The preparation of the alpaca clip is the culmination of the year's work. The shorn fiber reflects the total environment experienced throughout the growing period.

Environmental conditions, stress and reproductive schedules should be taken into consideration before shearing. Shearing yearly in the late spring gives an alpaca time to grow an adequate fleece for winter, helps prevent overheating in the summer, and reduces seed contamination. Newly shorn alpacas should have shade or shelter available to them.

As shearing time approaches, effort should be made to protect the alpaca fiber from contamination, such as vegetable matter, dust, etc. Such contamination will depreciate the value of your fiber. Your primary responsibility is to present dry and clean alpacas to the Shearer:

• Keep alpacas on clean pastures for at least two weeks before shearing and away from areas which cause excessive vegetable matter, mud or stain to contaminate the fleece.
• Either vacuum or lightly blow the alpaca's fleece with a blower to remove loose dust, vegetable and mineral matter prior to shearing.
• Shear males separately to avoid stress in the shearing shed
• Sort alpacas by color groups. Shear starting with the lightest color, finishing with the darkest color. Sweep or blow off the shearing surface between animals. These steps will reduce fiber contamination and reduce skirting time.
• Alpacas should not be shorn on gravel, dirt, grass, etc.  It is recommended to shear on a wooden floor.  If this is not possible, use a tarp.

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