Happy Valentines Day....



Well the sun is shining and all is well in the world. Even the hens think it is spring and have stepped up egg production to meet demand....

The whole EPD project is spiraling up nicely now. But I am just a tad nervous that expectations might get too high, so to clarify what is happening with the alpaca EPD project please read on.

Our aim is to get something out quickly (end of March 2008) to help facilitate understanding and debate, not reach any conclusions or recommendations.

Our output will give AOBA members an introduction to alpaca EPDs, a list of EPD speakers from within the industry and from academia, plus references on the web and in print for those that want to dig deeper. Together with a summary of what is happening with EPDs and alpacas overseas.

The expectation is that Affiliates, AOBA & ARI, together with larger farms may then put together alpaca EPD events in their areas over the coming months and take the debate to the next level. Who knows where it will go…

Enjoy the sunshine....

This morning I had to head off to Medford and see Toni Adams the very clued up CPA who handles the accounts for SoJAA, State of Jefferson Alpaca Association.

We are considering building a new web site and really promoting and developing the marketing element. Which would include buying the AOBA sales leads which are generated from the national alpaca marketing campaign and then using those leads as effectively as possible to drive high quality web traffic to the SOJAA web site where alpacas, alpaca goods and alpaca services will be offered for sale.

the reason for seeing the CPA was to discover if this was in anyway going to compromise the not for profit status of our association.

Bottom line providing we don't charge a sales commission then we are fine to go ahead and develop the new web site who's primary purpose is to market alpacas belonging to SOJAA members.

In theory the combined marketing budget of SOJAA members should enable SOJAA members to compete with the larger and usually more successful alpaca farms. Time will tell !!

Now that the weather has crept up a few degrees its time to start getting the equipment serviced and checked out for the busiest time of year which is of course spring and summer when the grass and weeds are shooting up, the alpacas are giving birth and the show season is getting underway..

So you might well call this time of year the lull before the storm....

The John Deere Gator had been sounding rough for a few weeks now and I was sure it had a slow puncture in the right rear tire so today was the day to get it fixed.
Getting a rear tire off a John Deere Gator is no easy task as there is no obvious jacking point and the clearance for getting a jack in place is not good.....So if you can't push it up you can always pull it up!



The tractor front loader and a towing rope were the ideal solution to raising the Gator and getting the offending wheel and tire off quickly and easily. (If you haven't done this before always remember to loosen the wheel nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground..)
Although this is a safe arrangement for removing wheels in my opinion, it is not recommended by the manufacturer and I would certainly never work underneath the Gator when it is supported in this way.

Having fixed the tire we serviced the Gator and part of that involved changing the spark plug which turned out to be barely finger tight and no doubt accounted for why the Gator sounded so rough lately and somewhat out of breath on up hill sections. Still the service went well and the Gator and tractor were both oiled, greased and refiltered by 9.30. Thus leaving me plenty of time to pepare the last of the documents for the accountant and a severe shortage of good excuses not to get on with it.

We also heard from our good friend Ann-Britt that she is heading off to mush Huskies in Alaska for the month of March which sounds pretty exciting to me. The good news is that she will be back to help with the alpaca shearing in May...

I was hoping to start the Corid treatment on the alpacas today but looking at the calendar I see that I am not here every day for the next 15 days so will have to delay the treatment yet again. very frustrating but as my old dad used to say...if a jobs worth doing, its worth doing properly.

The weather is slowly getting warmer and working outside no longer feels like some Alaskan test of endurance. In fact I have bought the parts to repair the barn door so that may well get fixed later this week, although I suspect I need some timber to repair certain parts before I start bolting the sliding mechanism back in place.

In a moment of total insanity I volunteered to head up a group within the AOBA Affiliates Congress looking into the possibility of EPDs or estimated progeny differences to give them there full name. I then heard of a presentation at the weekend on alpaca Genetics by Andy Merriweather who when asked about alpaca EPDs wasn't too enthusiastic. So having found several EPD enthusiasts I contacted Andy to understand his concerns and we have had a very useful and enjoyable exchange of e-mails... the whole subject is pretty interesting and has been covered in previous postings.

Alpacs and EPDs what next?

The key to successful breeding using EPDS

Start using EPDs in your alpaca breeding now!

How EPDs help you breed better alpacas.

Remember this is probably one of the few blogs in North America that will not contain any presidential election coverage.

Happy farming and as Bruce Nelson in California says.. "Life is sweet healthy cria make it better...."

What is it with Alpacas and Snow? You can leave the barn full of yummy pellets and beautiful green hay....but they just want to root around in the snow looking for something tasty.



I could project all kinds of human emotions onto this behaviour but in the end I think alpacas are just hard wired to scavenge in their DNA....there is nothing they like better than 10 acres of barren land or a hay field covered in snow so they can spend all day walking 10 miles in order to find enough food to keep them happy.....

Alpacas are never going to be in the market for a Lay-Z-Boy its just not their style at all.

Scenes like the one above look great when they are seen from a warm room drinking coffee...as indeed this one was. The reality of scooping alpaca poop in this type of weather is something else...as you may already know!

Keep warm and we can talk some more next week.....

As a result of the continued support of alpaca breeders in and around UC Davis the vet school in Northern California is once again interested in camelids.

As testimony to this, yesterday Bruce Nelson took 9 of his alpaca boys to UC Davis, where they joined 9 boys which Jan and Dale Davis donated for the day. UC Davis had contracted with Marty McGee Bennett to help teach interested Vet students how to handle alpacas when they came to UC Davis for treatment. 36 veterinary students attended the clinic which lasted all day, and the students stayed until the very end. Every student was able to get in the pens with several animals, and practice the techniques which Marty was teaching.

Bruce was impressed with this on two levels. First that UC Davis, sought out Marty and was willing to pay for her services. Secondly he learned in conversations with the students, that they were there of their own accord. This was not a course requirement, and they were not given any credits for attending. This was a Saturday, and all of them could just as easily been somewhere else instead of staying on campus and attending the alpaca handling clinic. In all 36 Vet Undergrads and Vet Techs were there, because they wanted to know more about alpacas.

One of the Alpaca Communities greatest needs is vets who are passionate about Camelids. Everything we can do to encourage students to include alpacas in their practice will benefit the whole alpaca community. Because although these students are training at UC Davis California many will be in veterinary practice outside of California once they graduate.

The Nomination Committee has apparently been working to locate candidates for the 2008 Board of Directors Election. The Committee has now announced the following candidates for election.

Jess Bowers

David Feller

Monica Kline

Bill Pearce

Personally I only know one of the four candidates all of whom are alpaca breeders and she would be an excellent choice. I am not sure how much lobbying will take place before the elections. What surprises me most is that some of the people who stood for office last time but were not elected are not standing a second time...... John McCain is obviously made of sterner stuff!

If you want to nominate a candidate of your own then there is still time....and the provisions exist within our bylaws.

The AOBA bylaws, Section 6.2, permit nominations by petition. Fifteen or more association voting members in good standing may nominate one or more candidates for Director by a petition. The petition should be addressed to the Nomination Committee and sent to the AOBA Nashville office so that it is received by 5:00 PM Central Time, February 12, 2008.
The petition must be sent by facsimile or hard copy snail mail and contain actual signatures. Email electronic petitions cannot be accepted......

Board elections will take place by mail vote with packets sent to 2008 voting members by
mid March.

As part of the Affiliate Congress I have been asked to head up a group to look into Alpaca EPDs which is really exciting for me as I find the topic fascinating and firmly believe it will be an essential step in turning this industry into a viable livestock business.

So here is my basic plan:


Estimated Progeny Differences (EPDs)
This purpose of this group is: to raise awareness of EPDs within the AOBA Affiliate membership and to pro-actively encourage the discussion and understanding of EPDs.

Raising awareness of EPDs within the alpaca community.
To accomplish their purpose the group will:

Produce a paper on EPDs and their potential within the North American alpaca livestock industry for circulation by the AC to its members and any other interested parties.

Identify expert external resources who can speak at affiliate events. Currently there are about 6 universities producing livestock EPDs in the USA including Colorado State (Brett Kaysen who spoke at the 2008 Fiber to Fashion event).

Identify experts within the Alpaca industry who can talk knowledgeably about EPDs such as Wayne Jarvis, Sara Via and Mike Safley, and who can add value to the work of this group.

Research any work being done with alpaca EPDs outside of the USA and distribute the findings to the AC and other interested parties.

Throughout the year circulate relevant information on EPDs to the AC for distribution to the membership.

Keep the AC Fiber Industry Livestock Model (FILM) group and the ACEC fully informed of our progress and through them the AOBA and ARI boards.

If you have any knowledge or interest in this topic please drop me a line to tell me what you know or simply point me in the right direction.

Some time ago I came across a Blog written out of New York by a girl called Jenna who was talking about alpacas...we swapped a few e-mails about web sites and alpaca images...to cut a long story short I sent the NYC Gadget Girl some alpaca socks.....

The other day we swapped e-mails again and Jenna had the following to say about her alpaca socks.....

I was just thinking about you the other day. I wore my Alpaca socks! WOWWWWEEE! Those are the softest, warmest, comfortablest socks I have ever worn!

Isn't it great when you actually get alpaca products into a customers hands and they immediately feel the difference...sometimes we get so busy with the alpacas and strategy and the politics we lose sight of the end goal.

Maybe mailing out a pair of alpaca socks would be much more effective than mailing out a color brochure....hmmm now that might not be such a crazy idea....

Okay so today is known among Americans as Super Tuesday... the day on which each of the two political parties get to select their nomination for President...

But today (February 5th 2008) is actually much more important than that!
On alpaca farms (and elsewhere) in the United Kingdom, Ireland , Australia, New Zealand and Canada, Shrove Tuesday is known colloquially as Pancake Day.

The traditional pancake is slightly thicker than a French crêpe. It is served immediately and is traditionally served with a sprinkling of caster sugar or granulated sugar, (superfine sugar in the United States) and a dash of fresh lemon juice or golden syrup (refined sugar in liquid form). Many other sweet and savoury toppings are used today for example, in Canada pancakes are served with Maple Syrup.

In Australia, UnitingCare Australia (the social services arm of the Uniting Church in Australia) has advertised Pancake Day as a nation-wide event for the religious community that raises awareness for the plight of disadvantaged people by raising money for UnitingCare's work.

The Rehab UK Parliamentary Pancake Race also takes place every Shrove Tuesday, with teams from the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Fourth Estate battling it out for the title of Parliamentary Pancake Race Champions. This light-hearted relay race is held to raise awareness of the work of national brain injury charity, Rehab UK, and the needs of people with acquired brain injury. The race involves running with a frying pan and tossing your pancake as you run.

Shrove Tuesday traditions particular to the United Kingdom
On Pancake Day, pancake races are held in villages and towns throughout England. In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia:
"And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne."

The tradition of pancake racing had started long before then. The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go.

As the pancakes are thin, some skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a minimum number of times.
The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.

Now I know this will all sound odd to a Nation that eat pancakes on any old day of the year...but you have to admit Pancake Day does sound fun....doesn't it?

I spent this morning repairing the insulation on the alpaca barn ceiling...but I can you all about that tomorrow.

Happy Tossing !

A few of you have e-mailed to ask what this EPD stuff really means, so here is my explanation which is based heavily on the pioneering work of Mike Safley and the Ideal Alpaca Community which he founded.

The key to the success of the Ideal Alpaca Community (IAC) is the reference herdsires which the IAC calls Studmaster males. Currently there are about 30 Huacayas and 5 Suri studs.

The Studmaster males have been initially selected based on their pedigrees, performance, and their progeny. These elite animals are owned by participating IAC members. Each of the males is owned jointly by up to four different farms. This shared ownership allows the males to be tested in several herds and over a large number of females. The ongoing detailed evaluation of their progeny will provide the records necessary to establish Estimated Progeny Differences (EPDs).

The Studmaster males form the foundation of the sire reference system. Over time, each male's progeny will define his true capability and genetic potential. Some studs will inevitably turn out to be better than others. Some will be superior for one trait, but not another. As the EPDs accumulate, the genetic picture for each stud will become clear.


Principled Breeding
IAC members believe that the following principles are important to the success of their individual herds:

Breed standards are an integral part of defining elite alpacas.

Each breeder should have a clear vision of the ideal alpaca type.

The alpacas' primary purpose is as a fleece animal. The ultimate value of the breed is based on the inherent genetic ability of the alpaca to produce a fine, luxurious fleece for use in high-fashion garments.

Improving alpacas to their full genetic potential and making them a more productive fiber-bearing animal, then the breed will be more valuable to their owners.

A thorough knowledge of bloodlines, classic livestock theory, and an understanding of genetic selection techniques are prerequisites for success in the international alpaca market.

Currently the only method that I am aware of for using EPDs in alpaca breeding is by becoming a member of the Ideal Alpaca Community or IAC as it is known.
Membership in the Ideal Alpaca Community is valuable to all breeders interested in improving their herds and in marketing their animals. If you qualify, membership in the IAC costs you nothing. Membership benefits you by providing extremely valuable information about your herd and how individual alpacas compare to the national averages calculated from the IAC herd.

So how do you join the IAC ?

There are four requirements for becoming an IAC member. Your farm or ranch must meet at least one of the first three criteria, plus the fourth:

Own a share in a Studmaster™ male or males.
Own a relative, by pedigree, of a Studmaster™ male. (As your animal has a Studmaster male listed somewhere in its pedigree, you qualify! It does not matter how many generations back. Also, if you have only one qualifying alpaca in your entire herd, all your animals qualify to be included in the IAC program.!
Own a female that has been bred to a Studmaster™ male.
Be an AOBA member with a subscription to the Farm & Ranch Guide.

If you don't qualify yet, we can help simply select one of our female alpacas that is already bred and pregnant to a Studmaster™ male!

Joining: Step-By-Step Instructions

Before you get started with enrollment, you may wish to click on the link below to receive a copy of a helpful document. The "Getting Started Guide - A Guide to Joining and Using the Ideal Alpaca Community Website" is a useful reference companion to have when you go through the enrollment process.

If you have any questions about EPDs or the IAC please don't hesitate to give me a call and start using EPDs to improve your alpaca herd.

The following is an extract from an article by:Dr. Sara Via, PhD
Professor, University of Maryland. Owner, Meadowlark Farm Alpacas. IAC Genetics Editor

Problem: In order to breed alpacas with better and better fleece traits, we want to choose
superior alpacas for our herds. But how do we identify a “superior” alpaca? Genetic
superiority cannot be reliably estimated just by measuring an animal’s fleece traits or even
by pedigree!
• Measurements of an alpaca’s fleece do not reliably indicate the quality of its
progeny’s fleeces. This is because an animal’s phenotype (what it looks like) for a
given trait, such as its mean fiber diameter, is influenced not only by its genotype
(i.e. genes for fiber thickness that it passes on to progeny), but also by effects that
aspects of its environment (i.e. diet, stress etc.) may have on its fiber.
So, looking at an animal in a pasture, or tracking its success in the show ring is not
a foolproof method for picking good breeding stock. An animal that wins many
ribbons may not have progeny with equally wonderful fleece.
• How about knowing an animal’s pedigree? Again, this provides only a rough guide
to its possible value as a breeding animal. Only half of a famous alpaca’s genes
will be passed on to a son or daughter, and a famous grandparent’s genes only
make up 1/4 of an individuals genotype. Even with prepotent males, prediction of
the phenotype of progeny from pedigree information is not perfectly accurate
because of the unknown genetic influences from the other relatives.
• Together, using the phenotype and the pedigree only provide about 60%
accuracy in making breeding decisions. That means, 40% of the time, the
progeny won’t be what you expect if you limit yourself to these tools.
• To improve accuracy, we need an estimate of each individual’s genetic value for
the key fleece traits, and this cannot be obtained either by measurements of its
fleece or by its pedigree.

Dr Via's full article can be found here

While Mike Safley needs no introduction, the Ideal Alpaca Community he is establishing is less well known but is nothing short of a revolution in the making and in the fullness of time will transform alpaca breeding.

Mike first wrote about the IAC back in 2003 in his second book, Ideal Alpacas from Myth to Reality.

Studmaster is the name given by the IAC to their reference herdsires and while herdsires are an important element of the IAC, they are only one element of a sophisticated and powerful initiative that will, over time, greatly accelerate the improvement of alpacas.
Many alpaca breeders currently use pedigree, as documented on the ARI certificate, for their primary breeding selection tool. Admittedly, it is a more solid basis than just phenotypic appearance alone. However, the value of pedigree by itself as a selection tool to determine superior stock remains greatly overrated by the majority of alpaca breeders in North America.

To my mind, the strength of the IAC lies in its focus on the alpaca as a fibre-producing animal, which together with the scientific testing of alpaca fibre samples will lead to the establishment of expected progeny differences (EPDs) for all alpacas in the IAC herd.

So what are EPD’s? An alpaca EPD is an estimate of the genetic merit of an alpaca for a single trait. In other words the EPD is the anticipated difference between the average performance of all alpacas in the herd for a given trait and the performance of a given alpacas progeny for that same trait.

Establishing EPDs is no mean feat. It requires participating breeders (in this case IAC members) to embrace an agreed alpaca breed standard, use common herdsires, make breed selections based on heritable traits that are of commercial benefit together with the meticulous collection, recording and sharing of data. Finally, the larger the herd, the better, which is why the IAC members’ alpacas are pooled to create a very large virtual herd.

The IAC is designed to help alpaca breeders identify the best genetic stock for their breeding programs. The IAC will also give breeders reliable information that they can use to advertise and sell their breeding stock. EPDs have been used extensively in the dairy, beef cattle and pig industry for many years and more recently with sheep. The IAC will be the first implementation of EPDs in the alpaca industry.

The IAC system will work through the member breeders to deliver across-herd EPDs. Breeders use these EPDs to guide them in their selection and genetic improvement programs. An alpaca breeder who is a member of the IAC will receive reports on the genetic values for every animal in a herd, based on the performance of those animals and all the animals that are genetically related to them, over many years and a variety of local conditions. By using EPDs, an alpaca breeder can make genetic improvements efficiently and reliably. EPDs allow a breeder to rank all his or her alpacas by genetic value, identify high-producing replacements, and cull poor-producing animals.
An EPD is reported in the normal units of a trait, such as +0.5 inches (for staple length) or -0.3 microns (for fibre diameter). It is important to note that an EPD value is not a ratio or an index. EPDs are expressed as deviations (+ or -) from the average population value, which is considered to be zero. Therefore, EPDs always have a positive (+) or negative (-) sign in front of them.
The positive and negative symbols do not always mean better or worse -- it depends on the trait. For example, a Mean Staple Length EPD of +0.5 inches is good, but a Fiber Diameter EPD of -0.3 microns can also be good ( smaller diameter fiber, which is more valuable to fine wool producers). Not only can we compare alpacas with positive and negative EPDs, but we can also use EPD values to compare animals that both have positive EPDs. For example, a stud with a Mean Staple Length EPD of +1.0 is good, but a different stud with a Mean Staple Length EPD of +2.0 is better. EPDs may take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of them, they give the most objective and reliable estimation of genetic value possible.

In a truly ideal world, this initiative would include the whole North American alpaca herd but politics and the long running debate over a breed standard make that a pipe dream in my opinion.