Alpaca Tips

I recommend enlarging the Roof Inspection Port and covering in Perspex for added natural light to encourage stock to enter, when deciding where to cut the door ensure the inspection port is at the opposite side for maximum light. By framing the cut doorway and window to the floor you retain much of the original strength.

Shearing Tips:

Shearing is probably the most stressful time for an Alpaca. Here are some tips that work for us to make it a less stressful experience all round for Shearer, handler and alpaca.

• Don't isolate the Alpaca being shorn any more than necessary. They are a very social animal and having one or two Buddies in direct sight and nearby calms them considerably, especially Dam and Cria. We let animals move around the Shearing table and in nose contact with the Alpaca being shorn.

• When Shearing on a table keeping the Head square to the Body we find is in a neutral tension position and the animal is much more relaxed. Head back or Hanging over the table is stressful. Head forward and the animal instinctively wants to run.

• Shrouding the Alpaca's nose and eye with the Arm holding the Alpaca's ear (Handler) when shearing on a Table comforts many Alpaca as it does when they are stressed and push their heads into your clothing.

• Starting your first blow with the Shearing handpiece on the Shoulder or Flank (Depending on which end is your preference to start on) not on the Leg allows the Alpaca time to get used to the vibration and desensitise. Most Alpaca are very sensitive on the legs as there is not as much Muscle and Fat tissue to insulate them from the Handpiece vibration.

• We are also trying various Homeopathic Stress relieving treatments in the trough prior to shearing which is proving successful for us. Easy to administer and certainly worth a try.

• NB: Having your Alpacas in a clean Paddock free of loose Vegetation and Dust Baths will help minimise fleece contamination and consequential loss of yield when processing especially in the carding process where your good fleece snags and can get removed with the Vegetation.

Alpaca Birthing:

Correct Presentation pictured below.

Cria hanging and draining satisfactorily, likely to still be connected to Umbilical Cord Supply.

Dam indenting with Cria's scent (Try to refrain form interferring at this stage to allow bonding and no Human scent, especially in the Head or Tail Areas)

I hope some of these Tips prove successful for you and your Alpaca. Please answer the Poll or submit a question at the top of this page. For more information or if you have any questions about the health or management of your alpacas feel free to Contact Us.