Animal Shearing Course

Lesson 1 • Overview of the Shearing Industry

Covers the global scope of animal fibre industries and shearing's role within them. Establishes context for why skilled shearers are essential to livestock operations.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Shearing Terminology

Establishes core vocabulary used throughout the course and on the job. Accurate terminology supports communication with farmers, wool handlers, and inspectors.

Lesson 3 • Shearer Responsibilities and Ethics

Defines professional duties including animal welfare, workplace conduct, and quality standards. Connects ethical practice to industry reputation and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 1 • Animal Stress and Physiological Responses

Identifies signs of stress, pain, and fatigue in animals during handling. Recognising these responses allows shearers to adjust technique and pace accordingly.

Lesson 2 • Reproductive and Sensitive Anatomy

Highlights reproductive organs, teats, and other sensitive structures requiring careful blade navigation. Proper identification prevents costly and painful injuries.

Lesson 3 • Skin and Fleece Biology

Explains skin layers, follicle structure, and fleece growth cycles. This knowledge guides blade depth control and timing of shearing seasons.

Lesson 1 • First Aid for Shearing Injuries

Covers treatment of cuts, punctures, strains, and heat-related illness common in sheds. Prompt first aid reduces severity of injury and supports rapid return to work.

Lesson 2 • Risk Assessment and Safe Work Plans

Teaches how to conduct a job-site risk assessment and document safe work procedures. Formal risk management meets regulatory expectations and protects all shed workers.

Lesson 3 • Personal Protective Equipment

Specifies correct PPE for shearers, wool handlers, and shed hands. Proper PPE selection and use reduces injury frequency and severity across all shed roles.

Lesson 4 • Shearing Shed Hazard Identification

Surveys physical, biological, and mechanical hazards present in shearing operations. Identifying hazards is the first step in building a safe working environment.

Lesson 1 • Machine Shearing Equipment

Covers electric and pneumatic shearing handpieces, drives, and overhead gear. Students learn to assemble, adjust, and operate machinery safely before shearing begins.

Lesson 2 • Sharpening and Grinding Techniques

Teaches correct grinding of combs and cutters to maintain cutting efficiency. Sharp equipment reduces animal stress and shearer fatigue throughout the day.

Lesson 3 • Hand Shears and Blade Shears

Introduces manual shearing tools, their components, and appropriate use cases. Students distinguish between blade types suited to different animals and fleece conditions.

Lesson 4 • Equipment Cleaning and Storage

Details lubrication, cleaning protocols, and correct storage to extend equipment life. Proper maintenance prevents contamination of fleece and mechanical failure mid-shear.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Low-Stress Handling

Introduces flight zones, pressure points, and calm movement principles. Applying these reduces animal resistance and speeds up the shearing process.

Lesson 2 • Handling Special Cases

Addresses handling of pregnant, injured, young, and aggressive animals. Adapting technique to animal condition ensures safety and welfare compliance.

Lesson 3 • Catching and Securing Animals

Teaches safe methods for catching sheep and other livestock from pens. Correct catching technique prevents injury and positions the animal for immediate shearing.

Lesson 1 • Shearing Difficult Body Regions

Focuses on challenging areas including the belly, legs, head, and topknot. Mastering these regions completes the shearer's ability to produce a clean, even fleece.

Lesson 2 • Blow Technique and Handpiece Control

Develops correct wrist angle, handpiece pressure, and blow length for clean cuts. Consistent technique reduces second cuts and skin damage across the fleece.

Lesson 3 • Speed Development and Tally Building

Introduces methods for increasing shearing speed without sacrificing quality. Tally building is the foundation of professional productivity and income.

Lesson 4 • Body Mechanics and Posture

Teaches ergonomic posture and footwork to sustain output across a full shearing day. Good mechanics reduce injury risk and improve shearing speed over time.

Lesson 1 • Wool Classing and Grading

Introduces fibre measurement, visual assessment, and clip preparation principles. Correct classing ensures each line of wool meets buyer specifications and achieves best price.

Lesson 2 • Contamination Prevention

Identifies sources of wool contamination including synthetic fibres, paint, and chemicals. Preventing contamination protects clip value and meets processor quality requirements.

Lesson 3 • Fleece Throwing and Skirting

Teaches the correct method for throwing a fleece onto the wool table and removing edges. Proper skirting removes vegetable matter and stained wool to improve clip value.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Blow Patterns and Variations

Explores alternative blow sequences for different breeds, fleece lengths, and conditions. Adapting patterns to the mob improves efficiency and fleece presentation quality.

Lesson 2 • Shearing Different Species

Applies core technique to alpacas, goats, and other fibre animals with species-specific adjustments. Each species presents unique handling, positioning, and cutting challenges.

Lesson 3 • Productivity Monitoring and Improvement

Introduces tally recording, benchmarking, and self-assessment tools for continuous improvement. Data-driven review helps shearers identify technique inefficiencies and set goals.

Lesson 4 • Shearing in Challenging Conditions

Prepares students for extreme heat, cold, wet wool, and remote location shearing. Adapting practice to conditions maintains safety and output when circumstances are difficult.