Carry out and complete the shearing of livestock

URN: LANLP14
Business Sectors (Suites): Crofting and Smallholding,Livestock Production
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 31 Jan 2022

Overview


This standard covers carrying out and completing the shearing of livestock, including sheep, camelids and goats. Livestock must be dry and free from excessive dirt and debris before being sheared and shearing should be carried out at an acceptable commercial speed.
   
Throughout the procedure the welfare and general wellbeing of the livestock must be maintained. If cuts occur, you must be able to apply the appropriate treatments to the livestock immediately. 

The finished product (fleece or fibre) must be correctly rolled and stored in wool bags to prevent damage. The work area must also be restored to a suitable condition on completion of shearing.
   
When working with livestock or machinery you should be trained, and hold the current certification where required, in accordance with the relevant legislation. 

When carrying out your work you must consider the impact it will have on the environment, and work towards preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity and responding to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

This standard is suitable for those who carry out and complete the shearing of livestock.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:


  1. assess the risks prior to carrying out the shearing of livestock 
  2. wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  3. confirm that the shearing location is in an area suitable for the animals and shearers
  4. confirm that the work area is safe, clean and suitable for shearing, including a safe electricity supply with appropriate safety features
  5. select, prepare, use and store the required tools and equipment safely and correctly
  6. maintain hygiene and bio-security, in accordance with business practices
  7. gather the livestock awaiting shearing, safely and in the appropriate numbers, in a suitable holding area
  8. confirm that the livestock are dry, free of excessive dirt and debris, and suitable for shearing
  9. identify and deal with livestock that are unsuitable for shearing
  10. handle and position livestock correctly at all times while carrying out shearing
  11. maintain the welfare and general wellbeing of the livestock at all times
  12. maintain the quality of the fleece/fibre while carrying out shearing
  13. achieve the removal of the fleece/fibre with the minimum stress and injury to livestock
  14. make the appropriate modifications to the shearing process where changes in conditions may reduce the quality of the fleece/fibre
  15. apply treatments and identification, where required, to the livestock on completion of shearing
  16. remove livestock from the work area on completion of shearing, safely and in a manner that causes minimum stress
  17. sort and grade fleeces/fibre as required, on completion of shearing, and wrap and store correctly and in a manner that maintains their quality
  18. leave the work area in a suitable condition, ready for future use and with tools and equipment clean and ready for grinding or sharpening
  19. maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, your work
  20. process waste safely and correctly, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and business practices
  21. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental, health and safety legislation, animal health and welfare legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and business policies
  22. complete records as required by the relevant legislation and the business


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:


  1. how to identify hazards and assess the risks of the work area and the shearing activity, including the safety of the power supply
  2. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the activity
  3. the types of tools and equipment required for shearing livestock and how to prepare, maintain, use and store these, safely and correctly
  4. the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security and the methods for achieving this
  5. the suitable handling systems appropriate for shearing livestock
  6. the suitable holding areas for livestock and the need for such areas to be secure
  7. the condition and appearance of livestock that are suitable for the shearing procedure, and the reasons why livestock may be unsuitable for shearing
  8. the importance of timing for shearing different breeds and in different locations 
  9. the methods of handling and positioning livestock while carrying out shearing
  10. the ways in which livestock respond to your behaviour and the suitable methods of handling difficult livestock
  11. the reasons for, and the methods of, maintaining the welfare of the livestock while carrying out, and on completion of, shearing
  12. the importance of completely removing the fleece and why complete, undamaged fleeces are more desirable
  13. the types of damage to the fleece/fibre that may occur while carrying out shearing, and the ways in which these can be minimised
  14. the effects that changes in the weather and the performance of the equipment can have on shearing, and the modifications that can be made to the shearing process
  15. the types of injury to the livestock that may occur, and the ways in which these must be minimised
  16. the types of treatments for livestock that may be necessary and how these should be applied
  17. the importance of shearing, both commercially and for animal health and welfare
  18. the requirements for sorting and grading fleeces/fibre where required, and the methods of wrapping and storing them in a clean, dry area to maintain their quality
  19. the reasons why the work area, tools and equipment should be left clean and in the correct condition for future use
  20. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done
  21. how to handle, transport, store and dispose of waste, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and business practices
  22. your responsibilities for the welfare of livestock under the relevant animal health and welfare legislation, codes of practice and business policies
  23. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and business policies
  24. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them


Scope/range


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary

​Camelids include: llamas, alpacas


Links To Other NOS

​LANLP18 Deliver treatments to livestock


External Links


Version Number

4

Indicative Review Date

31 Jan 2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANLP14

Relevant Occupations

Farmer, General Farm Worker, Crofter, Smallholder

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

sheep; goat; llama; alpaca; livestock; fleece; fibre; shearing