At low elevations or in southern climates, you can shear close to the skin. High elevations or northern climates require leaving about 2 inches of fiber on the llama to prevent sunburn and to give it a head start on winter protection. ( A minimum of 3 inches of undercoat is needed for protection in severe cold weather.)

The Giant Cria Cut: This is appropriate for the llama who's been suffering for several years under an accumulation of fiber, debris and mats. Start at the top of the neck and shear every part except the head and tail. Wearing 2 inches of fiber, your llama will look like it did the day it was born, only much larger. You'll also see a return to cria-type behavior: racing and sproinging in the evenings.

The Lion Cut: A male used for breeding might appreciate this style. Leave just 3 areas: the ruff of fiber on the neck (provided the fiber's not more than 8 inches long), the tail, and the "feathers" of guard hair on the legs. Shear everything in between. He'll think he looks good showing off for the ladies, but he won't get heat stressed during pursuit and breeding.

The Barrel Cut: The longest fiber is found on the barrel (around the body between shoulders and hips), and on the rump. It may only be necessary to shear the barrel to keep your llama comfortable. Try this cut on a pack llama to make the back easy to clean and help prevent fiber from being pulled by the cinches.

The "Arm Pit" Trim: This enlarges the naturally smooth haired areas to provide better air circulation. It's useful when the beginning of warm weather and a show coincide and you feel you must postpone a complete shearing until after the show. Part the fiber behind the elbow joint of the front leg, where it joins the body. You'll find a smooth haired area that extends part way up the side. Use scissors or shears to widen the edges by 2 to 3 inches. You can cut close to the skin since the remaining fiber will hide the shorn part. There's a similar area extending up from the stomach, just in front of the hips, that can also be widened. Give the coarse hairs, growing between the front legs and back to the umbilicus, a close trim to complete this temporary relief method.

Other Options: If you live in an area with lots of rain during the summer, you might want to leave an "umbrella" of unshorn fiber on the back to help shed water, but remember that it will also hold in body heat and humidity.

Fiber from the tail is usually not good spinning quality. Leave it to protect the area underneath and give visual balance to the llama's appearance. However, removing the extra weight of fiber, that hangs to the hocks of some llamas, can improve their tail set. Locate the tip of the tail bones before trimming! The tail can also be braided to control fullness. If you're not familiar with a "French" style braid, ask any teenage girl for instructions - it's currently quite popular. Fasten the end of the braid with a rubber band and remove when cool weather returns.

Mats in medium length fiber form closer to the skin than in long fiber. You might find it easier to remove them by surface shearing rather than the traditional horizontal row method. Novice shearers could also try this less intimidating method for their first attempt, but it produces shorter fiber lengths. Begin by standing on the side of the llama opposite from the side you wish to shear and reach over the back. Cutting from the top of the mats makes it easier to see what you're doing. Hold the shears with the tips pointing down, but keep the blades parallel to the llama's body. Cut away the surface of the mats until you have removed them. Follow up with a thorough blowing, brushing and additional trimming to blend in the shorn areas.

Go to HAND SHEARING for specific instructions for shearing your llama.