The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Camelids => Topic started by: Alistair on February 27, 2013, 09:37:53 am

Title: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: Alistair on February 27, 2013, 09:37:53 am

For those who don't know, I used to be a shearer, not any more mind, well not properly anyway, I've just been asked by a freind of a freind if ill shear his llamas this year, so in best tradition I've said yes, I'll give it a go, never done it before, I assume you knock them down, hold them down (I'd guess this is a two person job) and then shear them, where do you start?, I'd guess it'd be like a sheep I.e. down the breast bone? And do you need to get the fleece of in one?

I know bugger all about llamas!

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: YorkshireLass on February 27, 2013, 11:25:22 am

Carefully!


Shearing Llamas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJZaMC_OnA#)

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: Alistair on February 27, 2013, 01:27:09 pm

Cheers  :thumbsup:

Have to get some pulleys and rope then

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: FiB on February 27, 2013, 04:28:26 pm

not neccessarily ?  How much bigger are they than alpacas? My neighbours have alpacas and her brother (who is a shearer) does them like sheep.  I think singing shearer does too??

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: Alistair on February 27, 2013, 04:37:28 pm

Dunno really, never had a go on one,  from that video they look a bit big, I think it may be a tad difficult to hold one sitting up between your legs?, he's had them sheared before so I guess he's au fait with the process of holding them down etc, anyway should be fun  :excited:

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: sokel on March 02, 2013, 01:30:51 am

Never done one myself but my friends used to have a 2 Llamas, they where rehomed last year after his wife died.
His 2 where very tame and just stood there and let them clip them just the same as I clip the horses out 

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: bigchicken on March 02, 2013, 08:24:42 am

Google, u tube, might help. Most seem to shear with the animal standing up seems to be the less stressful way. I would think it is going to be pretty strange for you. best of luck.

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: SingingShearer on March 04, 2013, 10:11:37 am

Depends on the size.

Fi, yes I have done some alpacas mostly just shear them like a sheep but you get the odd nervous one that need special care.

I know a old friend of mine used to shear llamas and camels stood up just held on a halter.

If you can keep them calm then things will go a lot easier, start tying them down and the screaming starts and all the others get nervy and things start to go wrong.
As you will know when you shear a sheep they are relaxed it is just the same for alpacas and llamas.

Hope this helps,
Philip

PS Take plenty of oil as they are usually sandy.

Title: Re: How do you shear a llama?
Post by: Alistair on March 05, 2013, 06:52:32 am

Cheers SS, should be fun!