Alpaca Shearing Time - Watch How it's Done -

Alpaca Shearing Time

The fur on an alpaca is so thick that when it’s sheared it comes off in what looks like a blanket (and that’s what the sheared fur is called). I am not an authority on alpacas by any means but I wanted to see what the shearing event was like so I loaded up two of my six grandchildren and off we went to watch.

When we arrived most of them had already been sheared. There were a few left waiting for their turn.

Getting sheared is a big deal to an alpaca and they were all a little nervous. Because I’d never seen the process I didn’t know what to expect. The man who was in charge and actually did the shearing was a professional and could shear them unbelievably fast. According to him and the lady who owns the alpacas there are lots of ways to do the shearing but this is the most humane. These animals weren’t drugged, the process was quick and not painful and as you can see by the video, once it’s over they were off to go play, eat and do whatever alpacas do all day.

There were bags and bags of fur that will be used to make alpaca products. The animals obviously are well cared for and seemed happy about their new hair cuts.

My 5 year old granddaughter wanted to know if they would cut our hair too. I told her I didn’t think her mom would be too happy with me if I took her back home with her head shaved!