| Good Shepherd Farm Alpacas is owned by Chris & Rebecca Arnold. Copyright 2005-2008. All rights reserved. Website powered by Yahoo! |
Breeding / Reproduction
Who goes with who?
Until recently, Alpaca breeding in North America has been
a somewhat neglected subject. Having a relatively small
national herd, almost any breeding strategy that puts new
alpacas on the ground was deemed a good one. As the
national herd approached 100,000 alpacas, new and very
much needed attention has been focused on this area.
Making the breeding match is crutial to the success of your
herd and life of your business. Each farm decides their own
breeding program. There are several established farms
that will provide assistance in designing a breediing program that will help a new breeding achieve their goals.
Many strategies have been utilized with regard to breeding livestock, and each offer distinct advantages
and disadvantages. The wise breeder will set specific goals, something other than the current fad in the show ring! Regardless
the size of the herd, a breeders, we should strive to fulfill the goals we set.
A sound breeding program is one that focuses on the positive in the herd, but the knowledgeable breeder maintains awareness
of problems the breed may have as well. Always make breeding decisions based on improvement.
It is important that new or potential alpaca owners are clear in their breeding strategy and the reason for choosing it. Given the
relatively long gestation of the alpaca, early mistakes in breeding strategy can set the program back several years. Alpaca
breeding is a subject worthy of many hours of research and reading.
Here at Good Shepherd Farm Alpacas, we utilize a system that we created called ALPACAfaxTM. ALPACAfax, provides color
bred to, color cria, gender, awards, and market values. This information is then taken into consideration along with fleece
characteristics , confirmation and disposition.
It is up to you to decide your goals. Once that is accomplished, ask a breeder you can trust and depend on for advise and help.
Until recently, Alpaca breeding in North America has been
a somewhat neglected subject. Having a relatively small
national herd, almost any breeding strategy that puts new
alpacas on the ground was deemed a good one. As the
national herd approached 100,000 alpacas, new and very
much needed attention has been focused on this area.
Making the breeding match is crutial to the success of your
herd and life of your business. Each farm decides their own
breeding program. There are several established farms
that will provide assistance in designing a breediing program that will help a new breeding achieve their goals.
Many strategies have been utilized with regard to breeding livestock, and each offer distinct advantages
and disadvantages. The wise breeder will set specific goals, something other than the current fad in the show ring! Regardless
the size of the herd, a breeders, we should strive to fulfill the goals we set.
A sound breeding program is one that focuses on the positive in the herd, but the knowledgeable breeder maintains awareness
of problems the breed may have as well. Always make breeding decisions based on improvement.
It is important that new or potential alpaca owners are clear in their breeding strategy and the reason for choosing it. Given the
relatively long gestation of the alpaca, early mistakes in breeding strategy can set the program back several years. Alpaca
breeding is a subject worthy of many hours of research and reading.
Here at Good Shepherd Farm Alpacas, we utilize a system that we created called ALPACAfaxTM. ALPACAfax, provides color
bred to, color cria, gender, awards, and market values. This information is then taken into consideration along with fleece
characteristics , confirmation and disposition.
It is up to you to decide your goals. Once that is accomplished, ask a breeder you can trust and depend on for advise and help.
A male in the act of mating, or hoping for a chance to mate, "orgles"(sings). This orgling
helps to put the female in the mood, and it is believed to also help her to ovulate after
mating.
Females are "induced ovulators," which means that the act of mating and the presence of
semen causes them to ovulate. Occasionally, females conceive after just one breeding
(which can last anywhere from 5 minutes to well over an hour; the males are "dribble
ejaculators,") but occasionally do have troubles conceiving. Artificial insemination is
technically difficult due to the fact that the act of breeding stimulates ovulation - but it can be
accomplished. Babies conceived from artificial insemination are not registerable with the
Alpaca Registry.
A male is usually ready to mate for the first time between one and three years of age. A
female alpaca may fully mature (physically and mentally) between 12-24 months. It is not
advisable to allow a young female to be bred until she is mature, as over breeding a young
female before conception is possible is a common cause of uterine infections. As the age
of maturation varies greatly between individuals, it is usually recommended that novice
breeders wait until females are 18 months of age or older before initiating breeding.
The young male's penis is attached to the prepuce, and generally does not detach until one
to two years of age. The penis is a very long, thin, prehensile organ that is perfectly adapted
for the task of finding the vaginal opening despite a fluffy tail, penetrating the hymen (if
present,) navigating the vaginal canal and entering the cervical opening, where deposit of
the semen occurs.
Pregnancies last 11.5 months +/- two weeks and usually result in a single cria. Twins are
rare approximately 1/1000. After a female gives birth, she is generally receptive to breeding
again after approximately two weeks. Crias may be weaned through human intervention at
approximately 6 months and 60 pounds. However, many breeders prefer to allow the
female to decide when to wean her offspring. Offspring can be weaned earlier or later
depending on their size and emotional maturity.
helps to put the female in the mood, and it is believed to also help her to ovulate after
mating.
Females are "induced ovulators," which means that the act of mating and the presence of
semen causes them to ovulate. Occasionally, females conceive after just one breeding
(which can last anywhere from 5 minutes to well over an hour; the males are "dribble
ejaculators,") but occasionally do have troubles conceiving. Artificial insemination is
technically difficult due to the fact that the act of breeding stimulates ovulation - but it can be
accomplished. Babies conceived from artificial insemination are not registerable with the
Alpaca Registry.
A male is usually ready to mate for the first time between one and three years of age. A
female alpaca may fully mature (physically and mentally) between 12-24 months. It is not
advisable to allow a young female to be bred until she is mature, as over breeding a young
female before conception is possible is a common cause of uterine infections. As the age
of maturation varies greatly between individuals, it is usually recommended that novice
breeders wait until females are 18 months of age or older before initiating breeding.
The young male's penis is attached to the prepuce, and generally does not detach until one
to two years of age. The penis is a very long, thin, prehensile organ that is perfectly adapted
for the task of finding the vaginal opening despite a fluffy tail, penetrating the hymen (if
present,) navigating the vaginal canal and entering the cervical opening, where deposit of
the semen occurs.
Pregnancies last 11.5 months +/- two weeks and usually result in a single cria. Twins are
rare approximately 1/1000. After a female gives birth, she is generally receptive to breeding
again after approximately two weeks. Crias may be weaned through human intervention at
approximately 6 months and 60 pounds. However, many breeders prefer to allow the
female to decide when to wean her offspring. Offspring can be weaned earlier or later
depending on their size and emotional maturity.
Here is a video found on YouTube of alpacas breeding. You
will distinctly hear the orgle sound.
will distinctly hear the orgle sound.
| This video, also found on YouTube, is of an alpaca giving birth. |
Thank you for reading our Alpaca P.O.B. section on Breeding. If you have questions, comments, or would have something to add,
please contact us. We are always searching for suggestions and tips to make caring for alpacas more enjoyable and stress free.
admin@gsfalpacas.com
please contact us. We are always searching for suggestions and tips to make caring for alpacas more enjoyable and stress free.
admin@gsfalpacas.com
Breeding Terms
Genotype - An alpaca’s genotype is it’s genetic make up. The genotype determines the species
of an animal. For example, a horse genotype will always be expressed as a horse. An alpaca’s
genotype can be identified as either Suri or Huacaya and this would be shown in the phenotype.
Some parts of its genetic make would be seen and therefore be able to measure in a quantifying
manner. I the future, we may be to identify the genotype of alpacas that produce a particular type
of crimp in fleece. Genome mapping, as it develops, will provide a very reliable way of identifying
an alpaca’s genotype. It may also be possible in the future identify genes that control eye color,
fleece color, fleece style, etc. Through DNA testing and genome mapping it will then be a real
possibility of identifying alpacas that carry genes for specific characteristics. It could also be in
the form of screening out alpacas that carry genes responsible for genetic faults and excluding
them from breeding programs. Gene mapping has been completed to a stage in some animals
where some genetic faults can be identified in horses, dogs, cats, etc. Research scientists and
geneticists working in the field of genome mapping could provide the key to producing genetically
sound, fault free alpacas of a particular style as determined by market influences.
Inbreeding/Linebreeding - a strategy of breeding related animals together. The distinction between line breeding and inbreeding
is largely semantic and only a matter of degree. Line Breeding offers a system for concentrating the genetic contributions of
superior animals. It should be understood from the outset, however, that concentration of genetics includes both the good and
the bad. If we are going to try to concentrate the genetics in our herd we need to understand fully the risks entailed. Other
livestock industries can tell many tales about how serious, sometimes fatal, genetic defects have taken hold. Line breeding
does not create genetic defects. Line breeding exposes them, assuming the genetic defects are recessive.
Heterozygous - dissimilar genes at any given locus.
Homozygous - identical genes at any given locus, thus we might say that an alpaca is
homozygous for black fleece. When a given gene inherited from the sire is the same as the one
inherited from the dam, the animal is said to be homozygous for that gene.
Hybridization - also the mating of unrelated animals, but usually means crossing two inrelated
lines of animals. Again, the Accoyo line stands out as perhaps the only clear strain of alpacas in
the US, although there are individual farms that are making progress in developing their own
lines. There are a couple of established breeding programs that appear to specialize in
hybridized animals, a strategy that has paid well in the show ring as we will discuss later.
Like to Different - breeding occurs when an owner attempts to improve an individual animal by
mating it with an animal possessing strong traits that it lacks. For instance, a light fleeced dam
might be mated to a sire with a very dense fleece. The Like to Different breeding strategy often
has some degree of success, although it also can result in dismal failures. The offspring can just
as likely show the worst of both parents as the best of either. The Like to Different breeding
strategy may be the best course of action when the quality of the initial breeding stock is poor. The problem with Like to Different
breeding is the loss of homozygosity. While the offspring might show improvement, the poor quality genes are still lurking in the
genotype and those genes might express themselves in later generations. Like to Different appears to be the most common
breeding strategy practiced. Many owners seek out high priced, ribbon winning sires possessing the traits that they think will
improve their dams. In most cases the owners are making specific pairings for each dam in their herd, using a variety of different
sires. The result is the genetic base in their herd loses its consistency with each pairing. Individual animals may show
improvement, and the occassional superior phenotype may emerge, but the ability to pursue an organized herd improvement
plan becomes more and more remote with each pairing.
Like to Like - This strategy is the mating animals that are similar to one another. Like to Like
breeding is another system based on phenotype. This strategy is not much different than like
to different breeding, because it is generally based on the pairing of individual animals. Like to like
breeding attempts to continue desirable traits from both dam and sire and hope that the offspring
is genetically homozygous these desired traits. If the strategy is successful, then the offspring will
more likely be prepotent for the traits in desired. There is a chance that the offspring will be of less
quality than both parent because neither parent may be homozygous for the desired traits. The
"luck of the draw" may well produce undesired traits. Many breeders practice like to like breeding
as a means to continue good traits and protect against inbreeding and its associated problems.
Outcrossing - the mating of unrelated animals. There are few true "lines" of alpacas in the United
States (the Accoyo line being one notable exception) so a quick look at the pedigree of any
registered alpaca will determine if two animals are related. is the exact opposite to inbreeding. Its
chief effect is to increase heterozygosity. The progeny exhibits hybrid vigor, however there is a lot
of variability in these animals: The outcome of outbreeding is less predictable, compared to the results you can expect from
inbreeding. Outbreeding does not eliminate the unfavourable recessive genes but only masks them. It allows these genes to
persist in a population, where they can reappear at any time down the track.
Phenotype - Is what one sees when looking at an animal. An alpaca’s phenotype is simply the physical appearance of that
individual alpaca. It includes such things as the fleece type and colour, size, shape and even temperament. The alpaca can be
measured with quantifying figures such as EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values) or by measuring each measurable characteristic
against specific performance standards. An alpaca’s phenotype changes as it grows, goes through weaning and develops as a
mature animal. The phenotype of an alpaca is what the judge is able to see and consider in a show ring.
Prepotency - the tendency of an animal to pass on a particular trait. Remember, prepotency applies to both desirable and non-
desirable traits!
Genotype - An alpaca’s genotype is it’s genetic make up. The genotype determines the species
of an animal. For example, a horse genotype will always be expressed as a horse. An alpaca’s
genotype can be identified as either Suri or Huacaya and this would be shown in the phenotype.
Some parts of its genetic make would be seen and therefore be able to measure in a quantifying
manner. I the future, we may be to identify the genotype of alpacas that produce a particular type
of crimp in fleece. Genome mapping, as it develops, will provide a very reliable way of identifying
an alpaca’s genotype. It may also be possible in the future identify genes that control eye color,
fleece color, fleece style, etc. Through DNA testing and genome mapping it will then be a real
possibility of identifying alpacas that carry genes for specific characteristics. It could also be in
the form of screening out alpacas that carry genes responsible for genetic faults and excluding
them from breeding programs. Gene mapping has been completed to a stage in some animals
where some genetic faults can be identified in horses, dogs, cats, etc. Research scientists and
geneticists working in the field of genome mapping could provide the key to producing genetically
sound, fault free alpacas of a particular style as determined by market influences.
Inbreeding/Linebreeding - a strategy of breeding related animals together. The distinction between line breeding and inbreeding
is largely semantic and only a matter of degree. Line Breeding offers a system for concentrating the genetic contributions of
superior animals. It should be understood from the outset, however, that concentration of genetics includes both the good and
the bad. If we are going to try to concentrate the genetics in our herd we need to understand fully the risks entailed. Other
livestock industries can tell many tales about how serious, sometimes fatal, genetic defects have taken hold. Line breeding
does not create genetic defects. Line breeding exposes them, assuming the genetic defects are recessive.
Heterozygous - dissimilar genes at any given locus.
Homozygous - identical genes at any given locus, thus we might say that an alpaca is
homozygous for black fleece. When a given gene inherited from the sire is the same as the one
inherited from the dam, the animal is said to be homozygous for that gene.
Hybridization - also the mating of unrelated animals, but usually means crossing two inrelated
lines of animals. Again, the Accoyo line stands out as perhaps the only clear strain of alpacas in
the US, although there are individual farms that are making progress in developing their own
lines. There are a couple of established breeding programs that appear to specialize in
hybridized animals, a strategy that has paid well in the show ring as we will discuss later.
Like to Different - breeding occurs when an owner attempts to improve an individual animal by
mating it with an animal possessing strong traits that it lacks. For instance, a light fleeced dam
might be mated to a sire with a very dense fleece. The Like to Different breeding strategy often
has some degree of success, although it also can result in dismal failures. The offspring can just
as likely show the worst of both parents as the best of either. The Like to Different breeding
strategy may be the best course of action when the quality of the initial breeding stock is poor. The problem with Like to Different
breeding is the loss of homozygosity. While the offspring might show improvement, the poor quality genes are still lurking in the
genotype and those genes might express themselves in later generations. Like to Different appears to be the most common
breeding strategy practiced. Many owners seek out high priced, ribbon winning sires possessing the traits that they think will
improve their dams. In most cases the owners are making specific pairings for each dam in their herd, using a variety of different
sires. The result is the genetic base in their herd loses its consistency with each pairing. Individual animals may show
improvement, and the occassional superior phenotype may emerge, but the ability to pursue an organized herd improvement
plan becomes more and more remote with each pairing.
Like to Like - This strategy is the mating animals that are similar to one another. Like to Like
breeding is another system based on phenotype. This strategy is not much different than like
to different breeding, because it is generally based on the pairing of individual animals. Like to like
breeding attempts to continue desirable traits from both dam and sire and hope that the offspring
is genetically homozygous these desired traits. If the strategy is successful, then the offspring will
more likely be prepotent for the traits in desired. There is a chance that the offspring will be of less
quality than both parent because neither parent may be homozygous for the desired traits. The
"luck of the draw" may well produce undesired traits. Many breeders practice like to like breeding
as a means to continue good traits and protect against inbreeding and its associated problems.
Outcrossing - the mating of unrelated animals. There are few true "lines" of alpacas in the United
States (the Accoyo line being one notable exception) so a quick look at the pedigree of any
registered alpaca will determine if two animals are related. is the exact opposite to inbreeding. Its
chief effect is to increase heterozygosity. The progeny exhibits hybrid vigor, however there is a lot
of variability in these animals: The outcome of outbreeding is less predictable, compared to the results you can expect from
inbreeding. Outbreeding does not eliminate the unfavourable recessive genes but only masks them. It allows these genes to
persist in a population, where they can reappear at any time down the track.
Phenotype - Is what one sees when looking at an animal. An alpaca’s phenotype is simply the physical appearance of that
individual alpaca. It includes such things as the fleece type and colour, size, shape and even temperament. The alpaca can be
measured with quantifying figures such as EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values) or by measuring each measurable characteristic
against specific performance standards. An alpaca’s phenotype changes as it grows, goes through weaning and develops as a
mature animal. The phenotype of an alpaca is what the judge is able to see and consider in a show ring.
Prepotency - the tendency of an animal to pass on a particular trait. Remember, prepotency applies to both desirable and non-
desirable traits!
| Alpaca Breed Standards |
The International Huacaya and Suri Breed Standards 2007
The International Alpaca Standard was developed at the inaugural sessions of the International Alpaca Judging School in the
Altiplano May 2000. Sixteen students and two instructors representing seven different alpaca-breeding countries participated in
drafting this document. Of the individuals involved, a majority are experienced judges and all are experienced breeders of
alpacas. It is believed that these Suri and Huacaya breed standards are excellent base documents for beginning open
negotiations for adoption on a global level. The intention is to set up a task force of representatives from each country to make
recommendation to the worldwide industry pertaining to adopting these standards. In November 2001 an additional 12
individuals were involved in upgrading the standards repeating the same process as had been used initially with the first draft of
the standards.
These standards are offered to the alpaca industry for the use of any individual that cares to refer to them. They are also provided
to be the standards for use with the International Show Format, which relies on a base standard for the judgment of alpaca in the
show ring. The offering is made with the assumption that the industry will dictate further development of the alpaca standards as
research is conducted and changes are required in the evolutionary process of the alpaca as a commercial fibre production
animal.
Click Here to view The International Huacaya and Suri Breed Standards 2007
The International Alpaca Standard was developed at the inaugural sessions of the International Alpaca Judging School in the
Altiplano May 2000. Sixteen students and two instructors representing seven different alpaca-breeding countries participated in
drafting this document. Of the individuals involved, a majority are experienced judges and all are experienced breeders of
alpacas. It is believed that these Suri and Huacaya breed standards are excellent base documents for beginning open
negotiations for adoption on a global level. The intention is to set up a task force of representatives from each country to make
recommendation to the worldwide industry pertaining to adopting these standards. In November 2001 an additional 12
individuals were involved in upgrading the standards repeating the same process as had been used initially with the first draft of
the standards.
These standards are offered to the alpaca industry for the use of any individual that cares to refer to them. They are also provided
to be the standards for use with the International Show Format, which relies on a base standard for the judgment of alpaca in the
show ring. The offering is made with the assumption that the industry will dictate further development of the alpaca standards as
research is conducted and changes are required in the evolutionary process of the alpaca as a commercial fibre production
animal.
Click Here to view The International Huacaya and Suri Breed Standards 2007
| + |
| =? |
