Shearing a llama has several objectives: 1)to harvest the fiber, 2)to make the llama comfortable for warm weather, 3)to maintain the usefulness and marketability of the fiber, and 4)to create a sheared llama that has a pleasing appearance. All of these objectives are easily attainable even for the novice shearer. Most llama owners shear between April and June. Consider shearing as an educational time to experience the handle of each fleece and to assess and compare fiber quality.
If you are interested in breeding for fiber quality and fiber production, you should take the time to establish and maintain fiber records. These records should include: identification of the llama, the llamas date of birth, date of shearing, number of pounds of prime fiber sheared, and a fiber sample taken from the same place each year. The fiber sample should be labeled with llama identification, age, and date sheared. This information should be entered at each shearing. Much can be learned about the fiber quality and production of your herd by maintaining these simple records.
Different areas of the fleece will be of different qualities. The area from the top of the shoulder to the base of the tail and down both sides of the body to the elbow and the groin is the blanket or the prime fleece. This is the area most typically sheared on a llama. A section of the blanket along the spine extending from the neck to the tail is most likely to be contaminated with vegetation and/or damaged from the weather. This section of fleece should not be mixed with the prime fleece during or after shearing. It can be used for mulch, compost or scattered about for birds to use for nests. Fiber from the neck, apron, belly, and legs can be usable if it is not damaged, contaminated with vegetation or felted, but this is unlikely since these areas are not routinely sheared.
If you are showing your llama, you are probably concerned about how he will look sheared. Experiment with possible looks and find the perfect cut to accentuate the positive characteristics of your llama by using Xerox copies of a side shot photograph to draw lines where the fleece will be removed.
As with any other agricultural harvest, the weather is a factor. Choose a dry, clear day to shear. If dew has fallen the night before, wait to shear until the llama dries. Wet fleece must be dried before storing, which adds another step to the process. It is not advisable to shear a wet llama with electric shears or clippers.
Prepare a Shearing Area
Ideally the area should have a floor that can be swept clean, be well lit, and be near electricity if you plan to use electric shears or clippers. Suggested shearing areas are: a 10 x 10 catch pen, a mini catch pen, a place where the llama can be tied, or a restraint chute. The number of llamas to be sheared, the shearer's stamina and schedule, your training and handling philosophy, and your llama's temperament will determine how much freedom to move your llama can have. Use the least amount of restraint necessary to get the job done safely for you and the llama.
Shearing will take from 20 to 40 minutes with hand or electric shears or clippers.
Clean the Llama
Clean the llama by brushing or blowing and brushing for short periods of about fifteen minutes daily for one to several days before shearing. Grooming to the skin is neither necessary nor advisable since it changes the structure of the fleece, can damage the fiber and is not pleasant for the llama.
Gather Shearing Tools
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Hand shears are less expensive and easier for the novice shearer to use. They may need to be sharpened after each llama. Purchase rigged shears because they spring back after each clip and make shearing less tiresome on the shearing hand. It is easier to leave an inch or so of fiber on the llama using hand shears, but hand shears will leave a rougher, choppier look. This can be remedied by blocking. Blocking is a technique used by shepherds to trim, neaten and even out the surface of the wool on the sheep by shaping it to the contours of the sheep's body.. To block, brush the sheared fiber so that it stands out, and use hand shears to trim the uneven ends and create a smooth even surface. The shears are held vertically (perpendicular to the ground) and clipping is done from front to back or vice versa.
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Another alternative to shears is a clipper. Laube manufactures a clipper that has been used successfully by many breeders. Laube clippers and blades are available through Omaha Vaccine (1-800-367-4444). This particular clipper is light weight, smaller than electric shears, somewhat cheaper, and it does not heat up after several hours of use. It is impossible to cut the llama using clippers.
Along with shears you will need to purchase several combs and cutters, and with clippers you will need to purchase several blades. One clipper blade stays sharp for about 3 llamas. Purchase size 5 blades for clippers, either Oster or Andes clipper blades, and 20 or 23 tooth combs for shears. If you do not want to shear to the skin, purchase an Oster universal comb that attaches to the clippers. These come in a variety of sizes and can also be purchased from Omaha Vaccine. The comb size determines the length of fleece left on the llama. For shears, purchase a section of one and one-quarter inch H.W. conduit strap and using the screw that holds the comb on, screw it onto the head with the strap between the comb and the screw. The main part of the conduit strap trails back toward the motor.
To shear
Position yourself so that the hand that holds the shears is closest to the llama. Llamas can be sensitive along their topline, so the llama will be more accepting of the process if you begin shearing on his left side about two inches below the topline Clip with the tips of the shears pointing in a general downward direction. Shear from the shoulder to tail and from top to bottom. Establish a line from front to back and a remaining fleece length with the first several cuts. Maintain the length and follow the line along the contours of the llama using your free hand to gently lift sections of fleece as you clip, to check fleece length, and to feel the contours of the llama's body. The goal is to have the sheared fiber as uniform in length as possible. Three to five inches is an ideal length for either machine or hand spinning. Do not re-clip areas that have been sheared. This will make "second cuts." Second cuts are shorter pieces of fiber which result from shearing an area a second time. These second cuts will devalue the fleece for both hand and machine spinning because they make undesirable lumpy spots in the yarn. If the llama becomes nervous or concerned, use the porcupine brush to massage and brush the sheared area. Alternating clipping and brushing can calm the llama and help him to accept the process. It is not recommended that a slicker brush be used.
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As you shear, the sheared portion of the fleece will hang down. It can touch the floor or tickle the llama's legs. To prevent either of these from occurring, gently remove the sheared fleece being careful not to pull any fiber that is still attached to the llama, Place the sheared fleece in the appropriate container. At this time you can remove any sections of the fleece that are contaminated with vegetation and place those portions in a separate container.
Tips for electric shears
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After shearing, use the brush to massage and scratch the sheared areas. Llamas usually love it. At this point you can block or trim any uneven places. If you or the llama are tired or cranky, blocking and trimming can be done during another session.
Back to the fiber
Weigh the prime fiber. Label it with the llama's identification, date sheared and weight. Fiber can be stored in plastic or paper bags, boxes, cotton bags or old pillowcases. Store in a cool, dry place. Storage systems will depend on anticipated time of use and available space
Neaten up the shearing area and shear the next llama.
Information prepared by the LAMAS Fiber Committee: Elena Stamberg, Chair, Barb
Robertson, Marianne Kennel and Katie Peddy
Last updated on October 8, 1997
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