[AlpacaTalk] Re: Micron Testing clarified and EPD

 

Heather Zeleny wrote:

For example:

I know of an animal with a first year AFD very similar to one of my 

boy's first year AFD, 16.6 as tested by Yocom McColl.

The second year, the owner tested on the OFDA 2000. The staple length 

was 75mm, just about 2.5" The AFD came back at 17.4µ. However, 

according to the OFDA 2000, the beginning micron was a bit over 18 at 

the weathered end. Between 5 and 15mm, the micron drops to about 16µ, 

then steadily rises over the course of the growth period to 22.5 at 

70mm.

This sample, tested at Yocom McColl would have been recorded as 22.5µ

This sample has a 6µ variance. In fact, this shows that the fiber is 

tender at 15mm, perhaps there was stress of illness which made the 

micron so low during that time. But surely this fleece isn't a 

uniform 17.4µ

Finally, it seems that really, the accurate micron of this boy at two 

years of age is 22.5µ. Because that was his micron at that age.

So what would happen if the fiber sample had been sent to Yocom McColl at the timeframe when the fleece was at 15mm? Or more realistically, whatever was affecting the animal at the 15mm point, happened to coincide with the 2yr shearing time? Do you see how that would also skew the results just as surely? However, by taking the true average of the fiber diameter over the course of a year, the AFD is a "more average average", if you get my point. If in fact this animals fleece is coarsening due to age, the subsequent tests will reflect that with increased AFD results. However, the breeder can look at that information and check to see if the increased micron count from 15mm to 70mm with some environmental changes, such as a change in diet. Then, if so, that can be factored in and perhaps changes can be made to correct whatever environmental factors might be contributing to the increased fiber strength. However, if no changes happened in the animals environment that might explain the changes, it might be genetic.

But one thing for sure, you don't get that kind of useful information from a Yocom McColl test.

Rebecca Wells

Alpacadero Alpacas

Seattle, WA

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