Sheep Shearing - Factfile

Sheep farmers are busy from the start of the spring as March marks the start of the lambing season through to the end of April.  However once this busy period is over, the farmers work is not yet done.  Sheep shearing in the UK will generally take place between May and July

Sheep Shearing - Top Facts

• The heaviest fleece ever taken from a sheep was shorn from a rescued sheep in Australia.  It had become grossly overgrown and the fleece weighed in at over 41kg and took three quarters of an hour to remove.
• The exact time of year that shearing takes place in the UK can vary quite a lot.  For instance, farmers in the lake district are doing it between July  and September.  However those in the warmer more Sothern parts of Britain have to get the clippers out in May.
• In the UK there are approximately 33.3 million sheep.  These usually produce around 30 million kg of fleeces every year.
• Britain’s 33.3 million sheep produce around 30 million kilos of fleece wool per year
• A standard fleece can weigh anywhere between 1.5-10kg depending on the breed of the sheep.
• It's not just woolly jumpers that are made using this resource.  The cheaper wool can be used for insulation, sound absorbers, slug repellent, and Solidwood which is a sustainable version of fibreglass.