October shearing at Mt Bryan

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We started our Spring holiday with a few days at Mount Bryan. As you can see it was shearing time again and this year's lambs were in for their first 'short back and sides'.

The sheep were trucked in from 'Ebberhards', and the lambs separated from their mums for shearing. Tom shore, Debbie was classing, Sam and Dan were helping out. Jim was working the sheep. Peter did pressing (using a press to pack the wool into bales) and even shore a few.

Dan says ...

Boy you need to be tough to work in the shearing shed!

My job was brushing the sheep to get out any muck before shearing. I had to sit on the sheep to stop it from moving. When I had finished brushing I shouted out "Next!". That is when Dad or Uncle Tom would grab the sheep for shearing.

Shearing is one of the hardest physical jobs on Earth - and you need to be strong to brush sheep too!

After the sheep are shorn they are put down a hole and into the paddock.

I am not sure if I want to be a shearer, or a scientist who works on better ways of shearing sheep so that the sheep don't get hurt.

Joke for today -

Q: What did the chedder say to the swiss?
A: Who cut the cheese?

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Photos

Dan in the pens
Dan enjoyed mixing it with the sheep as they waited their turn for shearing

Sheep waiting to be shorn
The 'victims' were this year's lambs - which had grown up pretty quickly if you ask me - it was their first shear and their first time away from their Mums.

The shearing shed
You can see the table where the fleece is thrown and separated into the different types of wool.

Dan, Sam and Peter
Yes that is Peter shearing!

Further evidence ...
...that Peter has not lost his shearing skills

The finished product
Shorn sheep

Google Earth again
It is a bit scary that we can get this close with Google Earth - you can even see individual trees!