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Crimp Style

If you are selecting for crimp in huacayas, because it leads to finer fleeces, then the question becomes: which style of crimp is best? In sheep, the wool with the most frequent crimp count is often the finest.  The style of crimp in sheep is also moderately to highly heritable.  In alpaca, crimp style is variable. 

Amplitude is the height of the crimp wave as measured from the crest to the trough.

Frequency is the number of crimps for a given measurement, ie crimps per cm.

Deep crimp is defined as having high amplitude.

Bold crimp is a low frequency wave that maintains high amplitude.

 

http://www.alpacas.com/AlpacaLibrary/CaseforCrimp.aspx

 

Fibre Testing

Fibre Diameter is measured in microns (m) and one micron is equal to 1 millionth of a metre.  Reporting an animal’s micron result is reporting the mean of the sample.  The standard deviation (SD) and Coefficient of Variation (CV) relate to the normal distribution of a sample represented by a bell-curve, in which 66% of the values lie within one standard deviation of the mean, 95% within two standard deviations of the mean and 99% within three standard deviations of the mean.

Comfort Factor is the percentage of fibres under 30m.

Curvature is related to crimp and the average curvature is determined by the measurement of 2mm sections in degrees per mm.

Histogram is a graphical representation of the fibre test results.

Position of Break/Tender Spot describes the point along a staple where the staple is at it’s weakest.  It is preferential for this point to be in the mid section of the staple.  The tender spot can often be attributed to a specific event, for example change in feed or illness.

Spinning Fineness is expressed in microns (m) and provides an estimate of the sample’s performance when spun into yarn.  The spinning fineness is determined by combining the mean fibre diametre (m) and the coefficient of variation (CV).

Staple Length is measured in millimetres and maybe reported on an ‘annualised’ basis, being an adjusted measurement representing a full year’s growth.

Staple Strength is measured in Newtons/Kilotex and is the force required to break a staple of a given thickness.  A staple strength of 30 N/ktex is usually required for commercial production, it is not unusual for alpaca fibre to return staple strengths of 50 N/ktex or better.

Yield is measured as the clean fleece weight as a percentage of the whole, that is the fleece with all impurities (VM and dirt) extracted.