Alpaca Breeding
for Genetic Gain
By Mike Safley
1994
Mother Nature was surveying the long Andean backbone of South America.
She watched the Vicuna in Peru run like the wind and the Guanacos
of Patagonia roam the fertile plain. Everything was beautiful. Her
plan was working. But , as she looked up the coast to North America,
trouble was on the horizon. The first men were making their way
down the continent. Soon they would discover the wild camelids.
Mother nature hatched a plan. She encoded the Vicuna with a blueprint
for the alpaca. She could see a time when certain Vicuna would evolve
and become known as alpaca. The genius of her vision was alpacas,
with fleece as soft as an angel’s wings. No one would kill these
docile, productive creatures. The wild vicuna would not be necessary
for their pelts and could live in peace. As an extra measure of
insurance, Mother nature added a few chromosomes for density and
fineness for the alpacas’ new owners to uncover.
The Incas unlocked nature’s alpaca plan and prospered mightily.
Alpacas with fine dense fleece were grown in abundance, supporting
their entire kingdom. Then came the Spanish. These were men that
Mother nature apparently didn’t contemplate. They wreaked havoc.
Alpaca breeding became disorganized and the animals’ fleece became
hairy as a result of crossbreeding with Llamas.
But Mother natures genius is still locked inside the alpacas. Every
once in awhile a cria is born with fleece finer than angel’s hair.
We, as an industry, can again solve natures puzzle. We need to get
organized. We need a plan.
The traditional livestock industry employs a number of breeding
systems which can be successfully employed in raising alpacas. The
systems discussed below provide an organized approach for alpaca
breeding that can be useful to large and small breeders. It is also
important to understand how genetics, heritage, and the environment
can influence the quality of our bloodstock. Understanding which
genetic traits are present in the alpaca you are considering for
purchase and what selection criteria to employ for individual animals
can be valuable to both beginning and experienced breeders.
The business plan at Northwest alpacas is based on breeding alpacas
which produce low micron fiber in high volumes. This strategy should
enable us to compete effectively at several levels: 1) The textile
market, which pays a significant premium for fine fiber; 2) With
sheeps wool, the bulk of which is coarse; 3) The South American
alpaca fiber producers, who select their breeding stock and sell
their fiber based on volume, not fineness; and, 4) With other ranches
selling bloodstock that produces alpacas having coarse hair and
lower fleece weights. We are also looking to produce a uniform,
“typey” alpaca which does well in the show ring. Alpaca fiber is
known as a specialty fiber. In fact every fiber, other than sheeps
wool, is known as a specialty fiber. Wool is grown world wide in
huge quantities -- 432,000 tons in 1994 alone (source: Wool International).
Specialty fiber production totals only 142,000 tons per year. Of
this, only 4,000 tons are alpaca. Scarcity or rarity is one of alpacas’
major competitive advantages.
R.C. Couchman, a well known Australian fiber expert, authored an
extensive series of articles for Llama Life about alpaca fiber.
He made the following point many times over -- “Fineness is what
specialty fiber is all about.” Alpacas shouldn’t compete with sheep,
which produce large volumes of coarse fiber, when they have an excellent
potential to produce fine, soft fiber and receive a significant
price premium upon sale. Fiber density on the animal or the weight
of a shorn fleece is an important component of an alpaca’s value.
Every alpaca costs about the same to maintain. An animal which produces
twice the fleece in a given period will be twice as valuable, all
other things being equal.
BREEDING SYSTEMS
Ranchers who breed a wide variety of domestic livestock employ
a large number of breeding systems to improve their stock. I have
summarized these different systems below:
Random Mating: This is the simplest mating system;
it means that any male in a mating group has an equal chance to
mate with any female in the same group. In the simplest form of
random mating, also called “syndicate mating,” a group of males
is put with a group of females; the male parentage of offspring
is then unknown.
Like to Like: Genetic Inbreeding: Animals related
by ancestry are mated, such as father-daughter, half-sibs, etc.
Inbreeding is used in an attempt to capitalize on an individual
animal’s superiority and to develop inbred lines for later crossing,
to exploit heterosis (hybrid vigor).
Genetic Outbreeding: This involves the deliberate
mating of unrelated animals. It might be used to avoid or correct
the deleterious effects of inbreeding, or in the crossing of populations
to introduce genes (migration) or to exploit hybrid vigor. Like
to Like Mating Assortative - Phenotypic: This involves mating animals
with similar characteristics; if sires and dams have been selected
on high fleece weight, for example, there might be further subdivision
so as to mate sires with the heaviest weights to dams with the heaviest
weights, and so on down the line.
Unlike Mating - Disassortative - Phenotypic: Here
animals with dissimilar characteristics are mated; in practice,
it is sometimes called “corrective” mating. For example, dams with
coarse fiber might be mated to sires with low micron counts, to
obtain cria with finer fiber. This, of course, assumes that the
effects of the genes are strictly additive.
The American alpaca gene pool is small by any standard, this makes
inbreeding an inefficient method of improving herd quality. Line
crossing is also difficult because there are few, if any, established
bloodlines. Random mating is likely to have little qualitative gain,
especially since rigorous culling is not practiced due to the small
general herd size. Unlike mating is most effective when trying to
eliminate undesirable traits within a population. Genetic Outbreeding
is the norm on American and Australian alpaca ranches.
Northwest alpacas has organized their breeding program around the
concept of like to like phenotypic mating with the added benefit
of using line bred males. We have increased the likelihood of superior
offspring by selecting females from diverse herds in Peru that have
exercised selection pressure and culling techniques for many, many
generations. The Northwest Alpacas breeding flock is 80% Peruvian
and 20% Chilean. The females originate from Accoyo, Rural Allianza
at Macusani, Numoa, and Huarapina. We have also collected choice
females from Cohcatanqa and Sollocota in the Puno district of Peru.
The stud males are primarily from the Accoyo plantel herd, with
one from Rural Allianza.
We have chosen all our breeding males based on our view of alpaca
perfection. They have low micron counts and high fleece weights.
Hemingway, our Rural Allianza male, is from their plantel herd located
in Macusani. This herd is known all over Peru for its fine fleece.
Don Julio Barreda’s Accoyo males have been line bred in families
for many generations and are consistently beautiful. It is by no
mistake that Don Julio is called the world’s finest alpaca breeder.
His males are proven and renown throughout Peru for their pre-potent
genes.
The NWA breeding system allows the Accoyo males to add significant
hybrid vigor to the unrelated, but phenotypically similar, females.
We will use our Allianza male, Hemingway, to genetically outcross
the Accoyo bloodline. Eventually, we will have developed our own
distinct bloodline. Every livestock producer aims to improve the
quality of their stock.
Historically, breeders chose animals phenotypically, or in other
words, based on their physical appearance. More recently, genetic
selection theory has been developed that allows breeders to make
more informed decisions, which accelerates the improvement of their
stock. Genetic theory is founded in math -- formulas, probability,
and prediction. Bloodstock pedigrees are very important.
American alpaca breeders have an additional resource in the form
of pedigrees from the Alpaca Registry. The Registry registers alpacas
only after their bloodlines have been scientifically verified by
the U.C. Davis Serology Laboratory. These pedigrees can be used
to eliminate uncertainty when making breeding and selection decisions.
GENETIC GAIN
Genetic gain is defined as the increase in average levels of herd
production from one year to the next due to the selection of superior
animals for breeding. For alpaca breeders, production is influenced
by a number of economically important characters. In addition to
type or appearance, these include fleece weight, fiber diameter,
uniformity, and the absence of high micron guard hair.
In estimating genetic gain for one or all of these characters it
is assumed that nutritional and management conditions remain constant.
The rate of genetic gain in any production character is governed
by three factors:
Heritability - the degree to which each characteristic
may be inherited
Selection Differential - the superiority of selected
breeding animals for each characteristic
Generation Interval - the average age of breeding
animals
HERITABILITY
The problem with selecting breeding stock solely on the basis of
phenotype is the effect that the environment plays in the visual
aspects of a given animal. An alpaca in Chile may have 20 micron
fleece, but is it the result of genotype or nutrition? Imported
alpacas often produce much higher micron fleece after a few months
on American soil and high protein diets. The environmental variable
must be isolated before a breeder can be sure that the trait they
are selecting for is heritable.
Once the environmental effects are accounted for, heritability
must be established. Alpacas have had few breeding trials or genetic
studies completed to determine the heritability of such genetic
traits as fleece weight, fineness, crimp, staple length, or uniformity.
Almost all other fiber bearing animals have established extensive
heritability profiles. Cashmere and mohair goats, together with
all breeds of sheep demonstrate high heritability indexes for such
traits as fiber fineness, fleece weight, staple length, and clean
fleece yield. Alpaca fleece characteristics should also be highly
heritable or, as Couchman put it, “The heritability of total fleece
production in almost all domestic fleece growing animals is around
0.3 or 30%. I would, therefore, expect to see similarities in alpacas
and Llamas.”
Thirty percent heritability is considered high and means that breeders
selecting for specific fleece qualities can xpect excellent gain.
The amount of gain is greater when selecting for one characteristic.
In other words, selecting just for fleece weight, for instance,
will show more progress than attempting to also lower fiber fineness
at the same time. In fact, some traits are non-complimentary and
selecting for fineness may inhibit a breeders ability to also select
for fleece weight.
SELECTION DIFFERENTIAL
Consider the following example where you are selecting to increase
fleece weight. Within a selection of potential alpaca herdsires
from the same herd that have received same nutritional and management
conditions, you might find a normal distribution of variation in
fleece.
If you wanted to select the heaviest 5 percent of fleece cutters
for replacement sires, the average fleece weight of these selected
herdsires would be about 25 percent heavier than the average for
the whole herd. This superiority above the average is called selection
differential. The higher the selection differential, the higher
the gain on average.
GENERATION INTERVAL
Generation interval is simply the average age of dams and sires
in the breeding herd. For example, if females first produce a cria
at two years and are bred a total of five times, then the average
age of dams in the herd at any one time will be:
2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6
----------------- = 4 years
5
A breeder can make a similar calculation for males. The two intervals
are then averaged to determine the generational interval for a given
herd. The longer the generation interval (that is, the longer dams
and sires are kept), the smaller the genetic gain in production
from one year to the next. This is because the breeding population
will contain proportionally fewer of the younger, more improved
breeders.
There is no doubt that breeders can benefit by studying genetics.
The bottom line is that careful breeding will produce superior results.
For genetic gains to be fully understood and used to achieve further
progress, the breeder needs to measure his success in objective
fashion. Fleece histograms, the recording of fleece weights, measuring
staple length, and tracking animal body weights are all important
measures of a successful program.
COLOR
Color is another very important element of fleece and animal value.
Peruvian breeders select almost exclusively for white, Chilean animals
are not as highly selected, but come in many colors. Color is one
way American breeders can compete in the fleece market. There is
often a market premium paid for natural colors in short supply and
high fashion demand.
At Northwest Alpacas, our goal is to breed primarily for four colors:
black, white, light fawn, and dark fawn. We are aiming to produce
uniform color over the entire animal. We are not breeding for pintos,
grays, roans, or fancy alpacas. This goal is not meant to demean
other colors, but is our method of reducing color variables in our
breeding program. Alpacas which have been selected for color over
time by mating white to white, fawn to fawn, will have a higher
likelihood of throwing true to color cria.
MEASURING SUCCESS
At Northwest Alpacas, we have achieved a uniform group of Alpacas
free of leg faults and bad bites. All of our alpacas are conformationally
correct and exhibit strong alpaca type. In past years, when the
conformation of the domestic herd was generally defective, we worked
very hard to eliminate flaws in conformation. Today, our primary
focus is fleece quality.
Fleece production can be objectively measured. Fleece testing is
becoming wide spread, where only a few years ago no one fleece tested
their alpacas. Fleece histograms are used to illustrate four major
elements of fleece quality.
Micron Count - The average diameter of 66% of a sample, which includes
2,000 measured fibers, is reported as micron count. In alpacas,
average micron count can range from 15 to 45 microns. For an adult
Alpaca, 25 microns or less is desirable. (Source: The Average Micron
of Grade Superfine, Bolivian and Peruvian Alpaca Manufacturers.)
Standard Deviation (SD), the first measure of uniformity, is calculated
by determining the range of fiber diameters making up the average.
A fleece sample with an average micron count of 20 and a SD of 5
microns would be composed of fibers varying by 10 microns. In other
words, half the sample would average 5 microns below 20 and half
would average 5 microns above 20. Acceptable standard deviations
are dependent on the micron count of the fleece being tested. For
instance, fleece with a micron count of 17 should have a maximum
SD of 4.25, while 25 micron fleece should have a maximum SD of 6.25.
(Source: Cameron Holt, Melbourne Institute of Textiles)
Coefficient of Variation (CV) is the second measure of uniformity
and is expressed as a percentage. The above example of a 20 micron
average and a SD of 5 would have a CV of 25% (SD divided by micron
count equals CV). CV allows for the comparison of uniformity among
animals with differing micron counts. A CV of 25% or less is desirable.
(Source: Cameron Holt, Melbourne Institute of Textiles) Percent
of Fleece Over 30 Microns - This expresses the percentage of coarse
fleece in the sample. Five percent or less is desirable. (Source:
Angus McColl, Yokum-McColl Testing Laboratories)
You may want to consider using the following formula when evaluating
animals from your herd for fleece quality and production value.
The lower the micron count and the higher the fleece weight, the
higher the relative score and the better the animal. The formula’s
primary value is for comparing one animal to another on a relative
base.
Fleece Weight
------------- = Individual alpaca Rating Factor
MC-(CV-25:5)
Fleece weight or density is maybe the most important quality contributing
to the value of an individual animal’s fleece production. Rural
Allianza in Peru culls their females if they do not produce 5.5
pounds of fleece annually. Don Jullio Barreda looks for 8 pounds
on females and over 10 pounds on males.
I accounted for uniformity in this equation by using Cameron Holt’s
formula for “spinability” as expressed on the histograms produced
by the Melbourne Institute of Textiles. A more uniform fleece is
said to have better spinability.” A fleece with a coefficient of
variation that is 5% less than a fleece of comparable micron count
will spin a yarn that performs and feels as if the fleece was one
micron finer.
ALPACA TYPE
Alpaca type is a more subjective measure of value, but holds great
importance in the show ring and has significant influence on buyer
preference. At Northwest Alpacas, where we specialize in Huacayas,
we pay particular attention to the shape of an alpaca’s head, the
strength of its wool cap, and the fiber coverage on its face. All
of these features are indicative of the animal’s breeding and fiber
coverage over the body. I also look for an animal which will fit
into a square, not too long in the body nor too tall. All of this
contributes to a pleasing look for the animal.
Don Julio Barreda designed his Accoyo ranch logo based on his vision
of the ideal Huacaya alpaca. It is very hard to argue with the components
of type illustrated by Don Julio. Perfect harmony.
Each breeder needs to make their own decision about the goals for
their breeding program. Most livestock industries award quality.
The best animals bring extraordinary prices. Quality and constant
improvement are the best hedge in ensuring a prosperous future.
Reproduced with permission from:
Alpaca
Breeding Farm: Northwest Alpacas: raising suri and
huacaya alpacas for sale, alpaca investment, and alpaca business
plans for alpaca breeders and owners worldwide. Find more useful
information at the Alpaca
Library.
Copyright © 2003-2005 Northwest Alpacas
Maple
Tree Alpaca Farm | Alpaca
Library Information
|
