ON SATURDAY it was time for the alpacas at Rosemark Stud at Woowoonga to line up for their annual haircut.

For an added bonus they were also vaccinated and had their toe nails trimmed.

Rosemark's Trish Wright said while the toe nails and vaccinations needed to be done more than once a year, shearing time was a great time to do them as the animal is restrained.

This year, Mark and Trish Wright contracted Elkins Shearing from New South Wales.　

Also in another first, the shearers used a table where they placed the animal on its side to be shorn. 　

Mrs Wright said using a table can make life easier on the shearer's back.

"It does have a drawback if you have larger animals, the stretch-out is limited by the size of the table,” she said.

"The shearer also has to have a larger vehicle to transport their equipment.”

As the alpacas are shorn, the fleece in put in various bags.　

Mrs Wright said the samples in the small bags are sent away to be tested for fineness/micron and length.

"This helps determine the quality of the fleece,” she said.　

"The prime/saddle fleece is bagged separately.

"This is the stuff that the spinners love to buy and use in their crafts.”

Mrs Wright said we sell the majority of our primary fleece to spinners.

"Some of the fleece is pre-sold before the animals are shorn,” she said.

"The neck fleece is then put into a second bag.

"This is good for felting or stuffing. It makes a comfortable pillow stuffing.

"Even the legs and scrap fleece can be utilised, for mulch in the garden or stuffing.”

Mrs Wright said with the fleece coming off the animals, it's a great time to check the overall condition of the animal, as the thick fleece can hide a thinning alpaca.

"There is a quick check we can do any time, with feeling the back line, however this is a good time to get a visual,” she said.