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Alpacas graze on earth to produce wonderful fibre; harvesting it is the culmination of a year's work.
Learn to
make the most of it; it will benefit you and the alpaca industry.
Quality fibre starts with careful breeding selection; it is optimized with good management and best use fibre harvest practices. Fleece growth on the alpaca differs in fineness, length and colour, which make it necessary to separate sections at shearing time to avoid contaminating the better with the lower quality fleece parts. Further fibre preparation is needed to obtain best results from processing.
I am motivated to encourage breeders to process the wonderful fibre; to acquire the knowledge why and how fibre should be prepared for processing to ensure quality products and to utilize various grades to maximize the net return. For this reason and backed by years of experience in handling our fibre clip for processing and the in-depth knowledge gained through the Natural Fibre Centre Camelid Fibre Sorter certification, I offer the service of a one day workshop and seminar style presentation.
Workshop - ABC's of Fibre Harvest
This one-day workshop is designed to consult on organizing fibre shed preparation, skirting, sorting, grading and record keeping for best results from processing and show presentation. The sessions addresses:
A. Commercial processing:
- Practical set-up on shearing day to ensure a smooth workflow and stress reduced environment for animals and humans.
- Discuss desirable fibre characteristics for processing and how to meet them.
- Discuss the importance of record keeping (Histogram, fleece production) and pre fibre clip preparation of alpacas.
- Best-use shearing method to remove fleece avoiding value reduction due to damage and contamination.
- Hands-on sorting and grading of fibre following the Canadian Alpaca Industry Fibre Harvesting Code of Practice.
- Discuss with the producer end product possibilities for current clip and deliver options to maximize return on fibre crop.
B. Show Fleece: ( also offered as a stand alone session)
1. Discuss judge's score card and what makes a good show fleece presentation.
2. Preparation of show fleece from the shearer's table to the judge's table.
Seminar- Quality fleeces and how to prepare them for processing
The seminar style presentation addresses the success of quality fleeces through genetics, husbandry and fleece preparation..
A power point presentation (1.5hr -2hrs) covers the topics:
- Desirable fleece characteristics for processing and what influences them
- Objective measurements and their role in fibre production
- Pre shearing preparation
- Fleece handling at shearing time
- Why the need for skirting and sorting
- What is skirting?
- What is sorting?
- Skirting and Sorting for processing (Mini Mill, Co-op)
- Grading
Best use applications for various grades
Service - Custom Sorting
Skirting, sorting, weighing and grading of shorn fleece. Consulting with breeder the use of 'Seconds' and sorting accordingly. Record keeping of fleece weight and staple length. Discuss options for end use of fibre clip.
Rate: $9.00/fleece.
$5 extra for show fleece.
Please contact Caecilia
caeciliag@msn.com
613-832-4718
Past seminar presentation:
April 18,19, 2009 - Alpaca Ontario Show, Orangeville, ON
Focus on Fibre, short introductory presentations for public
May 10, 2009 - Mayflower Alpaca Show, Crapaud, PEI
Quality fleeces and how to prepare them for processing
May 3-4, 2008 - Alpaca Ontario Fibre Weekend, Odessa, Ontario
'Quality fleeces and how to prepare them for processing
'After shearer skirting and sorting demonstration'
May 17, 19/2007 -AOBA National Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, (view AOBA evaluation)
'How to prepare your fleece to obtain best results from processing
April 15/2007 - Alpaca Ontario Show
'Fibre Basics' (in co-operation)
September 2006 - Alpaca Ontario presents
Fibre Basics workshop with hands-on skirting and sorting (in co-operation)
May 2006 - Navan Fair Alpaca Show Committee
Shearing & Sorting Workshop
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