TAKING THE WOOL OFFHOW DO YOU TAKE the wool off the llama? There are several methods you can use: You can brush it off, use hand shears or use electric shears. These methods will be discussed in more detail below.
The first method is brushing the wool off your llama. It is a great way of spending time with your animal. You simply brush the animal and gather the wool from the brush. It is also a good way to accumulate small amounts of wool.
If you live in areas of the country that have colder, wet winters, you will want to use the two methods of shearing only in the spring. If you shear in the spring, the llama will have sufficient time to grow enough wool back before winter. It is best to groom your llama to remove as much debris and dirt from the llama before shearing. This will make the wool easier to process and yield a cleaner end product. You can put a tarp or cloth on the ground around your llama so that as you shear, you can drop the wool onto it. You will want to be careful also to keep the wool from landing around the llama's feet. I have found that the animals don't like the feel of their wool on or around their feet.
The second method is to use hands shears. These can be ordered through a farm supply catalog and are usually found under "sheep supplies." This method will require you to halter and tie or restrain your llama. You will start by first cutting straight along the top line of the llama's back. After establishing a cutting line, you will want to shear down one side of the llama, doing one side at a time. How close you want to cut depends upon you. It is advisable though to leave at least an inch or two of wool so that the llama does not get sunburned. I like to leave three inches so that the llama has a good coat by winter. Most llama owners do not shear the llama's leg quarters or neck. This wool is slow to grow back and has a lot of guard hair, which is coarser and not as soft when spun. You can start down either side of the llama and then proceed to the stomach. Many animals will prefer that you don't shear under their stomachs. If you are going to show this animal, you will want to cut this area for appearance. After you have finished, you may note that the wool looks uneven. This is not a problem. Within a week or two you won't be able to see any difference. If you are going to show your llamas, you will want to even them up with electric shears just for appearance sake.
The third method is to use electric shears. You should run the shears by your llamas several times to get them use to the sound before you start your shearing. After that, proceed along their back and then their sides (same as above).
After you have removed the wool from your llamas, it is best to store it in paper or cloth bags. Keep it in a dry, cool place. You may want to put cedar balls in with it to keep moths away. The wool is now ready for processing. There are many processors around the country that will clean and card your llama wool into rovings or battings if you are not up to performing this job yourself.
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