Sheep shearing via phone

Shearing sheep in the future could be as easy as dialling a number on your mobile phone.

Researchers at the University of South Australia are looking for a bioactive substance which would cause wool fibres to break simultaneously at a predetermined time.

The new method of alternative shearing is still a few years away but researcher Michelle Hebard says the possibilities are endless.

"The animals would receive an implant, this may be in the ear at tagging time," she said.

"That implant would contain a bioactive which would be activated through the mobile.

"You would just simply dial a certain number, that would then release the active over a period of perhaps a week and that active would then cause that window of weakness." - link