Alpacas, alpaca fiber - West Valley Alpacas, California

Photo Album -
Jon's Shearing Table

We don't sell shearing tables, but Russell Gent at Totara Grove Alpaca Management Systems, Angel Knoll Alpacas and Lee Hall, leeatjw@telusplanet.net, sell very nice ones. To learn more about shearing alpacas, see Gateway Farm Alpacas' Alpaca Shearing. Are you looking for someone to shear your alpacas in Northern California? Try Steve Murray at Lassen View Alpacas. No matter who does your shearing, Steve's Shearing Day hints will help make the job easier.

This is the shearing table Jon built after seeing Russell Gent's. It can be used for shearing, drawing blood and cutting teeth and toenails. In this picture, the table is horizontal with the squeeze closed. For teeth and toenails, the squeeze can remain closed. For shearing, the alpaca's legs are tied and the squeeze is opened.
Shearing Table 1

The table is rotated vertical with the squeeze opened.
Shearing Table 2

Pat walks behind the table, leading Ligu in front of the table.
Shearing Table 3

Jon gets ready to close the squeeze while Pat gets Ligu into position and holds his head and neck.
Shearing Table 4

Jon closes and secures the squeeze while Pat holds Ligu's neck.
Shearing Table 5

Pat's still holding Ligu's neck as she and Jon get ready to rotate the table.
Shearing Table 6

The table is horizontal, the folding legs underneath are down, and Ligu's legs are tied. Now Jon opens the squeeze.
Shearing Table 7

Ligu is relaxed on the table as Jon gets ready to shear him. Note that his head and neck are always controlled while he's on the table.
Shearing Table 8