While doing some research into sheep and alpaca fibre recently I came across this article based on a study of Merino sheep in Australia.


The article talks about "part records". This is the first paragraph:

"Fibre diameter can vary dramatically along a wool staple,
especially in the Mediterranean environment of southern Australia
with its dry summers and abundance of green feed in spring. Other
research results have shown a very low phenotypic correlation
between fibre diameter grown between seasons. Many breeders use
short staples to measure fibre diameter for breeding purposes and
also to promote animals for sale. The effectiveness of this practice
is determined by the relative response to selection by measuring
fibre traits on a full 12 months wool staple as compared to
measuring them only on part of a staple."

Using alpaca fibre histograms from analysis by Yocom-McColl is pretty much standard practice in our industry. What this study suggests is that in certain variable climates when you look at Merino sheep you can get some variations along the length of the staple.

So I guess its reasonable to assume the same may be true of alpacas, but we all know that diet has as much impact as weather conditions (in particular drought in Australia) on fibre diameter, so I don't believe this report really raises anything that new.

The bottom line as always is not to become obsessed with fineness on its own but to consider uniformity throughout the fleece followed by finess. I don't think taking several reading along the staple and producing an average would add a great deal to what we are already doing.

Well those are my thoughts, If you have different thoughts drop me a line at Mulberry Alpacas
Adrian@mulberryalpacas.com.

Adrian Stewart