Why Coated Fleeces are More Expensive

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Of the 60 ewes here only five or six are coated. I don’t really like coats. I’d rather see the spots on my spotted sheep. Besides, it adds a lot of work throughout the year to change coats three to five times a year as the fleece grows and to wash and repair coats. I think that last bit is more of a problem with horned sheep. So why coat at all? The fleeces are clean and gorgeous! The only VM (vegetable matter) is that portion of the fleece that is not covered by the coat. It also keeps the covered dark portions from having sun-bleached tips.

Three ewes wearing sheep coats in a pen.

I knew that I needed to change some coats today. These were getting snug and the tears will only get worse.

Sheep with fleece flattened where coat had been.

This is Lupine. You can clearly see where her coat has flattened out her fleece and the difference between the wool on her neck and her body. Coats can lead to cotting (felting) of fleece but this one was changed in time.

Close up of sheep fleece on the sheep, showing crimp

This is what Lupine’s fleece looks like when opened up.

Sheep with a red halter and a sheep coat with a repair in blue fabric.

Lupine in a larger coat. Some of the coats have patches on top of patches. I have some new help in patching. My son is a smoke-jumper in Idaho. Part of the smoke-jumper training is sewing! They repair all their gear and make harnesses and bags and have access to heavy duty sewing machines. Chris offered to work on my sheep coats while using up material in their scrap pile.

Jacob ewe with 4-horns wearing a sheep coat that is ripped and is too tight.

This is Cashew. You can see how this coat is now too snug and there is a big rip on the back.

Spotted Jacob ewe showing wool that has been under a coat.

This photo shows the sunbleaching of the neck wool that is exposed to the sun as compared to the body wool. I don’t remember which sheep had the coats all year. Sometimes I put them on when we go to a show and those sheep continue to wear them. These fleeces look clean enough that maybe I started them out with coats right away after shearing last year.

Jacob fleece in white and gray showing crimp.

Close-up of that fleece.

Jacob ewe with 4 horns wearing a clean patched sheep coat.

Here she is with a better fitting coat.

The back of a coated sheep showing the ear tag and the number size of the coat.

I took photos of the coat size when I could read it. Some are worn off.

Close up of sheep fleece on the sheep showing crimp.

I forgot to take a “before” photo of Pecan. I took a size 3 coat off of her.

Jacob ewe with 4 horns and wearing a clean but patched sheep coat.

Pecan in her new coat.

Close-up showing ear tag number of sheep and size of coat for reference.

This is a size 5 and that makes me think that maybe the other two should have been a size larger. Pecan looks like a bigger sheep but maybe it’s only because her wool isn’t flattened down as much.

Three Jacob ewes sporting clean coats.

These are the three whose coats I changed this morning.

Jacob ewe with mostly white horns and wearing a sheep coat with a blue patch.

I changed ewe lamb, Tamara’s coat a couple of days ago.

Four sheep coats on the floor, showing how dirty and torn they get.

These are the four coats I took off. The need a bit of cleaning and some repair. When I visit Idaho next month I may be delivering coats.