Under the auspices of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the “Altan Khaich 2025” (Golden Shears 2025), the first-ever National Shearing and Woolhandling Championships of Mongolia took place on June 20-21, 2025, in Zuunmod, Tuv aimag.
The competition, organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry (MOFALI) and the Governor’s Office of Tuv Aimag within the framework of the “Tsagaan Alt” (“White Gold”) National Movement, aims to increase the value of sheep wool, improve its efficient use, and support the production of wool final goods. Furthermore, it targets to facilitate herders’ workload by introducing and promoting time-efficient technologies and equipment and rewarding youth who have acquired the skills to use them.
The “Altan Khaich 2025” competition was organized within three categories: traditional hand shearing, beginner-level electric shearing, and professional electric shearing. The judges consisted of one Australian and seven New Zealand professionals, as well as herders, scholars, and researchers.
Originated in 1961 in New Zealand, the “Golden Shears” competition has become a tradition hosted in locally tailored ways by fifteen countries worldwide. The competition, organized for the first time in Mongolia, also featured a wool and cashmere product exhibition, a fashion show,  competitions of knuckle-bone shooting and wool plying, and a song contest among sheep shearers.
Over a hundred sheep shearers aged between 19 and 70 from 18 aimags participated in the competition. Champion Herder of Mongolia from Darvi soum, Gobi-Altai aimag Batmagnai Shagdarsuren won first place in the hand shearing category, scoring 981.8. As for the amateur electric shearing category, Herder from Tsenkher soum, Arkhangai aimag Azbayar Chuluunbat secured first place, shearing five sheep in 8 minutes and 14 seconds. The winner in the professional electric shearing category is Herder from Khotont soum, Arkhangai aimag Baasandorj Erdenetsogt, who sheared 10 sheep in 10 minutes and 52 seconds.
Herder Baasandorj Erdenetsogt set a national record of shearing 455 sheep in 8 hours. In recognition of his achievement, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa awarded him a certificate of acknowledgment, confirming his participation in the 2026 Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.

Published Date:2025-06-24