Shearing the Suri Alpaca
Christine Perala Gardiner
Suri Futures Inc.
At Suri Futures, we are developing a unique suri shearing method. We use the tie-down method of restraint for optimal control in the shearing process. We secure the alpaca firmly so they "disengage the flight response". We have a handler dedicated to managing the alpaca’s head, to provide comfort during shearing. This really seems to reduce the alpaca’s stress level. Once restrained, the shearer has safe access to the whole fleece including the legs. We like shearing days when no one gets hurt.
The locks of suri fleece have “drape”, with greater density generally than huacaya fleece. Suri fiber is a bit slippery, more like silk than wool. It has no crimp, so it has different shearing and processing needs from sheep wool or even huacaya alpaca. For this reason, shearing the suri needs a different shearing technique. Where merino or huacaya fleece stands up perpendicular to the skin, the shears pass easily along the skin surface and under the fiber to cut each fiber only once. It’s important to minimize “second cuts” because this practice wastes your primary crop, that lovely fiber.
Because of suri drape, using a standard sheep shearing method of starting along the spine it’s very easy to cut the same suri fibers several times during shearing. This problem renders the suri fiber potentially ruined on the shearing floor, where it may be cut so many times that even long staple suri becomes too short to process to anything more than felt. This is a common problem with deep economic impacts to the producer.
I use electric Heiniger shears and the 13 tooth camelid comb with Jet or Cobra cutters. I start at the belly to remove coarse fiber then start into the prime blanket area. The early blows or passes start along the lower sides from shoulder to hip, working upward toward the spine. By lifting the fiber with my left hand, the shears held in my right hand pass along the skin, to cut each strand only once. I like to leave about 1/4” of fleece on the alpaca to reduce temperature shock and prevent sunburn. This leaves enough fiber on the skin that a suri still looks like a suri after shearing.
I take the whole blanket from the first side and stop when the fiber quality changes at the margins of the blanket area. Once the blanket is collected, I change to shearing the neck fleece, collected as a separate grade.
We shear leg fiber about every other year, depending on the suri, its age and the length of leg fiber. Leg fiber that is consistently between 3” and 6” in length can be processed for either warp yarn or rug weft yarn. Longer fiber is nearly impossible to process without hand cutting it in half; a real waste of time! Leg fiber more than 6” in length causes problems for health management, especially during the wet season on our farm.
On our farm we say, “If we can’t see the eyes clearly, the alpaca can’t see out”. Alpacas are a prey species without fangs, claws or horns; they depend on their excellent vision for their safety. Trimming the heavy eye wool is critical to the feeling of security for a calm, well-behaved alpaca.
This year I've added an air compressor to my shearing kit. In an instant I can clear the fuzz out from under the blades, inside the forks housing and cool the blades, all in one stroke. It's the best addition to shearing I can imagine! The blades run sharper, cooler, cleaner and my shearing works better in every way. I'm re-oiling and cleaning my blades every few minutes.
Our sharpening service is Howard Cutlery Service in Cave Junction 541-592-8544. Please also see our business links for his description of sharpening services. We highly recommend Ken Howard's sharpening service!
For those nervous alpacas, we use an herbal sedative tincture to make for a happy shearing experience. The Alpaca Shearing Formula is made by a local company called Siskiyou Mountain Herbs. We recommend it highly! You can find it at 541-592-3386 or visit their web site www.siskiyouherbs.com/
Shearing the suri correctly starts a chain of processing that fiber using its remarkable qualities. The next step is to grade or sort the fiber by average micron and staple length. Correct shearing to minimize second cuts is an essential step in the process of creating outstanding textiles that display the magic of suri fiber.
Christine Perala Gardiner