Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Dec 11 09:42:28 1997


                        December 11, 1997
 
NDSU Researchers Analyzing Bison Fiber
 
     The bison, a rumbling North American icon, is gaining an
international reputation as a source of lean red meat. At the
same time, demand is growing for a host of bison byproducts. One
is bison fiber, the down hairs and longer guard hairs attached to
the hide.  
     Currently, the questions concerning bison fiber outnumber
the answers, primarily because so little researched-based
information exists. But two researchers at North Dakota State
University are looking for answers.    
     "The fineness of the down fiber is similar to that of
cashmere," says Robyne Williams, an assistant professor in NDSU's
apparel, textiles and interior design department. 
     Working with Williams is Ann Braaten, a department
colleague. Braaten's focus will be on the market potential for
bison fiber after Williams completes an analysis of its
characteristics.
     Already, there is demand for bison fiber.
     "We are currently having someone shear the hides and
marketing the hair accordingly," says Chad Bullinger, sales
manager for the North American Bison Cooperative in New Rockford.
"We are not further processing. We are just sending it as a raw
shipment." 
     Bullinger says the co-op has multiple buyers for bison
fiber. Some use the softer down for sweaters, mittens or caps.
Others are weaving the longer hairs into rugs. 
     "The bison guard hairs are very coarse, wiry. They're much
stiffer than the finer sheep's wool fibers used for apparel,"
says Williams.
     Besides studying the texture of bison fiber, Williams has
found its moisture content to be similar to that of sheep's wool.
Moisture content is related to absorbency, which is the ability
of a fiber to take up moisture from a person's body or the
environment. Sheep's wool has the ability to absorb moisture
without feeling wet. Absorbency is also related to static
electricity. 
     "I'm guessing at this point, but because bison down is so
similar to cashmere, I suspect it'll behave in the same way and
make some good high-end products," Williams continues. 
     Because the total bison population is so small (only about
200,000 bison in the United States), Williams believes that the
small supply of bison fiber will limit any attempt at mass
marketing. However, bison fiber could prove to be the fiber of
choice in some upscale, niche markets depending upon what
research reveals about its performance. 
     "Animal hair can be used in many fabrics, but some fibers
are better than others," stresses Williams.
     One factor that determine's a fiber's suitability is its
specific gravity. Williams believes the specific gravity of bison
fiber is similar to that of sheep's wool. Specific gravity is a
measure of heaviness. For example, a cotton garment providing the
same warmth as something made of wool would feel much heavier.
     "We seem to be more comfortable wearing light-weight
garments," says Williams. 
     Besides determining bison fiber's specific gravity, Williams
plans to evaluate its flammability, tensile strength, how or if
it will absorb dyes, and its abrasion resistance, which is a
measure of durability.
     "Sheep's wool has good abrasion resistance, but cashmere
doesn't," says Williams. 
     Felting, the reaction of fibers to moisture and heat, is
another criterion Williams will test. Anyone who's ever shrunk a
garment has experienced the negative side of felting. Another
negative that can result from felting is material stiffness, or
"boarding." However, controlled felting produces positive
results, like shaped hats or the tailored look of some sheep's
wool jackets.
     If bison fiber compares favorably to other animal fibers,
Williams sees a need to refine the commercial process for
separating cashmere fibers--so that process will work for
separating bison fibers. In addition, collection of bison fiber
from animals not slaughtered will be an issue. Williams says the
way bison molt is quite similar to camels. In Middle Eastern
countries there are people called trailers who collect what
camels shed.                                
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NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: Robyne Williams (701) 231-7368
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136