Shearing time.

The gang at work in our woolshed. There are 3 shearers and 2 rousies [pictured]and a presser who fills up the pens with unshorn sheep as well as pressing the wool into bales. It really is a wonderful sight to see....the shearers are almost graceful as they shear sheep after sheep after sheep.It is extremely hard work and they keep going for eight hours ....four runs of two hours each. Each shearer was doing 40 sheep per hour ,which equates to doing one sheep in just one and a half minutes! Apparently the energy they use is more than that used in running a marathon....and then they will be doing it again tomorrow at the next farmer's shed.