Alpaca Fibre Production, Fibre Growth Seasonality and Fibre Characteristics Variation in a Cool-Temperate Environment of New Zealand

Live weight, fleece weight and fibre diameter of alpacas imported from South America were recorded. Seasonal fibre growth rate was estimated by a defined mid-side patch clipping. Fleece weights were 2.27 kg and 2.21 kg for Tara Hills and i.owburn properties, respectively, markedly higher than that of South American alpacas. Fibre diameter was coarsened by 4.6 µm (P<0.01) in 1990 and a further 1.2 µm (P<0.05) in the 1991 shearing for adult herds compared with the first test at importation, The fibre growth rate estimated by mid-side patch sampling coincided with seasonal changes, being highest in summer and declining in the order of autumn, winter and spring (0.45, 0.42, 0.41 and 0.35 mg/day/cm 1, respectively). Similarly, the diameter of fibre on the mid-side patch was affected but to a lesser extent. The fibre growth rate and fibre diameter was lowest in the period late winter/early spring. Males grew significantly more (42-59%) and coarser fibres (0.8-2. l 11m) than females.