Syke House Alpacas
About the Alpaca
The Alpaca Centre
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Alpaca fibre was first processed in Britain by Titus Salt of Saltaire, into cloth for high quality clothing, cherished for its texture, warmth and durability. Although British production is in its infancy, Alpaca wool has become more and more important to designers and manufacturers who recognise its fine insulating properties. 3000 years ago the Incas developed the alpaca to produce large fleeces of thick, hollow fibres of great strength. Today it is a natural alternative to the synthetic fibres used in action wear.
Alpacas produce a large fleece (3-4kg per adult per year) of fibre valued for centuries for its texture, warmth and durability.
Alpaca fibre is a known commodity, luxury quality yet hard wearing - a rare combination. Unique among woollen type fibres, it comes in 7 natural colours, with a full range of shades. Both white and coloured fibres take dye well, thus offering designers a wide range of possibilities.
| Alpaca wool buyer's praise The first major consignment of alpaca wool delivered to Bradford recently by two of the largest breeders in England has received an exceptional appraisal. In total, some 900kg of alpaca wool from Mrs Pat Bentley of Syke House, Cumbria and Jill and Kelvin Maude, Arunvale, West Sussex, was classed and sorted. The results of the classing saw over 770kg categorised as premium quality fibre suitable for fine knitting yarn or cloth manufacture, and 154kg was assessed as suitable for duvet, mattress or pillow fillings. Only 18kg of the 900kg presented was considered unusable. Commenting on the fibre, Peter Gilbert, one of the most experienced alpaca classifiers in the UK, said it represented some of the best alpaca ever seen in Bradford. The Scottish Farmer, 8 May 1997 |
About the Alpaca
History
Merits
Considerations
Maintenance
Fibre
Economics
British fibre processors have long been unable to obtain a regular supply of alpaca wool in all colours in sufficient quantity to run their machines at maximum efficiency. At least 1000kg is needed per run. The shortfall is waiting to be satisfied, and this coupled with the existing demand for garments and other alpaca wool based products suggest that years of expansion in alpaca fibre production is to be anticipated.
| Gross Margin figures (1995) Winter wheat Winter Barley Main crop potatoes Dairy cows Single suckler beef Single suckler beef Lowland spring lambing Alpaca (8 per acre) wool @ £30/kg |
Per acre £330 (high yield) £275 (high yield) £735 (high yield) £862 (high yield and high stocking rate) £267 (high and spring calving - lowland) £271 (high and spring calving - upland and hill) £248 (high) £840 |
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