Soon, manual sheep shearing, clipping of sheep’s fleece, would be a method of gone era since machines would replace the age-old shearing method. A group of 10 shepherds, who underwent training in using motorised sheep shearing, would clip sheep’s fleece, using machines to be provided by Uttarakhand Sheep and Wool Development Board (USWDB).
The USWDB would provide machines to 20 shepherds in 10 blocks of six districts across the State as part of its plan to make sure use of every bit of sheep fleece. USWDB would spend Rs 47.20 lakh in purchasing the machines for which the tender has already been finalised. The Animal Husbandry department officials would make available the machines to the beneficiaries in the month of April.
Before starting the process for providing the machines, USWDB selected 20 shepherds from 10 different blocks in Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Tihri, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts and sent them for training to Sheep Husbandry Department, Jammu where experts gave them tips on how to operate machine in shearing.
The trained shepherds would now be roped in for shearing fleece in their respective areas. Use of machine to clip sheep’s fleece would avoid inequality in wool length caused by manual shearing. Thus use of machine in shearing would make available equal length of wool to the shepherds who can sell it at a good rate by making use of every bit of fleece produced.
USWDB chief executive officer AS Negi said, “Use of machine in shearing fleece will save time of shepherds as well as keep the skin of sheep safe. It has often been noted that sheep suffer injuries on skin during manual fleece shearing. After first
shearing, growth of fleece would also be fast.”
“To promote the use of machine in shearing across the State, USWDB would provide Rs 3 per kg of fleece to the shepherd for using machines for shearing,” Negi said, adding that shepherds should utilise shearing machine as it would get good price to them for their produce.
He said that along with the machines, 10 grinders, 50 cutters and other accessories would be given to the shepherd so that they could utilise them to sharp the edge of blades used in shearing machines.
While traditional shearing method takes around 20-30 minutes per sheep, the machine would take merely five minutes per sheep in shearing fleece. The USWDB would make available machines to the Animal Husbandry department offices at block level by first week of April from the shepherds would be handed over the machines.
