Today was a big day in our calendar,
Shearing day for the Alpacas.
West Wales Shearers was who we used this year and will be using them again. Very impressed.
They used a tilt table method that was set up on a trailer bed
Imogen was first up, led out of the pen walked along the platform table and straps are put in place to hold her secure
The platform is then tilted on to the trailer
Feet are restrained, so no one gets injured by kicking hooves
Once in place and secure the body straps are removed
and shearing can start
As work progresses the alpaca shrinks in size
turned over so the other side can be done
Then a dental check
a bit of filing to keep those gnashes in check
The onlookers know it will soon be there turn
Odd job was up next
Then our little Kara her first time being sheared
and there wasn't much left of her after, she was just a big bundle of fluff.
Kara hung about while the rest were done, showing off her pom pom tail
Nick Nack was last
All done now a lot more comfortable and cooler they soon went about there Alpaca business of the day
That's it for another year, they did a bit of hoof trimming and a body score which is always easier when they are naked, all in tip top condition, very happy about that its always a concern.
Now have 12 sacks of fleece to process and spin, if anyone is interested in raw alpaca fleece I am happy to sell some.
The alpacas were very well behaved and the shearers complimented us on how behaved they were.
How absolutely fascinating Dawn! Thankyou so much for educating me on this. I've only ever seen sheep being shorn, and their wrangling by burly sheerers. I had no idea alpacas were done lying down!
ReplyDeleteWhat files their teeth down in the wild? Different diet?
Alpacas browse the hedges and trees and that is what keeps there teeth down, there was only a little grinding to be done and a few of them didn't need it, when they move to new quarters there is is lots of hedge line for them so hopefully they wont need dentistry work next time :-)
DeleteThank you for answering that for me :) my plan one day is to get a guardian alpaca...but need land first! And land with good hedge like browse :)
DeleteWhat an interesting experience Dawn. They look so teeny tiny with out fleeces!
ReplyDeletethey look small but they pack a punch all muscle :-)
DeleteLike sheep, they look quite naked when they have been done but I am sure they feel much better.
ReplyDeleteMuch better off with a hop skip and a jump :-)
DeleteOh don't they look cute?
ReplyDeletecute and tiny :-)
DeleteLove the pom pom tail. They look so elegant and fragile when first shorn, I hope that we get the weather that they deserve now.
ReplyDeleteThey look fragile but oh they are so strong :-)
DeleteI always freak out when it is time to shear our alpacas - they squeal and shriek so...
ReplyDeleteLucky you to have travelling shearers - we have an enormous problem trying to locate someone to do it for us. And, then coming equipped with a tilt table - brilliant!!
Martin is looking at making something similar for when we trim the feet :-)
DeleteCute! I wish I knew how to spin, it's been a dream for a few years now.
ReplyDeleteI am still teaching myself to spin as and when there is time :-)
Deleteoh they are just too cute after being shorn! like Mountain Muma said above - i have never seen that tilt process and i imagine it is so much nicer than being wrangled around! i loved all the pics because the remind me our new stray cat Edgar Houdini - whose long fur was so matted that we took him to get fixed and shaved. poor little guy - he looks just like your alpacas...although he's quite a bit smaller - bahahahah!
ReplyDeletesending love! your friend,
kymber
I am impressed with the system and they did seem very calm, no spitting and thrashing :-)
DeleteHello from the US, Indiana to be specific (Hoosier land). Loved seeing how the alpacas are sheared. We raise Shetland sheep and they were just sheared last week, everyone is lots cooler now!
ReplyDeleteIf you have alpaca fleece to sell, let me know, I'd love to blend some with our wool and spin it up this fall.
I did look at sending some to the USA but raw fleece is a prohibited very sorry, I would loved to have sent some to you. :-(
DeleteHow totally cool! Do they do that with sheep as well. Seems like a great invention! A lot less stress on the critter as well as the shearer. It's amazing how much they shrink after they are shorn. OMGosh I would love some fleece but I think from Wales to the US would probably be wicked expensive... sigh
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by my blog... it was wonderful to get back into the swing of blogging again and to hear from my blogging sisters!
Hugs from across the pond,
Beth P
I dont think any sheep get sheared like this, sheep are a lot smaller, it would take up to much time shearing sheep by this method. :-)
DeleteThis is my first visit here; I love your alpacas. The little brown one is especially cute. I can see why you hire someone to shear them, it looks quite tricky and needing the right equipment. Hello from California. Come on over and say hi.
ReplyDeleteI will pop over and welcome :-)
DeleteLove this post Dawn, thank you for sharing as it's very interesting! They all look very cute when they're naked again and I should think they appreciate it on these warmer days. x
ReplyDeleteThey do love being without there fleeces, before shearing they were laying in the shade and just drinking water non stop now they are out grazing and hardly touching the water :-)
DeleteThis is so interesting ..thank for sharing your Alpaca pics .How much is your Alpaca fleece ?
ReplyDelete