Alpaca Shearing
Alpaca shearing is a crucial aspect of alpaca husbandry that maintains their health and well-being.
Why Farms Choose TopKnot
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Professional & polished shearing
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Their pleasant, enjoyable crew
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Stress-free experience
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Comprehensive care
Biosecurity Considerations
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Equipment Washing: We wash and/or disinfect all equipment thoroughly between farms to prevent the transmission of diseases.
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Disinfecting: Our disinfection process uses reliable cleaners to eliminate bacteria or parasites that may come in contact with the equipment during shearing.
Weather Considerations
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Rain Preparation: Monitor local weather forecasts leading up to shearing day and take precautions if rain is forecasted. Keeping animals dry and inside before shearing day is essential.
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Wet Alpacas: While we can shear wet alpacas, it adds can ruin a year's harvest of fiber. If the alpacas are wet when shorn, you'll need to keep the bags of fiber open to air dry.
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Cancellation Policy: If you decide to cancel for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. We are happy to recommend someone else to make sure you're taken care of. Rescheduling, when possible, is challenging due to our tight schedule during the season.
Take a look behind the shears
Other Tips for the day
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Shearing Area Setup:
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Provide a clean, dry area with a solid surface for setting up two mats/shearing stations.
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Concrete is preferable for easy cleaning during the shearing process.
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Ensure a minimum of 20 feet between tie-off points for our ropes, though flexibility is maintained to adapt to various farm setups.
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Animal Preparation:
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Keep animals dry and corralled in a holding pen close to the shearing area.
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To facilitate the shearing process, ensure alpacas are dry, as shearing damp animals can complicate fiber drying.
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Animal Care Before Shearing:
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Keep animals off water for 12 hours before shearing to ensure cleaner, drier fiber.
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Consider withholding food on shearing day until after shearing to minimize animal restlessness, fights, and jumping, resulting in less spitting and cleaner fiber.
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