Ultimate Guide to Alpaca Fiber Farming

The Alpaca Fiber Farming material consists of four interrelated sections:

Section #1 – The Current & Potential Value of Alpaca Fiber
Section #2 – Alpaca Fiber Evaluation– The Objective & the Subjective
Section #3 - Histograms, Follicular Skin Biopsies, & EPDs
Section #4 – How to Make Money with Alpaca Fiber and the Value Chain

The material in these sections will all work together to bring about a comprehensive introductory understanding of alpaca fiber, the pros and cons of the industry, how it can be faithfully compared to competing wools, and objective findings, both good and bad, to maximize potential profit.

The included sections will explore more objective and quantifiable facts that will help breeders reach a deeper understanding of how to keep and maintain a herd.

We've prepared this e-book guide to share the lessons learned in the US Alpaca industry and help small farms get started with their own alpaca adventure. This is a resource that will continue to grow as we learn more, and hopefully help you in the exciting and ever-growing industry of ‘Alpaca Fiber Farming.’

Alpaca Fiber Farming - Table of Contents

1. Section 1.1: Introduction: Alpaca Fiber Farming
2. Infographic: Value of Alpaca Fiber
3. Section 1.2: Current & Potential Value of Alpaca Fiber
4. Section 1.3: Breeding Goals For Fiber Farmers
5. Section 1.4: Alpaca Fiber Form And Function
6. Section 1.5: Alpaca Fiber – The Magic And The Myth
7. Section 1.6: Alpaca Fiber – The Eco-Friendly Choice
8. Section 1.7: Alpaca Vs. The Competition
9. Section 1.71: Alpaca Compared To Sheep Wool
10. Section 1.72: Alpaca Compared To Cashmere
11. Section 1.73: Alpaca Compared To Angora, Mohair, Or Silk
12. Section 1.74: Alpaca Compared To Cotton, Bamboo, Or Linen
13. Section 1.75: Alpaca Compared To Synthetics
14. Section 1.76: Suri Fiber Compared To Huacaya Fiber
15. Section 1.77: Alpaca Fiber Benefits Summary
16. Section 1.8: Section Summary
17. Section 2.1: Alpaca Fiber Evaluation – The Objective & Subjective
18. Section 2.2: Primary Fibers
19. Section 2.3: Secondary Fibers
20. Section 2.4: “Guard Hair”
21. Section 2.5: Medullation
22. Section 2.6: The “Halo Effect”
23. Section 2.7: Fiber Evaluation
24. Section 2.71: Density
25. Section 2.72: Fineness
26. Section 2.73: Huacaya And Crimp
27. Section 2.74: Luster In Suri
28. Section 2.75: Handle
29. Section 2.76: Consistency Or Uniformity
30. Section 2.77: Alpaca Fiber Strength
31. Section 2.8: Section Summary
32. Section 3.1: Measuring Alpaca Fiber
33. Section 3.2: Basic Histogram Terminology
34. Section 3.3: Skin Biopsies And EPDs
35. Section 3.4: EPDs
36. Section 3.5: Benchmarking
37. Section 3.6: All About Biopsies
38. Section 3.7: Section Summary
39. Section 3.8: Example Histogram And Biopsies
40. Section 4.1: It’s All About The Fiber
41. Section 4.2: Separating Fact From Fiction
42. Section 4.3: Current State Of The North American Fiber Market
43. Section 4.31: Cottage Industry And Custom Mills
44. Section 4.32: Challenges To Building A National Alpaca Fiber Market
45. Section 4.4: Building An Alpaca Fiber Industry
46. Section 4.5: The Niche Market
47. Section 4.6: Alpaca Fiber For Profit
48. Section 4.7: Section Summary

Special thanks to Jim Tomaszek for the original composition of this material to benefit the alpaca community.

Important Husbandry Links:

• Body scoring chart
• Off-label dosages for alpaca meds
• Cria gestation table
• Cria growth charts
• Importance of vitamin D supplementation
• Vitamin D dosage recommendations
• Castration techniques for alpaca