As quick as a whistle, the shearing team removes the blanket from the shearing station and hands it over to the skirting team. Meanwhile, Mark shears the neck and finally the legs and belly. The shearing team swiftly removes each fiber section separately. In less than 20 minutes, the job is complete . Mark's experience has taught him that shearing in fiber grade sequence makes sorting easier.
Teamwork is the key to a successful shearing day.
While the shearing team is releasing the freshly shorn alpaca, the skirting team is placing the final touches on the harvest. The skirting team marks the bags with the owner's name, the alpaca's name, the fiber bag's weight and the appropriate fiber grade and color. The team quickly examines the fleece portion as it rests on the skirting table. They promptly remove dung tags and large pieces of vegetable matter. They also sort the alpaca's harvest as it arrives.