Got my shearing dates set, got my crew lined up, got my combs and cutters all sharpened and the shears are lubed… Ready, set, go! Right? Nooooo way. Having been my own shearer now for a few years, I can assure you that a smooth day takes more than picking a date and hiring a crew!
Planning, man. You need to plan your work and then work your plan!!
The order -
who are you going to shear first, second and so on. I like to start with males and then go from white to darkest colors. Within each color, you ought to work from finest to coarsest. Of course, I make some adjustments for my personal situation. I know that each year it takes me a couple of alpacas to “get my hand back” so I like to start actually with a couple of fellas with stronger fiber so that if I don’t do such a fabulous job it’s not going to ruin a good fleece. Same thing for the females except, my preference is to always do the cria’s last. I figure by the time I get to them I’ll be most in the groove and will do the best job in the fastest time. That’s my theory anyhow.
Paperwork -
Now that I’ve got my shearing order set in my mind, I like to make up colored index card sets for each alpaca to go into their fleece bag. I write each alpaca’s name and whether it is
- 1sts (blanket),
- 2nds (necks and upper legs – pieces) or
- 3rds (good enough to not be trash but not good enough to be 2nds).
- Sample – for the 2″ mid-side sample
I use colored 5×7 cards and I always use the same color for all 1sts, another color for 2nds, another for 3rd. With clear bags and a bright colored card – you easily an see who’s bag came from who and what it is.
What else needs doing for each alpaca on Shearing day?
I also like to make a note card for each alpaca to remind what else I want to do while they are on the mat. Who needs a fiber sample (I take samples from every alpaca which makes remembering that part easy!), who am I planning to show and want to take their fleece more carefully or finish them off a bit more tidily. Who needs their fighting teeth trimmed, toenails etc. Some people like to take care of worming or vaccinations on shearing day – personally I don’t because I don’t care to add to the animal’s stress and it’s easy enough for me to do it on a different day but if you do need to do something like that you would make a note of it on their “needs” card. Some animals have specific situations I want to check out such as checking their bite or examining their skin.
Supplies and organization -
Make sure I have PLENTY of clear bags – I use the Lawn and Leaf bags from Lowes.
Makes sure I have Plenty of quart size Baggies for fiber samples.
I clip the 4 cards for each alpaca fleece bag plus their needs card together and put them in the order I want to shear. That way on shearing day, all you have to do is drop each card in a clear bag and get the right alpaca on the mat to keep yourself on track. Simple.
