The new alpaca show rules have given AOBA affiliates the choice to either remain with the existing scoring system of 50/50 where points are awarded by judges equally between conformation and fleece.
Or adopt the 60/40 split sometimes known as the International Standard where 60% of points go towards fleece and 40% towards the conformation of the alpaca.

There are arguments on both sides and some breeders want to adopt the 60/40 split on the basis it will help us move towards becoming a fibre industry more quickly.

Those in favour of the 50/50 split say that an emphasis on fleece will be at the expense of conformation.

Its a tough call and I can see the merits in both arguments although they all contain some pretty big assumptions. The obvious thing to me is that we need to be consistent or it is going to be very hard to make comparisons between alpacas that win ribbons under different rules.

On balance this is a cop out by the AOBA board and show committee and puts the onus on deciding down to the individual AOBA affiliates that organise the shows....

So what should an affiliate do? Follow the guidance of its members or the wishes of its customers who attend the shows we organise each year?

Its going to be controversial whatever the affiliates deiced to do.

Adrian Stewart