As I have said previously genetic factors are essential in creating breeding improvement among livestock including alpacas, and different alpacas will vary in their ability to deliver genetic improvement to their cria.
Using EPDs it is however possible to measure that ability across a range of characteristics, and discover which alpacas are most likely to pass on their genetic merit in any given trait to their progeny.
This is achieved by gathering performance and pedigree data, collating these records, and applying a genetic analysis program to produce Expected Progeny Differences. This approach has been used in the Australian and New Zealand alpaca market for some years now. So here is a quick summary of what is happening.
AGE and alpaca genetic improvement
In 2003 the Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) introduced an Across-herd Genetic Evaluation service, called AGE to maximise the genetic improvement within members herds.
A broad range of 27 optional traits can be recorded and analysed to ensure all members' breeding objectives can be assisted. Private (and Public) reports allow both breeders and commercial fleece producers to take advantage of the information produced by the AGE service.
The following year in 2004 the AGE Project was rolled out to members of the Alpaca Association New Zealand (AANZ) who already had the necessary pedigree data.
Breeding improvement
Traditionally, alpaca breeding advances in Australia and New Zealand have been based on show results, on-farm appraisal, and pedigree records or blood lines as they are often called.
AGE is administered by the AAA and the AGE genetic analysis is conducted by Advanced Breeding Services, Orange NSW, a commercial arm of the NSW Department of Primary Industry. It is linked to the combined databases enabling an extremely powerful selection tool that is revolutionising genetic improvement for alpaca breeders in the Australasian alpaca market.
Tomorrow I will talk some about the results and you will be able to see those results for yourself in the Mulberry Alpacas Library.
