Shearing is Caring
The arrival of spring can be a tricky thing to pinpoint in Syracuse, NY. For better or worse, our weather isn’t always the most reliable sign, given its famed fluctuations. At the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, however, one sure indication of the season can be found in the Domestic Animal Barn. If you see our Black Welsh Mountain sheep and alpacas have been recently shorn, then it’s a safe bet that spring has sprung.
Shearing, which is the process of removing an animal’s wool fleece, is more than a new haircut for these domestic breeds. It’s a necessary component to their care. To demystify this critical practice that promotes high-quality animal welfare, we’d like to offer a look at the process of shearing our animals, why it’s a vital part of their care, and even how you can purchase fiber made from their shorn wool.
Contrary to pervading myths, an annual shearing is absolutely required for domestic animals who have been bred to grow a thick wool coat. When performed correctly, shearing does not hurt an animal.
“Unlike wild sheep, which retain a natural ability to shed their wool, domestic sheep and alpacas can’t get rid of their wool on their own,” explains Theo Campbell, Collection Manager of Large Mammals at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. “As domestic species, they depend on human help for survival, and that help includes an annual shearing.” In short, domestic animals take care of us (in this case, by providing wool safely and plentifully) and in return, we take care of them. Black Welsh Mountain sheep and alpacas, Campbell continues, “were specifically linebred over time for their wool.” Through linebreeding (that is, selectively choosing breeding pairs to create or to maintain desired physiological traits over a long period of time), the genes that would typically trigger shedding have been systemically bred out of domestic species (Inbreeding and Linebreeding, 2024). Instead, their wool will continuously grow.
If left unshorn, our Black Welsh Mountain sheep and alpacas would suffer. “Wool overgrowth can cause a whole host of problems for sheep and alpacas,” warns Campbell. Their dense wool helps keep the sheep and alpacas warm during the colder months, but in the heat of the summer, their thick wool could put them at risk of overheating, which could lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or other heat-related health problems. Additionally, overgrown wool can cause skin irritation and be a breeding ground for parasites, which might even carry dangerous diseases to the sheep and alpaca. Moreover, beyond these health risks, carrying around extra wool can be extremely itchy and uncomfortable for these animals.
As a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), providing exceptional animal care is part of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s mission. We take our responsibility to provide the highest quality of life to our animals seriously. That includes providing our animals not just with the shearing they need, but providing them with a safe, smooth, and efficient shearing experience.
Shearing is both a trade and an art, requiring expert technical training, proper equipment, and unlimited patience. To shear our two male alpacas and herd of six Black Welsh Mountain sheep, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo invites Jeffrey Ebel of Ebel Shearing Services to the zoo. A master alpaca shearer with more than fifteen years of professional shearing experience, Ebel is widely recognized as one of the best alpaca shearers in the world. He was crowned champion of the North American Alpaca Shearing Competition in both 2018 and 2019 and remains the reigning titleholder.
Preparing the animals to be shorn begins before Ebel even arrives on zoo grounds. Prior to their shearing, the sheep and alpacas are fasted. “We fast our animals overnight because it helps them be more comfortable. Fasting prevents any extra pressure being put on the sheep’s stomach,” notes Campbell. Sheep have a ruminant digestive system, which allows them to digest the fiber in their diet properly by regurgitating it. Alpacas, on the other hand, are known as ‘modified ruminants.’ They have a slightly different digestive system than sheep, but they still do regurgitate their food, so fasting still helps them avoid gastrointestinal distress while being shorn (Llamas and Alpacas, 2025). During the shearing, the sheep are briefly tipped onto their backs and held upright by the shearer. That method is called ‘rumping.’ According to Campbell, “Rumping puts the sheep in a position where shearing can be done as quickly, safely, and comfortably as possible.” Alpacas’ longer bodies and camelid anatomy mean that they require an alternative method of restraint while being sheared. Part of Ebel’s equipment load includes custom-made, padded shearing mats and ground restraints for the alpacas. He even uses different blades for each species to accommodate their physiological differences.
Once both Ebel and the animals are ready, the shearing begins. One by one, each animal is led over to Ebel by one of the hoofstock specialists on our animal care team. Ebel makes quick work of process. He expertly maneuvers each animal into a safe position, often using his own body as a safe brace. In a matter of minutes, Ebel carefully glides a specially designed, incredibly sharp electric shearer through each animal’s dense coat with a calm and controlled speed. He remains entirely focused on the animal, somehow carefully navigating the thin, sensitive skin that these animals usually hide underneath their wool. It’s difficult work that requires a delicate touch to avoid nicks or cuts. “Patience is your friend,” Ebel says, shortly after shearing approximately 4-5lbs of wool from male Black Welsh Mountain sheep Bryson. “When you’re working with animals, you’ve got to take your time and roll with the punches,” he advises. “Keep yourself calm so they stay calm.” From start to finish, Ebel exudes skill and care as he works. Perhaps the most prominent example of his patience is his steady monologues to each animal while shearing. When female Black Welsh Mountain Blackberry began to kick and to twist against Ebel’s grasp, he responded by turning off his shearers for a brief moment, gently whispering, “You’re not comfortable? Let’s get you more comfortable,” to her, and helping the sheep adjust her weight in a slightly different posture. Under his ministrations, Blackberry quickly grew calmer and allowed Ebel to continue with his award-winning work.
Once shorn, animal care team members collect and bag each fleece so the material can be properly cleaned and prepared for sale through the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). AAZK is a professional group of zookeepers that works to advance excellence in the profession, to foster effective communication beneficial to animal care, to support deserving conservation projects, and to promote the preservation of our natural resources and animal life. At the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, AAZK sponsors enrichment orders as well as professional development opportunities for animal care team members.
To transform the fleece into useable material for fiber and textile arts, animal care team members will scour the wool, essentially deep cleaning it with hot water and special detergent that removes excess lanolin. Lanolin is an oily substance that sheep and alpacas naturally secrete to protect their coats and to keep their wool waterproof. Once scoured, the wool is hand-carded and brushed to ensure the fibers of the fleece all align in the same direction so it can then be turned into usable yarn. “It takes a lot of work to get the fleece ready for use,” says Kalli Miller, Hoofstock Care Specialist and Co-Secretary of AAZK. She, along with Hoofstock Care Specialists Allie Zhang and Lindsay Mathews, helped oversee this year’s shearing. “But the quality is amazing and the texture so soft,” Miller describes. “Growing high-quality wool is definitely what they were bred to do.”
In addition to the proceeds of the fleece sale directly benefiting AAZK’s vital work, the group’s promotion of the fleece also provides a great opportunity to educate the public about Heritage Breeds and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s work to sustain these species. Black Welsh Mountain sheep are considered a Heritage Breed through the Livestock Conservancy. Although they were traditionally raised as livestock, the population has since declined. Today, the Livestock Conservancy lists Black Welsh Mountain sheep as Threatened with extinction. To be listed as Threatened, a breed has fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the United States and an estimated global population of fewer than 5,000 (Conservation Priority List, 2025). As a registered member of the Livestock Conservancy, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s AAZK chapter qualifies to sell the wool. By selling the wool of our Black Welsh Mountain sheep and alpacas, AAZK demonstrates the traditional importance of the species, promotes sustainable fashion choices, and generates support for the continued care of these animals. Keep an eye out for an announcement about how you can purchase wool through the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s AAZK chapter.
This spring, come visit our newly shorn sheep and alpacas at the Domestic Animal Barn at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo!
To learn more about Ebel Shearing Services, please visit https://www.alpaca-shearing.com/.
Works Cited
Conservation Priority List. (2025). The Livestock Conservancy. https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/conservation-priority-list/ Accessed 14 April 2025.
Llamas and Alpacas. (2025). University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://ucanr.edu/site/small-acreage-landowners/llamas-and-alpacas. Accessed 14 April 2025.
What do the terms inbreeding and linebreeding mean? (2024). RSPCA Knowledgebase. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-do-the-terms-inbreeding-and-linebreeding-mean/#what-is-linebreeding. Accessed 10 April 2025.
