If you visit the farm before and after shearing, you might do a double take. One week our alpacas look like giant walking cotton balls. The next, they look like completely different animals, with long necks, skinny legs and big fluffy heads. Don't worry, they're the same alpacas! They just got their yearly haircut.
Why alpacas need to be sheared
Alpacas don't shed their fleece on their own the way some animals shed their coats. Their fiber just keeps growing, year after year. Without shearing, all that fleece would get heavy, hot and hard to keep clean. Shearing keeps them comfortable, healthy and happy.
Once a year, in the spring
Alpacas are sheared once a year, and spring is the time. That timing matters. By spring, the coldest weather is behind us, so they don't need their heavy winter coat anymore. And with summer on the way, getting that fleece off helps them stay cool when the hot, humid days arrive. By the time fall comes back around, their fleece has grown back in to keep them cozy all winter.
Does it hurt?
Nope. Shearing is a lot like getting a haircut. Fleece doesn't have feeling, so cutting it doesn't hurt. Alpacas aren't always fans of the process, mostly because they don't love being held still, but experienced shearers work quickly and carefully to keep them calm and safe. Once it's over, they usually shake it off, wander back to their buddies and go right back to grazing.
More than just a haircut
Shearing day is often a good time to take care of a few other things while the alpacas are already being handled.
- Toenail trims: Alpacas have soft, padded feet with two toes, and their nails need regular trimming.
- Teeth checks: A quick look to make sure everything is healthy.
- A good once-over: Without all that fluff, it's easy to see how each alpaca is doing.
Where does all that fleece go?
This is the best part. Alpaca fiber is soft, warm and lightweight, and it doesn't contain lanolin, the natural oil found in sheep's wool. After shearing, the fleece is sorted, since the softest fiber usually comes from the back and sides. From there, it can be cleaned and spun into yarn and made into all kinds of cozy things, like socks. Alpaca socks are a farm favorite for a reason.
You can find alpaca goods and other farm favorites at All Things Sheared, our farm store.
The before-and-after is worth seeing
- Before shearing: Peak fluff. Perfect for photos.
- After shearing: Long necks, slim bodies and the funniest fluffy heads.
- A few months later: The fluff starts coming back in.
Come see the herd
Whether you catch our alpacas in full fluff or fresh from their haircut, they're always fun to visit. Check our website for current tours, and visit our FAQ page if you have questions before you come. We'll see you at the farm!
