The measurements made on wool and the reasons for those measurements are examined. It is suggested that, if the alpaca fibre-processing industry is to move beyond being a cottage industry, it will have to adopt modern total quality management. It will also have to respond to customer demands for end-products at competitive prices and processor demands for repeatable quality. This will mean price will be determined by measured fibre properties and the key properties will almost certainly be diameter and whiteness (freedom from coloured fibre).
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