But I do think there's a lot of misconception out there about shearing sheep - every shearing team I've ever seen would sack
on the spot anyone who started punching or kicking the sheep; and even if
they didn't, the bloke who owned the property & animals, and relied on their continued health & well being for his livelihood would toss anyone doing that off the property pretty damn quick!!

As for the cuts & tears during shearing, yeah, sometimes that does happen, but most professional shearers are good at their job and any blood or skin damage isn't good for their rep & therefore their ability to continue working NOR is it all that good for the wool quality, so shearers generally try
very hard not to cut or injure the sheep they shear in any way; and these days, for most, any injuries (to the sheep) is the exception rather than the rule & they all work towards minimising it! Heck, there's even research going on into developing ways of 'blade-free' shearing (or if you like, 'wool harvesting'!

) Not so much research going into developing ways sheep can be shorn without doing lasting damage to the shearers bodies tho - it's largely a young person's game for a reason! The old shearers are too crippled to work anymore!