Minimo Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Just seen a pic of a sheep with massively overgrown fleece. It is to be shorn tomorrow. The question is, how do wild sheep manage? They aren't shorn but don't have overgrown fleeces either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timeh Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 You may do better asking this on a Barnsley forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truman Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Just seen a pic of a sheep with massively overgrown fleece. It is to be shorn tomorrow. The question is, how do wild sheep manage? They aren't shorn but don't have overgrown fleeces either. Won't the domesticated sheep have been bred for a thicker coat ? So the "problem" doesn't exist in the wild... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minimo Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 truman, that sounds good. I hadn't thought of that but I reckon you must be right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodmally Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Just seen a pic of a sheep with massively overgrown fleece. It is to be shorn tomorrow. The question is, how do wild sheep manage? They aren't shorn but don't have overgrown fleeces either. This forum might be able to help. http://www.forumwales.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey104 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I could be wrong but I don't think we have any wild sheep in the UK. Some may seem as if they are not owned and live out in the wilds miles from anywhere but in fact are left to graze until it's time for market. I did see a programme about a herd of wild goat in the UK but even these were rounded up every year for health checks before being released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Some may seem as if they are not owned and live out in the wilds miles from anywhere but in fact are left to graze until it's time for market. During the summer months all the fields here are empty of sheep....having been moved to common grazing land higher up the mountain. The fields are left to grow ready for hay making season to provide food for the winter. After hay making the sheep are returned to the fields and shearing begins. The time scale involved in shepherding all the sheep to lower ground can be a considerable time....so it is not uncommon to see sheep looking bedraggled (as in loosing their fleece). So to answer the OP ..... A sheep will shed it fleece if left unsheered, just like a domestic dog sheds it's winter coat come the spring/ early summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I dont think that this would happen with wild sheep. Chris the overgrown Australian sheep breaks unofficial world record following shearing http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/chris-the-overgrown-australian-sheep-breaks-unofficial-world-record-following-shearing-10483977.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Bynnol Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Nearly all breeds of domestic sheep will continue to grow their fleece and have to be sheared to avoid stress. The stress can be because of waterlogging, blindness, entanglement, infestation, movement and heat. Some breeds will lose some of their fleece naturally and some sheep will accelerate this by rubbing against posts, walls, fences, trees etc. In many areas an unshorn ewe will be put down because it may well have missed its medicine and has not been "covered" making it a health risk and not financially viable as it will not produce lambs. In Britain shearing is often not profitable but has to be done. Management methods, availability of shearing teams, breed and local climate govern when and how many shearings take place. For example Autumn and late summer shearing of lambs kept for replacement is now common as they provide a better fertility means we see more newly sheared sheep at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becky B Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I think wild sheep will shed naturally - domestic sheep have been bred for their wool. Breeds like the Soay which are domestic but closer to wild sheep shed their wool, or it can be "plucked" rather than sheared! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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