Thermoskin is a Logical Decision for Winter Shearing
(photo - Sam Hamilton and daughter Sophie)
We talked with Sam Hamilton, from Ravenswood, Rylstone about his experience with Thermoskin.
Although there are some good reasons to shear in winter, Sam is a lamb finisher with no set shearing time so he avoids winter shearing when possible. Rylstone (a great little historic town in the Central tablelands of NSW) gets cold and sheep losses off shears are common. When too many shorn sheep are out in the weather, it is stressful.
Sam used Thermoskin some years ago, so this year when he had to shear 1500 lambs in winter, he was keen to source the product again.
Sam said "using Thermoskin is a pretty logical decision for me". With valuable lambs close to being finished, he did not want them to check in cold weather.
Lambs are extremely expensive, probably the most valuable sheep and lambs have ever been (due to the impact of years of drought affecting supply and demand). Using Thermoskin is only $2 approx per animal.
Thermoskin protects the shorn sheep which is:
- Good for Animal Welfare - as an owner and custodian of the animals, it is important to look after them and ensure they do not freeze in the cold, Thermoskin prevents stock losses.
- Good for Production - Thermoskin prevents the lambs suffering stress off shears. If the sheep are cold and unhappy they will be compromised and not put on weight.
Sam said this 2020 winter experience of applying the product following shearing was better than in the past. Improvements to the spray unit with an electronic eye and on/off switch, meant it was an easier process with more control to stop any product wastage when the sheep balk.
The Thermoskin spray unit has consistently been improved across the past 12 years, with the most recent modifications making it easy to use and even more effective.