Some sheep can tolerate incredible levels of cold and wet weather, others thrive in dry climates. Some sheep prefer grasses and do best in farmland settings. Other sheep prefer more brush and sage and do better on rangeland, helping to reduce fire fuel load.
This trait is different from ancient heritage breeds, as these sheep were domesticated more recently for meat production, and do not suffer ill effects if not shorn. When the demand for wool decreases, hair sheep breeds become more prevalent. Or, in more recent years, in the beginning of summer as well. People began wearing wool as a survival strategy , out of a need to be clothed in order to live through wet and cold weather. Vegetable fibers are not as warm, nor as water repellant, and animal skins are not as soft nor as insulating.
But since sheep are still dependent on people to care for them, after 11,, years of development aligned with the local landscape and human communities, I wonder — if people as a species suddenly stop wearing wool, what will become of the animals and our relationship to them?
Recently some fashion brands have advertised the idea that shearing is unsafe for sheep, in order to market their synthetic fiber products. In California, as in many places, the land we live on depends upon the ancient relationship between people, grasslands, and grazing animals. Many Californians still do not realize they live in a grassland ecosystem or an oak woodland ecosystem, and are only beginning to realize the vulnerability to the cycles of fire with which we coexist.
Synthetic clothing heightens this disconnect from our regional palette with the illusion that clothing and textiles are not related to the land we live on, but instead simply appear on racks, their processes of production obscured.
Shearing is not an inherently perfect system, and has room for continuous improvement, as with all sectors of human activity.
Rather than opting out of this time-honored process from soil to skin, we can tune in and learn more about the ways, whys, and hows, of shearing fiber animals for our mutual health and wellbeing. For some people, the link between wool and the adjoining meat industry is discomforting.
It is physically demanding, the hours tend to be long and there are no vacation days. Many factors which cannot be controlled such as weather, disease challenges, and predators can impact livelihoods.
In spite of these challenges, farmers and ranchers raise livestock out of a labor of love and an inborn fondness for animals. The American Society of Animal Science fosters the discovery, sharing and application of scientific knowledge concerning the responsible use of animals to enhance human life and well-being.
Our members work in agriculture because they love animals and believe feeding our families, friends, and communities is important. July 14, There is no such thing as humane wool when it is left on the sheep: Why sheep shearing is absolutely necessary for sheep welfare. The excess wool impedes the ability of sheep to regulate their body temperatures. Anyone advocating not shearing sheep should try keeping their coat on all through the summer and then add another one on top each year, writes Tricia Holman.
A giant woolly sheep in Canberra in Australian animal welfare officers put out an urgent appeal for shearers after finding the sheep with wool so overgrown its life was in danger. Tricia Holman Colchester, Essex Join the debate — email guardian. They are not physically injured during the process and they are up and back to their normal lives immediately after the shearing is complete. Domesticated sheep need to be sheared because their wool coats grow so quickly and so thickly that they can cause problems for the sheep if they are not sheared off regularly.
In the summer months, sheep with thick wool coats will be unable to regulate their temperature and they can easily overheat. Shearing sheep regularly allows veterinarians and sheep owners the chance to spot any skin or body issues that are not visible when the animal is covered in wool. If a domesticated sheep is not sheared regularly, they will begin to experience various health issues. They may not be able to maintain their weight as well as sheep that are sheared more often.
Weight loss may not be noticed until it is too late because of the thick wool coats. Failing to shear a sheep and letting their wool grow uncontrolled can cause matting or tangling.
This can constrict blood flow in their limbs, cause painful sores, and prevent the sheep from moving properly. A lack of shearing can also cause blindness if the excessive wool grows over their eyes. Lambs also benefit from having a mother who is regularly sheared so that they can nurse easily. A lamb that is unable to nurse effectively can die very quickly if the situation is not remedied immediately.
Many animal rights advocates believe that shearing a sheep is a cruel and harmful practice that should be stopped. They claim that the sheep are held down, stressed, injured, and mutilated in an effort to remove their wool as quickly as possible.
Shearing is a necessary, healthy practice that veterinarians fully support and recommend to all sheep owners.
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