Petrie, O.J.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 122;Harvesting of Textile Animal Fibres. (1995) http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9384e/v9384e00.htm#con
If you want to better understand the animal fiber processing steps right from the beginning, this is a good, detailed resource. It covers a wide variety of animals and their fiber (sheep, mohair & cashmere goats, camel, llama, alpaca, angora rabbit, yak, beaver & weasel), Chapters include preparing animals for shearing; equipment &equipment maintenance; fiber harvesting techniques, fiber preparation for sale or processing, and large-scale production packaging for transport. Chapter 5 is especially useful for understanding the objectives for commercial fiber harvest and the techniques used to ensure a valuable end result. The online report version is easy to navigate by using the Table of Contents.
Textile Resources
Anderson, K.; It’s Not Just an Aesthetic Decision: Choosing the Right Weave Design, at www.techexchange.com/thelibrary/itsnot.html (2007) Descriptions of weave structures and how they affect the stability and usage of fabrics
Anderson, K.; Novelty Yarns – A Unique Supply Chain Advantage at http://www.techexchange.com/thelibrary/noveltyyarns.html (2005) Descriptions of various novelty yarns and their production; includes advanced fiber technology blends
Liu, X, and Wang, X.; A Comparative Study on the Felting Propensity of Animal Fibers, Textile Research Journal, (77) 957. (2007) Full text article available at: http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/77/12/957 A study of the felting of wool vs. alpaca fibers in a commercial scouring setting
McColl, A.; Lupton, C.; and Stobart, B.; Fiber Characteristics of US Huacaya Alpaca, Alpacas Magazine, Summer 2004, pp 186-196. (2004) Full text article available at: http://www.alpacaresearchfoundation.org/papers_reports/fiber%20study.pdfA study of microns, length and tensile strength of raw alpaca fiber with regional, color and age comparisons
Tillman, A. and Tillman, C.; Surface Scanning Electron Microscopy of Suri Alpaca Fiber and Other Members of the Camel Family. Alpacas Magazine, Spring 2006, pp 158– 171. (2006) Full text article available at: http://www.tillmanllamas.com/alpacasArticles/Alpacas%20Magazine%20SEM%20for%20web.pdf A comparison of scale structure of suri alpaca and huacaya, llama and wool
Wang, X.; Wang, L.; and Liu, X.; The Quality and Processing Performance of Alpaca Fibers, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Australia, (RIRDC). (2003) Full text at https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/03-128.pdf A comprehensive report of several studies on the processing of alpaca as compared to wool in commercial scouring and processing mills in Australia
Alpaca Judging Criteria
AOBA Alpaca Emphasis Guide
For Immediate Release – February 21, 2008
Judges Training and Certification Committee
AOBA is pleased to announce the release of the “Alpaca Emphasis Guide”. The Emphasis Guide is not a part of the AOBA show rules but rather it is a guide for a member who is considering putting an alpaca in the show ring. The following is an explanation of the history and purpose for the “Alpaca Emphasis Guide”:
History
The idea for the Alpaca Emphasis Guide began at a meeting of judges. The idea was first proposed at the 2005 AOBA National Show in Salt Lake City as a means of augmenting the AOBA handbook which identifies positive and negative alpaca traits but does not give any guidelines as to the relative importance. The handbook also failed to distinguish the relative importance of traits between younger and older alpacas.
During subsequent meetings, the judges discussed and modified the original chart. Since then the chart has been reviewed, edited and approved by the Judges Training and Certification Committee (JTCC), the AOBA Show Rules Committee (SRC), and the Judges Advisory Committee (JAC). During an AOBA Board of Directors meeting in Louisville, Kentucky on May 16, 2007 the Alpaca Emphasis Guide was formally approved. The guide was implemented for the first time at the July 2007 Form and Function Clinic in Golden, Colorado.
Purpose
The primary use for the guide is to train alpaca judges. The purpose of the guide is to help judges consistently prioritize alpaca traits in the show ring. The guide identifies important traits and catalogues them into three classifications: 1) priority emphasis, 2) moderate emphasis and 3) lesser emphasis. The chart is based on three guiding principles: 1) the form to function aspect of conformation 2) the textile value of fleece and 3) the heritability of the traits involved. The guide also takes into account whether the alpaca is male or female and their age: juvenile, yearling, and adult.
The Emphasis Guide is a significant step forward for the Alpaca Show System. In addition to helping judges in training and ultimately in the show ring, it should help exhibitors better understand the dynamics of show evaluation and a judge’s decisions.The JTCC hopes that each alpaca breeder takes the time to read the new guide. Much of it is common sense. Although alpaca evaluation has been a part of our alpaca show system from the beginning, this guide provides existing practices in written form. It should help members better understand the show process.
TAFS Fiber testing is moving forward - The Alpaca Fiber Symposium has arranged for testing of suri and huacaya fabric. Testing is in progress at Gaston College East Campus Textile Technology Center. Initial results were announced at the October 23-25, 2009 Symposium in Denver. Thanks to The Suri Network for the suri fabric and to Sally Brandon of Shepherd's Mill for the huacaya fabric.
Alpaca fiber and fabric testing fund to be established -The Steering Committee has decided to establish a fund for testing alpaca fiber and fabric. We do this in order to insure that testing of our product is an ongoing activity. A more complete and comprehensive understanding will open up new areas for usage of our fiber as well as new arenas for commercial profit. If you wish to contribute, just send a check made out to "The Alpaca Fiber Symposium" to: The Alpaca Fiber Symposium, 141 Merritt Drive, Butler, PA 16001. Please make a notation on the check that it is for the Testing Fund.
