As a general rule Alpacas are never killed solely for their fur. They are usually sheared just like a sheep, is sheared for its wool. Like giving it a haircut. This is usually done in the springtime when their fleece starts to get thick. But because of the length of alpaca hair, it takes a while for their fur to grow back so they are sheared about once or twice a year.
Do They Kill Alpacas For Their Fur!
Do They Kill Alpacas For Their Fur! Alpacas are the perfect animal for living in cold climates. They are happy to graze on grass all day long and lay around in the sun when it’s warm outside. Do they kill alpacas for their fur? No, but not because they want their skin! Alpaca shearing is a process where an alpaca’s wool is cut off with clippers or usually at a minimum once a year, usually, after winter ends when temperatures start getting warmer again. The process can take up to two hours per alpaca, but once it is done you will have access to some of the softest wool available anywhere!
Check Out Amazon’s Educational Resources for Raising Alpacas
18 ways Alpaca Farmers make Money
Are Alpacas Harmed for their Fur? / Is it Cruel?
Alpacas are not harmed when they are sheared. They are usually sheared just like a sheep, is sheared for its wool. Like giving it a haircut. This is usually done in the springtime when their fleece starts to get thick. But because of the length of alpaca hair, it takes a while for their fur to grow back so they are sheared about once or twice a year.
Alpacas also have two different types of fiber that grow naturally on them, Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas have a thicker, shorter fiber that is crimped which makes it more desirable for spinning into yarns. While the Suris grow long silky dreadlocks making them harder to shear but whatever they do not harm their alpacas in any way!
Do They Kill Alpacas For Their Fur – Actually, an Alpaca will feel relieved after it gets sheared. Their wool is very warm and if they are in a warm climate they do not need it. So after a nice haircut, their new fur will grow back thicker and shinier!
And in case you were wondering Alpacas are sheared for the same reason we use clippers to give our own hair trim or shave.
How Fast Does Alpaca Fiber Grow?
Alpaca fiber is one of the softest and most luxurious fibers in the world. This animal’s fur grows at a rate that can be measured in millimeters, not inches like other animals! Alpacas are shorn once or twice annually when their winter coat has been shed out completely to make way for warmer weather. Alpaca Annual fiber yields average roughly seven pounds per alpaca.
Steps for Safely Shearing the Alpacas / Wool / Fleece
1. Buy a sheep shearing kit ( Electric is Best But they make manual Ones )
2. Find an experienced Alpaca Shearer to help you with the process
3. Keep your Alpaca in a pen for at least one week before shearing them
4. Shear the wool off of the Alpacas body, starting from their head and working down to their legs
5. Take care not to cut too much wool off – it will grow back!
6. Store your shorn wool in bags or bales (depending on how big they are) until it is ready to be processed into yarn or other products like felt, blankets, etc
Final Thoughts
Removing the Wool from Your Alpaca is a
- Safe
- Clean
- Painless
- Regularily
- It does not Harm Your Alpaca ( Actually makes your Alpaca Cooler / Cleaner/ Lighter )
- It is not Cruel to Shear Alpacas to Remove their Wool
