Floor covering/mats for transporting/shearing alpaca

We have started using a rubber Stock Mat on the floor of our trailer when we are transporting alpaca around the country to shows, etc. The Stock Mats are medium/high density rubber, so, offer a measure of support and comfort to the alpacas as they travel, sitting on the mats. They also have a regular pattern of holes in the mats that I find does a great job of taking care of any droppings that may be unfortunately added during the course of the trip. Urine also goes through the holes and leaves the alpaca to sit dry above it. Both these attributes are very helpful in ensuring your animals arrive at the show looking their best. 

The Rubber Stock Mats can be purchased from K-Mart here in New Zealand. They were still for sale in October 2008. They are a charcoal grey colour and come looking like giant jigsaw puzzle pieces. They are easy to cut down to fit your transport needs.

We also got the mats to use when we do our shearing. Our animals were shorn on the ground this year, the rubber mats were to be placed under the lino/vinyl or tarp that we placed on the ground to protect the fleeces from contamination. The rubber mats provide added comfort to the alpacas for the short time they are stretched out on the ground. In particular, I was thinking of the pregnant females. I don’t know if it made any difference to them or not, but I know that it made me feel better for doing it. The mats also provide comfort and support to those who have to kneel on the ground helping with the shearing tasks for extended periods of time. 

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The information presented here is from our own experiences, adapted from others to suit our situation, property and our animals. We don’t claim to be experts and you are welcome to disagree, if you find something useful – great. Everyone is welcome to comment and provide feedback – see Contact Us.