Lanametric Determination of the Alpaca Fiber (Vicugna Pacos) in Tucayta, Province of Cañar

Alpaca fiber (Vicugna pacos) is classified as one of the finest animal fibers in the world, after the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna). Therefore, they are highly valued fibers by the textile industry. Its valuation is determined, among other variables, by fineness, which indicates its quality. To analyze some of the textile characteristics of these fibers, Optical-based Fibre Diameter Analyser 2000; (OFDA) equipment was used, in which it was possible to determine the average fiber diameter, length, and comfort factor. These characteristics were analyzed based on the variables of sex, age, color of the fleece, and body region. For this study, a multifactorial ANOVA was applied under a completely randomized design, and the R Project software was used. For separation of means, the Bonferroni test was used (P<0.05). The correlations between parameters were evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results were: mean fiber diameter 22.6 μm ± 5.2; mean fiber length 60.8 mm, and mean comfort factor 86.8 %. In this way, the fibers analyzed are within the Baby alpaca category, cataloged fibers of better quality, with a high percentage of comfort factors. Additionally, it was observed that age, the body region and the fleece color directly influence the textile characteristics such as diameter, length and comfort factor; parameters that are very significant in the valuation of fiber for commercial purposes. In addition, the measurements could be used to compare with alpaca fiber used by native peoples in order to know the variations in these parameters over the centuries and to establish possible mechanisms to determine the origin of the fiber used in the ancient textiles. Simbaina Solano JC1* and Luis Raggi2 1University of Azuay, Ecuador 2Lanimetry Laboratory, FAVET, University of Chile, Chile *Address for Correspondence Simbaina Solano JC, Assistant researcher “Azuay University”, Cuenca, Ecuador. Lanimetry Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, Santiago, Chile, Email: austrogenetica@gmail.com Submission: 24-May-2019 Accepted: 28-June-2019 Published: 02-July-2019 Copyright: © 2019 Simbaina Solano JC, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Research Article Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Medicine Introduction In the province of Cañar (located in the southern Ecuadorian region) alpaca breeding is used for fiber (hair) and meat production [1]. This camelid raising is encouraged by government agencies (MAG), which promote alpaca raising for family and large-scale herds. Alpaca raising constitutes a means of livelihood for native farmer’s families [2]. Alpacas are one of the four South American camelids (SAC) [3]. They take advantage of lands in geographical zones and extreme environmental conditions, where agriculture or the raising of other domestic animals is not viable [4]. These camelids generate meat, skin, and income from the sale of its excellent quality fiber, classified among fine animal fleece. These fibers provide softness and comfort textile garments. Therefore, the garments are considered luxury items of great commercial value [1,5]. In Ecuador, there are potentialities and genetic material for the production of alpacas in a competitive way and in important quantities, using resources such as Andean high plateau grasslands and protected forests. In addition, alpacas serve as a conservation animal resource for the Andean ecosystems [1]. In the Province of Cañar, many families engage in this activity, considering fiber production as very important [6]. The diameter or fineness is significant in determining the quality, and at the same time, the price of the fiber in the market, which means that fibers of smaller diameter will be used to make finer garments [4]. The shearing yield of alpaca in the Province of Cañar is approximately 2.2 kg/alpaca/year, with a raw fiber value of $2.00 to $8.00 and in yarn of $15.00 to $80.00 USD [1]. There are reports on the quality of fiber of alpacas in the Province of Cañar, with a fineness that oscillates 21.72 μm [6], for which, they have used the Lanameter Reichert Projection Equipment (Meter of wool); livestock communities do not have reliable measurements of fiber quality and therefore the OFDA technique becomes a technological tool, fast and reliable, contributing not only to the evaluation of animals, but also to the selection of males and females for reproduction [7]. The present work was carried out in the alpaca herds of the TUCAYTA organization, for which, the OFDA 2000 (Optical Fiber Diameter Analyzer) was used, which allows a rapid and highly accurate analysis [8]. The purpose of the study was to know the characteristics of Huacaya alpaca fiber for textile future use (Vicugna pacos), such as mean Fiber Diameter (FD), mean Fiber Length (FL) and mean comfort factor (CF, percentage % of fibers equal to or less than 30 microns). Specific objectives were established such as determining the effect of sex, age, fleece color, and the effect of body region on the quality of the fiber. Materials and Methods The present research work was carried out on the TUCAYTA farms, located in the Patococha zone of the Province of Cañar, located in southern Ecuador, at an altitude of 2738 meters above sea level, with a minimum temperature of 11 °C and maximum of 19 °C, average precipitation of 636 mm/year, humidity 94%, and wind up to 7 km/hour [9,10]. From a 200 alpacas head a sample size of 70 young and adult alpacas, of different sex, was randomly selected. The data, such as weight, age, sex and color, of all of the animals under study were previously obtained and registered. Samples of hair from three different regions of the body were obtained: paddle, middle rib and rump [11]. Therefore, a fiber sample of approximately 10 g/animal was collected. Subsequently, placed in plastic bags properly identified for further OFDA analysis at the lanameter laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of the University of Chile, in Santiago, Chile. The data obtained were subjected to the ANOVA statistical analysis, and the R Project 2.8.1software was used. For the comparison of multiple ranges were made through the Bonferroni test at the level of significance (P <0.05); the Bonferroni test is a multiple comparison test that allows comparing means of sex, color, Citation: Solano SJC, Raggi L. Lanametric Determination of the Alpaca Fiber (Vicugna Pacos) in Tucayta, Province of Cañar. J Veter Sci Med. 2019;7(1): 4. J Veter Sci Med 7(1): 4 (2019) Page 2 ISSN: 2325-4645 age and body region factors after performing the ANOVA technique. Therefore, the present statistical analysis will explain if the data set will have a normal distribution, with which the alternative hypothesis will be accepted. In addition, a Pearson correlation test was performed among the variables studied. Results Measurement of mean fiber diameter (MFD+SD), mean fiber length (MFL+SD) and mean comfort factor (MCF+SD) was recorded. MFD in the studied population was 22.6 μm ± 5.2; MFL of 60.8 mm; a MCF of 86.8%; and with a fiber percentage