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Recovered sheep loses 35kg of fleece

───   14:33 Thu, 25 Feb 2021

Recovered sheep loses 35kg of fleece | News Article
Photo: Edgar's Mission

Lockdown has been tough for all of our hairstyles but one plucky sheep has been given his first trim in what could have been many many years.

The wild and struggling animal was found in a forest in Australia with a fleece that was so overgrown he could barely see.

When it was fully removed his fleece weighed more than 35kg (77lbs).

The sheep, which has been named Baarack, was found by a member of the public who contacted the Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary near Lancefield, Victoria, about 37 miles (60km) north of Melbourne.

"It would appear Baarack was once an owned sheep," said the Mission's Kyle Behrend.

"He had at one time been ear-tagged, however these appear to have been torn out by the thick matted fleece around his face.

"Sheep need to be shorn at least annually otherwise the fleece continues to grow and grow, as happened here," said Mr Behrend.

After his much-needed shearing, Mr Behrend said Baarack's fleece weighed in at 35.4kg (78.4lbs).

He said: "Whilst his hooves were in great condition from running over the rocks in the forest, he was in a bit of a bad way. He was underweight, and due to all of the wool around his face he could barely see."

Baarack is now settling in with other rescued sheep at Edgar's Mission.

Mr Behrend said: "It all goes to show what incredibly resilient and brave animals sheep really are and we could not love them any more if we tried."


Sky News

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