To
Shear or Not To Shear
Be
humane: Shear!
Even in Canada we can
have days warm enough in the summer for a heavy fibered
llama to die of heat stress.
If your llamas are shorn in April / May or even June
they will still grow enough fiber back to be comfortable in
the winter. As llama producers it is our responsibility to
practice herd health; which will require you to have at the
bare minimum a de-worming, shearing and vaccination program.
Llamas with suri type
fiber that lays close to the body seem to be hotter than
those with a dense but fluffy fleece. Light wool llamas also
need to be shorn - their fiber is dense and the skin needs
to be able to breathe.
Llamas that are shorn do
very well in a show ring. Shearing makes it easier for a
judge to evaluate the llama, besides, sheared llamas are
beautiful! They have beautiful smooth bodies.
If you are thinking of purchasing a llama it is very
easy to judge back length and body type if the animal is
shorn.
How
Much Fiber Do I Take Off?
There are many styles to
choose from or you may get creative.
-
Modified
Lion Cut:
This is the cut I prefer. It is great for breeding males
because it allows air to circulate around the testicles
as well as opening the midsection to cool the body, as
on the barrel cut. The Lion Cut helps prevent premature
births and allows the ladies to be more comfortable
caring for their babies and in giving birth. Crias also
find it much easier to nurse from their moms.
-
Total
Shear or Modified Pasture Cut:
This is a shear much like the shear that most alpaca
people do. It is from the ears down to the knees, perfect for taking all
that old matted fibre off and allowing for fresh new
growth. This
type of cut is not a cut you would consider if you plan
on showing in the next year but is wonderful as a
pasture cut. The
prime fibre can be spun into yarn and the seconds, neck,
legs and underbelly can be blended with wool or made
into felt by itself.
Once you
have started a shearing program it is heartwarming to see
how the llamas enjoy playing like young children in the sun.
We often see our old pregnant females pronging around
the pasture. It
also seems to greatly improve dispositions.
Ideally,
before you shear, it is best to shampoo the llama and let
the wool dry completely , then blow and brush the fleece to
get the dirt and vegetable matter out of it. The dirt dulls
the blades of both the scissors and shears. Clean fibre is
ideal, but we don't always have the time to do it properly.
Try to keep a good long length to the fibre when you take it
off. Second
cuts should be avoided if at all possible.
Fibre that is 5 to 6 inches long is much easier to
have spun into yarn and made into something special.
Devices
Used for Shearing
-
Hand
Shears:
They are fast, but harder for a woman to hold. You need
a lot of practice to do a good job
-
Scissors:
These are easy to use and fit well in a small hand. The
llamas seem to tolerate
the scissors quite well. The hand shears or scissors
give a bit of a scalloped effect that grows out looking
very nice. The difference between a good haircut and a
great haircut is about six weeks growth. It takes about
30 minutes to give a llama a haircut with scissors.
Leave about ½ to 1 inch of wool on the body.
-
Electric
Shears:
They are wonderful but can be quite heavy. When using
electric shears, you will shear to the skin, leaving
about ¼ inch on the body. The finished job is even and
smooth, but keep in mind, they shear very close. So if
you do not have shade and fans where the llamas can
relax during the sunny hours, they could get sunburned.
Procedure
-
Sweep
the floor where you will be working and let the llama
stand on a sheet to catch the wool as it falls from the
body during cutting. It is always best to put the llama
into a chute for the safety of the llama as well as
yourself. It
is ideal to put the cut fleece into a
paper bag, not a plastic bag.
the reason for this is -- if the fleece is damp
at all it will mold and
mildew becoming totally unusable.
-
Techniques
and steps are similar for the hand and electric shears
and for the scissors. With a brush, make a pattern in
the wool that will help guide you as you cut.
-
Always
start at the top line on the back and make your cut down
the center of the back, keeping inside your outline. You
can cut more off as you go, but you cannot put it back
on.
-
Cut
forward, to the bottom of the neck, I usually cut the
fiber up into the back of the neck where all the hay
trash likes to congregate.
-
Now
cut back to about four inches from the top of the start
of the tail. A
good shearing job can help level out the topline to the
discriminating viewer.
-
Now
we angle the point on the scissors or shears down and
slightly away from the body so as not to jab the points
into the llama, in the event the llama should move. Use
your fingers under the handle of the scissors as a guide
not to cut too close.
-
With
the scissors, cut the wool in a parallel line to the top
line, across the body, stopping at the desired mark and
keep repeating until you have cut the entire side and
half of the belly.
-
Now
you can trim the scallops by lifting the wool that
remains on the body with your fingers and cut off the
high points. When you are somewhat satisfied, smooth the
freshly sheared body with a soft brush.
-
Angle
the electric shears down the body when doing the sides.
It is best to have some idea which cut you wish
your llama to have before you start.
Shearing
Pictures Courtesy Hiway #5 Llamas, Cliff & Sylvia Gryba
306-383-2625
Shearing
is important. It allows your llama to have a great summer
and actually to enjoy the warm weather.
We have noticed that the animals we do a pasture or
total shear on enjoy sunbathing while the others tend to run
for shade at every occasion.
Shearing might also prevent your animals from
suffering Heat stress and death.
MAKE
THEM HAPPY, KEEP THEM HEALTHY----
SHEAR!!
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