Shearing is necessary for alpaca health but can cause significant stress when done poorly.
Alpaca shearing is necessary for animal health but the process causes acute stress. Traditional methods of stretching alpacas on the ground with all four legs tied are traumatic. Progressive habituation approaches and minimal restraint methods reduce shearing stress significantly. Shearing season timing matters — shearing in cold weather increases hypothermia risk for freshly shorn animals. The growing alpaca fiber industry needs welfare standards for shearing that reflect evidence-based improvements.