The theme for the AANZ 2008 conference is ‘Added Value’ and what better way is there to add value to your Alpaca herd than improving or fine tuning your breeding program.
 
Alpaca breeders will have many and varied breeding objectives and this paper will discuss many of the principals involved in setting a breeding program and will not discuss what your breeding program should be. I will as well put forward some of my views on breeding alpaca. 
 
I would like to discuss subjective traits of animals, or traits not usually measured scientifically and therefore often ignored when this subject is discussed. Sometimes these traits are referred to as ‘breeding to type’.
 
It is normal that genetic gain in a breeding program must be measurable and that is why we go to great lengths to have the scientific checks and data to prove or disprove any gains from a breeding program. I to will conform to the standard practice of discussing objective breeding, but firstly I would like to submit to you the importance of traits not easily measurable. In alpaca as with most animals we obtain great pleasure, enjoyment, and pride if we breed or own animals we like. It is important to me that I get pleasure from the work that I do, and therefore as an alpaca breeder I want to live and work with animals that I have an affinity with. If others also like our animals then we are well on the way to having a profitable business.
 
My first requirement with any animal I have ever owned is that it must be pleasing to the eye. Many of us own alpaca because we are drawn to their looks (kind faces with big eyes) and soft fleeces. I particularly look for an animal with a kind eye and therefore a pleasant disposition, and a ‘look at me’ presence. They must also have a fine dense fleece with little guard hair. The later three requirements can be measured in a breeding program, but the other requirements rest in the eye of the beholder.

Many experts would disagree that subjective traits should be considered in breeding programs, as production should be the driver for genetic gain in farm animals. I firmly believe we can have both a good looking showy animal as well as a good producing one and I will give examples of this later. The image you have in your mind of your ideal alpaca maybe different to your fellow breeder and that’s OK. In time animals will be instantly recognisable as being bred by a specific stud, because of a measured breeding program and the alpaca look adopted by that stud.
 
I consider genetics first, second and third, however the animal must also look, as you would expect. In other words the phenotype must match the genotype. The genetics I look for are the well proven ones from a well-known stud. (I don’t mean Sire, I mean stud farm)
 
If we are to fine-tune our breeding program, we need to know what the current breeding objectives are. They will change........NOT at the whim of what’s fashionable, but rather as you achieve one objective other objectives will take there place. In the main most alpaca breeders will consider improving the fleece of their herd as the major objective, however at this stage in our industry there are many other traits within the alpaca herd that we may wish to improve or alter.

Breeding objective

This is the most important component in any alpaca-breeding program.
 
Measurable Examples:

1. Size: Height, weight.
2. Fleece: Weight, Micron, CV, SD, SF, Curve, grease, luster, etc, etc.
3. Fertility: Female Matings (number of), Male (size of) testicles,
4. Mothering ability: Weaning weights.

 
Define:

1. Long term goals.....What is realistically achievable for you in 10 years, 20 years etc.
2. Breeding direction....use of AGE (breeding Values), SRS (Skin biopsy info), ET (increasing use of Female genetics), Colour (one, two, or all)
3. Measurable ......as far as possible e.g. Micron, SD, CV, rather than   handle.
4. Based on profit. e.g. What are processors paying?
5. Aligned with what the industry wants......Pets, processors, shows.
6. Limited to a few important objectively measurable and inheritable traits to make fast progress....... traits chosen should reflect economic importance.
7. Tailored to suit your environment....Region, size of property, how it’s subdivided, amount of time available etc.

Nutrition

Pastures, stocking rate, Supplementary feed, climate including seasonal excesses and deficits of feed.
 
“Half the breeding is in the feeding”, you cannot maximise the genetic potential if you are not feeding correctly.
 
Be wary of fleece test results from animals that have not been well fed.
In Sheep the environment has a 30% effect on Wool weight and micron. In alpaca ???

Ranking the Herd

Identify strengths and weaknesses based on your objectives. Rank based on measurable and visual assessment. Limit and prioritise the traits.
 
Set a cull level and sell or retire those Alpaca that you cannot see contributing to your breeding objective within your timeframe.
 
Do your females have the ability to get you to your objective? If not consider selling them and use the revenue to purchase ones that will.
 
Do your current Herd Sires have the ability to progress you to your objective? If not either sell them or look for outside services to your top ranked females and breed Males that will.
Check the progeny of males used for outside services to confirm that offspring meet your breeding objectives.

Purchases

Do your homework. Look beyond what they look like and examine the characteristics of their ancestors.
 
A champion does not imply that it will pass on its visual superiority to its offspring (applies to Male & Female). Likewise there are many very good animals that never see the show ring.
 
Concentrate on genotype (their genes) and purchase from a herd with breeding objectives compatible with yours.
 
When purchasing stud services try to look at all sires available to you and keep an open mind. If you don’t like the owners.....TOUGH......get over it!!  The result from the mating will be worth it.

Breeding Methods

Choose your breeding method whether it be outcrossing, assortive mating or line breeding or a mixture.
 
You may consider one breeding method for your top stud alpacas and a different one for your “commercial” alpacas.
 
Corrective mating only leads to breeding to the average of the herd. It will not lead to genetic gain.

Reassess your breeding objective progress

You are after genetic gain so make sure the change is not due to change in management.
 
Do not keep changing your objectives, stick with it as it will take several crosses to make the necessary progress. However following rules too strictly can lead to missed opportunities.
 
Fine tune the rules as appropriate and break the rules when appropriate but keep to your breeding objective. This is the art of breeding animals.

Examples...

As a practical Farmer who likes to read the theory, but is interested in how it works in practice, the following are 2 examples of what I would consider currently to be superior quality Alpaca. They both have good genetics, frames, temperament, conformation, presence, quality fleeces, and good fertility.
 
In New Zealand we are fortunate to have a good selection of top animals, and these two are by no means the only superior quality alpaca in our country.

Forestglen Seth
Owned by: Paul & Linda Sides-Garland, Alan & Lyn Skilling    
Supreme Champion fleece, AAA International Fleece competition, Sydney Australia, March 2008
Carrying the genetics of: Purrumbete El Dorado 2403;  Purrumbete Highlander  2402;  Purrumbete Inti 2406; Purrumbete True Perfection 2407;  Forestglen Maestro.

Homestead Farm Apollo
Owned by: Susan & Bob Edwards
AANZ Champion Show Huacaya Alpaca  2006;
Supreme Champion Huacaya AANZ National Show 2006;
Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece AANZ National Shows 2006 & 2007
Carrying the genetics of:  Purrumbete Highlander X2 2402;  Purrumbete Inti 2406;  Purrumbete Brigantine; Purrumbete Sweet Freedom 2410; Purrumbete Halo 2416.