Shearing

Alpaca shearing is a vital part of an alpaca’s life. Alpaca have been domesticated for the last 6,000 years and do not exist in the wild, as such they rely on farmers to ensure that their needs are met by being shorn every year. Shearing is an animal welfare issue and therefore one of the most important aspects of alpaca husbandry.

They can be shorn on a table or on the floor, both methods are safe for the alpaca and shearer. The alpaca is restrained, [legs and head] to ensure safety for alpaca and the shearer.  It usually takes approximately 5-10 minutes an animal.

A mid side fleece sample can be taken by the shearer for testing. Most shearers will trim the toenails while the alpaca is restrained.

Fleece is the most valuable product of the alpaca and care needs to be taken in harvesting to present in the best condition. Ensure alpaca are kept in a clean paddock before shearing day (free from weeds, sticky seeds etc).

Tips

Alpaca fibre should be harvested under the best possible conditions, starting on shearing day by doing the following.....

• Clean woolshed or shearing area on shearing day.
• Shear main colour first to avoid colour contamination.
• Shear lowest micron first to avoid contamination of strong fibres.
• Blanket first shearing.
• Clean shed between animals.
• Clean skirting area.

Blanket fleece [across the body] should be sorted into separate containers [plastic or paper bag], some like to also keep the neck fibre separate. Seconds [legs and bellies] are kept separate in bins, they can be collected in separate colours. Fleece for shows can be laid out flat then rolled in fabric to keep the shape.

List of Shearers

The AANZ have done their very best to provide a full list of people who can provide the services sought by our members and other alpaca owners. However the AANZ does not endorse nor promote any of the names on the lists.  It is the responsibility of the person engaging the service to conduct their own due diligence on that service provider.

If you are not on the list and would like to be included please contact the AANZ Secretary on [email protected]

Below is a list of New Zealand shearers, all shearers listed can include trimming toenails in their services.

Nationwide

Name

Contact

Location

Style

Nigels Shearing

027 468 1903

[email protected]

Nationwide

Show cuts, Floor shearing

Shear Pac

022 370 3540

[email protected]

Nationwide

International alpaca shearers, Show quality

Shear Light

021 034 9950

[email protected]

Nationwide

Show cuts, Floor shearing

The Shearer

022 587 9442

[email protected]

Nationwide

Flexible style, also do sheep, goats

Ebel Shearing Services

1 (315) 628-1191

www.alpaca-shearing.com

Nationwide - American shearer in NZ  November and early December

Floor Shearing, see website for more info.

North Island

Shun Oishi

021 029 31789

[email protected]

Auckland, Northland, Canterbury

Show cuts, Floor shearing

Keenan Scott

021 0335589

[email protected]

Cambridge

Table shearing

Leon Jovanovic

027 372 8860

[email protected]

Bay of Plenty

Table shearing

Janice Aldridge

06 752 0668

[email protected]

Taranaki to Wanganui

Show cuts, Table shearing

Eric Lister

027 325 8101

[email protected]

Palmerston North

Table shearing

Allan Oldfield

027 529 2491

[email protected]

Lower North Island

Floor shearing

Jared Bambry

027 259 5062

[email protected]

Lower North Island

Taranaki if sufficient interest

Table shearing

Sean's Shearing

027 484 4047

Waikato to Whangarei & beyond

Table or floor shearing

South Island

Michael Matthews

027 337 8925

[email protected]

South Island

Floor shearing

Brendan Riddle

027 433 1094

[email protected]

Canterbury

Floor shearing

James Dixon (Aus)

022 614 7970

[email protected]

Canterbury, Otago

Floor shearing

Gus Patterson

027 303 0544

[email protected]

Canterbury, Otago

Show cuts, Floor shearing

Jeremy

022 301 9912

[email protected]

Eweniversal Shearing

022 078 0919

Tama

Otago, Southland