Some helpful alpaca shearing techniques aren’t shearing techniques at all. For instance, better quality fiber and faster shearing can be performed on alpacas from clean pastures that do not have a lot of weeds to stick to the fibers. The more familiar the alpacas are with human interaction, the less likely they are to be scared and fight the process. Ongoing grooming with a shop vac can ease the tension on shearing day by making the fiber cleaner and gaining the trust of the alpaca on multiple occasions. Even animals that are normally docile can use some extra TLC along the way.
Good shearing means good equipment such as multiple pairs of sharp electric shears or sharpening tools to be used during the process, combs, blade lubricant, “blood stop” and topical antibiotics for nicks, rescue remedy for extra nervous animals and restraint equipment to protect the animal and the shearer.
There are many different approaches, but the four most common approaches are these:
Standing – In a barn or stall situation the alpaca can be standing on a tarp to catch the fiber. You must ensure management of the legs, a restraint for the head, and a wall on one side to prevent them from swinging from side to side. Sometimes the alpaca will lie down during the process and make shearing the belly area difficult. It is difficult on the shearer because they have to reach over and do a great deal of bending.
Australian Restrained – This system involves having the alpaca lying on a tarp with the feet tied to posts in the ground. The back legs are tied together, and the front legs are tied to a spreader post, to aid in the shearing of the belly. The alpaca is sheared on one side and turned over for completion of the shear. It is very efficient but the shearer has to bend and squat which can be uncomfortable.
Sheep method – There are strong, professional, shearers who shear without restraints similar to the way sheep are sheared. Because alpacas are larger and have a long neck this method more resembles a wrestling match, but can be efficient if the shearer had a great deal of practice and strength, and the alpacas are especially cooperative.
Table method – Some farmers use a ’tilt table’ to shear their alpacas with the alpaca restrained by the feet at either end. The alpaca is sheared on one side and then placed back on the table to shear the other side. Alpacas who will accept this type of shearing make the job much easier on the shearer who does not have to bend, stoop, or squat to get to the alpaca.
Alpaca shearing by practiced farmers can be as quick as ten to fifteen minutes and for professional shearers as little as four minutes per alpaca.