The very nature of an SRS® breeding program - selecting for low primary fibre diameter and high levels of fibre density and length - automatically suggests that this is a professionally run exercise requiring considerable practical and technical skills.
Dr. Jim Watts is one of the SRS® breeding advisors
Our breeding advisors provide this assistance.
They are there to design, implement and monitor the breeding program in your herd.
The breeding advisors recognise the fleece markers that indicate of high density and length - the long and thin staples of deep crimp and high lustre and softness. They know the required standards which are high. They also know how to accurately position each animal according to these criteria so that the animals can be mated precisely to achieve the breeding objective.
Breeders who try to do it on their own do not often get it right because it is not that simple to assess density and length and combine it with the other features the animals must have - good conformation, constitution and fertility.
Breeding advisors know when to call on skin tests for density and length and how to use this information to improve the breeding program. They know the top males that are available and their breeding performances. They have your commercial interests at heart. They are there to speed genetic improvement and promote suitable animals that you breed.
Breeding advisors will ask you to provide information that allows the genetic productivity of your herd to be assessed through AGE (Across Herd Genetic Evaluation). These measures provide a means of independent assessment of an animal's worth and that of the herd.
LATEST NEWS UPDATES
30/08/10 - SRS® Conference in Western Australia - thanks Carolyn & Peter
On 21 and 22 August, 51 of us gathered at Carolyn and Peter Richard’s Suncloud Farm in Merredin WA for a series of talks, discussions, and demonstrations centered on the theme of working together to breed, consolidate, and deliver superior alpaca fibre to high end, luxury markets. The write-up in the Weekly Livestock (Western Australian version of the Land newspaper) was titled 'Positive focus on Australian alpaca industry'. The article was very supportive of the work undertaken by SRS®, Breeding Advisers and working parties to push the industry forward into the fibre and textile market.
The facilities at Suncloud are magnificent, and Peter and Carolyn (a powerhouse pair) and their enthusiastic team warmly welcomed us all and ensured that we were warm, dry, instructed, entertained, and very well fed over 2 days; giving us not only a superb 4 course conference dinner in the Igloo on Saturday night, but a 3 course breakfast at 8am the following morning! All our Western Australian subscribers attended – well done - and were joined by subscribers from New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand.
We are indebted to Carolyn and Peter and their team for the superb facilities we enjoyed at Suncloud, and for their great organisational skill in ensuring all who attended had such a wonderful and exciting 2 days. Thank you again.
12/07/10 - Sunshine Coast Alpacas on Show
This excellent event, organised by Australian Alpaca Association Ltd., Queensland Region, was held on 3 and 4 July 2010. Approximately 160 alpacas were entered. Judging was expertly done by Nerida Aldred. SRSAI breeding advisor, Jim Watts, presented a workshop on the Sunday which was well attended and received keen interest from alpaca breeders.
24/05/10 - Latest Newsletter
In Subscribers Resources- Updates for Subscribers is the latest newsletter. One from Dr Jim Watts detailing the genetic improvement in alpacas in the last 4 years as well as important changes to the fibre standards form 1 July 2010. The second is a report from Julienne Gelber and the Fibre Working Party.
22/05/10 - Alpaca workshop on 3 October 2010
SRSAI will hold an alpaca breeding and fleece preparation workshop at Pat Bova's property at Penrose, NSW, on Sunday 3 October 2010. The workshop will be an opportunity to highlight the WA conference proceedings of 19-20 August and to invite subscribers to bring along their top alpacas and fleeces for display and inspection.
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