Everyone Gets A Hair Cut!

Wednesday of this week our alpacas had their annual hair cut, better known as a shearing.  We left to assist the shearing process at Benchmark Alpacas at 5:45 a.m.  After a few turn arounds at the end of the driveway, because we forgot my boots, the checkbook, Jeff's phone and our minds, we arrived at Benchmark around 8:00 a.m. just in time for the shearing madness to begin.

Barrie Lynn, Benchmark Alpacas' owner, already had a job assignment lined up for me.  I was in charge of recording the weight of the each shorn fleece as the prime cutting and then the total weight with the 2nd and 3rd cuttings added.  The prime cut is the back and the sides.  This would be used for fiber shows and spinning fine yarns for apparel knitting and weaving.  The prime displays the density, luster and softness of the fiber.  The 2nd cutting consists of the neck, chest, and upper legs and could be used for any non apparel applications.  The 3rd cutting is the stomach, face, and lower legs.  It is used for felting and filling as it is the coarsest.

It was fascinating to watch Barrie Lynn and the system she had in place.  She has been in the business for 20 years and is used to handling 150 alpacas.  She was well organized and took into account every procedure that needed to be done, including shots, worming, hoof trimming, teeth filing, and fly spray application.  She had a station for each procedure and each alpaca would "walk the line."

Barrie Lynn at the prepping station prior to the shearing station.

The shearer, Sam, was from New Zealand originally, and had a lovely accent.  He and his assistant have a nomadic life, traveling across the country shearing alpacas and sheep.  Benchmark Alpacas was the only farm in Michigan he was shearing at.  Then they were headed south to Pennsylvania. 

Sam is working on shearing the alpaca's head.  He has already sheared the body and upper legs.

The guys are putting the noose around  Rafael's hind legs.  Then they'll do the front legs prior to gently stretching him out.

I learned a lot Wednesday.  Though I'm afraid not enough for me to do this next year by myself!  I also found alpacas are definitely not aggressive animals.  I knew this but it was nice to see this in action.  They were trussed, clipped and flipped.  Their teeth were filed and their hooves sniped.  I would be just a little disgruntled with all that handling and although they were, expressing their displeasure in various ways, none of those ways posed a danger to anyone handling them.  In order to keep the alpaca stationary while they are being sheared, nooses are slipped over each leg just above the hoof.  Then through a pulley the alpaca is stretched out so it's legs are above their head and behind them while they lay on their belly.  They are immobilized this way and are not thrashing about.  Some alpacas were more accepting then others.  The unhappy ones made a soft screeching sound that didn't let up until they were released from their bonds.  Others screeched and slobbered.  And only one out of 50 got up from her captivity mad enough to spit!  Woo she was an unhappy Missy!  She by the way is the mother of the darling Daisy Mae.  Daisy Mae, in case you don't remember, is the youngest member of our herd, being born 12/13/14.  She is bright eyed, inquisitive and always wearing a smile.

Look at her smile!  This was taken pre-shearing.

Her smile will melt the meanest heart!  That is her Momma to her right, the spitter.

Speaking of getting hair cuts.  Linus got his about three weeks ago.  He is now sporting the lean gangly look.

Linus' new look.

The lean mean vole hunting machine is showing off his "puppy paws!"

Finally a few pics of my square foot garden.  It's coming together.  I've already planted onions and garlic and asparagus (which we won't be able to pick until next summer).  Since I've been warned the frost date here isn't until June 1st I'm impatiently practising patience.

I'm hoping to have the garden fenced when the fencing for the pastures goes in.

She isn't the prettiest garden but she'll get the job done.

The asparagus plot.

Lastly, we are awaiting bids on building our barn.  Since we are trying to get bids during the busiest time of the year it is slow going.  Every time I think about having the alpaca herd here by September 1st I get very anxious. :(  Best to keep busy so I don't have to think about it.