# Bio-Shearing Sheep Scientific Fleecing Avoids Animal Injuries, Increases Wool Yield By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-04-04 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harvesting-wool-biological-shearing-australian-sheep-no-injury References: [cooma.yourguide.au](http://cooma.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/bioclip-put-to-good-use/1332792.aspx) & [questacon.edu.au](http://www.questacon.edu.au/innovationshowcase/story.asp?tblStories.storyNumber=17&languageID=AU&categoryID=PA) BIOCLIP is a protein that causes sheep to shed their fleece. When used, mechanical shearing is not necessary. Chemical shearing requires an injection about a month before wool harvest. The sheep are dressed in a sort of body tube to keep the wool in place until fleece removal is safe for the animal. The chemical method is recommended for sheep 10 months of age and younger. After that, the sheep are sheared traditionally. Gallery photos 1-7 show sheep subjected to chemical shearing. The last photo shows a sheep after traditional shearing. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Chemical Shearing:** Exploring the use of chemicals to shear sheep, reducing the need for traditional shearing methods. - **Bio-shearing:** Developing a protein-based solution to induce sheep to shed their fleece, improving animal welfare and increasing wool yield. - **Mechanical-free Shearing:** Advancing technology to eliminate the need for mechanical shearing in the wool industry, streamlining the process and reducing animal injuries. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Agriculture:** Applying disruptive innovations in shearing techniques to revolutionize the wool industry and improve the efficiency of sheep farming. - **Textiles:** Adopting new shearing methods to enhance wool production, enabling the development of sustainable and cruelty-free textile products. - **Animal Welfare:** Implementing chemical and protein-based shearing methods to minimize the stress and discomfort experienced by sheep during wool harvesting, promoting ethical practices in animal husbandry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sheep Milk Skincare](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banor.md) - [Wool-Weaving Cobots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flocks-wobot.md) - [Bio-Based Textile Cashmere](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everbloom.md) - [Cultivated Lamb Kebabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-lamb.md) - [Wool-Centric Contemporary Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oltre-terra-exhibition.md) - [Sheep Fleece Fiberglass-Like Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/welsh-mountain-hembury-chair.md) - [Queer Wool Runway Looks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-wool-survive.md) - [Lab-Grown Fibre Scarves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burberry-b-shield-scarf.md) - [Ethical Merino Wool Clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knit-kite-jacket.md)