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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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A heated debate has erupted online over whether sheep shearing is ethical or exploitative.
Alaina Wood (@itsthegarbagequeen), whose bio says she's a sustainability scientist and climate activist, took to Threads to share her view on why trimming a sheep’s wool is both necessary and humane. Her post, which has garnered over 80,000 views, said it aimed to counter misinformation spreading on social media.
"It looks like the misinformed vegans are spreading lies about sheep again, so let me — someone who has actually cared for sheep in the past — remind y’all that shearing sheep isn’t cruel. It’s necessary because humans selectively bred most species of sheep to not naturally drop their wool," she wrote.
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Wood went on to write that sheep can die from heat-related issues if not sheared regularly. Undoing centuries of selective breeding to make sheep naturally shed their fleece would take extensive, collaborative breeding programs that could span generations, she added.
It sparked a heated discussion as Threads users were divided over the issue.
"Not to even mention that shearing isn’t painful, and it gives us a wonderful natural fibre that’s cruelty AND plastic free. It's the people who want to use and produce more plastic instead of the better natural options available haven’t really understood the assignment," said one user.
Others, however, pointed out potential welfare concerns in large-scale operations. "Sheering sheep isn’t inherently cruel. But, at large scales, laborers (who themselves are often poorly treated) are often paid by volume and are likely to work as quickly as possible which leads to mistreatment. There’s also the painful practice of mulesing which isn’t illegal in most countries," said Jessica.
Another user, who identified as vegan, acknowledged the nuance in the discussion: "OK. Vegan here. Treating animals as a commodity, instead of a living being with equal value, does not accord with my/our values & morals. Ergo, I'm against sheep farming. Also many wool-farming practices—even if not the ones used by you, specifically—are cruel. HOWEVER I'm well aware that sheep in the form they've been bred to, do need to be sheared."
According to the International Wool Textile Organisation, sheep shearing is a crucial welfare practice when performed correctly. Professional shearers are trained to handle animals gently, using precise techniques to remove fleece without injury. The process typically lasts only a few minutes per sheep and is done at least once a year to prevent health complications such as overheating, flystrike, and restricted movement caused by excess wool growth.
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Vicki, a farmer and shepherdess, also weighed in on the discussion, telling Newsweek: “Shepherds love their flocks, this is something across the board common from a small backyard flock to a commercial operation with 1200 animals. Farmers and ranchers want the best for their flocks, regardless. And as for putting a stop to commercial shepherding, that just isn’t something that is ever going to happen. Sheep were one of the first domesticated animals, and human evolution is so closely tied to that of the sheep there’s just no way they will ever not be a part of our story."
She explained that she cares for a flock of 11 East Friesian dairy sheep, whose fleece can weigh over 25 pounds (10–12 kilograms) after a single growing season. Without regular shearing, she said, the animals would be at risk of heat stress, osteoarthritis, and various skin conditions.
Newsweek reached out to @itsthegarbagequeen for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.
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