Sheep shearing is an activity that has been in practice for aeons.
It is essential to shear the flock using the best sheep and goats’ shears to not only keep them groomed but also to free them from pests and to reduce heat stress.
The best time to shear your flock would be in the late spring just about getting into summer.
Since there are many different shearing tools in the market, it might not be easy to identify the best and effective one to use. These reviews and the buying guide will ease your burden of searching for best sheep and goat shears.
Top 5 Sheep and Goat Shears Comparison Table
| Product Name | Power Type | RPM | Motor (Watts) | Weight (Pounds) |
| Ridgeyard Electric Shearing Clipper | Electrical | 2400 | 380 | 7 |
| Zenport ZL122G Sheep Shear | Manual | N/A | N/A | 0.7 |
| Missyee Electric Sheep Shears and Goat Clippers | Electrical | 2400 | 320 | 5.95 |
| Pet & Livestock HQ 380W Electric Sheep Shears | Electrical | 2500 | 380 | 6.8 |
| Yescom 380W Farm Electric Goat Clippers | Electrical | 2500 | 380 | 7.3 |
#1 (Editor’s Choice)Ridgeyard Electric Shearing Clipper
This is one of the perfect sheep shears for every animal on your farm. Whether it’s a sheep or a dog, this product does its job well and gives the owner and pet the most ideal experience.
This sheep shear clipper has all the elements to become a good product. It has a capacity of 380 watts, provides seamless and smooth operation. It also does not vibrate or make noise that scares the pet.
This product weighs 7 pounds combined with a heavy-duty nylon body to help users use it easier. Owners can easily work with one hand without worrying about slipping. Lightweight also makes it easy to handle.
The speed of 2400 revolutions per minute allows the device to work quickly and efficiently. It can easily penetrate the thickest hairs. In particular, the tip of the blade is very professional and safe design so minimizing injuries to pets.
You can also easily change the tongue pressure to suit the thickness of the fur. The blade is also very sharp and durable so that it is easy to trim different hair areas.
This sheep shear clipper also has vents to cool the device when it works.
PROS
- Sharp, durable, adjustable blades to match the thickness
- Ergonomic design can use with one hand
- Vents to cool the device
- Can clipping daily
CONS
- Instructions are in small hard-to-read prints
#2 Zenport ZL122G Sheep Shear
Zenport ZL122G is made from carbon steel which makes it heavy duty shears. Despite its simplicity, it can achieve what most complex, sophisticated shearing tools can’t do. It is a professional sheep shear that you can also use for topping onions after harvest.
If you would like to copy the ancient shepherds who sheared their sheep in their pasture, this would be the right tool. After all, out in the field, there is no electricity, and therefore Zenport ZL122G is the best tool to close-shear your sheep in such locations.
The 6.5” long blade is versatile to use it on other tasks such as pruning flowers, topping onions, and many other uses.
It is a double bow, with ergonomic handle for comfort and firm hold. The spring-loaded functions ease sheep shearing since the blades automatically open after every cut.
It will be an injustice if we do not mention about the sharp blades which give Zenport ZL122G an upper hand over many other shears. Also, it has a locking pin and a sheath for safety keeping.
PROS
- Affordable
- Does not require power to operate it
- Ergonomic handle for comfortable use
- Versatile to use on many other tasks
- Sharp enough for easy shear
CON
- Does not open wide enough
#3 Missyee Electric Sheep Shears and Goat Clipper
Missyee sheep shear is electrical powered that has a motor power of 320 watts and has a capacity not less than 2,400 strokes/minute. The body is made of reinforced nylon with the size of 31x37x138 inches and a weight of 5.95 pounds.
Though this shearing tool has a powerful engine, it is ultra-quiet to prevent agitating animals while you are shearing them. The engine does not overheat from prolonged operation.
This tool is what any farmer would choose to have around. You can use it on cattle and horses only if you change the cutting head as it comes with sheep and goat cutting head. But, you can also use it on llamas and dogs. However, the powerful motor makes this tool unsuitable to use on cats or puppies.
The blades are ultra sharp, and you can adjust their pressure using a rotating button on the tool. These two functions add quality in shearing operation.
The good thing about Missyee products which this shear is one of them is that they enjoy the 1-year guarantee of full replacement. Also, it has 30-days money back guarantee if it doesn’t meet your satisfaction.
In spite of this tool having operation instructions, you can still reach the manufacturer if you are stuck in a problem while using it to get a response in less than 12 hours.
PROS
- Ultra-sharp blades
- Adjustable blade pressure
- Ultra-quiet powerful engine
- Strong storage casing
- Small size easy to carry and easy to use
CONS
- Not sold with its lubricating oil
- Tiny Instruction prints making it difficult to read
#4 Pet & Livestock HQ 380W Electric Sheep Shears
This shearing tool is sturdy since it is made with strengthened and robust nylon polymer material to muffle noise and reduce vibration. The cutting blade is of alloy steel for durability and wear and weather resistant.
The difference between this shear and others it is the fast speed of 2500 rotation/minute which can shear many sheep within a brief time. You can adjust the tension of the blade by rotating the button on the tool for quick smooth shearing.
If you are one who runs a large flock of sheep and goats, this is the best sheep and goats electric clipper for smooth and quick operation on your livestock
Once you buy the shears, you get to have grooming head, two sets of blades, two carbon brushes, screwdriver with flat and star, a bottle of lubricating oil (with oil), a cleaning brush, and a long power cord.
Since this shear is easy to use you won’t have to incur extra expenses by hiring a shearer but only to have a little help from a family member or helping hand.
Pet & Livestock HQ 380W weighs 6.8 pounds and comes with one year warranty.
PROS
- High rate of rotation
- Light in weight
- The ergonomic nylon polymer material makes it durable
- Comes with lubricating oil
CONS
- The blades get dull quickly
#5 (Best Budget)Yescom 380W Farm Electric Goat Clippers
Yescom 380W shear is made from enhanced nylon for durability. It has an ergonomic rubber handle for a firm hold that prevents the shear from slipping off when shearing.
This shear is powerful to shear many sheep in a day without heating up since it has an excellent ventilation system.
The material used on this shear prevents it from vibrating and therefore you can use it without feeling the vibration.
Yescom 380W is a big powerful shear but super quiet when in operation. Using a rotatable button you can adjust the blade tension for effective shearing.
When you buy this shear, it comes with one power cable of 6 m, special screwdriver both flat and star, clean carbon brush, lubricating oil, and a manual.
The dimensions are 15.6” x 13.2” x 4.8” and weighing 7.3 pounds
PROS
- Ergonomic rubber handle for a firmer grip
- Enhanced nylon body for durability
- The high rotation rate of 2500 rpm
- A long power cord for flexible operation
- Super quiet
CONS
- It is a bit heavy to hold for a long time while shearing.
Sheep preparation before and after shearing
The task of shearing needs proper preparation for both the shearer and the animal to make the shearing task easy and effective.
Follow these few steps and you will find that you are apt for the task.
Before
- As mentioned earlier, the best time for shearing is almost to the summer season to avoid exposing your livestock to severe cold and getting hypothermia.
- Limit the amount of feed on your livestock the night before the shearing day to make them more comfortable when turning them around for shearing.
- Do not spray your herd with any insecticide later than six weeks before shearing to allow the effectiveness of the pesticide.
- Avoid using non-approved markings on your animal a few weeks before shearing.
- Remember to remove the collar and any other objects such as leaves, sticks, metal, and anything else that may interfere with the shearing tool.
- Prepare the best location where the sheep cannot pick any debris, and under a roof, in case it rains.
After
- Feed your sheep or goats with more feeds than usual to generate warmth and to reduce stress.
- Since the protective cover has been shorn off, keep your livestock warm enough by covering if possible to avoid hypothermia onset.
- The young sheep are more susceptible to hypothermia since they have less fat for insulation. Enclose them somewhere inside away from cold and cover them with sheep covering.
Buyer’s Guide: What to Consider When Buying Sheep and Goats Shears
The RPM (rotation per minute)
Look for a high RPM. High RPM will make work easier and quicker to accomplish. The quicker you finish shearing, the less stressful it will be for your animal and the less tiring it will be for you.
Shear Power
An excellent electrical shearing tool should have enough motor power to endure more shearing with less heating.
If you choose a shear with less power, you will have to take interval breaks to let it cool down to prevent it from breaking down.
The tools in our review have wattage between 320 and 380 which means they are strong to shear any overgrown heavy long fleece.
Blade Tension Adjust
The best shear is the one that has an option to adjust the blade tension. The blade can be too tight for effecting shearing a heavy sheep fleece. In that case, then, you need to loosen the blades to shear such a coat or vice versa effectively.
Vibration and Noise
A good shear should have less noise and vibration. You don’t need to stress your animals further. Shearing them is them is stress enough. Find one that has less noise.
Again vibration can increase hand fatigue. A shear with the solid body should be able to absorb much of its vibration and noise
Size
Some of the shears are too heavy to hold for long when shearing. You need to get a good shearing tool that is light in weight.
Affordability
When out there looking for the best sheep and goats shears you might come across some that are exorbitantly priced and yet have the same features with others less priced.
Be prudent enough to check on prices to get the best shear that is affordable.
Final Verdict
All the shears we have reviewed above are the best in the market, and they are all winners. It took a significant amount of research to find the best-featured shearing tools to present to you without having any doubt of their excellent performance.
The top pick from the 5 best sheep and goat shears is Ridgeyard Electric Shearing Clipper. It is a heavy duty sheep shear and goat clipper that has a high power motor. Customer’s ratings and reviews are right on this particular shear which makes it even better.
If you are strictly on the budget, you can opt for Yescom 380W Farm Electric Goat Clippers Sheep Shears which has the same functional features and with 2500 RPM.
But, you are the buyer, and therefore we reserve the final verdict to you. What is your pick?
Leave your comments on the section here below.