Shearing
Fiber is the harvest for the alpaca breeder - a renewable product that when handled well yields top quality yarns and garments. The sad truth is that top quality fleece can be ruined at each step. The responsible breeder will endeavor to learn to maximize quality each step of the way.
A good fleece starts in the pasture
A clean fleece is one step closer to top quality fiber.A pasture clear of cockleburs and briars means a fleece that is free of cockleburs and briars. A clean fleece is one step closer to top quality fiber. Good nutrition also plays a very large part in producing a quality fleece. Poor nutrition or illness can produce weakness in the fiber shaft causing stress breaks that give inconsistent lengths that will produce slubs in the yarn. Poor nutrition is also a factor in causing poor luster and inconsistent microns.
Shearing day
A smooth running shearing day helps in maximizing fleece quality. There are several tasks that must be finished before shearing day if they are needed. Sometimes an animal may be so dirty as to need washing. This must be done at least a week before to give the fleece time to dry. Worming and toenail trimming should also be finished before shearing day. A responsible breeder doesn't hold up the progress of the shearing with [...] husbandry tasks. A responsible breeder doesn't hold up the progress of the shearing with these husbandry tasks. Blowing or picking the fleece can also be done the day before shearing to minimize the stress on the alpacas.
On shearing day, make sure the space for shearing is clean and sheltered from wind with a convenient power outlet and a size 12 or 14 extension cord. A broom to clean up between animals, 3 bags per alpaca for fleece, a marker pen to mark bags with the name of alpaca, date of shearing and the fiber grade - 1, 2, or 3. A scale to weigh the fleeces and a skirting table round out the necessary equipment for shearing day. Make sure that access to the alpacas for shearing is quick and easy and that the fleece is dry.
Target shearing maximizes usable fiber and minimizes skirting time. For your fleece records record the 1, 2, and 3's weights as well as the totals. It is useful information for assessing the true production of each alpaca. The second grade may have the same fineness as the blanket, especially in a baby fleece, but still needs to be kept separate since the length varies. The length difference leads to a quality yarn. A wide variation in micron is also a quality factor for the yarn.
Skirting - the forgotten step
Skirting is most efficiently done at the time of shearing. I highly recommend skirting the blanket on shearing day, since second cuts float on the surface of the sheared fleece. Check for the hairy course fibers. They are found in the armpit area, near the bib, the britch and the belly. Remove them and add these sections to the thirds bag.
Skirting is most efficiently done at the time of shearing.Check fiber lengths. If the upper part of the blanket is 5" and the lower is 2", remove all the fiber up to 3.5". These can be added to the seconds bag.
If you are working on a show fleece, check for uniform hand - the way the fleece feels. Remove any sections that don't belong. These can usually go into the seconds bag as well.
The whole process takes 5-10 minutes on shearing day and greatly improves the quality of your fiber clip. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you cannot skirt on shearing day, it is still possible to skirt - it just takes longer - between 20 to 30 minutes per fleece and the results will be well worth the trouble.