BLANKET - Prime fleece from shoulder, mid-section and rump (the exact area is determined by the location of change in fiber character). The larger the area of uniform fiber fineness, color, length and character the better.

BRITCH - Fiber from the rear/under-tail area.  Usually discarded because of contamination.

CLASSING - The grading and sorting of various qualities of fleeces into a uniform grouping of fiber.

CLIP - Refers to the sum total of fiber harvested in any one season.

COLOR - Determined by genetics.  Uniformity of color is the goal.

FIBER TYPE- Suri or Huacaya

FIBER FINENESS - (diameter/micron) - Primarily determined by genetics but is also influenced by age and nutrition.

MEDULLATION - Primarily determined by genetics and refers to hair-like fiber with a central core (guard hair). The fewer medullated fibers the better, particularly in the blanket.

REMAINDER (Thirds) - That fiber from the lower leg, belly, britch and apron which generally lack character and usually is shorter, coarser (strong) fiber.  This fiber is still usable as “rug wool” or felting unless it is matted or overly contaminated with vegetation and/or fecal matter, in which case it should be discarded.

SECONDS (NECK & MIDDLE LEG) - usually good, similar to blanket, shorter in length and slightly coarser fiber.

SECOND CUTS - Extremely short fibers created when the shearing blade cuts fiber that has already been cut. This is not desirable, causing all sorts of grief for the processor and should be removed during the skirting process.

SKIRTING - The process of removing lesser quality fiber, second cuts, contaminated fiber and foreign matter from a shorn fleece.

STAPLE LENGTH - Measures the length of fiber shorn over a specific period of time on a particular animal. It is preferable to have a consistent length of stable throughout a particular fleece.

STRONG - Does not refer to the strength of fiber, but rather the higher micron fiber being thick and coarse.

TENSILE STRENGTH - Determined by genetics, nutrition, stress and the animal’s overall health.

YIELD - The quantity of dry fiber remaining after the fleece has been skirted.

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