Raising Animals for Fiber: Producing Wool from Sheep, Goats, Alpacas, and Rabbits in Your Backyard

Classy-appearing reference trade book, glossy in and out.

A species comparison of sizes, life spans, average purchase prices, personality, the minimum required space, difficulty level, and environmental hardiness follows a foreword embracing the hopeful fiber farmer. The introductory chapter combs into fiber micron sizes, purchasing quality animals, and the social intricacies of finding reputable breeders to deal with. It also explains the author’s restricting her book to sheep, angora goats, alpacas, and angora rabbits. We are gifted with an introduction to the removal and processing of fibers, how to seek medical help, the beauty of attending shows…or perhaps not… in the interest of biosecurity. There are a richness and depth to the presentation, examinations of the often obsessive engagement of fiber folk with the infinite possibilities of the field. Photographic illustrations are omnipresent and excellently selected.||Each chapter/treatment offers lingo specific to the beastie, the mechanics of harvesting their fiber, necessities of feeding and maintenance. (Alpaca males need to have fighting teeth trimmed; their fleeces should not be combed whilst still on the animal). Sheep must be shorn. Breeding is described in good detail.

There is some obvious boiler plating in each treatment. Not surprising, as many considerations are similar across species. Ms. McClaughlin is an experienced and adroit writer.