Ebel Shearing Services

06/14/2026

This silly guy was enjoying the hose after his shearing today.

06/09/2026

Shearing an alpaca at a hobby farm.

06/09/2026

A little pre-shearing maintenance before the fiber comes off.

Before every alpaca is sheared, we trim nails and check teeth to make sure everything looks good. If dental work is needed, we’ll take care of that too.

You’ll notice the alpaca is restrained on the ground during the process. This method is safe, comfortable, and doesn’t hurt them at all. No weight is placed on the animal. We simply position our legs around the neck and shoulders to help keep them calm, secure, and prevent sudden movements while we work.

A few minutes of routine care goes a long way toward keeping alpacas healthy and comfortable. 🦙

06/09/2026

If you’ve never seen an alpaca sheared before, it may be surprising to see how they are restrained. But this is actually considered the gold standard for alpaca shearing and is the safest method for the alpaca.

Do alpacas have to be sheared? Yes!
Apacas were selectively bred from vicuña over thousands of years to produce far more fiber than their wild ancestors ever did. Because of that, alpacas depend on humans for regular shearing to stay healthy and comfortable. Without annual shearing, they can become overheated, matted, and prone to a variety of health issues.

Since shearing is a necessary part of alpaca care, the question becomes: what’s the safest and least stressful way to get it done?

The answer is a properly executed ground restraint method. Alpacas are prey animals, and handling them while standing for shearing often creates more stress and more opportunities for injury or cuts. By securely positioning the alpaca, sudden movements are minimized, allowing the shearer to work quickly, safely, and efficiently.

While it may look unfamiliar to those seeing it for the first time, this method actually results in the least amount of prolonged stress for the animal. The alpaca is handled for only a few minutes, the fleece is removed safely, and they’re quickly back on their feet and back to enjoying their day.

Despite what it may look like to some people, the restraint itself does not hurt the alpaca at all. When done correctly by experienced handlers, it’s a very safe and comfortable way to perform an essential husbandry procedure while minimizing stress and maximizing safety for the animal.

05/31/2026

Isn’t this alpaca’s fleece beautiful?

Gray alpacas have always been some of my favorites to shear. The range of shades you can get in a single fleece is incredible, and there’s just something about a really nice gray blanket that catches your eye.

Plus, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching a clean blanket come off in one piece.

This alpaca is headed into summer a whole lot lighter and more comfortable.

05/29/2026

Shearing a suri alpaca is always a little different than shearing a huacaya. Instead of the fluffy fleece most people picture on an alpaca, suris grow long hanging locks that lay down along the body. The fiber comes off a little differently too, so the whole shearing process has a bit of a different feel to it from start to finish.

Here’s a closeup of us shearing a suri’s blanket.

05/25/2026

Some happy alpacas enjoying the sun after shearing.

05/24/2026

Shaping an alpaca tail.

There’s definitely an art to alpaca shearing beyond just removing fiber. We shape the tails, legs, and topknots to be both functional and good-looking, and learning how to sculpt those lines cleanly takes a lot of practice and a good eye.

We’ve been busy shearing every day the last few months, but we’re trying to grab more photos and videos in between farms to share some of the process and finished results.

05/23/2026

Shearing an alpaca blanket.

In the process of shearing an alpaca, we gently lay them down and restrain them so they are safe and still for their annual shearing. The whole process takes about 5-7 minutes then they're let right back up to enjoy their new haircut! It doesn't hurt the animal at all and is necessary for their health and wellness.

05/23/2026