Sheep shearing. Merino (Ovis orientalis aries merino) sheep raised for wool in South Africa are sheared twice a year. This image shows the hands of a

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Sheep shearing. Merino (Ovis orientalis aries merino) sheep raised for wool in South Africa are sheared twice a year. This image shows the hands of a shearer, Zweliwile Hans, who was crowned World Champion in 1998, 2005, 2008 and 2012 with hand shears and the fleece of an adult sheep. Hand shears are usually used when the farmer would like the sheep to retain some of its fleece in colder environments. Electric shears are quicker and are less taxing on the shearer but they tend to leave the sheep with a shorter coat after shearing.

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Size: 5124px × 3411px
Photo credit: © TONY CAMACHO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: africa, african, agriculture, champion, clippers, cutting, farm, farming, fleece, fleecing, hand, husbandry, labor, labour, livestock, merino, physical, shearer, shearing, sheep, skilled, south, wool, work