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Sheep, Goat, Llama, and Alpaca Shearing
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Farmer Anne's Kind and Gentle Sheep Shearing
Specializing in small hobby farm and pet flocks
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Southern Pennsylvania
tel: 301-349-0802
About Us | Our Clients | Testimonials | | Photo Gallery | Shearing Methods | Your Preparation | Shearing Environment
Scheduling | The Fiber | Costs | References | Disclaimer and Exclusions
About Us
Farmer Anne is available to come and shear your sheep and Angora goats within a 100 mile radius of Boyds, MD. She has attended the MD/DE Sheep Shearing School and the Light Livestock Alpaca Shearing Seminar and has five years' of experience in shearing a wide variety of sheep breeds, Angora goats, alpacas, and llamas.
Her primary concern is your animal's welfare. Shearing is an act of partnership, and we need your assistance to make it a positive experience for everyone. We keep our equipment clean and disinfected, and try very hard not to nick the animals during the shearing process. We expect you to be ready for us with animals penned in on empty stomachs in a clean environment.
We do not recommend administering shots or worm medicine at the same time that an animal is sheared. Shearing is a stressful experience, and the adrenaline in the system can either negate the value of the vaccine, and/or cause unwanted reactions in the animal.
Our Clients
We shear primarily for hobby and pet flocks, animal sanctuaries, as well as educational institutions. Our clients include the New Bolton Center (University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine), Child Help, Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center, Lost and Found Horse Rescue Foundation, and many informal animal sanctuaries.
We do flocks of one to 50 animals. If you have very few animals, we will try to schedule visits to neighboring farms the same day to minimize the travel costs we charge.
Testimonials
Have you ever seen surgeons or musicians make what they do look so easy? That's the impression I got as I watched Anne Shroeder shear my sheep last weekend. I have a small farm in rural Maryland with seventeen Lincoln-Finns. While there are other shearers in the business, I won't call anybody but Anne Shroeder. She is, in a word, amazing.
She quickly got started, laying out a cloth as a work area and lining up her tools which include at least three sets of shears. She handles each of the sheep gently but firmly, gently speaking softly to them. I can tell she loves the animals, and has their best interests at heart.
She quickly and methodically sheared the sheep one by one, as only a consumate professional can. Once each sheep is done, the fleece remains intact, as if she just gently removed an overcoat.
One of my sheep, Sophie was showing signs of stress while being sheared. Anne stopped immediately, released her and let her recover and relax. When the rest of the sheep were done, Anne brought out a platform from her truck onto which we restrained Sophie in a standing position. She showed no further signs of stress as Anne completed the shearing.
Now me? I wouldn't have noticed the stress. I would likely have just plowed right on. But Anne has a deep affinity for animals, and genuinely cares for them. Her considerable skill with the shears is most impressive, but her compassion and concern make her invaluable.
-- D. Cissel
Photo Gallery
References
We are happy to provide references to you from the happy animals (and their owners) for whom we've sheared.
Disclaimer & Exclusions
Shearing involves using a set of sharp, fast-moving cutting shears and the danger of cuts on both animal and shearer is ever-present. Shearing is, however, a necessary activity to maintain the health of your animals. Should we cut ourselves during the process of shearing for you, we will not expect you to pay our medical bills. Likewise, should your animal be accidentally cut during shearing, it will be your responsibility to determine whether veterinary care is needed and to provide it. We will not be held liable for damages of this sort.
We cannot shear:
- in weather that is over 92 degrees Fahrenheit.
- outside in the rain and/or in a wet environment
- alone
If we are not in your area, or are unavailable to help you, please check with the American Sheep Industry Association's online shearers database.
Interested in talking with other shearers online?
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Please call 301-349-0802 to schedule your shearing, or fill out our shearing request form!
