What a great video! It gives such a different “view” of the fiber and a much greater appreciation for your art. Your grandma is amazing! Thank you for sharing Tashia!
I was going to say what a beautifully behaved alpaca - then your poor grandmother! LOL! I did attend an alpaca shearing day over here in the UK to hopefully learn more about sorting and it was so funny while the alpacas whinged and some spat - the owner's labrador was going round hoovering up the green spit! YUK! While I don't have my own yet I'm finding your videos extremely useful to learn more. I have trimmed feet before on a course, but that was a while ago. Looking forward to having some next year after the barn is built! They will be wethers for foxguarding the poultry. Thank you Tashia :D
Your so lucky, Our shearing groups we've used never give us the time to do this. Its go,go,go! "It's not cost effective" i was told. Shearing day causes me so much anxiety. Would love to do it ourselves. Maybe someday.
I was recommended your channel because I was looking at so many crochet videos trying to teach myself now all I want to do is follow your footsteps and start my own alpaca farm/fiber mill! I love your videos! If you’re ever looking for an apprentice, I’d love to learn from your operation. Besides, how cool would it be to introduce yourself as an alpaca apprentice?
No. They are carefully handled throughout the process, which takes less than 10 minutes. The alpaca then walks away. The way sedation medications work in alpacas would be traumatic in this situation and poses health risks. So we work as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. We sheared 35 in 4 hours this year. Just need a system in place and many people to help.
Hi Tashia, I have been following you for a few weeks now and not caught up on all your videos....but, a few questions. Does shearing stress the animal out? Are you under a certain time frame to get them up and done, being restrained and tied down and all? Are the Huacaya, Suri and llama fiber sorted and graded in the same manner? I admire you so much for running your ranch! Getting a lot of information from you for starting my own Alpaca ranch, so thank you sooooooooo much!
Shearing can definitely stress the alpaca. Each one handles it differently. An experienced shearer can get it done in 10-15 minutes. Yes, huacaya and suri fiber is sorted in the same way. Even though the fiber types are different, the qualities such as color, grade, hairiness, and length, are the same. Thank you for supporting my channel! Glad to have you as part of the family 😊
What type of clipper is most commonly used? Also, is the same blade used all over the body or a different size for each section? And are they considered finishing blades or skip tooth?
Hello! I'm sorry it has taken so long to reply to your questions. I have been off of TH-cam for a while. We use shearers (rather than clippers) like these: www.lightlivestockequipment.com/product-category/shearing/shearers/?v=7516fd43adaa. We use combs and cutters like www.lightlivestockequipment.com/product-category/shearing/combs-cutters/?v=7516fd43adaa. Usually a comb/cutter set will shear 1 or 2 alpacas, depending on the condition of their fiber. The same comb/cutter is used for the whole body. Great questions! Thanks for asking.
Your animals are beautiful!!!!
What a great video! It gives such a different “view” of the fiber and a much greater appreciation for your art. Your grandma is amazing! Thank you for sharing Tashia!
Thank you so much Karen 😊
Thank you and your grandma, for your educational videos❗️I appreciate alpaca farmers and the alpacas, even more. 😃 Your grandma is awesome.
Thanks Reggie 😊 Yes, my grandma is awesome! ❤️
You have the most informative alpaca video s that I've been able to fined! Thanks a cousin just gave me my first flees to clean and spin!
😊
I was going to say what a beautifully behaved alpaca - then your poor grandmother! LOL! I did attend an alpaca shearing day over here in the UK to hopefully learn more about sorting and it was so funny while the alpacas whinged and some spat - the owner's labrador was going round hoovering up the green spit! YUK!
While I don't have my own yet I'm finding your videos extremely useful to learn more. I have trimmed feet before on a course, but that was a while ago. Looking forward to having some next year after the barn is built! They will be wethers for foxguarding the poultry. Thank you Tashia :D
Omg they look so beautiful I love them you really love your pets with out them we would not have any fiber to spin from them
I so enjoy seeing their transformation every spring.
That alpaca's gotta feel born again after losing all that fiber! Ahhhh!
Your so lucky, Our shearing groups we've used never give us the time to do this. Its go,go,go! "It's not cost effective" i was told. Shearing day causes me so much anxiety. Would love to do it ourselves. Maybe someday.
Most are like that. This particular year was different because it was meant to be educational. The rush of shearing day IS stressful.
Wow what a job that is 😘 poor Grandma lol lol
Thankfully, she took it with a laugh 😊
Butterfield Alpacas & Fiber Arts Yes she did what a great personality grandma has❤❤❤
To support 👌
I was recommended your channel because I was looking at so many crochet videos trying to teach myself now all I want to do is follow your footsteps and start my own alpaca farm/fiber mill! I love your videos! If you’re ever looking for an apprentice, I’d love to learn from your operation. Besides, how cool would it be to introduce yourself as an alpaca apprentice?
What a compliment! Thank you 😊
Is the alpaca sedated?
No. They are carefully handled throughout the process, which takes less than 10 minutes. The alpaca then walks away. The way sedation medications work in alpacas would be traumatic in this situation and poses health risks. So we work as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. We sheared 35 in 4 hours this year. Just need a system in place and many people to help.
Hi Tashia, I have been following you for a few weeks now and not caught up on all your videos....but, a few questions. Does shearing stress the animal out? Are you under a certain time frame to get them up and done, being restrained and tied down and all? Are the Huacaya, Suri and llama fiber sorted and graded in the same manner? I admire you so much for running your ranch! Getting a lot of information from you for starting my own Alpaca ranch, so thank you sooooooooo much!
Shearing can definitely stress the alpaca. Each one handles it differently. An experienced shearer can get it done in 10-15 minutes. Yes, huacaya and suri fiber is sorted in the same way. Even though the fiber types are different, the qualities such as color, grade, hairiness, and length, are the same. Thank you for supporting my channel! Glad to have you as part of the family 😊
विठ्ठलाचे अभंग
What type of clipper is most commonly used? Also, is the same blade used all over the body or a different size for each section? And are they considered finishing blades or skip tooth?
Hello! I'm sorry it has taken so long to reply to your questions. I have been off of TH-cam for a while.
We use shearers (rather than clippers) like these: www.lightlivestockequipment.com/product-category/shearing/shearers/?v=7516fd43adaa.
We use combs and cutters like www.lightlivestockequipment.com/product-category/shearing/combs-cutters/?v=7516fd43adaa. Usually a comb/cutter set will shear 1 or 2 alpacas, depending on the condition of their fiber. The same comb/cutter is used for the whole body.
Great questions! Thanks for asking.
Do they like getting sheared or does it kinda scare them?
No, they do not like being sheared. They would rather be in control of the situation.