How did sheep survive before sheep shearers?

How did sheep survive before sheep shearers?

Author
Discussion

bitchstewie

Original Poster:

50,781 posts

209 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/02/champ...

One of those chicken and egg type questions but I've always wondered this, just like I wonder why horses need blankets in the winter.

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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I was just showing OH that article!

I guess that sheep shearers have been around quite a while, but by the looks of it, the first domesticated sheep were similar to the Soay...

Domestication of wild sheep took place by 7000 BC in central Asia (Barber) and, possibly, considerably before. Ryder, who has written extensively on the history of sheep in Britain, suggests that the first domestic sheep were introduced into Britain by Neolithic settlers around 4000 BC and that these were probably horned brown sheep, similar to Soay. Preserved wool from the Bronze Age appears to be Soay.

Soay are unusual in having an annual moult, in contrast to modern sheep where the wool grows continuously. Soay wool is traditionally collected by combing or plucking not shearing.

From here:

http://www.wildfibres.co.uk/html/sheep_history.htm...

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Re horses it's domestication. Wild horses/ponds have different coat types designed to cope with the conditions they live in.

Probably similar to sheep, domestication and breeding the sheep and mixing types to.change coat development etc.

AngryPartsBloke

1,436 posts

150 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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They were bred to the point that their coats would grow an excessive amount to yield more wool.

RB Will

9,662 posts

239 months

Saturday 5th September 2015
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They can also remove bits of wool by rubbing things like trees, it's not a pretty job but could well be the difference between life and death in a warm spell

Emmapuma

513 posts

198 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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No idea with regards to the sheep but with horses it is down to domestication and the breed. Not all horses/ponies need rugs on in the winter, many owners let their natural coats grow in which case they don't need rugs. However, horses that are in heavy work that are likely to sweat, get clipped to make them more comfortable so will need rugs to keep them warm.

PATTERNPART

693 posts

200 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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Ancient sheep moulted.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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selective breeding.