At Windy Ridge Alpacas we focus our efforts on not just one fibre characteristic, but on a combination of the traits we feel are important in order to achieve our fibre goals.
We breed for a high frequency crimp type with a deep bold character, good fibre alignment, small match stick bundling of the fibres and a long staple length. When these traits come together we see higher fleece weights, a finer fibre, bright luster and a consistency & uniformity of those fibre characteristics. We have already begun to see these traits and will continue to advance them within our program.
Shear weights on are farm are higher, with cria shearing 6.5 to 9 lbs of fibre at 10 months and up to a year old. Adult pregnant females are shearing 6 to 9 lbs of fleece per year and our Adult males are shearing 9.5 to 12 lbs of fleece a year.
Staple lengths are longer with our cria fibre measuring in at 6 to 9 inches in length at 10 months up to 1 year. Our bred females measure from 4 to 7 inches and our breeding males 4 to 7 inches, this at exactly 1 years growth from last shearing.
We are also seeing small bundling of the fibres, a bright luster and a super fine handle.
This group of photos represents just some of the alpacas on our farm with the type of fibre character we are breeding. You can see the high frequency crimp with the deep bold character & the small fibre bundles in the Shorn Fleece shots. And you can see the density, small bundling and uniformity of the character in the Side Shots of both the adult males and the cria. Our goal for the future is to advance these fibre traits and develop a truly Elite type of alpaca fleece.
Click on the photos below to see more.
