Sheep Shearing
| Sheep Shearing | |
|---|---|
| Language | English,Scottish Gaelic |
| Creator of object | 2076 |
| Contact | iain |
| Size | x x |
| Type | Intangible |
| Omeka | Link |
| Talk Page | Link |
Sheep Shearing is a process used by crofters in the hebrides to remove the old wool or 'fleeces' from their sheep when the new groeth starts to 'rise' in the late summer. The traditional method of shearing is to use hand-held shears – this is till practised by some crofters in Ness, but there is also travelling shearer who can be paid per sheep to shear using elctric clippers. Tradiotnally the shearing process would have been conducted at the village 'fanks' – commnical handling areas for livestock that sit on the common grazing land. As the sheep are sheared a team of usually woemn, would clean off, roll up and bag the fleeces ready for the wool board to collect. Alternatively, the wool can be kept and processed at micro mills on behalf of the crofter but this is very rare and an expensive process to complete.