The following is news to most members of ARI and more than a few are frustrated that if ARI were doing this research then why was nothing said at the recent F2F or in any of the many discussions on EPDs that followed. Why the secrecy ARI?

Apparently the ARI Board of Directors began discussing the possibility of developing an online application to be integrated with ARI’s software to help breeders determine Estimated Progeny Difference (EPD) some months ago. This discussion was guided by ARI Director Dr. Wayne Jarvis who has spent several years working with Cornell University examining how other livestock industries handle EPDs and developing an EPD program for use with alpacas.

Wayne has been trying to get an EPD initiative going through his GAIN programme for several years without any apparent success.

ARI began evaluating the development of this application in their Alpaca Information Management (AIMS) system shortly after that August meeting. Since that time, they have been investigating the technological resources necessary to implement it. However, it was important to them to find out if this was something that the membership would find valuable.

In December the ARI members had the opportunity to participate in a survey to help identify the things that they would find important for the Board to consider in a strategic plan. This was followed up by our strategic planning retreat in which many ARI members discussed the survey results to identify the most important ideas put forward. Developing an EPD application was identified as one of these strategic priority ideas.

Really, how fascinating, I would love to know how many members suggested this idea...

"As we move forward with determining the feasibility of implementing this new service, we will keep you informed of our progress through future communications."

Well this is truly interesting on the one hand the ARI started work back in August almost 7 months ago now. But are still determining the feasibility of the software ......

ARI don’t mention a thing about EPDs at F2F in Vegas….yet they claim it is was one of the top strategic ideas to come from the membership!! Give me a break most members hadn’t heard about EPDs (including the AOBA board ) until they heard Brett Kaysen speak at F2F in Vegas last month. After the survey.....

.... the challenge is not the software or the technology the challenge is getting the buy in from the membership. Collecting EPD data requires meticulous record keeping and reporting
its all about commitment guys not software!