Welcome to the Elkins Alpaca Shearing website. Ian Elkins and his son Mick shear alpacas, llamas, small lots of sheep and goats across NSW for farmers, breeders and hobby farms. These two really are the best in the business. With over 850 happy clients, they hold national and international awards, a Guiness World Record, are regular features at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and provide training and demonstrations across Australia as well as the UAE!

Ian is regarded as a somewhat of a legend in the shearing industry having been inducted into the Australian Shearer’s Hall of Fame in 2015, one of only 32 shearers in Australia’s history to achieve this recognition.

Ian and his team will provide you with prompt, reliable and professional service no matter how large or small your job. They are committed to ensuring that your animals are well cared for and that the shearing experience is stress-free for the owners.

If you are requiring shearing demonstrations to add a ‘rural’ or ‘Australian’ flavour to an event, please contact Ian and Mick as they have extensive experience in providing shearing demonstrations and entertaining crowds.

Based in Canberra, Ian and Mick travel within about a 4 hour radius, sometimes more depending on the job size. Mick wants to head to Queensland and northern NSW in late august and work his way back to Canberra in mid September. We also started shearing alpacas in Victoria last year. The business is growing each year and it is their objective to expand the business and provide a reliable and quality job for as many customers as possible across different areas of Australia.

South Coast – Becoming a hot spot for alpacas, the team are down the south coast of NSW every 3 weeks between October and February with one major run in the middle of November for a week. Jobs start as far north as Dapto running as far south as the Victorian border and every town in between. message Ian 0417496815

Southern Highlands – Ian and Mick shear a lot of alpacas in the highlands and travel there every second week for a few days at a time. They visit Camden, Bowral, Wilton, Canyonleigh, Robertson, Kangaroo Valley, Moss Vale, Marulan just to name a few.

Greater Sydney – Kurrajong, Penrith, Camden, Wallacia, Picton, Springwood & Hawkesbury areas. contact Mick 0408665228

Goulburn – Crookwell, Taralga, Windellama, Breadalbane, Binda.

High Country – Cooma, Shannons Flat, Jindabyne, Numeralla, Nimmitabel, Bombala, Cathcart, Dalgety , Berridale, Adaminaby. Ian and Mick usually do a run first week in January due to the colder climate. They currently have over 30 jobs in the area and gaining more every year.

South West – Gundagai, Young, Boorowa, Cowra.

Canberra region – Bungendore, Captains Flat, Royalla, Michelago, Tarago, Sutton, Murrumbateman, Yass, Burra, Braidwood. Usually these jobs can be done within a week of your phone call depending on the size of the job.

Central Coast/Maitland – we touched on the central coast last year and do have some time in September, October early november to fit jobs in. contact Mick 0408665228

QLD And Northern NSW – I start in Mackay in late august and work south. Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Gold Coast. I do another run in late October for a week and don’t go further north then the sunshine coast on that particular run. please book early Mick 0408665228. Here’s the timetable.

Victoria – mick is doing a big job in Traralgon in late october and has left a few days free after that so please contact mick direct on 0408665228 or email will be back in Victoria in January to do more work.

If your area didn’t pop up above please giveMick a call as they are expanding and have had a lot of phone calls from, Bathurst, Orange, Mudgee and hope to be in your region soon. Your business is important to them and they would welcome a friendly phone call. Mick 0408665228 or Ian 0417496815

Big Jobs – a big job of sheep for us would be over 70 sheep, we can fit big jobs in the months from February to September. We do have another shearer on board for 2017 so hopefully we can help people out from October to January as well. For 70 head or more we do prefer a shearing shed. If you need a roustabout or a wool classer ask when you call up.

Small jobs sheep – 70 or less, this is our bread and butter we are fully mobile and can set up any where, we just ask you to have them in a pen. A good size pen would be about a bedroom. 9 times out of 10 we will generally have a helper and remember if you want to keep the wool you will have to buy woolpacks, we may be able to take some wool off your hands also. We carry 5 in 1, marking rings, toenail cutters, fly strike spray, drench on us at all times.

big jobs alpacas – 20 or more, we specialise in alpacas and have a good technique and get through good numbers 80+ per day, if you want us to bring a helper you can expect 100+. If you want to get the best results from your fleeces its good to have plenty of helpers on the day. We are willing to travel further for big lots of alpacas.

Small jobs alpacas – under 20, we can set up anywhere, we do expect them to be in a pen before we turn up. We always have a helper on small jobs and really only need 1 maybe 2 people on hand to help take the fleece away as we do all the wrangling and heavy lifting. We carry 5 in 1, marking rings, toenail cutters, fly strike spray, drench, tooth grinder on us at all times.

What’s your role?
After arranging a time and date with Ian or Mick, the owner needs to have the alpacas or sheep in a small yard prior to us arriving. We will then set up and start  shearing – the owners also need to supply garbage bags for the fleeces and any vaccinations or drenches they want doing at the same time. We can provide vaccinations at an extra charge. We can grind teeth and trim toe nails and the yearly service is done.

How many people need to help?
This really depends on how many alpacas or sheep you have. For a big days shearing the more the merrier, 3 to 6, if you are unable to supply a hand Ian will arrange a time when Zac or Bruce are with him to do your job. The majority of the time (9 times out of 10) for small jobs of under 10 animals, Ian or Mick will have a helper with them and can do the job on their own, as long as the alpacas are in a yard and the garbage bags for the fleece are provided. Many of our regular customers simply put their animals in the yard and go off to work and when they get home the job is done.

Cost and payment.
The cost of shearing the alpacas or sheep will depend on the number of animals to be shorn, the number of helpers that Ian and Mick need to supply and travel requirements. You will be advised of the cost when you phone to book in your shearing. We accept payment by cash, cheque or EBT (electronic bank transfer) on completion of your job.