for grant money.