I really hate how we have forgotten the value of natural fibers. My “green” daughter was shocked to hear that most synthetic material comes from fossil fuels. Of course, everything has to come from something natural to start. I hope we dump synthetics and get back to nature soon.
But after collecting the wool it has to be processed using fossil fuels in order to mass produce it. I do believe I haven’t seen many women carding, spinning and weaving by hand these days lol. And wool is only good in cold weather. Itches like hell on your skin
One pound for that fleece? I spin yarn and would LOVE to have a variegated fleece like this one to play with. If you spin it “in the grease” THEN wash it and knit a sweater you could spend your winter looking like Full Montey lol . I love it
The subscription man was so unexpected. Love the editing. Thanks for the laugh, pal! By the way, this is another extremely pretty sheep breed and I'm grateful you always include the breed's information before you start the shearing process. Great video!
No, I do not live in a rural setting. Have never owned sheep. Did have a Border Collie growing up who herded us and every other thing that moved. But this is just the BEST series. I had no idea about breeds of sheep, so this is terrific. Really appreciate the information about the breed and their wool. And then the shearing is fascinating
My sister had a sheepdog who herded the massive number of squirrels that lived in their heavily wooded backyard. I think it’s a deeply Ingrained behavior.
I Have a question Do you think it’s possible for other animals besides dogs to learn herding skills? I know there are Guardian dogs , but what about another species like 🐖 a la Babe who actually herded pigs. I know that it’s a child ‘s story but I have always wondered
I think that wool would make some smashing yarn. Dyed a natural purple dye you'd have purple and black to knit into a sweater. I am so tired of people getting upset that we are putting micro plastics into our water systems but they don't then value natural wool (or even cotton) that doesn't shluff off non biodegradable plastic microfibers when washed. Cammy you've got me thinking about making a little cottage industry LOL
I looooove your straight up shearing videos. I was watching at the beginning and thinking "Those sure do look like my Jacobs, but without horns, and there's something else..." and then you mentioned the texel, and I could see it! Then you mentioned that they're great for future breeding stock, or the dinner table, and I have to say that yesterday I finally, after two years of having sheep, cooked and ate home-grown meat. My family didn't think I would be able to do it. They said I'd be too soft. And they might have been right, if my 3 year old wether (who, I think, had an undescended testicle, so was half castrated, half not) decided to go from being one of the most sweet animals I owned ... I was thinking of teaching him to pull a cart he was that sweet and obedient and loved to be around people.... to turning into a murderous devil. One day I was checking on the ewes to see if they were planning to *ever* have their lambs, and he suddenly decided he hated my guts. A 150 lb animal, armed with four horns, two of them 24 inches long and pointing straight forward like a dual set of unicorn horns.... that was terrifying. I first realized things were going sour when he backed up and then launched himself at me. I grabbed his horns as he was fixing to ram me, and thus only got shoved off my feet. But the next 10 minutes was a fight to stay alive. He kept coming at me, and I kept him from killing at me by a mixture of screaming at him and confusing his charges, ducking behind the trim chute, and finally grabbing one of my lambing jug panels leaning against the barn. Not that it was much of a barrier. I thought he was getting food aggressive, maybe, and I put him in the summer pasture (about 12 inches deep in snow at the moment) and brought him a bale of hay to put under one of the trees with some bare ground. (It's not set up for overwintering animals)..... and he sniffed at the hay, and then turned on me again. This time I had the hay sled I'd used to bring hay into the pasture. So I didn't have a big fight. But 5 days later, he departed on his way to freezer camp. Yesterday I had what the amateur butcher I "employed" marked as filet mignon. Very tasty. But now I have just the ram, my seven ewes, and two lambs so far. No wether to keep the ram company, so he's trying to breed the girls who are massively pregnant. And my wether, before departure, managed to tear the bell off the ram. (who has far more impressive armament). Luckily, one of the first two lambs is a gorgeous boy, but he'll sell as a stud, so he won't be a wether to hold back. I'm torn between wanting all my lambs to be breed-perfect so I can sell them all as breeding stock, and wanting one little ram lamb who is not up to the breed standard, so I can wether him. But... I realized that it might be cool to get a Blue Faced Leicester wether, if anyone has one to sell, or an American Valais Blacknose. Sorry..... I got chatty. If you read this far, thank you!
Thanks; interesting story! 🙏 I don’t blame you one bit for eating that murderous wether. I hope he’s delicious! I wonder how the flavor of his meat compares to the usual meat breeds’ flavor. I buy ground lamb from a local butcher shop who gets their lamb carcasses from our land grant university’s sheep research program. Probably they’re run-of-the-mill meat breeds like Suffolk. I’m just guessing here… 🤔
@@susangrande8142 I don't really have any other mutton to compare my wether to, but I can compare him to other meat I've had. I'd say that the top sirloin and the shoulder chops I've had so far have been some of the best meat I've ever ever ever consumed. I feel like I honor the memory of the animal I loved before he turned murderous best by putting his carcass to use. I coulda just euthanized him immediately, but I waited until we could process the carcass. Half went to the processor, and I kept half.
There are some Jacobs Sheep here too as well as Shetlands who come in black, white. brown, fawn and spotted versions. There is also a color pattern called English Blue with a black base white teardrops by the eyes and from the shoulders to the hips they progressively get grayer. I had some brown English Blues too. Some even had spotting as well.
Hi Cammy.. Not a sheep owner, but I do have about 25 different breeds of fleece at home waiting to be washed and/or made into rugs, felt and yarn. I'm waiting on a friend to get to me a couple of fleeces of the German Fox Red to work with. These fleeces have been sourced from a small flock in the Yorkshire Dale's, and as far as I know, one of only a handful of small flocks in the UK. Would be great if you could include this breed in your shear of the UK. 😊 BTW, I'll be selling some of what I make at an eco-fair located between you and the Hoof GP over the Springbank holiday at the end of May, if you're not busy and fancy bringing the family for a trip out.
What beautiful sheep! I’m so thankful they are treated with kindness and care and love. He’s so trusting…God bless all farmers who treat their animals with love. So good to see. :)
Most sheep have "magic" button on their butt. When they are on that button they are very calm. My Icelandic on the other hand...... that 1 struggles and really doesn't have a butt button 😄😉
What about hand spinners that would like natural colored fiber? I realize it still wouldn't bring much, but I know I'd love to see some yarn made of that!
Hand spinners would love to spin that wool or any wool tbh. As a spinner myself I’d love to play with breeds of wool to experiment and see what they are like.
We have a number of black and spotted sheep in our flock. You get nothing for the wool unless you can sell it to a fiber artist. They love to use the natural colors for their work.
Cammie, your videos have become my favorite sheep video in the UK. Sandi Brock is still top shepherdess! But you are amazing. These Dutch spotted sheep are incredible. He reminds me of my favorite Holstein cows!
I don’t have any sheep, but I just enjoyed listening to you. Honestly, I didn’t even know there were different breeds of sheep. I’ve never thought about it. Your a master of your trade.
I have just started getting in to your videos, but I can tell I'm going to be a huge fan already! Btw, you kinda look like this other youtuber, CallMeKevin... you should defo do a collab!! He would love to play sheep games ahahah
Yes, thank you so much for uploading another sheep shearing video! It's always so lovely to watch these beautiful beasts get shorn. My personal favourite being the one where George, the valais blacknose ram, was shorn. But I really enjoyed this one, too! Love and support to your channel! :)
This is my second time watching this shearing. I just love the variety of sheep breeds. I believe a fiber artist would love to spin Full Monty's wool into a lovely yarn and work it into a beautiful garment.❤
I'd love to get that wool and would just spin it blended. If it's a fine wool, it would be nice to work with. I've spun Shetland wool, and it spins up so nice! I've never even seen this breed before.
Wow, he is so gorgeous, love his markings! Reminds me of a Dalmatian! I love learning about the breeds of sheep on your channel, I had no idea how many there are!💕🇨🇦
That is one handsome sheep breed! I knew about Jacobs and Texels, but never heard of Dutch Spotted breed before. I can see both the Jacob and the Texel in them! 👍 As a hand spinner, I’d find their wool to be lots of fun to spin into yarn! ETA: wow, what a great job shearing him!! 😍 A spinner would LOVE to get that fleece! All sheared in one mass! Bravo, Mister Shearer!! 😃
What a stunning sheep! I laughed a bit about the location! It's a shame about the wool, are they any good for hand spinners? Its such an amazing material such a shame to see it so undervalued. Have you shorn a Manx Loughtan yet?
I really enjoyed that, it’s great to see it all in real time and he is a beautiful ram. I’d vote for Portland, a friend of mine had some and they were beautiful honey coloured sheep.
Looks like that sheep actually enjoyed it ! Make sure you make some Lanolin (wool wax) from that wool. I use 1:10 mix of 100% Lanolin and 99% Isopropyl Alcohol ( 1 part 100% Lanolin to 10 parts of 99% IPA ) as a lubricant. It works great for sizing brass and lubricating hinges and anything else.
When I saw that fleece the first thing I said was those are hornless Jacob Sheep! Beautiful fleece and he made that shearing look easy with great tools but it is hard work.
I wonder if this farmer sells freezer lamb? He could likely make extra money having the pelts tanned and selling them as well. I often sold pelts with my custom butchered lambs and made a very good profit.
Definitely spotted, not splotched - what an accurate name for this breed. And Fullmonty certainly has his full monty... I wonder how the fleece compares in micron and crimp to that of a Jacob. Do the males of this breed ever have horns, or are they all polled? As for the next breed, how about a Teeswater, or a Wensleydale?
Gorgeous ram, gorgeous fleece! I would have bought his fleece in a heartbeat. To bad I'm nowhere near where you're shearing these beautiful animals! 🐑💖
Suggestions: Welsh mountain sheep? (Or any variation? Badger-faced, black...) Uh... Shropshire (although I think they're supposed to be rarer. A good orchard breed, quite large.)
Love the random 'subscribe' sign holder dude. Classy. Also, these may be my favorite sheep breed so far. I'm in no way knowledgeable about sheep, so all I'm judging on is what's visually appealing to me, and these are lovely. Big fan.
Hello from the USA. I somehow ended up with a Zwartable ram. I bought him right after weaning for my ram for my girls and I couldn't be happier with him. I love those spotted sheep!! So wondering if you have this breed there and happy sheering.
I love your videos! God bless ALL farmers, and those who help them. support your local farmer! In case someone doesnt know why, they are called Jacobs. Look up Genesis 30 in the bible to read an entertaining account of Jacobs ingenuity. Jacob bred them to have a larger flock: To retain Jacob's services as a shepherd, Laban promised to allow Jacob to establish his own flock by taking all the spotted and speckled sheep and black lambs from Laban's flock.
Ok I'd like you to shear lincoln longwool next. It's a different type of fleece and a privilege to shear. with fleece weights (over in New Zealand) weighing 12.5 kgs for rams and ewes 10kgs of fleece
I wonder if cottage industry spinners and weavers would be interested? But of course you've thought of that. Along the road from us is a small flock of black, white, brown and brindled sheep, wool mixed with alpaca, merino or even brush-tailed possum fur, for the knitting of woollies for tourists.
Using the “Bowen Technique” developed by Godfrey Bowen of New Zealand. Love that fleece. I can smell the lanolin yet it’s been years since I was last in the shed.
Aaaarrgh....my handspinner's soul seethes at seeing you shear on all that chaff . Even if he were able to interest handspinners in his wool, it would be near-impossible to use with all that contamination. Make a few points with prospective hobby spinners, Cammy, and at least sweep first.
