Tilting Table Simplifies Sheep Shearing

Tilting Table Simplifies Sheep Shearing LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats 3-3-21 Anyone with a weak back shouldn't try to shear sheep. That's the old advice, but it may be changing, thanks to a newstyle shearing table developed by a Canadian sheep farmer. John Lightle, Campbellford, Ontario, who keeps a flock of 300 ewes, has never done his shearing any other way than with the tilting shearing table he designed and built. The table is tipped on its side before shearing starts. The animal is moved from a working chute into a metal cage which squeezes it against the verticle table top. Next, the table is tipped up into horizontal position and the sheeps' legs tied. Then, the cage is lifted out of the way, leaving the animal tied securely so the shearer can use two hands to shear. The tilting table itself is spring-operated and can be tilted by one person. Table height can be adjusted so it's comfortable for the operator. Lightle's present model shearing table is the result of several revisions and improvements, and it may undergo some further changes. He hopes to obtain a patent on the device and perhaps manufacture it commercially. He figures it would probably sell for about around $500. The shearing table has other uses. Lightle, for example, uses it to hold ewes for pregnancy checking. He also uses it to give injections and for hoof trimming. Although he has used it only for sheep, he thinks it could also be used to hold pigs, calves and other small animals for examination or treatment. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Lightle, Route 3, Campbellford, Ontario, Canada KOL ILO (ph 705 653-2178).

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