Shearing The Alpacas

It was that time of year again on the Alpaca farm - the day to rid the Alpacas of their heavy winter coats. The average yield was about eight pounds per animal. When it was all over there were seventeen skinny looking animals and seventeen bags of fleece, or fiber, ready for processing.

The professional shearer came from Roanoke. Neighbors came to help. Thirteen year-old Jordan was excused from school to help. The animals were not exactly cooperative. They had to be caught and a halter put on so they could be secured to the top rail of the fence inside the barn. By leaning against the animal, wedging it to the fence, the shearer was able to work one side, then the other. Some struggled more than others. In addition to the shearer, it took one person to hold the Alpaca, another to pick the fleece up from the floor, another to hold the bag for the fleece, and another to catch and get the next animal ready - five workers in all.

Now the fleece has to be shipped to a mill for washing, drying, and carding, before being spun into yarn. Then if all goes well, it will be sold to knitting guilds in various parts of the country, and the farm’s overhead costs will be covered for the year.

Ann and I delayed our departure from the farm long enough to witness all of this and help a little.