Photos: Shear madness in N.C. as alpacas are fleeced

Nearly 50 alpacas from four farms were sheared Saturday morning at AlpacaNaca Farm in Moyock, N.C. Each animal produces between five and 10 pounds of fleece, which is cut annually and made into yarn for items such as hats, socks, scarves and jackets. The fleece is prized for its non-allergenic nature. Each haircut takes about five minutes and is painless to the animals. And yes, alpacas do spit as a defensive mechanism.

AlpacaNaca Farm in Moyock, N.C., hosts traveling alpaca shearers from the Midwest during their circuit up and down the East Coast. Nearly 50 alpacas from local breeders were brought here Saturday for shearing. Each animal yields five to 10 pounds of fleece, which is soft and supple to the touch and is regarded by many to be in the same league as cashmere. The fleece appears naturally in 22 distinct colors. Despite their reputation for spitting, alpacas “make excellent companion animals” and “have lovable dispositions,” according to a commercial alpaca site at www.alpacas-4-sale.com.