Correlation between mean fibre diameter and total follicle density in alpacas of differing age and colour in the Parinacota province of the Chilean high plain

Figures & data

Figure 1. Histological section of white alpaca skin at magnification 40×. Arrows indicate primary and secondary follicles within the 1 mm² quadrant. Note: Micrograph obtained at Universidad Santo Tomas microscopy laboratory, Santiago.

Figure 2. Histological section of white alpaca skin at magnification 100×. Number 1 indicates primary follicles and number 2 secondary follicles. Note: Micrograph obtained at Universidad Santo Tomas microscopy laboratory, Santiago.

Table 1. Distribution of sampled alpacas by fleece colour and age division.

Colour	White	Brown	Total
	38	39	77
Age	Juvenile (1–2 years)	Adult (3–6 years)	Total
	36	41	77

Table 2. Mean fibre diameter (MFD) and total follicle density (TFD) in alpacas by fleece colour.

Parameter	White	Brown
MFD (µm)	22.57±3.92a	22.63±3.66a
CV (%)	17.37	16.15
Range (µm)	17.6–33.8	17.9–35.1
TFD (foll/mm^2)	21.97±6.37a	21.56±7.25a
CV (%)	29.1	33.64
Range (µm)	10.9–33.4	12.1–48.9

Note: Differing letters on the same line indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

Table 3. Mean fiber diameter (MFD) and total follicle density (TFD) in alpacas by age group.

Parameter	Juvenile	Adult
MFD (µm)	21.61±2.78a	23.47±4.3b
CV (%)	12.87	18.32
FD Range (µm)	17.6–27.7	18.1–35.1
TFD (foll/mm^2)	24.2±7.49a	19.62±5.34b
CV (%)	30.93	27.22
Range (µm)	11.6–48.9	10.9–33.3

Note: Differing letters on the same line indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

Table 4. Correlation between mean fiber diameter (MFD) and total follicle density (TFD) among sampled alpacas.

	Mean fiber diameter
	White	Brown	Juvenile	Adult
Total Follicle Density
White	−0.47
Brown		−0.39
Juvenile			−0.35
Adult				−0.43