Wales has approaching five million breeding sheep and shearing keeps sheep cool in the warmer months.
It also reduces the risk of parasitic infestation and disease. Shearing also reduces the risk of sheep becoming stuck on their backs, which can make them vulnerable to attack by crows or other predators.
Skilled profession
Sheep shearing is a skilled profession which should only be carried out by professionals who have been trained to shear carefully and sympathetically.
British Wool is the approved provider for shearing and wool handling training in the UK, with a programme designed to support candidates of all abilities in learning and developing a traditional rural skill.
Nature's best insulator
Wool is nature’s best insulator and protects sheep from extreme cold in winter months. However, wearing a thick, heavy fleece during warm summer months is uncomfortable and stressful for sheep.
Wool is a versatile, sustainable product and a fantastic natural insulator that can help drive improvements in the energy efficiency of new and existing homes.
We believe its use could be stimulated through grant aid on its environmental benefits. In our view this would be an economic and environmental win.
Price increase
British Wool has recently announced an average price of 36.4p/kg for last year’s clip, as fleece trade recovers from rock-bottom rates during the pandemic.
An overall average price of 36.4p/kg for last year’s clip will represent a 135% year-on-year increase, after prices dropped to as low as 15p/kg when factories around the world closed due to the pandemic.
Huge recovery
We are really pleased that this year’s payments are an improvement. Although the price is not yet where we would like it to be, it represents a huge recovery since the difficulties of 2020.
We urge British Wool to continue to innovate and establish new markets and extract value.
As farmers we believe we must get to the point where the value of the wool more than covers the cost of shearing the sheep.