Alpaca Journal

He wrote it together with D.J. Hubbard, R.V. Kenyon, C.D. Tuckwell, B.A. McGregor, and G.J. Judson, and made the amazing claim that "The results indicated control by a single gene (or by an haplotype), and dominance of the allele responsible for the suri type (AlFs) over that responsible for the huacaya type (AlFh)." Read more

      The idea of crossbreeding suris with huacayas is controversial. The concept creates cognitive dissonance. Many, maybe most of you, may not like the ideas presented here. Don Julio Barreda, a man I greatly respect, has made clear that, in his opinion, the suri breed should not be crossbred with huacayas. In the past, a huacaya with a suri parent in its pedigree has been less valuable than a similar animal without a suri parent. These crosses were considered impure or intermediate. Read more

By Bill Graham

   My growing concerns over the suri alpaca breed has lead me into a much debated issue in the industry. That being the cross breeding of Suris with Huacayas. As many of you know this is not a new practice. Through-out South America , Australia , and in the U.S cross breeding is happening. The practice was used widely in Peru during the importation days in order to ship colored Suris to the U.S. for big dollars. The American market wanted color and as long as the alpaca was suri phenotype and registered suri it was alright. This seemed all fine and many breeders with-out really understanding how the genetics work bought into this program. This also applies to any importation where the background of the suri was unknown! I will talk about importation later in this article. Read more.

Because of the high value of individual animals, and the possibility that South American camelids evolved from a narrow gene pool, organisations in Australia and North America have established guidelines for the importation and prepurchase examination of alpacas. These guidelines list disqualifying congenital and heritable traits including malformed and absent tails. Little information is available on congenital and heritable conditions in South American camelids, but as the Australian alpaca industry develops it will be important that such defects are documented. Congenital caudal vertebral malformation in the alpaca has not been previously reported in the literature.  Read more

   The herdsire for any breeding program is the single most important determinant of overall herd quality. It's true for cattle, sheep, horses, or any other breed. For alpacas in North America the sire is even more important. Alpaca bloodlines are currently available for only four or five generations. For a breeder to be certain of the genetic traits being introduced into his cria he must carefully select from available living studs. He may not be able to rely on multi-generation pedigrees to pass on certain breed traits to his offspring.  Read Entire Story.

      I remember slowly bending over and grasping the front leg of a 6-month-old white alpaca: It was 1994 and I was trimming toenails. An immediate feeling of panic leapt into my chest as I discovered a bloody puss between her toes: Could this be foot and mouth disease, I naively wondered? I immediately called my vet, Dr Jerilynn Booher, and we pondered the problem. The female in question also had infected ears, hair loss, and small, puss-infused pimples on her nose. (It was not foot and mouth disease.) Read More

By Bill Robbins

Bill Robbins is a fifth generation Merino breeder, who began raising alpacas several years ago.  He is an astute breeder and a senior alpaca judge.
Bill begins his article with a fascinating review of the history of the Merino in Australia and then seeks to draw lessons from the Merino past to the alpaca present.  He looks to the future of the alpaca with an interesting discussion of linebreeding.  The article concludes with Robbins’ vision of the ideal alpaca.

“My vision for Australia is to produce a huacaya that is square bodied, strong boned, deep framed, medium sized, producing dense, soft-handling, bright, independently stapled, well-defined and tightly-crimped fleece, of twenty-three micron or less.  The fleece will have little or no medullation or guard hair and will weigh five kilograms and above.

Suris will have much the same characteristics.  The locking will be lustrous and individual, with as many locks as is possible to achieve across the body without losing density.  Fleece weights will be similar to huacaya.”

I find his description of the ideal hard to argue with.

Read more

By
R.W. Ponzoni, R.J. Grimson, J.A, Hill, D. J. Hubbard, B.A. McGregor, A. Howse, I. Carmichael, and G.J. Judson

INTRODUCTION
Phenotypic and genetic parameters are part of the ‘building blocks’ required in the design of effective livestock genetic improvement programs.  There is currently no published information dealing with this aspect of alpacas in Australia, and very little worldwide.

In this paper, we report results of a preliminary analysis of young alpaca records, we compare them with other reports in the literature, and we comment on the likely implications of our findings.  We also contrast the alpaca phenotypic and genetic parameters with those derived from Merino sheep.

To read the complete study click here.

By M. Antonini, M. Gonzales and A. Valbonesi

The authors did field research into into follicular development in young llamas and alpacas.
The authors found that alpacas developed much higher follicular density than llamas.
Males and females, for all breeds, exhibited similar secondary to primary fiber ratios and skin densities.
Llamas seemed to attain their maximum scores at a later date than alpacas and the author found that unfavorable
environmental conditions could negatively effect maximum expression of follicular density.

Read the complete article here.Relationship between age and postnatal skin follicular development.pdf

The above link has been provided with permission from CSIRO and may not be reproduced in any format without further permission from CSIRO.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ajar

http://www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ajea

Related links:

• Correlations of Subjective Fleece Traits
• Fiber Testing Technology
• Incorporating Assessed Style, Length and Strength into Breeding Objectives for Fine and Superfine Merino Flocks
• How Reliable is Skin Based Assessment

By, D. Phillip Sponenberg, PhD, DVM

Dr. D. Phillip Sponenberg's article about breeding strategies is right on the money.  He talks about breeding for the show ring by creating outstanding individuals or breeding for breeding value by creating a uniform population.  Dr. Sponenberg's discussion of phenotype and genotype is excellent, must read information for a serious animal breeder and his explanation of inbreeding, line breeding and outcrossing sweeps away the myths that alpaca breeders often attach to these concepts.  To learn which system is best, you will need to read the entire article.

Related Links

Pure Blood I

Pure Blood II

Pure Blood III

By P. L. Hynd¹, R. W. Ponzoni² and J. A. Hill¹

This is a fascinating article about the relationship between skin traits and economically important fleece traits. Alpaca breeders who are taking skin biopsies and making selection decisions based on the secondary to primary fiber ratios and follicular density should read the entire article.

The authors found, contrary to popular opinion in the alpaca industry that follicular density in the skin does not necessarily correlate with higher fleece weights. For those of you who do not want to read the entire study, here is it’s conclusion.

The increases in genetic progress towards the breeding objective, which were conveyed by addition of some skin traits, while not spectacular, were of sufficient magnitude to suggest they may be usefully incorporated into some Merino selection programs, particularly those in which selected sires are likely to be used over a large number of ewes. The extra benefit obtained by including the skin traits was greater than that reported by other workers (Skerritt 1995; Purvis and Swan 1997). This may reflect differences in the genetic parameters established for the different strains and flocks (Tables 1 and 2), differences in the skin traits used, or both. For instance in the Finewool sheep the genetic correlation between follicle density and clean fleece weight was only 0.13 (Purvis and Swan 1997) whereas in the Strongwool sheep in our study the genetic correlation between density and fleece weight was 0.54. This may reflect real differences in the association between these characters in the two strains but may also reflect the fact that density was measured by two different methods in the two trials. However, in none of the selection exercises conducted to date using skin traits as selection criteria has there been evidence of spectacular increases in the rate of progress towards the breeding objective of increased fleece weight and decreased fibre diameter. Our results point to moderate additional gains but do not support suggestions that selection for skin traits will result in large changes in fleece quantity and quality. Note that this could be due to the specific sub-set of skin traits measured to date. It remains to be seen whether consideration of criteria based on the efficiency of fibre production at the follicle level, or on fibre composition, will result in more substantial increases in the efficiency of identification of superior wool producing genotypes.

Click here to read the entire article.

Related Links:

• What are EPDs?
• Methods for Measuring Microns
• Fiber Testing Technology
• The Case For Crimp
• The Studmaster Fleece Report
• Incorporating Assessed Style, Length, and Strength into Breeding Objectives for Fine and Superfine Merino Flocks
• Sources of Variations in Fibre Diameter Attributes of Australian alpacas and Implications for Fleece Evaluation and Animal Selection

by Sandra J. Welsman

The Australian Sheep Genetics System paper surveyed the current and historical status of the various sheep selection systems that are available to wool producers.  This is an extensive 57 page summary of what genetic selection systems are available to breeders.  Anyone interested in learning about Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) will want to read this paper. The paper also speaks to across herd genetic improvement programs. The Table of Contents for the paper follows.

4 GENETICS SERVICES AND COMPATIBILITY

4.1 A range of genetics service providers

4.1.1 LAMBPLAN – Meat and Livestock Australia

a. Goals, markets and customers

b. Breeding – vision and results

c. Products, services, market response

4.1.2 Advanced Breeding Services – NSW Agriculture

a. Goals, breeding vision, products, markets

b. Industry Wether Trials – Bloodline comparisons

c. Merino Benchmark: across-stud

4.1.3 CSIRO – Select Breeding Services and databanks

4.1.4 Central Test Sire Evaluation - Merino

a. CTSE information and database

4.1.5 Other quantitative genetics service providers

a. Agriculture Western Australia

b. Natural Resources & Environment, Victoria

c. Mackinnon Project – University of Melbourne

d. SARDI

e. Independent consultants

4.1.6 Soft Rolling Skins and Elite Wool systems

a. Assessment: ‘elite wool’ methods in the marketplace

4.1.7 Professional sheep classers and stud advisors

4.1.8 Practical services – laboratories, scanners

4.2 Current services: methods and compatibility

4.2.1 Summary of sheep genetics data collections

4.2.2 Enterprises, pedigree, accuracy, links

4.2.3 Traits recorded, measurement and data integrity

4.2.4 Data collection, delivery, processing

4.2.5 Preparing BVs, indexes, comparisons, reports

Abbreviations and Glossary

To read this summary click here.

By D. Andrew Merriwether, Ph.D., and Ann M. Merriwether, Ph.D.

Much controversy and secrecy revolves around discussion and use of blue-eyed-white alpacas (BEWs) in breeding programs.  Blue-eyed white alpacas are all-white alpacas, with blue eyes, which are often (but not always) deaf.  Recently some alpaca farmers have suggested that the BEWs should not be used for breeding so this gene can be eliminated from the American alpaca gene pool. This suggestion reflects some of the misinformation that surrounds the issue of BEWs.

This article will discuss the genetics of BEWs. What we know about the genetics, given the paucity of reliable breeding data on the subject, is limited because some farms don’t acknowledge if their herdsire or dam has ever thrown a BEW, and relatively few BEWs are actually ARI registered (an when registered they are registered as white not BEW). Read more.

I thought you might enjoy reading about linebreeding from the point of view of a rare horse breeder.

Undefeated in 14 runs and a sire supreme, Nearco was probably the best horse of the first half of the last century. Credited with undefeated Ribot as well, his breeder, Frederico Tesio, was probably the best breeder of that period.  The pedigree of both would be good places to look for anyone trying to unravel the mysteries of breeding a top thoroughbred, I thought one night long ago.

I recognized it for what it was in a nano-glance - a clinic in line breeding. It has since been my belief that horses will go on breeding in kind when returned to opposite sex strains of the gene pool from which they descend. Compounding, this is Olin Gentry's edict: "Return to the sire the best blood of his dam" - it is not clear where he learned, but Kentucky Derby winners strewn up and down Old Frankfort Pike will attest that learn he did.

These are the types of pedigrees we strive for in planned matings. Others take a different approach, often with good results. But until knowledge overtakes strongly held opinions based on observation, my two bucks are on linebreeding.

Click here to read the article.

Related Links:

• Pure Blood Part III

For those of you out there interested in mating Like to Like by pedigree this article may provide some insight.

One of the most compelling questions in Thoroughbred breeding is why an outstanding racehorse can fail as a stallion while others succeed.  If race record doesn't dictate success, what does?

To find an answer, a study was undertaken to see if there are any pedigree differences be

Conclusions

Given this study of composite successes and failures, we could draw several conclusions that might be used to predict which stallions will prove outstanding and which will be duds.

1. The stallion should have an inbred dam, and should have the relatively same percent of inbreeding as his dam.
2. A pattern should exist with a moderately inbred second dam, highly inbred dam, highly inbred foal.
3. The stallion should have the right kind of broodmare sire, i.e., a horse who is higher in male factors than female factors, and very low in female factors.

Click here to read the complete article.

Related Links:

• Nearco: A Primer in Linebreeding
• Pure Blood Part III

Did your breeding create a good nick?  I have always had good luck with repeating the breedings that resulted in superior breedings.  That’s called a “good nick” but the larger idea is to discover a “good nick” between blood lines or strains of pure bred animals.  Anne Peters’ article provides some interesting insights about how “good nicks” occur.

Just what the heck is a "nick" anyway?  Being curious as to where this term came from, the author consulted Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary and discovered that it actually had a genetic definition: "to complement one another genetically and produce superior offspring.”  Yup.  That about sums it up.  A nick is a cross of two bloodlines that seems to produce superior results.

Nicks have been around as long as there have been Thoroughbreds, and probably as long as there have been animal breeders.  Some of the earliest include the Godolphin Arabian crossed on daughters of The Bald Galloway, a cross that produced this foundation sire's most important offspring Lath, Cade, and Regulus (see Andrea Hoogendoorn's interesting article on Siblings.)  Lath and Cade were out of the same mare, Roxana, while Regulus was out of a second daughter of Bald Galloway named Grey Robinson.

Click here to read the article.

Why Inbreeding? Anne Peters answers her question in a clear minded objective fashion. Alpaca breeders who are interested in the potential of close breeding as well as the downside should take the time to read this article. It is published on The Pedigree Post, This is a great website with interesting ideas about animal breeding.

Click here to read the article.

Related Links:

• Nicks or Not
• Pure Blood Part III
• Nearco: A Primer in Linebreeding
• The Good, The Bad, and the Inbred: Why Stallions Succeed

A great site that contains a little of everything on the status of sheep breeding research. I want to warn you that the site contains 98 pages and many abstracts, so only dedicated researchers should click on this link. Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics

Only abstracts are available at this site, but most appear as short papers of 4 pages (longer for keynote papers) in the printed proceedings: so if something takes your interest, continue to information on ordering copies.

There are advantages and disadvantages in the use of inbreeding and outbreeding in domestic animal reproduction. Both approaches complement each other and, when used rationally, can help breeders progress in their genetic gain.

Click here to read more.

RELATED LINKS:

• Practical Alpaca Breeding
• Pure Blood Part I
• Pure Blood Part II
• Pure Blood Part III

Prepotency is a concept that alpaca breeders love to talk about. I have noticed that alpaca herdsires are generally less prepotent than their owners claim. There are certainly fewer prepotent males in the pasture than there are ads for prepotent males in Alpacas Magazine.

I recently came upon an old, old essay about prepotency that I found interesting because it examined the concept in a number of different ways. Thomas Shaw, (1913) talks about the prepotency of a breed and an individual. He looks at both major and minor influences on prepotency. He also examines the rules governing prepotency which he concedes are ambiguous.

I would caution you that the author’s comments about sex linked prepotency are most likely not accurate and his prose is a little thick.

Click here to read more.

RELATED LINKS:

• Pure Blood Part II
• Creating an Alpaca Breeding Program
• Alpaca Herdsire Selection: The Art and the Science

Pure blood animal breeders around the world crave the ability to produce the best of their breed. They want their animals to reach the pinnacle of their potential. That is what animal breeding is all about: A self dynamic dream. When an alpaca breeder sets his goals they generally include excellence. No one says, “I want to mate my female to a stud who will produce an average alpaca, not a great one.” The difference between producing ideal animals and mediocre ones is basically a little knowledge and a sound plan or breeding program.

My dad used to tell me that “an alpaca herd was like a baseball team” and if we wanted to field a winning team we would need “someone to hit some home runs.” Your herdsire has to be the big hitter. The males you choose as sires will contribute 50% of all the genes in your cria. If you have ten females in your herd any one of them will contribute only 10% of the genes to your annual crop of cria.

Click here to read more.

RELATED LINKS:

• Pure Blood Part II
• Animal Breeding- Prepotency

There has been more talk about EPD's among alpaca breeders lately.  I include a chapter in my new book, Ideal Alpacas: From Myth to Reality, about across herd genetic improvement, sire referencing and nucleus breeding schemes.

For those who would like to read about EPD's I have excerpted a section from my book entitled: What are EPD's?

Click here to read more.

RELATED LINKS:

• Creating a Breeding Program

The herdsire for any breeding program is the single most important determinant of overall herd quality. It's true for cattle, sheep, horses, or any other breed. For alpacas in North America the sire is even more important. Alpaca bloodlines are currently available for only four or five generations. For a breeder to be certain of the genetic traits being introduced into his cria he must carefully select from available living studs. He may not be able to rely on multi-generation pedigrees to pass on certain breed traits to his offspring.

Click here to read more.