The Atlantic Canada
Alpaca Farm

1451 Hansford Road
RR#2 Oxford, Nova Scotia
Canada, B0M 1P0
PH. (902) 447-3045
Email Us / Directions

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GENERAL ALPACA INFORMATION

Alpaca Fiber

Alpacas are shorn annually and their fiber is processed into a number of products.

Several mills in Canada are capable of spinning a good quality yarn from our home grown fiber. Many of the sales of this fiber are to the cottage industry - the artisan markets of hand spinners, weavers and knitters. Local alpaca fiber is also being sold at the farm gate by producers, as well as through mail orders and wholesale operations.

The Canadian Camelid Fiber Co-op will provide another means by which alpaca owners and breeders can have their fiber processed. There are a growing number of alpaca product specialty stores handling local as well as imported alpaca products. As the North American market for alpaca fiber grows and develops, it shows every sign of expanding to the commercial level.

Characteristics of alpaca fiber

is extremely fine with little guard hair
has less prickle factor than most other animals
is compatible with either the woolen or worsted manufacturing system
has excellent insulative or thermal qualities
has a rich silky sheen which has high visual appeal in the apparel industry
is 30% warmer than the same weight of Merino wool
is 4 times more abrasion resistant than Merino wool
is stronger than wool and does not pill in the better quality animals
contains no grease, oil or lanolin and does not smell
is bulky but will spring back when squashed
does not retain water and can resist solar radiation
does not shrink when washed
do not use a dryer
comes in 22 different colors
is lightweight and incredibly soft
can be carded and blended with other natural fibers

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