UK farmers campaign for sheep welfare in Balkans

A group of Devon farmers has launched a campaign to fund a mobile shearing trailer to improve animal welfare for sheep in rural areas of the Western Balkans.

The “Shear Them to Save Them” campaign, launched by a UK-based group of shearers Hand2Shear, aims to raise £27,000 for shearing equipment.

The initiative will also train local Balkan farmers in modern shearing techniques and aims to maintain the health of rare breeds before the summer heat leads to overheating and parasite infestations.

See also: Step-by-step guide to best sheep-shearing technique

Daniel Floyd, a Devon shearer and founder of Hand2Shear, said: “While shearing in the Balkan countries, I noticed they didn’t have the infrastructure or funds to shear. These are countries that have the original sheep, small flocks of rare breeds – and they need to be sheared.”

The custom-made trailer, designed in the UK, will facilitate the shearing of up to 50,000 sheep every three months during the shearing season. It will also create a safer working environment and improve conditions for shearers, who still rely on old-fashioned scissors.

“With a trailer we can reach these remote mountain sheep and take their fleeces off. It’s critical to save these species for future generations,” said Mr Floyd.

Unique 

The Balkans are home to over six million sheep including unique breeds, such as the Pramenka, which are historically significant and contribute to local economies.

But without proper shearing, these rare breeds are at risk of extinction.

Marco Orlić, a farmer from the region, said: “We need to rely on British shearers to help us. There just aren’t enough here. Our small flocks of rare breeds get so heavy with wool which can trap a lot of heat in a sheep’s body – and this makes them weak and vulnerable to predators like wolves and bears.”

In addition to supporting rural Balkan farmers, Hand2Shear aims to promote shearing as a career in the UK.

Janice Trotter, Hand2Shear Marketing Manager said: “We want to raise the profile of shearing. It’s such a worthwhile career but one that is essentially dying out. We are launching an online academy where we help young people starting out in the profession.

“They send in footage of them shearing and then we guide them on their technique. We thought this would be a good way to encourage more young people to try it out.”

The campaign fundraising page offers donors various package options.

A £10 donation, for example, will earn you a set of three cards designed by local Balkan artists, featuring photographs of sheep from Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula.

Higher-tier packages include a two-person, two-night farm stay in Croatia and the opportunity to experience sheep shearing on the trailer.

Donations to the campaign can be made through their fundraising page.