Fiber characteristics of qiviut and guard hair from wild muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus).

In response to increasing commercial interest and the high market value of qiviut (the downy underwool of the muskox), we have employed standards and measurements used in the wool and cashmere industries to describe qiviut fiber characteristics. Fleece samples (qiviut with guard hair) were shaved from the midshoulder of 299 wild muskox hides of known sex and age (1, 2, 3, and 4+ yr) during the Banks Island, Canada, muskox harvest in November 1997. Samples were analyzed for fiber diameter distribution of raw fiber and qiviut, scoured and qiviut yields, and lengths of guard hair and qiviut fiber. We found a sex x age interaction for average fiber diameter (AFD) in raw fiber (P= 0.002) and qiviut (P < 0.001) only. Adult males had significantly coarser AFD than females (21.5 microm, males vs 20.1 microm, females and 18.2 microm, males vs 17.5 microm, females) for raw fiber and qiviut, respectively. Qiviut AFD from yearlings was 1.7 microm finer than the AFD of adult qiviut. Fiber diameter distribution (SD) decreased with age in the raw sample (P < 0.003) and qiviut (P < 0.001) and qiviut SD was greater (P < 0.001) in males than in females. Qiviut theoretical yield (% mass of fibers < or = 30 microm) increased (P < 0.001) with age, and females had higher theoretical yields than males (P < 0.001). Scoured yield did not vary between sexes in any age class and averaged 93.3%. Qiviut staple length did not differ with either age or sex. In summary, differences between the sexes were small up to the 3rd yr, and these differences were not likely to be of commercial importance. However, considering that AFD is a primary commercial criterion of value, AFD changes from 16.5 microm in yearlings to 18.2 microm in adults and from 17.5 microm in adult females to 18.2 microm in adult males would be expected to result in significant differences in commercial value.