May 25, 2012
By: Hiben Hollow Alpacas, LLC
Shearing Tip
Weight Recordkeeping
Welcome!
This article will explain how we recorded the before shearing, after shearing and blanket fleece weight on shearing day.
Before shearing, I made these envelopes to gather shearing information in one place (I used envelopes because they are thicker and easier to grab). Because we do not use a set shearing list, I put the envelopes in a recipe box alphabetized by animal name and had that by the scale. You could use a standard size #10 envelope, a 9x12" clipboard and a small box at least 9.5" wide to accomodate the envelope. Alphabetize or sort the envelopes using index cards with the letters wrote at the top so you can easily navigate and find the right envelope on shearing day.
When an animal was haltered and taken to the scale for the pre-shearing weight, I put their envelope on a clipboard and hung it by the scale so all weights could be recorded scale-side. We had two shearing rings so there was a maximum of one card on each clipboard. You could color-code the clipboard with which side the animal was on (east or west or whatever). Then even the people who don't know your animals personally could record the weights on the correct clipboard. Brent, Jade and I were always there so we didn't need to do this.
After the animal was done and all of the weights recorded, the envelope was taken off and put to the back of the envelope box. At the end of shearing, we counted envelopes for the head count. We took it slow this year, 51 on Day 1 and 38 on Day 2.
Let me know if you have any question!
Tammy
hibenhollow@yahoo.com
Hiben Hollow Alpacas, LLC
Boyceville, Wisconsin
Envelopes--http://www.walmart.com/ip/Columbian-White-Woven-Self-Seal-Business-Envelopes/14927407?findingMethod=rr
Clipboards--http://www.walmart.com/ip/Saunders-1-Plastic-Antimicrobial-Clipboard/14927899