RE: [AlpacaTalk] Fleece and Shearing Question
We don’t worry about how dirty they are until closer to shearing time. I have sheared without doing anything to them and I’ve sheared after blowing them with a vacuum. Everyone agreed that we had to change cutters less often when they were blown out. It doesn’t get rid of it all, but a lot.
You don’t say where you are and that can make a big difference on the cost of your processed end product. We try to go to mills within driving distance to avoid shipping costs.
I can recommend Central VA Fiber Mill and have used them in the past and will continue to use them. We have recently taken 35 lbs of fiber to a new mill, Capon Bridge Fiber Works in WV. (about a two hour drive for us) I am anxious to receive our finished products and was given an estimate of about six months to complete the job. (this process is not done quickly……..too few mills to process lots of small farm’s fiber, imo)
Each mill has their own pricing, but I think the norm is to charge you on INCOMING weight for the washing of the fiber. Then depending on what you have done, most charge for the outgoing wt of the finished process. I am having yarn made from all my blanket fiber……one pound of fingering wt in 250 yd skeins and the balance in sport wt. My seconds are being made into rug yarn and my waste is being made into felt sheets. I only asked for one pound of roving in white for soap felting.
There are so many variables so it is hard to tell you how much it will cost, but if you go to a mill’s website, you should be able to estimate what the cost will be.
My first skeins of blanket fiber in a sport wt averaged 3.5 oz per skein of 250 yards and the cost averaged $12 per skein. It is a pricey process, but I have found that those fiber lovers who appreciate alpaca are willing to pay the price. I sell skeins for $24 or on sale for $20 when two or more are bought. Right now, I have nothing to sell and am very anxious to get my fiber back!
Are your alpacas girls or boys? If you only plan for fiber and no breeding, I would geld the boys. Let their energy go into fiber and not macho testosterone filled antics. (they fight less after gelded!)
Good luck. Sounds like fun. I have only been an alpaca owner/breeder since October 2008. We started with five and have grown to 21 and a llama. We had four for four crias born healthy this year……3 girls and a boy. I have two female Suris and two male Suris and the rest Huacaya. Love them all!
Laura………still working on our website……a work in progress
Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
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Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 11:42 AM
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Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Fleece and Shearing Question
I am a newbie to Alpacas so bear with me on these questions. I have 3 Alpacas that I just recently purchased. I have always loved Alpacas and we bought them more as pets than anything. I do spin and knit so they will be my own personal fiber supply and I hope enough left over to help suppliment the cost of thier food and care.
As I'm sure you know, they love to roll around in the dirt and leaves and such and they currently have all sorts of VM stuck in their fleece. Do I need to be concerned with trying to get it all out before they are sheared or do I need to somehow try to prevent them from getting dirty in the first place?
Also, I have heard there are places where you can send the fleece to have it tested for microns and such. Where can I learn more information about that?
Again, I'm new to all this so pardon my ignorance but apart from the fleece I will be processing myself where does one send thier fleece to have it processed and how much does something like that cost?
posted by Chaddo at 3:17 PM
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