Farm Animals

Farmed Sheep Shearing Welfare

Shearing is an essential procedure for sheep welfare in woolled breeds, but the method and timing significantly affect individual welfare.

Key Facts

Unshorn sheep can suffer heat stress, flystrike, and limb entanglement
Shearing requires skill - poor technique causes nicks, cuts, and excessive restraint
Sheep are placed in positions they would not naturally adopt during shearing
Pain relief for accidental cuts is rarely provided
Training shearers in low-stress handling significantly reduces sheep distress

Welfare Considerations

The shearing process causes acute stress through unfamiliar restraint positions and handling. Injuries from poor technique cause additional pain. Well-trained shearers using low-stress techniques significantly reduce the welfare impact of this necessary procedure. The alternative - not shearing - causes greater long-term welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Support shearing training programmes emphasising low-stress handling
Advocate for shearing welfare guidance in sheep welfare codes
Choose wool products from farms with trained shearers and welfare protocols