How to Shear an Alpaca

Ever wonder how they harvest alpaca fleece or how they shear an alpaca? Check out my how to and pictures to see how this yearly harvesting is done.

Things You'll Need

• shears
• plastic bags
• broom and dust pan
• paper towels
• tube sock, yep, tube sock
• restraints
• scale
• skirting table

Instructions

1. 

   First, you will need some sort of restraining system. We attached the ropes to either side of the barn. There are 2 restraints from each rope secured to the barn with loops that tighten up to go around the alpacas hind and front ankles.

2. 

   The alpaca's ankles are secured in the restraints and they are tightened. The alpaca is gently lowered to the floor with legs outstretched and the restraint system pulled taut so the alpaca cannot move. We make sure they are secure so they don't jump or move and get cut while the shearer is shearing them.

3. 

   The shearer first cuts off the belly fiber...this is usually thrown away. It is not a very good quality fleece that is kept. Then he shears off the "blanket" it is the area around the middle of the alpaca.

4. 

   The shearer then removes the fleece from the legs and neck. Someone holds the animals ears, especially when the face is being sheared to prevent cuttin the animal from sudden movements.

5. 

   Oh yea, the sock. Some animals find this event very stressful and make all sorts of noise and start to spit. Just slip a large tube sock over their snout to keep the gooey green stuff from getting all over you. Not to mention the fleece. If it gets the green spit on the fleece we usually just throw that part of the fleece away. But most alpacas are very calm while getting sheared. There is always that one cry baby.

6. 

   Oh yea, and the paper towels. Remember those few cry baby alpacas that get a little stressed out? Well, those are the ones that will also pee everywhere. The paper towels clean up the mess. Again if the pee gets on the fleece we must throw it away.

7. 

   The fleece is then put into clear plastic bags. One bag for the blanket and another bag for the neck and leg fiber. Then the fleece is sent for processing. The best fleece is on the blanket and this is usually made into yarn. The leg and neck fleece is not as good, a little more corse and this is used to make rugs.

8. 

   If you are interested in alpacas and the wonderful lifestyle they provide check my blog out at http://acreswildalpacas.blogspot.com/
   Thanks for checking out my how to shear an alpaca article!