There’s a certain feeling around the ranch when shearing season is finally about to begin. This week, I’ve been out in the shop sharpening combs and cutters, getting everything ready for Saturday’s first big round of shearing. In the photos, you’ll see some of the combs laid out as I work on them. The comb is the part of the shearing tool that slides underneath the alpaca fleece, while the cutter moves rapidly back and forth across it to trim the fiber cleanly and smoothly. A sharp comb makes a huge difference—not only does it help the fleece come off evenly, but it also keeps the process more comfortable for the alpacas.
Sharpening shearing equipment is one of those jobs that takes patience and attention to detail. Alpaca fleece is incredibly dense and soft, and dull equipment can tug or snag instead of gliding cleanly through the fiber. Every comb and cutter has to be carefully prepared ahead of time so the shearing process goes smoothly once the busy weekend begins. Around here, getting the equipment ready almost feels like the official signal that spring has fully arrived.
This Saturday I’ll begin shearing the males, and then next week we’ll move on to the females. The herd already seems to know something is coming. With the warmer temperatures arriving and the thick winter fleece loosening up, many of the alpacas are more than ready for their yearly haircut. Before long, the fields will be full of freshly shorn alpacas looking smaller and probably feeling pretty pleased with themselves as spring settles into Montana.
