Demystifying shearing: a journey of care, ethics and appreciation of indigenous breeds.
Spring has already started and here at Saber Fazer is the time when we start to think (even) more about one of our favorite materials, Wool, because we are entering the shearing season!
In Portugal we have 16 indigenous breeds of sheep raised in an extensive regime, which is to say that they graze freely all year round, which makes them important agents in the maintenance of an entire ecosystem, in addition to being the basis of a unique way of life and constituting an important genetic heritage.
One of the activities we promote annually is a public demonstration of Shearing with our favorite shearer, Martin O’Connell. It is a day that allows us to share with the public an important process for animals and for us, to raise awareness of the importance of indigenous breeds and the extensive breeding method, while clarifying doubts and deconstructing modern myths.
One of these great myths involves precisely shearing and, therefore, the first question we like to answer is “Why shear?”.
Almost all existing sheep are domesticated animals. Unlike wild sheep, whose fur sheds naturally in spring, in domesticated animals the wool simply does not stop growing. A sheep that is not sheared at the right height will overheat, lose appetite and mobility due to excess wool and weight gain. In addition to this, we have a year of wool growth that accumulates dirt, which can cause burns, cause diseases and attract insects.
For this reason, shearing is a mandatory annual practice to ensure animal welfare. When thousands of years ago we decided to domesticate a sheep, we assumed a responsibility that will have to be fulfilled as long as it exists on the face of the Earth. But our responsibility does not end here. We also have an obligation to ensure their well-being during shearing and to honour the raw material we are about to receive. After all, it is a naturally renewable, biodegradable material with unique characteristics that took a whole year to grow. Nothing in this process should be left to chance. A good professional performs the shearing according to a specific method: the Bowen technique. Created in the 40s, this technique is like a well-choreographed dance, defining a sequence of movements that optimize not only the process of removing the wool, but also the comfort of the shearer and the animal.
The shearer’s love for the art of shearing and love for sheep is an important factor that we have the opportunity to share whenever we organise a shearing with Marty. In his hands, the sheep relax and often fall asleep as he gracefully removes the fleece, like a dancer in woolen shoes on his small stage.
Talking about valuing the wool of indigenous breeds as a truly sustainable fiber and educating for its production in an ecological, ethical and quality way is our small contribution so that more and more people opt for environmentally and socially positive solutions.
Happy Spring!
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Saber Fazer is an initiative that since 2011 has been dedicated to research and education of artisanal and semi-industrial production techniques in Portugal. It was born with the aim of ensuring the transfer of technical knowledge, but also to educate and raise awareness among the general public on issues related to environmental, social and economic sustainability.
