Ewe wouldn’t believe it’s shear size
March 19, 2024 11:03 AM Subscribe
Ewe might not expect 8000 year old technology to undergo a revolution, but in the 1990s Australian scientists invented BioClip, a way for sheep to practically shear themselves (tiktok).
After being wrapped in netting, a single injection of EGF causes a sheer break in the wool. The sheep is allowed to grow back a protective coat and 4 weeks later a complete ‘wooly jumper’ is removed. Reducing risk of injury and disease to sheep, increasing the uniformity and quality of wool, and decreasing labor costs. Why didn’t this technology catch on?
Don’t be sheepish, puns in the comments are woolcome.
After being wrapped in netting, a single injection of EGF causes a sheer break in the wool. The sheep is allowed to grow back a protective coat and 4 weeks later a complete ‘wooly jumper’ is removed. Reducing risk of injury and disease to sheep, increasing the uniformity and quality of wool, and decreasing labor costs. Why didn’t this technology catch on?
Don’t be sheepish, puns in the comments are woolcome.
It looked great until I saw the sheep had to wear netting for a month after the shot so the wool would grow out enough to "peel off" without being lost, and then all the wool has to be removed from the net. Also the cost of the net+injection+labour to get the hair out of the net was more than it cost to just shear the sheep manually. So people got kind of mad about that. Better nets have come along since but it seems most producers are just annoyed at the whole thing and are sticking with what they know now.
But it's a cool idea.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:32 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
But it's a cool idea.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:32 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
How do we know Dolly was actually a clone? Nothing compares two ewes.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
The friend I knew who raised sheep, didn't trust the drug. One little old lady, with a flock. Raising, sheering, spinning, and even weaving, the wool. She was amazing.
posted by Goofyy at 12:48 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by Goofyy at 12:48 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
They seem to enjoy the music of Ed Shearan.
posted by Czjewel at 1:18 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 1:18 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Also the cost of the net+injection+labour to get the hair out of the net was more than it cost to just shear the sheep manually.
So, a net gain of zero?
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:50 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
So, a net gain of zero?
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:50 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
A new iteration of this technology allows sheep to slough off the wool by navigating a narrow labyrinth. It only works on smaller male sheep, but, still, humanity's ingenuity is inspiring:
wee ram mazing!
posted by gurple at 2:12 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
wee ram mazing!
posted by gurple at 2:12 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
"shear genius with the chemistry stuff."
-General Jack O'Neill.
posted by clavdivs at 3:49 PM on March 19
-General Jack O'Neill.
posted by clavdivs at 3:49 PM on March 19
now, look at this hair technique! wool i'll be darned.
sheep were introduced in 1972 to provide cheap, easy-to-use punning capabilities to low-humor individuals and families, and is generally considered one of UNESCO's greatest successes
posted by phooky at 4:50 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
sheep were introduced in 1972 to provide cheap, easy-to-use punning capabilities to low-humor individuals and families, and is generally considered one of UNESCO's greatest successes
posted by phooky at 4:50 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
I've got space for some half dozen midsized critters on my little farm and my brother is pushing me toward fancy pigs. He's convinced I've got "good acorns."
Thing is, I've wrestled pigs before and it's exhausting and weirdly humiliating.
I've been leaning toward meat goats.
A few steerable meat sheep would be amazing. I have no idea if edible sheep make wool, but the I sheered sheep one summer and I decided "never again."
I'd do the business with the net, though.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 4:56 PM on March 19
Thing is, I've wrestled pigs before and it's exhausting and weirdly humiliating.
I've been leaning toward meat goats.
A few steerable meat sheep would be amazing. I have no idea if edible sheep make wool, but the I sheered sheep one summer and I decided "never again."
I'd do the business with the net, though.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 4:56 PM on March 19
Also the cost of the net+injection+labour to get the hair out of the net was more than it cost to just shear the sheep manually. So people got kind of mad about that.
Nobody likes being fleeced.
posted by flabdablet at 5:26 PM on March 19 [3 favorites]
Nobody likes being fleeced.
posted by flabdablet at 5:26 PM on March 19 [3 favorites]
A "Ewe" shaped trough you say? I guess it'd have to be...
posted by mcrandello at 5:46 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by mcrandello at 5:46 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
The sheep dog says to the farmer, “Here are your 20 sheep.”
The farmer says, “but I only have 17 sheep.”
“I know,” says the sheep dog, “I rounded them up.”
posted by DreamerFi at 4:34 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
The farmer says, “but I only have 17 sheep.”
“I know,” says the sheep dog, “I rounded them up.”
posted by DreamerFi at 4:34 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
That’s really a-peeling
posted by gottabefunky at 7:19 AM on March 20
posted by gottabefunky at 7:19 AM on March 20
Nothing beats the shear smoothness of a single molt.
posted by flabdablet at 11:43 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 11:43 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
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posted by hippybear at 11:28 AM on March 19