..:: Shearing ::..
Shearing is important as an animal welfare issue as alpacas do not shed their fleece. They have an exceptionally thermal fleece, and will overheat (see Heat Stress) in summer if their fleece is not regularly removed - most alpacas need to be shorn annually, although some with slower growing fleece may take a little longer. So even if you have your alpacas as pets, and have no interest in their fleece, you will still need to regularly have them shorn, to keep them healthy and comfortable.
Alpaca fleece is also exceptionally valuable - far
more so than sheep fleece. Alpaca fleece is
softer than sheep wool of a similar micron, has
less scratch factor, better thermal qualities,
and a higher tensile strength. Many alpaca
enthusiasts term the
fleece "alpaca fibre"
rather than fleece or
wool to emphasise
these differences,
but alpaca fibre is
still wool, whatever it is called!
Alpacas are not sheep! They cannot be shorn in
the same manner as a sheep as they have a
rigid backbone, and sitting them on their
backside to shear them is out of the question.
There are two main methods of shearing while
the animal is standing, or laying the animal on its
side and tying it in such a manner that it is
unable to stand until released. The first is
probably less
stressful for the
animal, but few
alpacas are quiet
and tame enough
to reliably stand
still – and
movement on the
part of the animal creates risk of injury from
the shearing blades. Alpaca Place alpacas are
both well-handled and quiet, but we prefer not
to take the risk of them moving unexpectedly
when using sharp blades.
For methods of restraint, see Shearing
Restraint
Shearing is normally a 3-person job - In
addition to the shearer, and the handler holding
the alpaca's head, it is useful to have a third
person to remove the fleece as it comes off the
alpaca. At this time you should take a couple of
good handfuls of fleece from the midsection of
the alpaca – you should send this sample away
for testing, most purchasers will want to know
what grade your fleece is. Fleece needs to be
sorted into blanket and skirtings and the easiest
time to do this is as it comes off the alpaca.
You need a sorting table with a mesh top –
this allows dust and debris to drop through as
you sort. Animals with a good quality fleece will
give you a greater yield as "blanket-quality
fleece can extend up the neck and lower down
the belly, but as soon as the fleece quality
starts to alter or deteriorate you should discard
it as skirting. Fleece from the legs is generally
useless, and must be discarded. When in doubt
as to whether fleece is blanket, skirting or
discard, downgrade it– you don't want a
reputation of having poorly graded fleece.Once your alpaca has had all the fleece removed from one side of its body, the alpaca is rolled over and the fleece removed from the other side. Release the restraining ropes from the posts, and roll the alpaca onto its back and then to the other side. Don't lose control of your alpacas head, or allow too much slack in the ropes to its feet. Again this operation must be carried out swiftly.
Having your alpaca restrained is too good an opportunity to miss - tell your shearer that you want to trim toenails, and if necessary, the teeth, before releasing each animal. Many people also find this a good time to vaccinate their alpacas!
Don't forget your alpacas are very herd oriented if shearing a female alpaca, have her cria nearby where she can see it. All alpacas should have herd companions nearby when being shorn - preferably in a position where the restrained alpaca can see them, but certainly close enough that she or he can hear or smell them.
Most alpacas have their forelocks (the fleece that grows between, and in front of, the ears) left unshorn - this is mainly cosmetic! You may want to trim hair that hangs down over the eyes if it is starting to impede the alpaca's vision, however. Tails can have a pompom left on the bottom, this will help to protect the genital area from the weather. Legs are usually shorn down to around the knee area.
