Shearing at Log Cabin Livestock

 Many, many folks have played important roles in my continuing development as a shepherd (or would it be shepherdess?)  Sheep people are incredibly generous with their knowledge and time, and Ben and Denise Bartlett are no exception. This week I was able to repay a small portion of my indebtedness by helping Ben and Denise (owners of Log Cabin Livestock) with shearing.  Ben and Denise own and operate a sheep and stocker steer operation in Traunik, Michigan.  With 450 lambing ewes and 150 head of steer, and lambing about to begin in May, this is a busy busy time for them and as luck would have it, Ben and Denise's farm is only about a mile or two from my own ... well, as the crow flies!  So, on Tuesday morning, I spent a few hours helping keep the sheep moving in so the shearers could do their jobs and get the sheep moving back out!

Sheep Sea

Compared to my tiny flock of 19, this was like a sea of sheep.  And yet, because of Ben and Denise's keen attention to flock behavior (and considerable experience) moving the groups was streamlined, low stress, and efficient.  First, the sheep were divided into smaller groups, from which even smaller subgroups were gathered into a holding pen.  From this pen, individual sheep were moved into a long, narrow chute designed to take advantage of the sheeps' following behavior and which ultimately moved them along to the shearing platform where each sheep could be gathered by a shearer to have their heavy year's worth of fleece removed.  

Chute separates sheared ewes from waiting ewes.

Sheep in the chute

My job was to help keep the chute loaded with sheep so that when a shearer finished with one, another was ready and waiting within an arm's length.  Professional shearers make short work of their task and can easily shear a sheep within minutes.  After each sheep was sheared, Ben's grandson helped clean the shearing stage, readying it for the next client!  

Keeping the shearing stage clear

Puppy love!

Comedic relief was provided by the ranch-hand-in-training, pup Mick.  Not so sure what to make of his wooly charges and always ready to beat a hasty retreat, Mick tried out his clumsy puppy moves on the "not so impressed" and very pregnant ewes!  And while mastering skills for his new career as co-sheep manager (alongside resident dog, Bo) did appear pretty important to Mick, what he was really busy perfecting was his role as top schmooze.  From the looks of it, he's got that part down!  My day wrapped up around midday, the sheep were several pounds lighter and we all crossed our fingers for a smooth lambing season starting in May...that and warm sunshine and green grass...sooner than later!