It’s time to shear the sheep in the highlands

In Erzincan, where the hot summer months are strongly felt, the owners of small ruminants have started shearing. Previously, the wool collected and sold is now mostly discarded because it has not received enough attention in recent times.

In Akyazı Mahallesi, which is one of the important centers of small ruminant breeding in Erzincan, the shearing season for sheep has begun in order to clean, cool them down, and increase the income obtained from breeding. Animal breeders who have started the shearing period for the healthier development of small ruminants also claim that they increase productivity in this way. As the summer season intensifies and the temperatures rise, shearing is generally done in villages by collective work (‘imece’) to help the sheep relax, increase meat and milk yield. Breeders point out that the sheared wool is only used by animal owners for making quilts and pillows, stating that wool does not have a commercial contribution and they mostly have to dispose of it.

‘We are cooling down the sheep on hot summer days’

Mahmut Demirol, who makes a living by engaging in small ruminant breeding, stated that shearing the sheep not only makes them feel refreshed but also contributes to their development. Demirol said, ‘I have been dealing with animal husbandry profession for years. We are currently shearing the sheep. Generally, it is done in the summer months due to the heat. This is valid for the sheep that go to the highlands. Currently, we are shearing the lambs. Lambs are sheared twice in the summer season. The reason for this is that due to the extreme heat, their wool grows early and they sweat. We shear them twice a year in the summer season so that the animals can relax. The animals sweat a lot, so we have to shear them for their comfort. The sheared sheep show more development.’

‘Sheared wool is not valuable, it is discarded’

Serkan Beydili noted that the sheared wool is thrown away. Beydili said, ‘We are shearing the lambs now. Lamb shearing is done twice a year. Lamb shearing is an important process for the development of lambs, as it increases their development by 2-3 times, so we shear the lambs. It is done at the beginning of summer and also twice towards autumn. It depends on the feeding period of the lamb. Unfortunately, we have to throw away the sheared wool. They used to be used for making quilts, pillows. Unfortunately, now they have to be discarded. They were generally used in making yarn, quilts, pillows. We use them to make quilts and pillows for ourselves. Our mothers continue to use them, but they do not have a commercial contribution. We have to throw away the rest after taking what we use.’