(see the "Skirting a Fleece for Processing" training presentation available on the AFCNA members website at www.afcna.com)

The aim of sorting and grading is to create bales of uniform fiber for further processing.  Final Sorting and Grading of your fiber will occur at Tapetes de Lana. You do pre-sorting and skirting.  Pre-sorting of fiber should be done during shearing.

• Bag Blanket separately for each animal,
• Bag Neck and Middle leg (Seconds) in one bag and Pieces (Seconds) in another bag, for each animal according to the "Skirting Fiber for Processing" training presentation (available on the AFCNA members website at www.afcna.com), and
• Bag all Remainders (Thirds) to keep or dispose of as you see fit.

Blanket this prime fiber is approximately 60% of total fleece, but can be between 50% and 80%, depending on where, on a particular alpaca, the fiber characteristics change.

Neck usually good, similar to blanket, shorter in length; keep separate from blanket.

Middle legs usually good, slightly coarser fiber, may be same quality as neck fiber.

Pieces lesser quality middle legs, bellies with MINIMAL guard hair, and skirtings from blanket, comes in various staple lengths, usually quite dirty, with more medullation than prime blanket.

Remainder fiber classified as "remainder" is the lower leg, belly, britch and apron. This fiber is typically coarse, highly medullated, dirty, and sometimes matted.

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