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Click go the shears on overgrown sheep as top shearer Ian Elkins gets to work Click go the shears on overgrown sheep as fleece sets world record of 42kg
(35 minutes later)
The mammoth woolly sheep rescued near Canberra on Wednesday has received its much-needed shearing from champion shearer Ian Elkins under the supervision of animal welfare experts. The fleece from a mammoth woolly sheep rescued near Canberra is the heaviest ever recorded, animal welfare experts have claimed.
The sheep, which was spotted by a bushwalker and rescued by RSPCA staff, might have had as much as five years’ wool on it, the chief executive of the RSPCA in the ACT, Tammy Ven Dange, said. The merino sheep received its much-needed shearing from champion shearer Ian Elkins on Thursday.
Elkins began shearing about 9am and took about 45 minutes to finish the first pass. The 47cm fleece weighed in at 42kg, the ABC reported, smashing the record of 27kg set by New Zealand sheep Shrek in 2004.
The sheep, which was spotted by a bushwalker and rescued by RSPCA staff, might have had as much as five years’ wool on it, the chief executive of the RSPCA in the ACT, Tammy Ven Dange, said on Twitter.
Almost done of first pass. 2nd pass then vet check. I'll be offline for 1hr. Please see @rspcaact for more updates. pic.twitter.com/UzV6gVUv4MAlmost done of first pass. 2nd pass then vet check. I'll be offline for 1hr. Please see @rspcaact for more updates. pic.twitter.com/UzV6gVUv4M
Elkin began shearing about 9am and took about 45 minutes to finish the first pass. He estimated that the 47cm fleece weighed about 40kg, the Canberra Times reported. It could barely walk with the weight of the wool, Ven Dange said, and it was feared its life might have been in danger.
Its wool was due to be weighed and assessed later on Thursday, after the animal had undergone medical checks. It could barely walk with the weight of the wool, Ven Dange said, and it was feared its life might have been in danger.
Clipping of our favourite sheep has begun at @rspcaact! pic.twitter.com/2e0kGJmLI3Clipping of our favourite sheep has begun at @rspcaact! pic.twitter.com/2e0kGJmLI3
A New Zealand sheep – known as Shrek – that had avoided musterers for six years found fame in 2004 when it was discovered in a cave with 27kg of unshorn wool. Elkins said he “smashed Shrek’s record of 27kg no worries”, the Canberra Times reported.
Elkins said he “smashed Shrek’s record of 27kg no worries”. “I don’t think he’s been shorn before, and I think he’s five or six years old,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it is high quality, but you wouldn’t expect it to be after so long in the bush.”
“I don’t think he’s been shorn before, and I think he’s five or six years old,” he said. Elkins had to do the shearing in two layers and needed four helpers to do the job.
“I wouldn’t say it is high quality, but you wouldn’t expect it to be after so long in the bush.”
He had to do the shearing in two layers.
The sheep will be checked by vets, but initial indications were it came through the process relatively well and there was no evidence of flystrike.The sheep will be checked by vets, but initial indications were it came through the process relatively well and there was no evidence of flystrike.
The average fleece weighs 5kg and takes just three minutes to shear.