Key decisions, critical actions and benchmarks
In general, the more traits you select, the slower the rate of progress on each trait. Therefore it is important to identify those traits that are most important in your business. This involves:
*Determining target markets
This is likely to include consideration of:
*Fibre diameter, staple length and staple strength
Using feedback from your GIFT test, & alpaca sales to evaluate performance
.............Objectively quantify your herd’s current productivity, eg, kilograms of fibre
to highlight what might be genetic limitations of your current genetics and your market opportunities.
...........Participate in formal or informal benchmarking to identify the strengths and weaknesses in your
enterprise and align your breeding objectives accordingly
...........Identify key traits essential for achieving production targets.
In this module a ‘trait’ is defined as a production characteristic that you may select for, eg, fibre diameter, fleece weight, growth rate
The traits to identify, and relative importance may include:
Reproduction: weaning rate, mothering ability
Growth traits: weaning, post weaning, adult weight
Fleece traits: fibre diameter, fleece weight, staple strength, staple length
Disease resistance: worms,
When planning future progeny.....Genetics is only one contributing factor.
Over the last decade, In the Merino research by Dept Prim Indust; NSW , the program showed that sheep producers can significantly boost returns from existing Merino flocks if they breed from animals selected on the basis of measured fleece weight and fibre diameter. Visit: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/sheep/breed-select/merino/qplus-merinos-open-days
You can gain from using genetics to:Lower fibre diameter and increase fleece weight at the same time
A 24 year of study (sheep) of hogget fibre diameter and fleece weight records from a commercial flock. Rams were source from the same stud during that time. The result has been a reduction in fibre diameter by approximately 4 microns, and a simultaneous increase in fleece weight of 1kg per head. Most of the gains were made after 1992, when the selection emphasis in both the flock and its ram source moved from within-flock performance measurements to across-flock breeding values.
(http://www.makingmorefromsheep.com.au/gain-from-genetics/procedure_9.2.htm)
Using genetics in the breeding program
The opportunity to genetically change characteristics in your herd is determined by a combination of how heritable (genetically controlled) the trait is, how much genetic variation exists and how well you can identify the genetic differences in the Alpacas you select. We can use the same proven Independent research results from the sheep industry in the Alpaca Industry.
The following Table illustrates the opportunity to make genetic change in several key traits relative to a highly heritable trait such as fleece weight.
* Seek a GIFT report to fine-tune the genetics in your breeding program
