[Ag-eq] Wool

Thu Sep 10 15:51:52 UTC 2015

Tracy:

I've been around a few llamas and alpacas and they seemed very calm.  They were
reserved, but curious about me.  I stood still and they came up and sniffed me,
then wanted pets.

The yak I saw was short and wide.  He seemed very muscular, yes he looked like a
short very hairy ox.  His horns were long and he liked to be scratched around
them.

I bet one would get way to hot here.

I bet it takes several angora rabbits to get enough fiber to make something.  I
think the fiber is removed by combing, don't think they are sheered, but not
sure.

Wonder how the bamboo fibers are extracted from the plant.

Nella
Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> Hi Nella.
> Alpacas and llamas are in the camel family, but I don't know how any of them
> eats.
>
> What did the yak look like?  I always picture them as oxen with long hair.
>
> I've never used angora.  I have some cashmere, but I just take it out and
> pet it and appreciate its softness.  Someday, I'll make something really
> special with it.  I've met an angora rabbit; it was very soft.
>
> I just finished knitting a bamboo/cotton top.  The bamboo fiber makes the
> finished garment very drapy.  Bet it's easy to grow, too.  Bamboo seems to
> grow like a weed.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
> Ag-eq
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 10:55 AM
> To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Wool
>
> Tracy:
>
> I've felt the fiber from both llamas and alpacas and it feels nice.
>
> I'm not sure if alpacas are grazers or browsers; my goal is to get grazers
> to keep the pasture from becoming thigh high.
>
> A friend knitted socks for me that are from bamboo fiber, they feel very
> nice.
>
> I think mohair comes from Cashmere goats, but not sure.
>
> Have you ever worked with angora, there is an angora goat and rabbit.  The
> rabbits are so soft.
>
> I got to pet a yak at a petting zoo once and he had very long thick hair.
> He was very sweet and cute, made me want one!
>
> I think people use yak milk and meat; they sound like very useful animals.
>
> Maybe someday you can have your own alpacas.
>
> Nella
> Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
>
> > Hi Nella.
> > I haven't bought any artisan yarn, yet.
> > I like alpaca the best.  So warm and soft.  If I were setting out to
> > buy livestock, I'd look into alpacas.  They sound like pretty easy
> keepers.
> > I also love merino wool, which I think comes from Australia.
> > I just made a mohair sweater, which is both light and soft.  Mohair
> > comes from goats, but I don't know if it's a special mohair goat or what.
> > I made a scarf this spring from yak wool.  It was a bit expensive, but
> > very soft and warm.  Who knew yaks have wool or hair suitable for
> spinning!
> > Tracy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella
> > Foster via Ag-eq
> > Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:45 AM
> > To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> > Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Wool
> >
> > Tracy:
> >
> > What fibers do you most like to work with?
> >
> > Have you purchased some of the artison fibers?
> >
> > Nella
> > Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> >
> > > Speaking as a knitter, I can't agree with this statement.  The
> > > synthetics are nice, and cheap, but wool is nicer and doesn't tend
> > > to pill.  But I'm speaking as a small-time maker, not a big operation.
> > > I've seen advertisements for yarn from individual farms.  Artisan
> > > wool, like artisan cheese, which is a big thing in some circles.
> > > Tracy
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jewel via
> > > Ag-eq
> > > Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 2:34 AM
> > > To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> > > Cc: Jewel
> > > Subject: [Ag-eq] Wool
> > >
> > >
> > > People, these days go for the synthetics because they are so much
> cheaper!
> > >
> > >             Jewel
> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > From: "Nella Foster via Ag-eq" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 3:45 PM
> > > To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > Cc: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Fw: Reply needed asap: urea
> > >
> > > Jewel:
> > >
> > > Do people just not wear wool any more, is that why there isn't a market?
> > >
> > > I love a nice soft wool sweater and wool socks in the winter.
> > >
> > > Nella
> > > Quoting Jewel via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> > >
> > > > My sheep are Romney/Suffolk cross commonly called "Black Faced".
> > > > Last night, I was listening to the third programme in a series on
> > > > herders and their animals, and this episode, the 3rd of 3, was
> > > > about large scale shepherding in Australia and dealt with how
> > > > technology is dictating the direction in which the industry is
> heading.
> > > > The station that, particularly, took my attention was one of the
> > > > smaller units where ovum transplanting is being employed to
> > > > improve the genetic makeup of the sheep.
> > > > The bottom has dropped out of the wool market so now Australia is
> > > > concentrating on producing meat for the rapidly-escalating market
> > > > in the Middle East.
> > > > By using genetic improvement, the efficiency of the sheep in
> > > > converting food intake to weight gain is very impressive:  1.8kg
> > > > of dry matter is converted into 1kg of weight gain.
> > > > The sheep are shipped to the Middle East alive as the Arabs prefer
> > > > it that way.
> > > > Animal welfare activist campaigned against this trade as the
> > > > conditions in which they, the sheep, were kept were quite
> > > > appalling, and about 10% or more of sheep died on the journey, but
> > > > conditions have now been, significantly, improved, but now the
> > > > protest is of how the sheep are treated after they have reached
> > > > their point of disembarkation!
> > > >
> > > >            Jewel
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > > From: "Nella Foster via Ag-eq" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > > Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 12:25 AM
> > > > To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > > Cc: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Fw: Reply needed asap: urea
> > > >
> > > > Jewel:
> > > >
> > > > My pasture is mostly a mix of clover and bermuda.  I would like to
> > > > add some orchard grass, but it is so thick don't know how well
> > > > that would
> > > work.
> > > >
> > > > What kind of sheep do you keep?
> > > >
> > > > Nella
> > > > Quoting Jewel via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> > > >
> > > > > Nella!  As you have moved from the Arizona desert to the moister
> > > > > climes of Arkansas, 5 ewes to the acre plus their lambs sounds
> > > > > about right;  however, as sheep seem to be
> > > > able
> > > > > to do well on little
> > > > > more than  fresh air and sceenery !  A few extra head wouldn't
> > > > > do any harm, and would help to keep the pasture in prime
> > > > > condition for them which means SHORT.
> > > > > Encourage clover which, as I said in an earlier post is great
> > > > > feed for
> > > > sheep
> > > > > and fattening lambs for
> > > > > market , but which, goats will avoid.
> > > > > Ask at your local farm supply store if you can get a herbal seed
> > > > > mix, and, then, by fencing off individual squares, and planting
> > > > > them with that mix, you will, in time,
> > > > end
> > > > > up with an excellent
> > > > > pasture that will benefit all your livestock.
> > > > >
> > > > >            Jewel
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > > > From: "Nella Foster via Ag-eq" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 1:48 PM
> > > > > To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List"
> > > > > <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > > > > Cc: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Fw: Reply needed asap: urea
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Jewel:
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks, you're always a wealth of knowledge.
> > > > >
> > > > > How many sheep can you keep on your property?
> > > > >
> > > > > Local farmers are telling me that they keep up to 5 per acre.
> > > > >
> > > > > I guess it depends on the type of grass, rain fall and such.
> > > > >
> > > > > Nella
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Quoting Jewel via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Leslie Averill
> > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 1:16 AM
> > > > > > To: jewelblanch at kinect.co.nz
> > > > > > Subject: Re: Reply needed asap: urea
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jewel, here's what my forage specialist said:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Urea is generally used as a N fertilizer. So we put it on
> > > > > > fields and wait
> > > > > for
> > > > > > it to get rained on well before we turn goats back on it. In
> > > > > > our case the urea is used to help grow grass so we don't put
> > > > > > animals back on the
> > > > > pastures
> > > > > > for weeks after the cool season grass is at least 6 inches tall.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Leslie
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > > > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> > > > > > info for
> > > > > Ag-eq:
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extre
> > > > me
> > > > zo
> > > > ne.com
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> > > > > info for
> > > > Ag-eq:
> > > > >
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/jewelblanch%40k
> > > > in
> > > > ec
> > > > t.co.nz
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> > > > > info for
> > > > Ag-eq:
> > > > >
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extre
> > > > me
> > > > zo
> > > > ne.com
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > > for
> > > Ag-eq:
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/jewelblanch%40k
> > > > in
> > > > ec
> > > > t.co.nz
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > > for
> > > Ag-eq:
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extre
> > > > me
> > > > zo
> > > > ne.com
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > for
> > Ag-eq:
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/jewelblanch%40kin
> > > ec
> > > t.co.n
> > > z
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > for
> > Ag-eq:
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access
> > > .n
> > > et
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Ag-eq mailing list
> > > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > for
> > Ag-eq:
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extreme
> > > zo
> > > ne.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ag-eq mailing list
> > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Ag-eq:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.n
> > et
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ag-eq mailing list
> > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Ag-eq:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezo
> > ne.com
> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ag-eq mailing list
> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ag-eq:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ag-eq mailing list
> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ag-eq:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
>