Dr. Temple Grandin (designer, author, scientist, and animal welfare advocate) collaborated with director Jody Shapiro to help people understand the ethical and humane handling of sheep during shearing. This video for The Livestock Conservancy explains why sheep shearing is critical for the health and well-being of sheep. It includes tips from Stephany Wilkes (shearer and author) and gives you a peek into the dance between a sheep and their shearer. And, you’ll see Stephany working with some stunning Jacob breed sheep!
The sheared wool is called fleece or raw wool. If you’re considering purchasing a fleece, you might want to check out my post Can you needle felt unwashed wool?. It will help you understand the benefits of washing or scouring the wool to prepare it for felting projects.
