Fleece is a term used to describe the alpaca's wool or fur

Coverage is a term, used by North Americans, that is used to describe growth of fiber that occurs in areas other than the prime blanket (such as face, lower legs and topknot - area between the ears).  Coverage makes the alpaca more aesthetically pleasing.

Crinkle is the wave formation in a single fiber of Huacaya fleece

Crimp is the wave pattern found in a lock of fiber.

Density is the amount of fibers in an alpaca's prime blanket.  The denser an alpaca is, the more fleece follicles present. 

Guard hairs are coarse medulated fiber.  A second coat of fiber found in llamas, of the Vicunas, Guanacos, and to a lesser degree alpaca's.

Handle is the way an alpaca fiber feels when touched; sometimes used interchangeably with softness.

Luster is the sheen or shine that is desirable in alpaca fiber.  Most noticeable in suri fiber.

What is a Histogram?

A histogram is a test done to evaluate the fineness and uniformity of a fleece.  A 2" x 2" sample is taken from the mid-side of the alpaca's blanket, which is sent to a lab for testing.   Some of the things the lab tests for are:

AFD = Average Fiber Diameter (micron)

SD = Standard Deviation (fiber diameter variation within a sample)

CV = Co-efficient of Variation  (spread of fiber diameter variation throughout the fleece)

>30 = percentage of fiber over 30 microns

Curve = The degree of curve in a fiber.  A direct correlation to crimp.  e.g. Curve reading of 40+ deg/mm represents excellent crimp in Alpaca Fiber.

AFD = Average Fiber Diameter.  

The lower the number is, the finer the fleece.  If somebody says "My alpaca has a micron of 24 this year", the AFD is the number they are referring to.    The AFD will change throughout an alpacas life.   AFD can range anywhere between 14.7 to 49.3

There are six different grades of alpaca fleece (based on micron count).  They are as follows:

As an animal ages, their micron gets higher and begins to coarsen over time (a term referred to as "blowing-out").  Alpacas "blow-out" at different rates.  Some alpacas can maintain the same micron for many years (ideal ... but difficult to come by), while others can increase their micron as much as 9 microns or more in one year!  The average alpaca has an increase of 3 µ (µ = microns) each year.

Here is an example of a fairly average alpaca blowing-out:

Yearling ..... 22 µ    ( µ = micron)

2 yr old ..... 24.8 µ

3 yr old ..... 26.16 µ

4 yr old ..... 28.02 µ

5 yr old ..... 31.16 µ

6 yr old ..... 34.5 µ

7 yr old ...... > 35 µ

 

There are a variety of things that affect the micron of an alpaca's fleece such as (but not limited to):

#1) Age - average increase of 3 µ/year

#2) Diet - studies have shown that a high protein diet can greatly increase the rate in which an alpaca blows out.   On the other end of the scale, a poor quality diet can result in brittle fleece.

#3) Stress - can cause finer, brittle fleece 

#4) Testosterone - it has been suggested by many people that once males hit breeding age and their testosterone levels rise, their fleece begins to coarsen out quicker

#5) Color - whites and fawns tend to be finer than blacks and dark-colored animals

A study was conducted (funded by the Alpaca Research Foundation) from 6 geographical regions in the U.S. in which fleece was taken from the mid-side of 606 alpacas.  Below is a chart showing the average fibre diameters of the different groups (2004).

As breeders, we (at Eagle Hill Alpaca Ranch) believe it is our responsibility to try and breed animals with fine fleeces that blow-out slowly over time. 

click here to see our breeding goals.

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