Raising Animals for Fiber E-Book

Chris McLaughlin

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 298

Beschreibung

Fiber Animals for the Backyard and Hobby Farm Raising backyard fiber animals is rising in popularity, as more and more people seek traditional textiles for yarn-focused crafts like knitting, crocheting, and weaving, as well as spinning, embroidery, needlepoint, needle felting, wet felting, and fiber dying. This book offers an essential reference for anyone who is considering their own production of animal fibers. Author and fiber farmer Chris McLaughlin provides a comprehensive introduction to raising livestock for wool. With practical information for the aspiring beginner, Chris helps you to decide which species will best serve your own lifestyle criteria and needs. Inside Raising Animals for Fiber · Comprehensive guide to raising sheep, goats, angora rabbits, and alpacas · Practical information on housing, fencing, feed, grooming, shearing, plucking, basic health care, breeding and birthing. · Comparison of popular breeds and how their fiber differs from breed to breed. · Frank discussion of the energy and commitment that it takes to raise livestock, and how much room and land each animal species will need. · Essential biosecurity practices to prevent spreading pests and infectious animal diseases. · Advice on hand spinning and crafts to utilize your homegrown fiber.

Leseprobe

RAISING ANIMALSFOR FIBER

PRODUCING WOOL FROM SHEEP, GOATS, ALPACAS, AND RABBITS IN YOUR BACKYARD

CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN

Raising Animals for Fiber

CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Project Team

Vice President–Content: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Colleen Dorsey

Copy Editor: Amy Deputato

Design: Mary Ann Kahn

Index: Jay Kreider

Copyright © 2019 by Chris McLaughlin and Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

ISBN 978-1-62008-324-6

The Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

Fox Chapel Publishing903 Square StreetMount Joy, PA 17552

Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.7 Danefield Road, Selsey (Chichester)West Sussex PO20 9DA, U.K.

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We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

Printed and bound in China

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DEAR FUTURE FIBER FARMER,

I will never know how you got here, but I can make a lot of good guesses. Pull up a hay bale and let me share with you how I ended up here. For me, raising fiber animals was a convergence of interests. One hobby I nurtured for many years was raising and showing rabbits. (Yes, rabbit shows are a thing. If you have yet to attend one, I encourage you to do so; it’s something else.) Among the various rabbit breeds inhabiting my barn were Angoras. I was aware of the luxurious wool my Angora rabbits produced, but I was focused on the show table and certainly had no idea how to use (much less market) their fiber.

I arrived at another interest quite accidentally. My New Year’s Day traditions don’t include resolutions, but rather explorations. On the first day of each year, I choose something to learn that I’ve never done before. One year I decided to learn to knit. A funny thing happened before I ever reached a knitting class—I got hung up on the yarn itself. I became obsessed with where the fiber came from and how it was made into yarn. Instantly smitten with handling all kinds of fiber, I learned to channel my inner Rumpelstiltskin through the magic of the drop spindle and the spinning wheel. And by sheer coincidence, I happened to have a couple of wool producers (French Angora rabbits) already in my barn.

So it began.

As a born animal lover and patron of arts and crafts, it was not a great leap from there to here. One year I became fascinated by natural fiber, and the next thing I knew I was a bona fide yarn farmer. That said, I had questions, concerns, and a lot of confusion in the beginning. I had to figure out which animal species would work best for what I wanted to do with the fiber, which ones suited our family’s lifestyle, and which ones were a good physical fit for our environment and farm.

I asked around, of course. Sheep folks said to raise sheep, goat people said to raise goats . . . and so on. They all had credible reasons for choosing what they raised, as each species is compelling in its own right. That still didn’t help me decide which one was the right one for me. So I began with the animals I happened to have (Angora rabbits) and had a wonderful experience with my first fiber species. In the end, it was the Angora goats that captured my heart and pushed me deeper into fiber farming. Many of my friends fell hard for sheep and alpacas; therein lies the beauty of being a fiber farmer.

I wrote this book to answer many of the questions you will have as a beginner fiber farmer, to remove some of the confusion, and to guide you to the fiber animals that are meant for you. This book was written as a starting point. It’s a place to compare the keeping of four different fiber animal species. If you find that a particular fiber animal calls to you, I encourage you to acquire more books, seek out clubs, and connect with breeders for further and more specific guidance as you start down the path of adopting and raising your very first fiber animals. But I’m here for your first steps, and I can’t wait to see what you produce!

CONTENTS

1 THE BASICS OF KEEPING LIVESTOCK FOR FIBER

An Introduction to Keeping Fiber Animals (Including Seven Truths)

Somebody Didn’t Get a Chapter

Purchasing Quality Animals

The Beauty of Attending Shows

Excellent Biosecurity Practices for Livestock

Fiber Species Quick Comparison

Cost Scenarios

2 SHEEP

Introduction

Know Your Sheep Lingo

About Sheep’s Wool

Meet the Sheep

Shearing Sheep

Housing and Fencing

Feeding

Breeding and Lambing

Sheep Considerations

3 ANGORA GOATS

Introduction

Know Your Goat Lingo

About Mohair

Meet the Angora Goat

Shearing Angora Goats

Pygora, Nigora, and Cashmere Goats

Housing and Fencing

Feeding

Breeding and Kidding

Angora Goat Considerations

4 ALPACAS

Introduction

Know Your Alpaca Lingo

About Alpaca Fiber

Meet the Alpaca

Shearing Alpacas

Housing and Fencing

Feeding

Breeding and Birthing

Alpaca Considerations

5 ANGORA RABBITS

Introduction

Know Your Rabbit Lingo

About Angora Wool

Meet the Angora Rabbit

Harvesting Angora Wool

Grooming

Housing

Feeding

Breeding and Kindling

Health

Angora Rabbit Considerations

6 CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’RE A FIBER FARMER!

Introduction

Endless Fiber Crafts

Selling Fiber as a Cottage Industry

DIY Marigold Botanical Dyebath

DIY Felted Soap

Fast Forward to the Future You

Fiber Farming Resources

Contributors

Acknowledgments

Index

Photo Credits

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

THE BASICS OF KEEPING LIVESTOCK FOR FIBER

Hand-spinning is an Old World form of twisting fibers together to create yarn.

And just like that, sheep provide clothing for the shepherd. Fiber farming truly is a wonderful thing.

All naturally colored yarns.

AN INTRODUCTION TO KEEPING FIBER ANIMALS (INCLUDING SEVEN TRUTHS)

If you knit, crochet, or use fiber to create handcrafts, you might be considering raising a herd or flock of animals to produce your own fiber. You’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for someone to talk you out of it. I can assure you that there’s more than one great reason to keep fiber animals around. These great reasons include:

•Fiber: This is obviously the primary reason for keeping fiber animals. Remember, not only will the fiber be useful to you, but you can sell it to other spinners, knitters, and fiber artists. If you breed your animals, that’s another marketing avenue, as well.

•Show ring: Some fiber farmers enjoy showing the beautiful animals they have been breeding by way of open competition (showing). By no means is showing necessary. However, showing helps to get your farm name/business out there, and a fleece that has a blue ribbon next to it is an easy sale.

•4-H: Do you have kids? Hand a couple of animals over to them to work with for their local 4-H club.

•Manure: If you’re a gardener, then you may already know how valuable herbivore manure is for the garden.

•Defensible space: Depending on the species and the type of pasture you have, sheep and goats can be handy help for keeping down weeds, grasses, and shrubs (which can be a source of fuel for fires) on your property. They’re like living fire retardants and lawn mowers all in one!

If you’ve come as far as picking up this book, then the real question is not whether to bring home an animal, but which type of animal to bring home. That’s what this book is for—to offer some insight on each species (and breeds within those species) so that you can feel confident the animals you choose are going to be the right ones for you.

Let’s start out with seven truths that, if you take them to heart, will serve as shortcuts in your life and times as a fiber farmer. Some of these truths are silly and innocuous, and some are sobering. But forewarned is forearmed.

Truth #1: Despite any well-defined plans you lay out for your farming venture or the promises you may make to your significant other, you are going to want more. More sheep. More goats. More alpacas. More rabbits. That road will inevitably lead to dipping a toe into another fiber species. (Yes, it will—there’s no point in fighting it.)

Truth #2: You will end up sleeping in a barn a night or two. It might be when your favorite animal is ill, but more often than not it’ll be during birthing season. Sure, you can tell yourself that this is easily remedied by installing a baby monitor or livestock cam for the barn. That will work for a few hours, but in the end it’ll just make it easier for your spouse to watch you curled up next to the beasts.

One alpaca can quickly become many alpacas. That’s just the nature of fiber farming.

This Wensleydale wool is drool-worthy.

MICRON COUNT: HOW FINE IS THAT FIBER?

A micron (or micrometer) is one millionth of a meter. It’s a physical measurement used to describe the diameter of a single strand of fiber. It is an average measurement, and the actual dimensions vary along each fiber. The immediate presumption is that the smaller (finer) the micron count, the softer the fiber will be. While it’s true that micron count (fiber diameter) is the most common way to describe fiber “softness,” it is not the final word by a long shot.

The feel of a fiber is also affected by its flexibility, scale profile, crimp, and elasticity. Not only every fleece but also every fiber is unique. This is why wool from two different Bluefaced Leicester sheep can feel completely different to the same person. Also, softness is as subjective as the individual’s sense of touch; what is cloudlike to one person may be itchy to another. As much as micron count can offer a method of measurement and a place to start, it simply doesn’t tell the full story about the fiber.

The lesson here is that general breed and wool profiles will tell you what the fiber’s characteristics are supposed to be, but your fingers will tell you the truth.

Truth #3: Much of the fence mending, loose animal chasing, impromptu midwifery, and the like will be carried out in your pajamas. In fact, some of your most productive farming will be done in your fleece Grinch Christmas jammies.

Truth #4: Animals are going to die. They just are. You are going to do everything you can, and you’re going to save a great deal of them. But some will not make it—that’s just a fact of raising any livestock. When we lose our animals, we tend to wonder where we went wrong, why we didn’t do something faster, better, earlier, differently. We can’t seem to help it; we feel like failures. You are not a failure, you’re a farmer. The naked truth is that animal loss is an unavoidable part of the deal. But here’s what you are going to do when you lose one of your animals: You are going to learn. You’re going to put as much of your emotion aside as humanly possible so that you can further your livestock education. If the vet (or a seasoned farmer) comes out and explains a situation or disease to you, listen and take notes. If the vet performs a simple procedure (tubing newborn animals comes to mind), have him or her teach you how to do it. Knowledge is power, and you’re going to know more and do better the next time. You’re going to become a pro.

Truth #5: Facebook pages are not gospel. You can throw a question out there and get a hundred different answers. Some answers are sound and some will feel suspect (for good reason). You certainly want to seek out answers in every place possible. Facebook is wonderful for shaking the idea tree, but, in the end, you’ll probably need to take the advice of either a trusted vet, a fiber farming mentor, or your gut.

Truth #6: Raising backyard fiber animals typically doesn’t earn you a living wage, to put it mildly. If you’re in it to produce a second income, you will probably be disappointed. The truth is that you’re going to spend more money on these critters’ care than you think you will. It’s typically the larger commercial fiber operations, rather than the backyard breeders, that turn big profits. That’s not to say that there isn’t money to be made—au contraire. You can sell offspring from your herd, fiber (in its many forms), and finished fiber products. However, I suggest that you think of this income as supplemental as opposed to profitable. Excellence is getting the animals to pay for themselves. Anything above that, and you should be the one holding seminars and writing books. All of this said, there are those who have truly found their niche in the market, even if they aren’t getting rich off it. Whether it’s selling raw, washed, or dyed fiber, mill-spun or hand-spun yarn, or crafts they’ve made using their products, they have worked hard, marketed well, had patience, and created solid businesses.

Truth #7: It’s not necessary to breed animals to be a fiber farmer. Many people are perfectly happy keeping a few animals—often of the same sex—for fiber production exclusively. They wait to take on breeding (and everything that goes with it) until they are comfortable, or they may never end up breeding at all. It’s your choice. So don’t be intimidated by the breeding sections in this book—you don’t ever need to do so!

SOMEBODY DIDN’T GET A CHAPTER

I know that some of you have glanced at the table of contents and noticed that the animal chapters are dedicated to only four fiber species—sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits. You might be thinking, “Hey, what about llamas? Yaks? Bison and Highland cattle? Jersey Wooly and American Fuzzy Lop rabbits? They all have spinnable fiber!” Or even, “You forgot to mention long-haired dogs and cats!”

Llamas may have luxurious hair, too, but they are not typically raised for it.

If you thought any of those things, you would be absolutely correct. Every one of those animals produces a fiber that can be spun or otherwise used for crafting. That said, while a yak or a bison has some very useful fiber, one wouldn’t typically raise them for fiber production. It might surprise you to learn that this is true even for llamas. Although their coats are quite spinnable, they have been bred through the ages as beasts of burden—as pack animals. Llamas produce considerably less fiber (and of lesser quality) than their smaller, fiber-bred cousin, the alpaca.

This particular book was written for those who want to raise animals specifically for fiber production. For that reason, I focused on four main fiber animal species and breeds within those species.

Auctions are not the best choice for beginner buyers.

PURCHASING QUALITY ANIMALS

Whether you’ve decided to raise sheep, goats, alpacas, or rabbits, you’ll start at the same place as the rest of us: where to find them. For the new livestock owner, this is one of the hardest hurdles, as danger seems to be lurking everywhere. What if I accidentally bring home sick animals? How can I be sure I purchase quality animals? How can I avoid being overcharged?

One of your greatest assets is a local reputable breeder of your preferred livestock. This part never varies. The truth is that there are no shortcuts when it comes to starting a new herd, flock, or fold. But there absolutely are ways to tip the scales in your favor when looking for a reputable livestock breeder.

Before we go any further, I want to share with you a word to the wise. For what it’s worth, public auctions or sale pens are never advantageous for the new livestock owner. This isn’t to say that someone can’t find a healthy, quality animal at these places—someone probably can. However, the chances of that someone being you—a farmer who is just beginning to learn the ropes—are slim. Really slim. Not many newbies are that lucky, so steer clear of auctions. It’s fine if luck comes along for the ride, but we certainly don’t want to give her the wheel.

Do Your Research

Before you purchase any fiber animals, reach out to local breeders or farmers. The first place you will hear about breeders (good or bad) will be through these people. Gather the information that these contacts give you and cross-reference them with each other. Here are some ways to find new contacts:

•Visit farming, ranching, or homesteading Facebook pages. They may be specific to the animal species you’re interested in or they may not be. But they can point you in the direction of the people who breed or farm the species you want. Members of the farming community are typically well connected to one another.

•Seek out local clubs in your community. This includes youth programs such as 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America). You’d be amazed at the connections they can have for you.

•Contact national clubs. I guarantee that if you chat with a national club, they will have lists of breeders that are closest to you. I’ve listed some of these clubs in the resources section in the back of this book (page 168).

•Attend shows. Whether it’s wool and fiber festivals or animal shows, get to as many as you possibly can. As a general rule of thumb, the most serious breeders also happen into showing and competing with their animals and/or fiber products. Of course, there are some great breeders who never step inside a show ring, so they will be a little harder to find. Remember that you’re looking for a place to start, and the folks who show up publicly are going to get the attention first. (There’s a lesson here somewhere.)

•Always visit the farm that your potential fiber animals will come from. This shouldn’t be a chore, because it’s crucial that you start off as safe and sane as possible on your fiber farming adventure. You’ll learn about the people and the animals and collect so much great information when you plan farm visits. You obviously need healthy and quality animals, but you may also want or need a mentor, and visiting a local farm and connecting with the farmer(s) might provide that.

What Does a Reputable Livestock Breeder Look Like?

There are no guarantees, but here are some signs that you’re probably looking at a reputable livestock breeder:

•Keep an ear out for the breeder whose reputation precedes them. If other breeders and the community are talking up a great farm, get that information and make an appointment to visit.

•It goes without saying (but I’m going to say it anyway) that a clean, well-managed farm that houses healthy-looking, happy animals is a good sign that, at the very least, the breeder practices good husbandry.

Happy, healthy-looking animals are a sign of a good farm and breeder.

A WORD ABOUT MEDICAL GUIDANCE

Full disclosure about medical guidance in this book: There isn’t any. While this book will touch on some general potential health issues that pertain to individual species, it will not include diagnoses or remedies. This book was written as a general comparison of fiber animals and as a helpful basic guide to the future fiber farmer. To help you dig deeper into the medical aspects of animal husbandry, various books and websites have been included in the resources section at the back of the book (page 168).

•If a breeder offers referrals from others who have purchased from her, gratefully take those numbers and call them. Ask them anything and everything you can think of. All the breeders I know will gladly talk your socks off about their favorite animal species.

•A reputable breeder has no hesitation providing paperwork (papered lineage, health records, show records, registration papers, etc.) associated with any animal that’s available to you. This is always a good sign.

•The breeder may share trophies, ribbons, and awards that their animals have received in competition. This can certainly be a good sign, as it can be a solid testament to their fiber quality. But it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker if this isn’t the case. Many breeders prefer to have as little contact as possible with outside animals for biosecurity reasons (see page 16), and some simply don’t enjoy the show circuit. Then again, this might be more important to you if your goal is to show livestock.

•The most conscientious breeders will keep good records of their breeding programs and their quality of fiber from year to year. This is certainly not a deal-breaker either, as precise record-keeping isn’t everyone’s thing, but it’s a real bonus for you.

Want more leverage? If you already have a trusted fiber friend, bring him or her along on your farm visits. An extra (seasoned) voice and set of eyes, hands, and ears is to your advantage. Even a farm that’s managed with excellence can hide poor genetic quality from the uninitiated, just as a more basic farm can house animals of fabulous quality. Your friend can also ask questions that you may not yet know to ask.

THE BEAUTY OF ATTENDING SHOWS

Being a fiber farmer doesn’t mean you have to participate in shows. It isn’t necessary in the least. However, you need not consider yourself a competitive person to attend or participate in fiber or livestock shows. Both offer invaluable benefits to fiber farmers. Even the most laid-back, informal visit will find you leaving with more information than you showed up with—usually much more.

Shows connect you to like-minded people who love the species you love and can answer every question on your list. Shows introduce you to breeders of different species that you’ve never seen before. They have so much to tell and show you! It can be the place where you find not only guidance, but perhaps also the mentor of a lifetime. You’re able to check out animal breeds, sizes, and colors all at a single event.

Shows are a place for hands-on learning (with permission, of course); most participants are eager to show you why they love the fiber beasts they love. They know the clubs you should check out and the places to buy the right feed and equipment. They introduce you to more fiber farmers. Never leave a show without names, numbers, and business cards. I collect so many cards whenever I attend a show that I write a couple of notes on the back of each card to jog my memory about the specifics we discussed.

At shows, you can meet animals of species and breeds you may have never heard of or seen before.

Stand by the show ring or table for a while, and you will hear all of the ins and outs of what to look for in your species of choice. Take the time to seek out a judge (when not busy judging) and pick his or her brain a little. Attending one show will have you chomping at the bit to find another.

When you toss your hat into the ring and participate in a show, as opposed to just being a bystander, it takes everything to a new level. You and your animals stand at the foot of the judge and benefit from not only what he/she has to say about your animals, but about those in the ring with you, as well. You’re mingling with breeders of every age and every level of expertise for the entire duration of the show. As far as the competition goes, winning isn’t everything. That said, winning can be awesome. When your animal or fiber comes out on top, it is an excellent marketing point for selling anything you produce. As you might guess, blue ribbon fleeces and champion animals sell the fastest. Where your animals place also lets you know that your breeding program is working (or not) and which animal should become a breeding doe or a herd sire. Show connections may be where you find your next addition to level up your breeding program.

Shows are a great way to see quality animals and connect with experts.

I think the only true downside to showing is the fact that you expose your animals (and therefore your entire farm) to potential illness and disease. This is why I suggest using quarantine as a biosecurity practice on your farm (see the following section). Some farmers don’t feel shows are worth the risk, whereas other farmers can’t stay away from them. Attend a few solo and then decide for yourself.

Disease in one animal can pass rapidly to an entire herd. When in doubt, quarantine.

EXCELLENT BIOSECURITY PRACTICES FOR LIVESTOCK

Biosecurity is a fancy word for a simple principle. In a nutshell, biosecurity is a combination of management practices that are used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease and parasites. Every time you practice healthy animal husbandry, good hygiene, proper disposal of deceased animals, and quarantine, you’re practicing biosecurity. Keep in mind that the size of your herd, flock, or fold is of no consequence; it takes only one animal to infect the whole kit and caboodle. However, while biosecurity practices can both prevent and control many issues, they don’t work for everything every time.

Some farmers subscribe to a contradictory philosophy on biosecurity. They believe that biosecurity is, in general, an unnecessary practice. There are farmers who haven’t given it a second thought for decades and have never had a single issue with disease or parasite takeover. Some argue that if the animals are never exposed to anything, their bodies don’t get a chance to build up immunity. Personally, I believe that folks who have never practiced any biosecurity whatsoever have just been plain lucky. I think that if they lost their entire herd to a disease that spun out of control, they would change their opinion. However, there is technically merit to their philosophy. It’s true that if some ailments are left to run their course, the animal will develop an immunity for the next time around. But this isn’t true for all diseases. Some diseases are deadly from the get-go, and others are incredibly hard to eradicate once established in the herd. Like everything else in life, it seems that the most logical solution is a nice middle ground. Where that middle ground lies is entirely up to the individual farmer.

Utilizing any of the following five biosecurity strategies will go a long way toward keeping your fiber animals healthy and happy.

1.Quarantine when necessary (isolation). Isolating animals might sound like a punishment, but I assure you that it’s far from it. This single approach is one of the very best techniques you can use to stop the introduction and progression of disease in your livestock. Recommended quarantine time is at least 14 days, but 30 days is optimal. Quarantine the following animals:

•Any animals new to the farm. Their previous home may have looked perfect in every way, but you simply can’t see what is happening on the inside, nor do you know if a new animal was recently added to the herd. Don’t guess; don’t gamble.

•Any of your animals returning to the farm from a show, from being bred, etc. Animals that are involved in shows have the potential of being exposed to diseases that they may have never been exposed to before. In this case, their immune systems are especially compromised, because they may have little or no resistance to it.

•Sick animals. Even an animal showing only small signs of illness should be quarantined. Seem dramatic? Maybe. But it can’t hurt anything, and it could save your entire herd or flock.

2.Practice good hygiene. There are several basic rules to follow in the interest of good hygiene:

•Clean frequently. Routinely keep pens, pastures, cages, and the animals themselves clean.

•Limit visitors. Unless there’s some pressing reason to have an outsider inside your animals’ pens, avoid it. If you have people coming by to look at an animal for sale (or who are picking one up), bring them into a common holding area. This is preferable to having the bacteria-carrying shoes of visitors traipsing through your animals’ home.

•Keep equipment clean. On occasion, your equipment might end up at another farm (if it’s borrowed, for example) or at a show. Be sure to clean all equipment pieces that come back to you, especially if it’s an item that comes in direct contact with your animals (like clippers).

•Change your clothes. If you’ve been visiting other farms or handling someone else’s livestock, change your clothes and shoes and wash your hands before tending to your own.

3.Limit outside animal contact. Consider broadening the space between shared fence lines between your animals and the livestock next door. At shows, do your best to keep noses from touching. For example, place portable fencing well away from other exhibitors. Once you and your crew are back at your farm, quarantine the show stock for a while.

4.Think twice (three times, if necessary) before bringing home a new animal. I don’t mean that the way it sounds—of course, you’re going to bring home new fiber animals! But take a good look around the place where the new dude is coming from. If any pasture or cage mates show signs of lethargy or diarrhea, have an abscess, are limping, or have a runny or crusty nose, then leave the one who looks healthy behind, as well. Trust me on this.

5.Dispose of deceased animals properly. There are a few ways to safely handle the carcass of a deceased animal:

•Bury it. The body should be buried 4 feet (1.2m) deep and at least 500 feet (150m) from surface water or wells (there is potential for water contamination if the groundwater is high). Sprinkle the carcass generously with agricultural lime to speed up decomposition. Check with local ordinances for limitations.

•Burn it. Burning the carcass also destroys any associated pathogens. However, extremely high temperatures are required to burn a carcass, and there is an unpleasant odor. The bones will remain.

•Call a renderer to remove it from your property.

Whether you are using basic, vintage shears like these or the most modern of tools, always keep equipment clean.

There are two final notes before wrapping up this discussion of biosecurity. First, if you do find yourself facing an unusual or particularly devastating herd outbreak, report it to your veterinarian. These communications are extremely valuable to local vets and other farmers. Second, don’t forget that you are a potential biohazard for other farms! Respect any biosecurity practices others have for their properties.

FIBER SPECIES QUICK COMPARISON

The main purpose of this book is to give you a detailed look at four interesting and diverse fiber species. However, it can also be helpful to get a quick-and-dirty feel for the animals right off the bat, so here is a comparison chart highlighting some of the main similarities and differences between sheep, Angora goats, alpacas, and Angora rabbits. All the information here is simplified and general; more detail about all the topics can be found in the chapters dedicated to each animal.

COST SCENARIOS

Presented here are example cost scenarios for each of the four fiber species covered in this book. They offer a snapshot of individual situations and the costs to raise that species for one year. These costs do not include purchasing the animals(s), fencing, shelter, or emergency vet visits. They are best-case scenarios under the simplest of circumstances. They will give you a basic idea of what costs might look like for raising animals for fiber. Once you have read the four scenarios, please move on to the following section for additional information that can and will make an impact on your unique farming situation and costs.

Example Scenario 1: Sheep

Tim has three Shetland sheep that he keeps on a half acre (0.2ha) of land. He lives in an arid region with dry summers, so he has very little worm issues with his small flock. Shetlands gain weight easily, so Tim only feeds his sheep baled hay twice daily. The animals get to graze on some wild grasses when those show up in late winter/early spring for a couple of months, too. At this point, Tim isn’t comfortable using electric shears and feels that hiring a shearer is too costly, so he shears their fleeces with hand shears.

$1,008.00 – 2 flakes a day (4 bales a month) at $21.00/bale

$100.00 – Minerals

$15.00 – Worming medication (paste)

$10.00 – Vaccination (1 bottle)

$40.00 – Hand shears

$20.00 – Hoof trimmers

$1,193.00 to keep three sheep for one year

Example Scenario 2: Angora Goats

Allison keeps two Angora goats in an 800-sq.-ft. (75-sq.-m) yard at her urban farm. The pen is basically dry lot (almost no forage), and she feeds them twice a day all year. During the winter, she likes to supplement their feed with bagged pelleted feed as well. Her goats aren’t overly wormy, but she deworms them twice a year when she shears and another time in between shearings. She used to pay a shearer, but he taught her the technique and she bought her own shears.

$576.00 – 2 flakes a day (4 bales a month) at $12.00/bale

$64.00 – 4 bags of pelleted feed in the winter at $16.00/bag

$100.00 – Minerals

$20.00 – Worming medication (paste)

$10.00 – Vaccination (1 bottle)

$350.00 – Electric shears

$20.00 – Hoof trimmers

$1,140.00 to keep two goats for one year

Like everyone else, sheep often have a preference for a special friend.

This colored Angora goat kid lives up to the name!

Example Scenario 3: Alpacas

Becky acquired two alpacas from a friend last year and is planning on expanding and bringing home two more alpacas in the next year or two. The pair live together on a dry-lot acre (0.4ha), and Becky feeds them a mix of hay and pelleted feed all year long. Becky purchases her hay directly from the grower and therefore pays lower than retail price. She isn’t interested in shearing the alpacas herself, so she hires a shearer. However, she coordinates the shearing with other local alpaca breeders so they can split the setup fee.

$700.00 – Feed (mixture of hay and pelleted food)

$60.00 – Minerals

$25.00 – Worming medication (injectable)

$10.00 – Vaccination (1 bottle)

$70.00 – Hiring a shearer ($35.00 per alpaca)

$25.00 – Shearer setup fee ($75.00 split between three breeders)

$890.00 to keep two alpacas for one year

Example Scenario 4: Angora Rabbits

Nicole has one French Angora rabbit that lives in a well-made hand-me-down hutch in her garden under a large oak tree. She feeds him 1 cup (235ml) of high-protein pelleted feed a day and adds hay to his hutch several times a week. Every 90 days, Nicole uses a pair of sharp regular scissors to clip off his fiber, as he doesn’t molt on his own.

$64.00 – 1 cup of pelleted feed per day (4 bags total) at $16.00/bag

$20.00 – Hay

$20.00 – Scissors

$7.00 – Toenail trimmers

$111.00 to keep one Angora rabbit for one year

Why Your Mileage May Vary