In the Alpaca Corner – Alpaca Fiber
Welcome to the Alpaca Bunny Smackdown. In the Alpaca Corner, the contributing alpaca – Kocoa Moon! (applause, whistles, & WOOTS!) pictured here. Kocoa also answers to “Pretty Girl”. Weighing in at a healthy 165 lbs. (that’s baby weight honey), Kocoa’s hobbies include sticking her front feet in the water bucket while friends are trying to drink, and giving kisses. She can often be found teasing the boys and taking care of her very first cria. Before this competition, Kocoa’s claim to fame was winning over the heart of Mr. @Alpacamundo so that Mrs. @Alpacamundo could raise alpacas. (see shameless flirting lower right)
Alpaca fiber comes in more colors than any other fiber bearing animal. It is very light and warm. Alpaca fiber also has a nice handle, making it a good choice for next to skin wear.
Alpaca does come in different grades, and an alpaca’s very first fleece is the finest one they will have. Alpacas’ fleeces become more coarse and shorter in staple as they age, though most alpaca breeders are breeding for longevity of low micron count (fineness) and staple length.
Alpaca is a rare fiber. There are only about 150,000 alpacas in the United States. The fiber is comparable with cashmere, yet more reasonably priced. As an alpaca breeder, the most exciting thing is that alpaca can be improved beyond what we have today. In the future we will see more alpacas with even better fineness, uniformity, (which gives the fiber more memory making it less likely that you will need to blend it with something for memory), and volume. Some (huacaya) alpaca is also extremely bright! We have the genetics for alpacas to far surpass the lovely fleeces they produce today. If you like alpaca now, just wait until you see alpaca in five and ten years.
Read more about Kocoa and her owners take on the Alpaca Bunny Smackdown on Kathryn’s blog.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Oh, how on earth can that little angora bunny fluff fluff dare to compete against Kocoa? I just want to give Kocoa a big ol’ hug. Makes this suri gal want another huacaya. Well, you have me on pins and needles (knitting needles that is) I am waiting impatiently for the alpacabunny smackdown results. Who needs Clash of the Titans when we have AlpacaBunny Smackdown?
August 6th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I love this week
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August 6th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Whilst I adore alpaca, I have to apologize to Kocoa…I’m firmly in the bunny camp on this one! Rabbits come in more colors (they do! 50+ at a minimum but if you’re talking ACCEPTED colors for show, that’s a whole ‘nother story) and the fiber is simply to die for.
The advantage of alpaca? When spun pure, it’s not too hot to wear in temperate climates…
Seriously, they are both wonderful, curl-up-in-and-nap fibers and I adore them both for spinning! Both fiber donors are awesome.
Great idea!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:33 am
While bunnies do have lots of fluff, they do not have the flirty eyes of an alpaca. And bunnies don’t talk to you like an alpaca or a cria. (Can you tell I have been around some crias?)
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August 7th, 2009 at 4:56 am
hummmmmmmmmmmm, what do u say about these 2 fluffy critter, but awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!