Shearing Day at P&CW Farm

An alpaca, tied to the shearing table, being relieved of her fleece.

The weather was so hot on shearing day that Gerdi had to travel to our farm with her helper for the alpaca shearing. I was afraid to put the animals in the small trailer and ask them to travel an hour and a half in this baking heat. We were grateful that our new shearer was able to make the trip.

Unfortunately, with the steady heat for the past few days, the alpacas' coats have been wet and much of the fleece was not even worth trying to salvage. While I should have been packing the animals with ice bags beneath their armpits, instead I ran the sprinkler. And although we have fans in the barn, it is so low and close that the alpacas have not been housed up there for some weeks.

Newly-shorn alpaca gals rest in the shade within easy reach of electrolyte-laden water.

We appreciated the work that basically saved our herd from perishing in the heat, and the bushels of good advice imparted by the shearer and her helper. Since their visit, we carefully spread out the fleeces that we chose to keep and were able to dry them in the sun before they could mildew in a bag. The alpacas were so glad to be relieved of their coats that they quickly forgave me for the indignity of the shearing experience. None was eager to be separated from the herd, then tied to a tabletop and clipped; all were smiling, though, by the time they were released from the table.

I'm beginning to think that it was unwise for us to bring alpacas to this climate. Indeed, by the time the shearers left, I was about ready to crumple in the heat myself. I cannot imagine how tough this weather is for animals better suited to cooler climes.