Shearing is a necessary management procedure for domestic sheep, but rough shearing technique causes significant injuries and distress that can be substantially reduced with training.
Shearing itself is not inherently cruel — sheep in most wool-producing countries require shearing to prevent heat stress and flystrike. However, rough shearing technique causes preventable harm. Research shows that calm, skilled shearing — with proper positioning and a second pass over difficult areas — can be achieved without markedly increasing time. Pay structures that reward speed over care are a systemic welfare barrier.