My First Alpaca Shearing

Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 & 19, was Alpaca and Llama shearing at All American Alpacas. Rick & Pati have a Shearer (is that what you call someone who shears Alpacas? - I'm not sure and didn't think to ask). Anyway, "Ken" lives in New Zealand and comes to the U.S. every Spring and shears Alpacas and Llamas up and down the west coast. He has a ranch in New Zealand with oodles of sheep and a few Alpacas. I had been told he can shear an Alpaca in about ten minutes, but didn't quite believe it until I saw it myself. His lady friend Knowles (may not be spelled correctly, and if so, my apology) accompanied him and helped with the shearing process. She is amazing, as well. Now, I need to set the stage:

The barn has a door on each side. One side is the main field, the other side is an enclosed area usually used for breeding. Beyond that area is another gate that leads to the nursery. The nursery is quite large and is not only used for newborn crias and dams, but for the herd to come and "hang out" by the house. Inside the barn, there is a screen door that separates the area between the barn doors from a storage area. The shearing took place in the barn.

What is required for shearing? Large clear plastic trash bags, index cards, black marker, small sandwich bags, shears (provided by Ken), broom, trash cans, lots of paper towels and willing human volunteers. What is required after shearing? Beer, Ben Gay, Beer, Jacuzzi, Beer, Hot Shower/Bath, Ben Gay and Beer. You may substitute beer with the spirit of your choice. :)

It all begins with several Alpacas being herded into the enclosed area outside the barn. Ken determines by the condition of his shear blade which animals to do when (consistancy of fiber varies greatly). Once an Alpaca has been coaxed into the barn, the fun begins. You start by wrapping your arm around the neck and grasping one ear in your hand. Why? Should the Alpaca act up, you twist the ear, which should make them stop. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Depending on the animal, a second person (and sometimes a third person or a fourth person), may need to put pressure on the withers and the hind quarters to keep the Alpaca from bucking. Sometimes, the Alpaca may need to be layed down if they are too unruly standing up. Unlike America's Dirtiest Jobs video, Ken does not secure the Alpaca to a board or "hog tie" their legs. All Alpaca control is done (or should I say "attempted") by humans.

One person prepares the bags for the fiber. The index cards and marker are for writing the animal's name and whether the bag contains "firsts" or "seconds". The card is placed in each large clear trash bag (which is how it is sent to the fiber mill). The sandwich bag is for fiber samples. The first area shorn on the Alpaca is the blanket (their back and sides), which are "firsts". The neck is shorn next, then the legs and tail, which are "seconds". That is not a hard and fast rule. Some Alpaca fiber is so magnificent, the entire body is "firsts". Or, with an older Alpaca, the entire body might be "seconds". Or, it could be thrown away. Whether or not the fiber is worth saving, all Alpacas should be shorn once a year. How would you like to wear a thick fur coat all summer in Southern California? Once the shearing is complete, the Alpaca is sent out the door that leads to the main field. Next!

You must realize that of the 90+ Alpacas that were shorn, most are pregnant females and crias. To quote Rick, "some crias come in kicking and screaming like little boys getting their first haircut". Yep. Good comparison. The dams range anywhere from standing and chewing their cud like nothing is happening, to giving the warning call, growling, howling, bucking and spitting. Did you wonder many paragraphs above why we needed plenty of paper towels? It's important to keep the shearing area clean of spit, urine and excrement as to not contaminate the fiber. My girl (ALPHA's dam), Princess, projected from every oriface and yelled the whole time. ALPHA was pretty good, as was Vanilla Sundae, Star and Felix.

All in all, most of the Alpacas did pretty well being shorn. The herdsires were especially good, which surprised me. I expected them to be the "macho dudes" and raise all kinds of cain. Nope. Yet, even with the Alpacas that were not a major problem, controlling them during the process is still very hard work. They are strong. Trying to hold their neck and head steady, and keep their feet on the ground, creates muscles! Pati and Rick got nailed against the wall a few times when an Alpaca bucked.

Ken is absolutely amazing with not only his speed, but the quality of his work. Yes, they now look like little space aliens, but they are beautiful. Shearing is like unwrapping a present. You get to see the true color and conformation. They look so sleek, clean and fresh.

I was at the ranch today and the brief moment of discomfort they all experienced a few days ago has not effected them one bit. Well, other than it rained last night. I believe all of us that helped with the shearing will be feeling the effects alot longer than the Alpacas. Yet, I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world. And, yes, I will be there next year to help.

Oops, forgot to mention the Llamas. Rose and Lillith LOVED being shorn! They were "short-tied" in a smaller, enclosed area of the barn and stood there with their lips quivering (not the scared or cold kind of quiver, but the "ecstacy" kind) and their tails wagging the whole time.

I've posted a few photos of my naked babies, ALPHA and Vanilla Sundae. I wasn't able to get any good ones today of Princess, Star and Felix. Next time....