Tips From Amber Autumn Alpacas Breeding and Reproduction Alpaca Maintenance

Other Tips Halter Training Fencing Shearing

Alpaca Maintenance

• Keep alpaca on clean pasture 2 weeks before shearing to avoid any contamination in their fiber.

• Keep alpaca dry prior to shearing.

• Blow alpaca fleece with blower to remove loose dust and negotiable matter.

• Sort alpacas by color, light to dark. This reduces fiber contamination.

The Shearing Shed

• Check for ALL contamination such as, cigarette butts, twine, hay gravel, other animal fiber and anything that may contaminate your fleece.

• Alpacas should not be shorn on gravel, dirt or grass. Shear, if possible on a wooden floor or canvas tarp so the fiber will not adhere to the shearing surface. DO NOT USE POLYPROPYLENE TARP.

Alpaca Shearing Goal

• Minimize stress on the alpaca.

• Remove fleece in a manner that avoids damage.

• Avoid second cuts.

• Second cuts should be removed from the fleece during skirting and prior to packaging.

There are 2 basic methods.

Lying down Position - Using restraints. Removal of the fleece should be sectionalized and kept separate in the following order.

1. Lower Legs
2. Belly
3. Apron
4. Neck
5. Middle Legs
6. Blanket (Prime)

 

 

Standing position - maybe used when alpacas are halter trained. Removal of fleece should be sectionalized and kept separate as follows.