Although color can be one important focus
of your fleece to fashion breeding program,
fiber qualities are of equal importance! Many
qualitative fiber traits are fairly easy to select
for in a few generations, if good shearing
records are kept!
We know from other fiber
producing animals like sheep, and both angora
and cashmere goats, that fiber traits such
as fineness, density
and staple length are
particularly heritable.
Some of these traits
may be measured and
tracked by good farm
records, such as staple
length.
Density can
be approximated by
weighing and recording
the fleece weight of an
individual if shorn
annually. For fineness
and uniformity of fiber,
a lab analysis, giving
you a record called a
histogram, must be
used.
To improve fiber characteristics in your
herd, select for the best producers in the area
you wish to increase in excellence.
©2006 WoodsEdge Wools Farm LLC
