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Q:Who to call for booking ? A: Q: Comb and how much fiber is
left on ? A: Joshua uses a Mark-9
comb. This comb is designed to leave ¼ of an inch
of fiber on the animal, giving it protection from
the sun and cold. The density of each
individual animal’s fiber will determine how pink
they look. Suris are more prone to look pink as
their fiber is a different texture from Huacayas. Q: Using two shearing
stations as opposed to one A: Two shearing stations utilize
time and make your shearing day work efficiently.
Not only do you have time to clean one shearing area
whilst the shearer’s working on the other one,
(making fleece contamination a non issue), but you
also have time to put the next animal to be shorn
down slowly, carefully and correctly. This is
important especially for the pregnant females. It
eliminates rushing so everyone stays calm which
really helps the shearers as the animals themselves
are calmer and do not struggle so much when it’s
their turn to be shorn. Q: Distances between shearing
stations. A: The optimal distance between
shearing stations is 6’ (feet). This area is
for the shearer only! You are risking serious injury
if you invade his space. Q: Distance for tying off
ropes A: The optimal distance is 20’
(feet) between the tie off point of the front &
back ropes. If you don’t have a suitable area,
there have been some fairly make-shift situations so
don’t despair. The shearing can take place outside
on suitable flooring i.e. shearing platforms,
explained later. The minimal distance you can work
safely with is 20’. It’s also very important to
have the ropes as low to the ground as possible. No
more than 2inches off the ground. You can use eye
bolts in the flooring, or wooden posts. This is more
comfortable for the animals and also helps prevent
the ropes from twisting. Please see the
attached pictures of the rope setup. Q: How much time for each
animal? A: This depends on the help you
manage to get for the day – seriously!!
Joshua is capable of shearing an animal in approx
5-7 minutes, so if shearing day is taking longer
than you expected maybe some more people or job
changes among current people working are necessary.
If the clippers aren’t running, you aren’t
getting any shearing done! Down time between animals
lengthens the day unnecessarily. Before shearing
starts, talk to your shearer and discuss break
times. How many animals would you like to have done
before a break? Break times should be about 10min,
with the exception of the lunch break. Don’t let
anyone escape during these times! You can use these
breaks to get organized for the next run: Clean up,
change fiber bags, etc. Owners – take this
opportunity to talk with Joshua and make sure
everything’s running smoothly, and you’re
getting the job you want. Q: How many helpers are
needed? A: Ok, there needs to be a take
down crew of two people to hold the animal. The rope
person will be responsible for putting the ropes on
the alpaca legs. This crew can also get the next
animal, put back the shorn ones, and clean shearing
stations. One person to pull the ropes; one person
to be the “Fiber Chicken”. This person will work
closely with the shearer and he will school you on
how, when, and when NOT to grab fiber. Fiber
Chickens – Please listen carefully, your fingers are
at risk!!! Fiber chickens will also be the Butt
person. This will also be explained by your shearer.
Generally Joshua brings a head-man with him. It’s
also very important that once people have started,
they remain at their designated job for the rest of
the day. This will help your day go by more
efficiently and safely. Of course if you’re going
to be weighing fleeces and cleaning, you’ll need
more help. Tip
– have all of your fleece bags name-tagged before
shearing begins. Q: Shearing of Pregnant
Females: A: This is one of the most
frequently asked questions during booking. Most of
the females shorn during the shearing season are
pregnant. They have been shorn when they’re over
due, on the day they’re due, weeks before etc. If
we were to give you a percentage out of the
thousands of females that are shorn every season,
about 90% are pregnant. Of course, if you still have
any questions regarding the health and safety of
your pregnant females, you can always talk to your
vet or other owner’s who have worked with Joshua
in the past. Q: Shearing of cria: A: Cria shearing is a wonderful
thing. Your baby gets rid of the amniotic fluid from
his/hers fleece so when you shear them as a yearling
you will have a staple without sticky ends. This is,
again, a personal choice for all breeders. Ask
Joshua when he comes, if you have any babies at that
time, to shear them. Yes we do put them down in the
ropes: they struggle just as much as an adult.
Safety first!! Of course they don’t have to be
stretched that hard, but firmly enough to keep them
still. Always keep Mother right there so when baby
gets up they can re-acquaint with each other.
We haven’t heard much feed back of mothers not
accepting their baby’s after shearing. Shearing of
Suri cria is not as common as Huacayas due to the
difference in fleeces. But that doesn’t mean the
boys won’t do it. Tip – Other owners have
provided me with this tip. If
by chance the mother should reject the cria - often a
ride together in the trailer will re – acquaint
them. Q: Socks for Spitting and
Asphyxiation concerns: A: This approach to eliminate
fiber contamination has been very successful. Again,
out of the number of animals shorn every season, we
have not heard of any trouble with animals
asphyxiating. They need to be average length as we
all know that these animals can and do seem to
produce endless amounts of that lovely green slimy
spit. The head man is familiar with this procedure
and knows to keep an eye on whether or not to
replace the sock. Not surprisingly, they can fill
up. It’s also not a good idea to use socks with holes.
I know no explanation is needed. Q: Trimming toenails and
giving shots: A: These two things need to be
done either before Joshua gets to the animal or
after. However you want to work it. Again, here
comes the reason for using two sets of ropes. This
gives your team time to get this done in a calm
fashion. If you’re giving shots before shearing,
don’t worry if you see blood after shearing.
Giving shots can cause slight bleeding. On the other
hand, there is no need to draw blood
when trimming toe-nails. It should only take one
action for each foot. There is no need to spend time
cutting off and shaping the end of the nail. See
picture.
Q: How to put animals down safely: A: OK…. This is really
important. Whoever you choose to be the put down
team MUST be strong and fit!!
This is a very physical job – especially if you
have Suris. Please try to make sure these people can
stay until shearing is done. It’s extremely
important for the chosen workers to really pay
attention when the shearer and his head man are
teaching this technique. There has been many a train
wreck, but there doesn’t have to be. When you
watch the video it looks easy, but for those of you
who have done it, you know it’s hard work. It’s
also important not to go grabbing and wrestling the
animals. This upsets them and makes it very hard on
the shearer and especially the headman. Always try
to take a quiet approach and maneuver them gently
into position. I know this is hard to do sometimes,
but this is why you need strong men for this job.
When the animal is down and stretched out, it’s
very important to CHECK and make sure the ropes are
on correctly. The rope should be right above the
fetlock. NOT half way up the leg, and NOT below the
fetlock.. This can cause serious injury to the
animal.
The “Rope” person is also
part of the take down crew and needs to pay
attention. He/she needs to check the rope tension
every time so it’s not too tight or loose. He/she
also needs to RUN when it’s time
to pull when taking down an animal and tightening
after the shearer does the brisket. Pulling hand
over hand is NOT an option. He/she also needs
to be paying attention 100% of the time. Slack ropes
are dangerous to the animals, shearer, headman and
fiber chicken!! He/she also needs to check the ropes
for twisting every time. Other workers need to be
paying attention so as NOT to be standing
chatting in the way of the rope person(not that you
should be standing and chatting anyway ^_^).You are
looking to be bowled over!!
Owners- It’s very important for you
to be present when the “Put Down” demo is
happening. We do not want any of your animals to be
injured. But it is up to you to keep an eye on what
is happening with your animals and your choice of
people for help that day. The shearer and his
headman are focused on Shearing and cannot be
expected to be able to keep an eye on everything
that’s going on all the time. That responsibility
is Yours. Q: Taking off Halters A: This needs to be done
after the animal is put down and is securely in the
ropes, and before the shearer gets
to it. Also check for name tags around the neck.
These are very hard to shear around, through or
over! Halters go back on before ropes are taken off
and animals are let up!!!! Q: Holding pens in close
proximity to shearing stations; without any bedding: A: You will only be wasting time
and energy, for you and the shearer, if your holding
pens are too far away. Efficiency is always a plus.
No bedding is more for your fiber than the shearer.
If you are going to be showing fleeces it’s going
to be easier to prep your fleece with less
contamination. The ideal situation is to place a pen
at either end of the shearing stations. You then
have a pen for animals to be held in, i.e., a
catch-pen for animals still needing to be shorn, and
a release pen for those animals that are finished.
Q: What can we use if enough help is not
available? A: Hopefully this is not an
issue. Though we understand that for some of you it
is and can be a problem. Really there is no
substitute for an extra set of hands on shearing
day. If you are short however, it would be greatly
appreciated if the shearer knows ahead of time.
Yours may not be the only place he will shear ON
that day. It also gives him the opportunity to
call ahead to other owners if there is an expected
delay. Q: Transporting Animals
for Shearing Hubs A: You have no idea how
much this helps all of us during shearing season. It
reduces time spent packing up, setting up and
driving between farms. This can add up to many hours
wasted in just one day. Of course, we know that not
all of you have trailers. For those of you who do
and do travel so our shearers don’t have to, we
thank you sincerely. The shearers may have to
travel up to 30,000 miles in those main shearing
months. So any break you as owners can give them, I
can assure you, is very much appreciated. Q: Fiber Samples A: These can be taken
during shearing by the Fiber Chicken. This
should be agreed upon by the owners before shearing
while fiber bags are being readied. So as the animal
is being put down the already named bags go next to
that station. The sample is then harvested on the
first side the shearer shears. Fiber Chickens
should know when and where that is. Again, it’s
the Owners responsibility to make sure they do. This
process will not slow down your shearing day and the
sample can then be put in the Blanket bag with the
fleece. It’s also up to the owner to do it this
way, or to already have the fiber sample taken
before shearing. Q: Animal
Identification A: Again, owners please
make sure you have the animals ID before the shearer
gets to it. This can be done in a timely manner once
the Put Down Team has the animal secured in the
ropes on the station were the shearer is not. This
could be a job designated for the rope person. Here
is another example of why 2 sets of ropes make
shearing day so much easier. Q: Bio Security A: While the heat generated from
grinding to sharpen the gear would take care of most
issues, all our shearers wash their gear
throughly. If however you'd like to take extra
measures : foot bathes.e.t.c All of our Q: Accommodation for
Shearers A: This is not expected.
All the boys are very grateful if this is a
possibility. But again you are not obliged to
provide it. If you can and are willing to
accommodate the shearer and his head-man, you can
let that be known during booking. Again this is
greatly appreciated. Q: What to Supply For
Meals A: Wholesome foods and lot’s
of liquids, such as Water & Gatorade .
Spicy foods are very hard on the shearers because
they have to bend over. Might not be very nice for
you either!!! Generally lunch time will last an
hour. This may vary depending on start time and the
amount of animals to be done. Again, be careful no
one escapes and goes home. Q: What to shear on A: The ideal shearing
surface is a platform. Made up of 3 sheets of ¾
inch plywood, 4x8’ screwed down to 2x4’s. This
will give you one shearing station that will measure
8x12 ft. Putting two of these together and running
the ropes down the center of each platform gives you
the perfect shearing area. It’s also easy to
clean. You can also use the
interlocking children’s play mats from Sams Club
or Wall Mart. The product # is 792076 Reversible
Safety Mat. 8 approx. 24" sq.
interlocking mats come in one pack for $19.76 per
pack. If the flooring is concrete, one
could use 11/2 packs of mats per shearing station to
make a 6ft x 8ft surface for the alpaca to lie on.
The mats are easy to sanitize and take up little
more space than a bale of hay. The shearer does not bring mats
or platforms. To keep the day running quickly and
smooth, the above mentioned platform and mats is the
preferred way to shear. Note – Alpacas will walk onto these
easily as opposed to the blue tarps and you can still use the platforms
outside. If you’re shearing outside, you must
provide shade for the shearing area. |
