Shearing the Rams

The sheep at Wattle Creek have been shorn, and today was time to shear the rams at home. We had managed to keep the rams dry in the shed during the storm yesterday and last night. (We had over an inch of rain, which is most annoying at this time of the year.)

First up the young merino rams were shorn. These are from our breeding nucleus, and their fleeces were weighed so that we can add the data to their body weight and wool micron measurement to calculate an index which we use for selecting the breeding rams.

Next the older merino rams were shorn. I really love the look of the horns on merino rams!

Then the Poll Dorset rams had to be shorn. The nature of these rams with their temperament and size makes them difficult and dangerous to shear, so they are given some drugs to calm them down beforehand. Roger injected them about an hour before they were shorn so that they were not too difficult for the shearers to handle.

 

Hugh loves to help in the shed, and he spent some time helping to sweep up wool off the floor.

Kids Helping

While Roger attended the fire on a nearby farm, the girls volunteered to get the sheep into the shed ready for shearing in the morning.
I took Hugh for a long awaited frog hunting excursion to a little soak in a paddock near the house.
We didn't even see a frog, but Hugh had fun "hunting" - until the cows came along to drink and scared us off. Then we went to help the girls and all ended up very dusty and dirty.

Hugh Jumping a small creek

Hugh with bucket, and my shadow...

The cows came down to drink

The girls' friend Imogen helping in the yards

Imogen again :)

Imogen, Hugh, Bonnie, Sophie and Odette

Heading home again