To confirm a couple of points
1 We should say that GIFT is highly suited to monitoring breeding strategies that are based on indirect selection. (Indirect selection means selecting breeding stock based on traits that influence the eventual traits we are trying to produce – direct selection is where we base selection on the actual traits we are trying to produce). Indirect selection might involve selecting on follicle traits, direct selection might involve selecting on low fibre diameter. GIFT is perfect for making sure indirect selection is producing the final objectives.
2 Low fibre diameter is highly correlated with high fibre density. Fine fleeced animals have more fibres, but the fibres are lighter because of their fineness. Selecting on fibre density does not necessarily mean higher fleece weights. A professional classer with many years experience in classing is able to identify high density animals with high fleece weights – people with limited experience in genetics will not be able to increase fleece weights based solely on fibre density,
3 When we did the market analysis for developing premium alpaca fibre markets, there were three things all buyers/processors said they wanted with alpaca fibre. Low fibre diameter – no coarse fibres - no variation within the fleeces. GIFT covers all three (that’s why we developed it.
