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The Different Types of Alpacas: Suri and Huacaya

By Terry Philips

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 09Mar2012 Word count: 481 Viewed: 102 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

The defining characteristic of each of these types of alpaca is the fibre that covers them. The huacaya breed often appear more like stuffed animals because of their fluffy wool, which up close displays a curled or crimpled texture.

Although huacaya wool naturally possesses more than 20 different shades, its coarse textures allow its fibres to hold dye well. It also holds the advantage of being able to be easily woven because of the way the wool curls. These qualities make huacaya alpacas more favourable for producing wool that will be used for clothing and other items.

What suri alpaca fur lacks in commercial utility, it makes up for in lustre. These alpacas are far rarer -- some estimates say that they make up the equivalent of five per cent of the total number of huacayas. However, their scarcity only makes their fur even more of a find--unlike the coarse fibres of a huacaya, suri alpacas exhibit a longer, smoother strand that is less often used exclusively for clothing and accessories because it is more challenging (and more expensive) to work with. For alpaca farmers, suris may warrant more work because their fur should be kept at no longer than five inches to ensure quality and commercial appeal.

Most times, this kind of alpaca fur has to be blended with more durable huacaya fur or sheep's wool. However, the more suri wool an item contains, the more expensive it is likely to be, placing suri fur near the top of the scale of quality natural fibres. In order to reap the advantages of both type of animal, some farmers have taken to the practice of cross breeding suri and huacaya alpacas to produce a more marketable material from their wools.

When purchasing items made from alpaca fleece, there are several qualities or characteristics that you will want to consider. For example, many consumers prefer 100 per cent raw fibre, which means that the fur has not been washed or processed in any way. If you choose to purchase only raw fibre, you may want to hand wash it gently using a dish detergent, taking care not to wring the material and then air dry the fabric. Another quality to look for when purchasing alpaca fibre is crimp. In general, fabrics that have more crimp are softer to the touch.

If you are lucky enough to purchase alpaca fibre from a vendor who knows the exact source of the wool, you should also ask from which part of the animal the fur was taken. The highest quality fur is usually found on the upper sides or "shoulders" of the animal and also from the torso area. These fibres are referred to as the "blanket." As you begin to learn more about alpaca fibres, you will be able to easily spot these qualities and recognise higher quality fabric.

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