A Vicuna is a wild animal found in the Andes. It has an extremely fine coat as it needs plenty of insulation in the freezing conditions. Its body is well adapted for survival in these high altitudes. This is not a domesticated animal, so if you are wanting to find Vicunas for sale, you will probably need to look for Paco-Vicunas which are being bred for the combined traits of an Alpaca and a Vicuna.
The Vicuna is believed to be the wild ancestor of the Alpaca. They are both part of the Camelidae family but the Alpaca is domesticated. The unusual mating habits and bullish behavior of a Vicuna make it unsuitable for domestication. Its body is uniquely adapted to survive the high altitudes and the cold. It is smaller than other camels but otherwise looks much like them with a long neck, padded, cloven feet, thin legs and huge, round eyes.
The fleece of the Vicuna is not only fine but it is warm too. The fibers are air-filled and tiny scales on these fibers lock together, making pockets to trap air. The super-fine fibers are slow growing which means that the yield is not as high as from the faster growing Paco-Vicunas that can be sheared more often.
These animals were being slaughtered for their fine fleece and they almost became extinct. Fortunately, this situation has been reversed by conservation efforts. Capture and shave programs have also been instituted by the governments of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina whereby local communities profit from keeping these animals alive. Roundups called Chacus are held to capture the animals. They are then shaved and set free. The fibers are sold to foreigners who turn the raw materials into usable items.
Numbers have increased once again and herds roam the Andes, providing one of the finest natural fibers in the world as well as the most expensive. The fact that these animals are not domesticated makes any attempts to shear them difficult and the yield is not that high. This means that there is a demand for this extremely fine fiber.
The aim of breeders is to line breed for the purest Vicuna genetics possible, meaning the best possible fleece with the finest of fibers. Alpaca traits such as faster growing wool and gentler dispositions are also desired. The micron count of fibers is an important factor as this refers to fineness.
Breeding farms have stock available for purchase. Making such a purchase at this stage could be very worthwhile as prices are likely to rise as demand grows. The breeding is regulated in that a registry is kept ensuring a breed standard. All animals on the registry have DNA tests and are micro chipped. They are classified on the registry according to six different classifications.
Breeding these animals offers an excellent money making opportunity. If you are wanting to find Vicunas for sale, there are a number of breeding farms with online websites. An online search shows stock available for purchase with photographs for viewing.
The Vicuna is believed to be the wild ancestor of the Alpaca. They are both part of the Camelidae family but the Alpaca is domesticated. The unusual mating habits and bullish behavior of a Vicuna make it unsuitable for domestication. Its body is uniquely adapted to survive the high altitudes and the cold. It is smaller than other camels but otherwise looks much like them with a long neck, padded, cloven feet, thin legs and huge, round eyes.
The fleece of the Vicuna is not only fine but it is warm too. The fibers are air-filled and tiny scales on these fibers lock together, making pockets to trap air. The super-fine fibers are slow growing which means that the yield is not as high as from the faster growing Paco-Vicunas that can be sheared more often.
These animals were being slaughtered for their fine fleece and they almost became extinct. Fortunately, this situation has been reversed by conservation efforts. Capture and shave programs have also been instituted by the governments of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina whereby local communities profit from keeping these animals alive. Roundups called Chacus are held to capture the animals. They are then shaved and set free. The fibers are sold to foreigners who turn the raw materials into usable items.
Numbers have increased once again and herds roam the Andes, providing one of the finest natural fibers in the world as well as the most expensive. The fact that these animals are not domesticated makes any attempts to shear them difficult and the yield is not that high. This means that there is a demand for this extremely fine fiber.
The aim of breeders is to line breed for the purest Vicuna genetics possible, meaning the best possible fleece with the finest of fibers. Alpaca traits such as faster growing wool and gentler dispositions are also desired. The micron count of fibers is an important factor as this refers to fineness.
Breeding farms have stock available for purchase. Making such a purchase at this stage could be very worthwhile as prices are likely to rise as demand grows. The breeding is regulated in that a registry is kept ensuring a breed standard. All animals on the registry have DNA tests and are micro chipped. They are classified on the registry according to six different classifications.
Breeding these animals offers an excellent money making opportunity. If you are wanting to find Vicunas for sale, there are a number of breeding farms with online websites. An online search shows stock available for purchase with photographs for viewing.
No comments:
Post a Comment