Annual shearing is essential welfare management for domestic sheep who cannot shed their wool, but the process itself carries welfare risks requiring skilled shearer management.
Shearing is one of the most important welfare management procedures for domestic sheep, preventing the serious welfare harms of overheating and flystrike in unshorn animals. However, the shearing process itself involves significant handling, restraint and noise that cause acute stress. Skilled shearing minimises this - experienced shearers working efficiently cause dramatically less distress than inexperienced handlers who take longer and position animals poorly. Cuts from shearing blades, though usually minor, are painful and can become infected. Farm welfare standards should include shearing competence requirements and wound treatment protocols.