We had a very successful Shearing Day last Friday. We had a new team of shearers and they were extremely efficient and strong! All hands were on deck to help and it was very nice to have Liz back in action! She had just had knee surgery last year so she had to sit and direct us. This year she walked over 20,000 steps taking alpacas back and forth to different fields!
Shearing is essential for the animal's health. If you don't shear them, the hair will grow too long, could cause heat stroke and damage their skin and muscles. They are shorn once a year, usually in May before it gets too hot. They are roped on their legs and spread out on a map. This does not hurt them. They don't love it, but if you didn't do it this way it would be impossible to shear! Some alpacas just lay there and don't seem to care at all. Others scream from the second they lay down until they're done! Drama QUEENS! Lol. While they're down for a haircut they also have their teeth grinded down and toe nails clipped. Spa day for the pacas!
Paige helped us this year and it was so nice to have her. Wade was the only grandkid that got to skip school to help and he was a HUGE help.
All the fleeces were bagged up and my mom will go through them to "skirt" them (clean them by picking out dirt, hay, etc.) Then she and Liz will decided what fleeces will be sent to the fiber mill to be made into yarn. Mom and Dad will drive it up to Vermont in June and we should have our yarn back to sell early September. It's a long process but so worth it!
um, hot guy in the pink shirt, not sure about the butt in the shot, i think i will pass!! i wish i was strong enough to help, it sounds like a great day!!
ReplyDeleteYay, Liz and all of the walking on that newish knee! Wade is such a cutie and I hope he stays interested and will be the next big farm hand! I love the yarn I bought there from your store! It's so soft and I'll pet it and think about it for awhile before I decide what I'll use it for. I loved seeing all of the nakey pacas when we were there....I know it's alot of work, but I am someone who appreciates all the work that farms are (since we owned horses for 20 some years). B.J.
ReplyDelete