Shearer Relief May Be Coming
November 11, 2005
November 11, 2005 -- According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the greatest revolution in shearing since the introduction of mechanical shears could be just around the corner.
Machines that hold and rotate the sheep so that shearers can do their job standing upright, instead of bent over, are in development across Australia.
One of the new prototypes - the Shear-Ezy designed by the New South Wales firm, Peak Hill Industries - will have its first public exhibition at the annual general meeting of Australian Wool Innovation in November.
Using a series of belts to transfer and restrain the sheep, the system even does away with the need for shearers to catch the sheep in their pens and drag them to the shearing stand.
The average shearer has a tally of about 110 sheep a day and the Shear-Ezy - expected to be on the market next year - can achieve that.
Australian Wool Innovation is spending about $13 million over three years to improve the training of shearers and develop better shearing technology in a bid to stop a massive shearer shortage.
<< Back