How to Shear a Show Lamb

You have worked with your lamb all year long. You have fed it carefully, exercised it, and trained it for show. However, no matter how spectacular a lamb may be, a poor shearing job can often ruin chances of placing high. Judges in a sheep show look for a smooth, clean shave that shows off the animal itself rather than the wool. Therefore, a good shearing job is crucial for a show.

Things You'll Need

  • Electric shears
  • Cutter blade
  • Fine-tooth or slick-shear comb
  • Shearer lubricant
  • Bucket of soapy water
  • Soap or shampoo
  • Grooming brush or comb
  • Antiseptic spray
  • Rubber grooming brush
  • Shearing table (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Preparing for Shearing

    • 1

      Wash your lamb thoroughly with soap or shampoo before shearing. This will keep the clippers from getting gummed up during shearing.

    • 2

      Comb out as many tangles in the wool as you can. This will help keep the shears from getting caught or tangled.

    • 3

      Allow your lamb to dry completely before shearing.

    • 4

      Place your sheep on the shearing table or tightly tie the sheep to a fence or post. If you are tying the sheep, you will probably want an extra person on hand to hold the sheep still.

    Shearing

    • 5

      Place the cutter blade on your electric shears.

    • 6

      Starting on the back at the tail, part the wool with your fingers and place the blade inside. Turn on the shears.

    • 7

      Run the shears through the wool working up the back toward the neck. Stay as close to the skin as possible. Don't worry if it isn't perfectly smooth at this point.

    • 8

      Continue working your way around the body of the sheep until you have removed as much wool as you can with the cutters.

    • 9

      Remove the cutter blade from the shears and rinse it in soapy water.

    • 10

      Put the fine-tooth comb on the shears.

    • 11

      Carefully go back over the surface of the sheep with the shears to even out the coat and give it a closer shave. This portion of shearing generally takes longer than the rough shear with the cutters.

    • 12

      Spray antiseptic on any areas where you may have accidentally nicked the sheep.

    • 13

      Use a rubber grooming brush to clear away any remaining fuzz leftover from shearing.