A sheep found wandering the streets of a small New South Wales town has undergone a dramatic transformation, shedding just over 10kg of wool after three years on the run.
Woody, a merino sheep, was discovered loitering at the Woodstock commons in the village of about 792 people on the central tablelands late last year. At some point he had escaped the shared community paddock and taken up residence near the local tip, relying on food and water left by residents.
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Prompted by concern about his large fleece, some residents contacted the local newspaper in search of a shearer who could take him on. Then, last week, authorities decided to bring him in.
Volunteers from the Woodstock Rural Fire Service began the chase on Wednesday, and a livestock transporter, Matthew Blazley, made the capture.
The village’s fire captain, Robert “Robbo” Moodie, said a scan of Woody’s ear tag showed his last recorded location was the Cowra saleyards, some 20km away, up to three years ago.
Shearer Mathew Boyce in action, as Woody is relieved of more than 10kg of wool. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The Guardian“The sheep was originally from Grenfell,” Moodie said. “I rang the bloke and he said he sold it probably two or three years ago. We found him on the common, with the cattle. He thinks he’s a cow – anywhere the cows go, he goes.”
RSPCA NSW inspectors visited the commons late last year, after residents called to get in touch about the wandering wether, but were unable to return when Moodie called.
“There have been a few people around town here all concerned about it,” Moodie said. “We decided let’s do something and give this sheep a home.”
Woody after his makeover/ultra-rapid weight loss. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The GuardianWoody spent three days drying in Blazley’s shearing shed, alongside another wooly merino in need of a trim. The pair were sheared by a veteran rouser, Mathew “Boycey” Boyce, who estimated that the merino had missed at least three shearing seasons but said he had avoided flystrike, which can lead to deadly bacterial infections.
“It’s good to see him all cleaned up,” he said. “I reckon there’s 10, 10 and a half kilos of wool on him.”
The average fleece weight from a merino shorn annually is 4.5kg.
Boyce was prepared for a fight but found the wether to be a very willing customer.
“He knows he’s being helped,” he said. “I’m happy with my handwork and any challenge, I’ll accept it.”
Woody’s fuzz and fleece were no match for the record set by Chris the merino, a fellow wooly wanderer who spent 15 years traversing Canberra’s trails and paddocks before losing a world-record 41kg of fleece. Chris was captured in 2015 and died in an animal sanctuary in 2019.
Blazley, who shared morning tea with the small crowd watching the shearing on Saturday, said it had been a “satisfying” success. Despite some weight-loss wobbles, Woody was soon happily receiving pats, preparing for his next home.
The enormous fleece. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The Guardian“It’s a top job from Boycey and an excellent community service, too,” Blazley said. “He’ll be off to a better place with plenty of green grass, and we’ll be back in 12 months to see how he’s progressing. He came up pretty good – everyone should be happy with that.”
Woody will be rehomed to four hectares of grazing land on the outskirts of town, alongside horses and sheep.
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