SNOWMASS SHEARING 2009
Shearing was quite the event this year. 600 + alpacas to shear and a horrible weather forecast what do you do? We have a fixed shearing date with a professional shearer that is inflexible to change at the last minute due to the fact he is in high demand and booked for the rest of the shearing season.
We booked 7 days starting Monday May 4th. Every alpaca was quickly moved into as many shelters as we can find to keep them dry for shearing week. This makes for twice the work verses just moving them from the open pastures strait into the shearing arena. Working with damp fleeces is real pain as they need extra care and have to be placed into labeled WET or DAMP bags so they can be re-opened and set out to dry before they can be baled. None the less they all have to be shorn so the rule of thumb is to expect the worst and be prepared. Read the rest of SNOWMASS SHEARING 2009 »