Alpaca Fiber
Characteristics of Huacaya Fiber:
1) Density: refers to the number of hair follicles per square inch. Fiber density and staple length are the primary contributors to a fleece's volume and weight. The denser the fleece, the more difficult for contaminants to penetrate it. Density also determines the quantity of fleece to be sold.
2) Fineness: Fine fleeces are very soft to the touch. One way to measure the fineness is by histogram, which measures the diameter of individual fibers. Fine fleeces generally command a higher price. An alpaca's first, or baby fleece is the finest.
3) Handle: is the touch or feel of the fiber. A fine fleece will have a very soft feel or handle. A medium grade fiber can also have a very nice handle.
4) Luster: refers to the brightness and shine of the fiber. A lustrous fleece will glisten in the sunlight.
5) Crimp: is the waves of character seen in the fiber. Crimp gives garments elasticity and helps them hold their shape better. It can also add bulk to the finished product. There are a variety of different ranges of crimp found in alpaca fiber.
- Crinkle Like Crimp: crimp that is not very defined.
- Low Frequency Crimp: crimp with a loose, wave like structure. It is of low to medium depth (or amplitude).
- High Frequency Crimp: has many crimps per inch. The crimp depth will be medium to deep.
- Deep Bold Crimp: is a high frequency crimp with a very deep, bold character. Bundling is usually exhibited.
6) Lack of Medullation: medullated fibers are the coarse, straight fibers that poke through the fleece. They generally lack any pretense of crimp or crinkle and appear stiff and longer than the rest of the fleece. The alpaca's blanket should not exhibit medullated fibers. Medullated fibers do not spin or dye as well as the other fibers
7) Uniformity: an ideal fleece will have minimal variation in fiber diameter; an even color; and uniformity of length.
8) Staple Length: is the measured length of the fiber.
Characteristics of Suri Fiber
1) Luster - the sheen or pearliness in the fleece
2) Lock Structure - may be twisted, curled or pencilled. The locks should be well defined, narrow, independent, uniform and should form close to the skin. A firm, uniform, twisted lock is the most desireable. When the fleece is opened, the inside locks should also be uniformly well defined and hang in well-formed layers.
3) Fineness - softness
4) Handle - should have a silky, slippery feel evident throughout the body.
5) Lack of Medullation:
6) Lock Length
7) Uniformity of micron, color and length.
About Histograms
Purchasing and breeding decisions should never be based on histograms alone. The histogram is a tool. It should never take the place of a hands-on evaluation. A micron test cannot measure density. It cannot tell you about the crimp, luster or handle of the alpaca, nor can it tell you anything about the conformation, bone structure or positive or negative genetic qualities of the alpaca.
Age, sex and level of nutrition play a major impact on fiber diameter. An alpaca's fiber tends to coarsen as the animal ages. The level of nutrition affects the alpaca's micron. An overfed alpaca will have a higher micron than if it were on an average maintenance diet. Males frequently possess a higher micron value than females.
Average Fiber Diameter (AFD): This is the average of the diameter of each individual fiber in the measured sample. The average is referred to as the micron count. The lower the number, the smaller the diameter and therefore, the finer the fiber.
Standard Deviation (SD): The average of individual deviations (plus or minus micron values) from the mean of AFD. The smaller the SD, the more uniform the population of fibers measured.
Coefficient of Variation (CV): This measurement is the SD divided by the AFD, multiplied by 100 and reported as a percentage. This figure can be used when comparing two fiber samples with the same SD, but different AFD numbers. In this case, the sample with the higher AFD is actually going to be the more uniform fleece.
