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Tips for Maximizing Your Fiber Harvest
By Dianna Jordan, Alpacas of Somerset Farm

For some alpaca ranchers, fiber is the primary product. For others, breeding and selling alpacas is the primary product and fiber is secondary. Either way, all alpaca ranchers will reap a harvest of raw alpaca fiber every year. That raw fiber has the potential to add to the bottom-line of your alpaca business operation. This article discusses ways you can maximize the potential income from your fiber harvest.

If you followed effective pre-shearing practices…kept your pastures clean and free of debris and stickers; used feeders that minimize the amount of "loose" hay that always manages to make it's way into the crook of the neck area causing matting and tangling; provided good nutrition; kept the stress levels to a minimum, and sheared your alpacas when their fleece was dry, then you created a good pre-shearing environment for maximum results.

Another critical step in successfully shearing for maximum value, is selecting a knowledgeable and efficient shearer. You want to make sure your shearer understands fiber characteristics well enough to know when the traditional "blanket" area can be expanded, or needs to be reduced, based on the quality of the fiber. The shearer should strive to keep second cuts, short pieces of fleece caused by the shearer going over the same spot twice with the second cut being shorter, to a minimum. These second cuts (nubs) can be seen on the cut side of the fleece and need to be removed before processing.

Effectively preparing (organizing) for shearing day cannot be over-stated or over-rated. The larger your herd, the more critical the preparation. If you have ever experienced a disorganized shearing, you know what I am talking about.

Fortunately, preparing for shearing day can be done months or days before the event. Following is a shearing preparation checklist. It is not all-inclusive and can certainly be modified to meet your individual needs.

Whether you are preparing your fiber to send to a mini-mill or one of the fiber cooperatives, there are certain steps you can take to help ensure you receive maximum return on your raw fiber. Whether you do it yourself, or expect the processor to do it for you (which will add to the expense of processing), your fiber will need to be skirted, cleaned, sorted, and graded. Please keep in mind, preparing a fleece to send for processing isn't nearly as involved as preparing a fleece for a fleece show.

The "Terrible Toos"

The following list of "Terrible Toos" was created by former AFCNA Board Member Starr Cash. She has graciously given her permission for this list to be used by anyone promoting effective fiber preparation. The list contains the most common reasons fiber is labeled as having NCV (no commercial value). NCV fiber is just what it says, of no value to the processor meaning no value to you as the producer. Most of the "Terrible Toos" can be eliminated during the skirting process.

• Too short -- less than 1.5"
• Too long -- more than 7.5"
• Too tender – take a few strands and holding on to the ends, quickly try to pull (snap) apart. If the fiber breaks, it is too tender.
• Too stained – mostly a problem with whites
• Too much Vegetable Matter or other contamination (feels "crunchy" when you grab a handful of fiber and squeeze)
• Too matted
• Too molded – usually happens when fleece is wet or damp when bagged
• Too buggy - infested with moths or other insects
• Too Hairy - Topknots, tails, and lower leg hair, excess guard hair

Alpacas produce a wonderful annual harvest. It is up to each of us to promote "the fiber of the Gods" by getting it into the hands of the consumer. That is the only way we can build the future fiber industry.