Shearers across the country are struggling to keep up with demand in what some say is the worst labour shortage they've ever seen.
Trained Kiwi shearers are chasing higher wages across the Tasman, prompting contractors to look at lifting pay here.
"There is no doubt it is hard work. They spend eight hours actually bent over a sheep and actually sweating," said Peter Lyon of the Shearing Contractors Association.
And those wanting to do it are growing harder to find, shearing contractor Brendan Mahony saying the labour shortage is as bad as it's ever been.
"Even though we've got the less sheep numbers, we've certainly got a shortage of young people coming into the industry."
In one Hawke's Bay shearing shed, more migrant workers are filling stands than ever before.
Mr Mahony said probably a third of his shearers this year were overseas shearers.
In 2012, only 17 work visas were granted for shearers from overseas. But that number has been steadily increasing and last year it rose to nearly 60.
That's as more Kiwi shearers leave our shores for greener pastures in Australia.
"They are paid probably round about 30 per cent more," Mr Lyon said.
To compete, shearing contractors are considering lifting wages for workers in New Zealand.
“Sheep may not be the future
"It's just straight economics. It's like anybody, if they're paid a little more, they feel more appreciated," Mr Lyon said.
Those costs would likely be passed onto farmers, already battling low prices for strong wool.
Miles Anderson of Federated Farmers says there are situations at the moment where it's costing farmers more to get the wool off the sheep than what the returns are.
"So a lot of farmers aren't going to be happy about this, but the fact is it's inevitable."
Sheep numbers have halved in the last 15 years, with high meat values keeping the iconic industry alive.
"If this continues for another three or four years we may have reached a point in the country's history where sheep may not be the future," Mr Anderson said.
For now, the future's bright for prospective shearers as demand for workers continues to outstrip supply.
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