| 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. 23 fiber characteristics and body weight of a representative sample of US Alpacas were measured or calculated. Compared to wool of comparable fineness, the Alpaca was shown to be higher yielding, more heavily medullated (a distinctive feature of Alpaca), longer, and considerably stronger. Resistance to compression was invariably lower for Alpaca compared to wool of comparable fiber diameter likely due to the lower levels of crimp in the Alpaca fibers. Click here to read the full article.
Original research conducted by Alpaca Research Foundation. Published in Alpacas Magazine, Summer: 2-11 (2004)
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