Why Use an Alpaca Skin Biopsy? -My arm is not a scale; my eye is not a microscope Many of us spend a healthy amount of time evaluating our alpacas’ value. Many of our concerns deal with breeding strategies. We agonize over terms like ‘zipper crimp versus French fry crimp,’ ‘lock structure ’and‘ degrees of…
Fleece Color Heritibility: Alpaca Color Genetics The Spaniard, Cieza de Leon, made the first written record of alpaca and llama colors in 1553. The Indian herds of Chile and Bolivia that graze the altiplano still exhibit all the colors found in that original list. Today, the herds owned by Julio Barreda and the big Peruvian…
Alpaca Herdsire Selection: The Art and the Science 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…
The alpaca breeder’s idea of type is created by their visual picture of the characteristics that are considered ideal for the breed. An ideal breed type is often based on the details of conformation and color that are not necessarily related to the economic productivity of the animals. In alpacas, examples of this might include…
The importance of the ability to select animals with skill and judgment when breeding them cannot easily be overestimated. In the absence of such ability mistakes will be made all along the line of the breeder’s work. He will not be able to make improvement save in a sort of accidental way, nor will he…
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,…
To a person who has never bred animals, let alone alpacas, the technical aspects of genetics and animal breeding theory can be intimidating. It is important to step back and realize than common sense is the common denominator for success. People, who succeed at animal breeding use good information, are deliberate, patient, and consistent and…
Alpaca Skin Biopsies (Dr. Norm Evans & Ian Watt) We agonize over terms like ‘zipper crimp versus French fry crimp,’ ‘lock structure ’and ‘degrees of luster’. We cart our alpacas around the country and compete in halter and fleece shows, hoping to learn more as to the worth of our animals as they measured against…
1. Density is a measurement of how tightly packed individual fibers exist on an alpaca fleece. 2. Technically, density measures the relative number of fibers which exist within a square millimeter of space 3. The more fibers per square millimeter, the denser the alpaca will be. 4. Density plus long staple length ensures a fine…
By Mike Safley The Spaniard, Cieza de Leon, made the first written record of alpaca and llama colors in 1553. The Indian herds of Chile and Bolivia that graze the altiplano still exhibit all the colors found in that original list. Today, the herds owned by Julio Barreda and the big Peruvian cooperatives are primarily…