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Fiber Characteristics of U.S.Huacaya Alpacas

Angus McColl, Chris Lupton and Bob Stobart

This informative study was conducted to establish a comprehensive profile of U.S. Huacaya Alpaca fiber characteristics that could be useful for educational, promotional, policy, selection, and breeding purposes.

It's All About the Fleece!

Julie Follansbee | 07/10/09

May 4, 2009: We did it! We had our first successful "clip"!

However, it wasn’t without some unexpected excitement and unforeseen challenges. We rented a cargo van and got all things ready. . . halters, bags, gloves, knee pads, people and animals in preparation for a 4:00 PM departure and a 5:30 PM shearing. At 3:20 PM our carefully made plans started to unravel. We got a call from the Kreskos, the farm hosting our first shearing day. The shearers were ahead of schedule and we needed to be at the farm in 40 minutes - an hour and a half earlier than we expected!

Since we had never loaded our animals into a vehicle before, let alone walked them anywhere on a lead, it was obvious this was not going to be an ordinary day. Instead of the nice relaxed pace of leading them into the van, we needed to get them in and fast! But, first we had to call our young neighbor Emily, who wanted to come along for the big adventure. We hoped her parents could get her to our house so that we could leave within 15 minutes. Luckily, they all immediately hopped in the car and arrived in time. We actually had two extra helpers, which as it turned out, we really needed.

I was able to halter Ishtar and lead her to the van. However, when she saw it, she cushed and would not get up. We tried lifting her and nudging her and she finally rose. Just then, the next unplanned issue presented itself.

Summary of 2008 Fleece Measurements

Bill McAlister | 07/10/09

The Ideal Alpaca Community (IAC) regularly receives requests for information regarding fleece characteristics. For example:

“What is the average fiber diameter for a male Huacaya?“

“What is the maximum annual staple length growth for a female Suri?”

“How does Fluffy’s fleece weight compare to other 5-year old alpacas”

Answers to these, and many other related questions, are easily obtained by examining the charts presented below.

The source of raw data for this report was the fiber test sample data from IAC members submitted for inclusion in the IAC’s Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) program. Information was derived from fleece sample results for the 2007 and 2008 shearing seasons, plus hundreds of records from prior years. A total of over 5,500 alpaca fiber test records were used in preparing the summaries. Records came from 4,347 individual alpacas. Of these, 797 had two or more records.

As you will soon see, there is a tremendous variability in the data. This is welcome news. It means there is plenty of “room” for genetic improvement! The 2008 EPD results will be available in August 2009. The new EPD results will be extremely helpful in identifying and selecting alpacas that are likely to pass along their superior characteristics to their offspring.

While the data was thoroughly checked for errors, there still may be some questionable data discovered as the EPD analysis continues. However, any such errors will likely have only negligible impact on the information presented here.

The charts include measurements for the following fleece and fiber characteristics:

• Mean Fiber Diameter (MFD)
• Annualized Fleece Weight (FW)
• Annualized Mean Stable Length (MSL)
• Percent Fibers greater than 30 microns (%>30µ)
• Mean Fiber Curvature (MFC)
• Percent Medullated Fibers (MED)

For each measurement, summaries for Huacayas and Suris, both male and female, are provided.

Sampling & Base-cut for Mean Fiber Diameter Testing of Individual Animals

Angus McColl | 10/08/09

This article is an introduction to alpaca fiber testing techniques and covers the most popular procedures and measuring equipment. The "base-cut", commonly called the "butt-cut", is described and compared to core samples.

The butt-cut sample is best for use in genetic evaluation. It contains the least environmentally influenced number of fibers. This side-sample consists of 2-mm snippets cut at the base of the staple to measure the average fineness of the fibers being grown at a specific point in time and at a specific age. For estimated progeny difference (EPD) calculations, it is necessary to obtain sub-samples by die cutting (see Figures 3 – 5) close to and parallel to the base of the staple.

Crying Over Spilt Onions?

Dr. Ian Davison
Illawarra Alpacas, NSW

Fifteen years into the industry and still I struggle with the jargon. Was there ever an industry more beset with quaint and often archaic jargon than the textile industry? Noils, warp, weft, sliver carding tops, etc. etc. - where do they find these words, and to whom are they useful apart from textile manufacturers and Scrabble topics?

IAC Fleece Sample Measurements & EPDs

The Ideal Alpaca Community (IAC) manages the collection of fleece sample data on behalf of its members and coordinates the analysis and reporting of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). The information is publicly displayed on the IAC website (www.ideal-alpaca.com) for each alpaca that qualifies, provided the owner enables the display. Table 1 is an example of the EPD and Histogram information for a single alpaca.

The IAC established a standard set of fiber related measurements (Histograms) that are the basis for calculating EPDs. In 2007, the number of standard measurements increased from four to eleven, plus Total Fleece Weight. Yocom-McColl Testing Laboratories, Inc. performs actual fiber measurements. The results are reported back to the owners, and also merged into the IAC EPD database.

What Makes a Champion?

Dr. Julio Sumar

I want to talk about "the fleece on the alpaca", and should like to start asking, which are those important characteristics in the fleece?, and are those characteristics all equal in economical and technical terms?

Alpaca Fiber from the Textile Point of View

Mike Safley

Once alpaca fleece is in the bag, what is it worth? The textile manufacturer could not care less whether the fleece available for sale came from a prize winning stud or the herd's ugly duckling.

Don't Let Micron Madness Crimp Your Style

Mike Safley

I was always a chubby kid growing up. My Mom, God bless her soul, was the world's finest cook. We ate well, from biscuits and gravy to pork chops and apple pie. As a result I had a high micron count mid-side.

Fiber Testing Terminology

Yocum-McColl Laboratories

Fiber diameter is measured in microns. One micron is equal to 1/1,000,000^thof a meter or 1/25,400^th of one inch.

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