Alpaca news

Description
Hybridisation-capture was used to create 12 unique alpaca DNA libraries each enriched for a different tetranucleotide microsatellite motif. Two hundred and forty nine microsatellites were found, of which 26 were polymorphic (motifs GGAT, GTTT and GCAC). Nine markers were fully characterised on 45 samples. Allele numbers ranged from 6 (Locus P135) to 12 (loci P149 and PCTD17). There was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium (p = 0.064 – 1) or deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p = 1). Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.48 to 0.82. When combined, the markers had an exclusion probability of 97.7%. These markers will be useful for parentage determination (especially if combined into a multiplex) and will add to the pool of markers available for mapping of desirous or deleterious traits in alpacas.

Authors:
Munyard, Kylie, Ledger, J., Lee, C., Babra, C., Groth, David

Overall:
The Committee is seeking to ensure that the event provides the best opportunity for ‘marketing’ alpacas and alpaca products to the wider community.  While the vast bulk of the people who will come into the alpaca pavilion would not be expected to become alpaca breeders, they may become consumers of alpaca products.

Accommodation:
For 2010 the alpacas will be housed in the Centenary Hall which will provide both additional and better space for the pens and competition.  It will also provide space for display of fleece and alpaca garments and product.

As was the case in 2009 the pavilion will be shared with the poultry competition, but an area will be set aside in the pavilion throughout the show for display of animals and product.  .

Show dates:
The RASV has moved the dates of the Royal Melbourne Show.  Instead of opening on Thursday 16 September and closing on Sunday 16 September, the 2010 show will commence on Saturday 18 September and close on Tuesday 28 September.

While the Alpaca Committee strongly represented the views of the Victorian AAA regions that the first weekend would be the most suitable time for the alpaca competition, the logistics of setting up the pavilion for the various competitions that will be held in it has meant that the alpacas will have to be judged towards the end of the show.

The prior competitions in Centenary Hall will end on Friday 24 September and the pavilion set up overnight for the alpacas.  As Saturday is an important day for the RASV and attracts large crowds, it was a requirement from the RASV that there be alpaca activity in Centenary Hall, a major venue on the showgrounds, on the Saturday.  Consequently it is planned that alpacas will be required to arrive at the Melbourne Showgrounds on the morning of Saturday 25 September.  

Alpacas will be able to arrive from 6:00am and are required to be in their pens for inspection no later than 10:00am.  Judging of Huacaya Juniors will commence at about 1:00pm.

 Age section judging is projected to be completed by the evening of Monday 27 September.  It is anticipated that, while interstate exhibitors may wish to depart on Monday evening (or early Tuesday morning), the Tuesday will provide for a ‘spectacular finale’ for the final day of the show on Tuesday 28 September and, of course, provide a good opportunity for ‘marketing’ the alpaca industry to the general public.

While the alpacas will have a new and far better home than in the past couple of years, accommodation is still quite limited.  Consequently there will not be classes for wethers or fancies in 2010.  Fancy breeders are, however, encouraged to participate in the displays and Town Square Walks (see below).

The Schedule and Entry form are available and can be downloaded from the web – see links below – or obtained from the Alpaca Coordinator at the RASV:  entries close 23 July.
Schedule:    Entry Form:    Health declaration

Show rules:
The show will be conducted under AAA show rules.

Judges:
Alpaca classes will be judged by Ron Reid (WA) and Peter Kennedy (Vic) and fleece classes by Jo Ham (Vic).
Fleece will be judged prior to the show so it can be displayed throughout the period of the show. 

Trophies:
The Committee requests that the Victorian regions continue sponsorship of section championships as has been the case in recent years, and some additional funds will need to be found to ensure that pavilion decoration reflects the quality associated with alpaca, and a good range of information is available to visitors.  Costs associated with Royal Melbourne Perpetual trophies will be picked up by the RASV.

Promotional Display and Town Square Walk:
It is proposed to establish attractive displays of fleece, yarns, garments and other alpaca products in Centenary Hall throughout the show (ie Saturday 18 to Tuesday 28 September) so the general public can gain a better understanding of the alpaca industry.  These displays would be supplemented by effective information distribution throughout the show.

As part of the promotional activities it is intended that the alpacas undertake a “Town Square Walk” each day of the show.  This has proven very popular in recent years, and is a very useful tool to bring the visiting public to the alpaca displays and judging.  The walks should, as far as possible, show off both Huacayas and Suris – and Fancies are always popular with the visiting public.

As the displays in Centenary Hall will run through the whole show period they will provide a great opportunity for our industry to communicate with a bigger than ever public – something like 1/2 a million or so.  It’s a great opportunity not only for the breeders who participate, but also for our ‘downstream’ partners – those who make and sell yarns, garments, rugs, blankets, scarves etc.

The committee seeks the support of the regions, therefore, in arranging for a number of their members to be available to bring alpacas to the show over three or four show days (not necessarily consecutive).  Names and contact details for members who can participate should be advised to Vibeke Pederson, RASV Alpaca Coordinator [Vibeke.Pederson @rasv.com.au].  We would also appreciate contact details for members and others who take our fleeces and turn them into consumer products so we can look to developing an effective display promoting our industry.

Russell Dawe
Chair
RASV Alpaca Committee

Description:  This paper provides an overview of recent research on a range of natural fibres and textiles. The focus is on work carried out at Deakin University’s Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation, which is a multidisciplinary research centre with over 100 researchers. The fibres include hemp, wool, silk, and alpaca fibres. Research on yarns, fabrics, and fine powders made from wool and silk fibres are briefly discussed also.

Outcomes: The within-fibre diameter variation of wool has been examined systematically, which highlights the importance of this hard-to-measure fibre attribute. A relationship between hemp fibre fineness and residual gum content has been established, which provides a rapid means of assessing the residual gum content in the degummed hemp fibres. Silk and wool fibres have been converted into ultrafine powders for advanced applications.

The Resistance to Compression (RtC) behaviour of wool and alpaca fibres has been closely examined, which challenges the belief that RtC is a good indicator of fibre softness. Ways of reducing the hairiness of natural fibre yarns, predicting the pilling propensity of wool knits, and functionalising fabrics for superhydrophobicity and photochromic or colour changing effects are discussed.

Authors: Wang, Xungai Liu, Xin Hurren, Christopher Lin, Tong

AlpacaFest 2010 featured the Alpacas Coast to Coast International Fleece competition recognising that fleece is at the core of the alpaca industry.

117 fleeces were entered from around Australia and overseas – making it a truely international fleece competition.  Julie Bird (NSW) was judge for the show, assisted by Chris Williams as “apprentice” judge.  Trina Pholner undertook the onorous task of Fleece Steward – assisted at various times through the show by Audrey Aitchison. Liz Dawe, Lauris Jephcott, and Chris Bayley. 

Supreme Huacaya Fleece was Malakai Secret Image, Malakai Alpacas and Supreme Suri Fleece was Kurrawa Hi Flyer ET, Kurrawa Alpacas.

The highest scoring fleeces in the various colour classes were awarded the Alpacas Coast to Coast Premier Fleece award, with recipients winning a 1/4 page advertisement in a forthcoming issue of Alpacas Coast to Coast.

Full fleece results will be made available on the Alpacas VicWest website in due course.

Alpacas VicWest congratulates the winners and thanks our judges Julie and Chris, our major fleece sponsoe Alpacas Coast to Coast, our fleece stewards and those who assisted in preparation for and conduct of this important competition.

AlpacaFest at Werribee Park certainly proved its’ ‘tag line’ true – “AlpacaFest – Premier Alpaca Show“.

The show attracted record entries both in animals and in fleeces.  Not just large numbers of entries, but the judges also commented on the high quality of the entries.

 Ron Reid (WA) and Kate Mander (NZ) undertook the task of judging the large classes in the ring, and Julie Bird (NSW), with Chris Williams (SA) as ‘apprentice’ judged the 117 entered fleeces.  Alpacas were entered from all but one state of Australia, and fleeces from all states and overseas. 

It was particularly pleasing to see the large classes of coloured animals being presented to the judges – indeed, the black alpaca classes were some of the largest of the weekend.

Supreme Suri was awarded to Kurrawa Red Hot So What ET (White Adult Male)

 and the Supreme Huacaya was Shanbrooke Accoyo Sensation ET (White Adult Female).

A feature of the show was the Premier Colour.   The importance of fleece within  the alpaca industry was recognised by the award of Premier Colour within the Alpacas Coast to Coast International Fleece competition, with awards for each qualifying colour Huacaya and Suri Fleece.  Each winner was awarded a 1/4 page advertisement in one of the next three issues of Alpacas Coast to Coast – a valuable prize indeed.

Premier Colour was also a feature of the show ring with the Premier Colour being judged from the Best Male and the Best Female for each colour Huacaya and Suri.  The competition was very well received bythe judges and by all breeders at the show.

Alpacas VicWest expresses its’ thanks to the many sponsors who provided such great support which added greatly to the event.  Laucke Mills supported Champions in the show ring with a bag of their Alpaca Blend.  Brumosa Azul supported the Supreme Champions in the halter classes with beautiful halter and lead sets, and in the fleece competition with fleece bags.  (More detail of the fleece results will be posted shortly).

The Alpaca Breeder Hamper raffle, comprising a wonderful array of items of great value to the breeder donated by the sponsors indicated below and drawn by our judges, was wone by Diane and Paul Boede of Wattle Grove Alpacas – new breeders to the industry so the prize was doubly appreciated.  Second prize was wone by Blackgate Lodge and Third by Alpaca Marengo.

Special thanks are due, of course, to the team that made the show a reality and such a success – Reg Smythe – convener, Jeff Hill – shed logistics, security and marshall, Andrew McCosh – transport, Trina Pohlner – Fleece Steward, Jo Ham & Tracy Krupa – MC’s, Susan Dennis – Results. …..  and to the many others who assisted as Ring Fleece Stewards and in the big business of setting up and post-show clearing of the pavilion.

Sponsors who supported the raffle included Micron Man Fleece Testing ($200 value of fleece testing), Baarrooka Alpacas, Alpaca & Llama Essentials, Australian Alpaca Fleece Ltd, Brumosa Azul, Cow Shop, Colac, Grande Verge Alpaca On-Line Shop, Innobiz Internationa, Think Livestock, Laucke Mills, and Andmar Alpacas.  Sponsors supporting the sections and Premier awards included Blackgate Lodge, Knitalpaca, Mannagum & Wimmera Skies Alpacas, Wildflower Alpacas, Ambleside Alpacas, Ambleside Pastoral, Merealma Alpacas, Belladobe Brae Alpacas and Comfort Inn, Werribee.

There are major gaps in knowledge about many aspects of artificial breeding in alpacas. The primary aims of this project were to (1) develop and establish the technology for collection, processing and preservation of alpaca semen, and (2) develop and establish the technology for insemination of alpaca semen. These were identified as objectives in the RIRDC Rare Natural Animal Fibre Research and Development Plan 2003 – 2008.

The outcomes were an optimum method for semen collection and AI of alpacas under Australian conditions, the education of alpaca breeders in the benefits of using AI technology in their own herds to hasten improvement of fibre quality via a presentation at the Australian Alpaca Association Inc (AAA). National Conference and publication of an article in the AAA Conference proceedings, and the production of a manual that can be used by small ruminant artificial breeding centres and practising veterinary practitioners to provide commercial AI programs to alpaca breeders.

This project made considerable advances in collection, liquefaction and preservation of alpaca semen, demonstrated the limitations imposed by the viscous seminal plasma and highlighted the need for future research into seminal plasma viscosity, which remains the key problem for the development of AI technology. The efficient and reliable methods for liquid storage and cryopreservation of alpaca semen will also hasten the commercialisation of AI. Overall, the knowledge gained during this project has made a significant contribution to the scientific field, and the results challenge many previously held perceptions associated with the preservation of alpaca semen.

Report authors:  Morton, K, Vaughan, J, and Maxwell, W

The full report can be downloaded at https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/08-057.pdf

This is an abstract of an article which appeared in the Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol . 86, 2008-12.  The study was undertaken through the Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation at Deakin University.

Description
Objective To investigate factors associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas at pasture in southern Australia.

Design A 2-year survey of alpacas from two farms in South Australia and three in Victoria. Blood samples were collected from 20 to 30 alpacas on each farm on five occasions each year. Breed, gender, age and fleece colour of animals were recorded.

Method Blood samples were assayed for plasma 2.5-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D3) and plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi). Data sets from 802 animal samples were analysed by multiple regression to determine variables associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas. The relationship between plasma 25-OH D3 and plasma Pi was also investigated.

Results Vitamin D status was significantly affected by month of sampling, with low values in late winter and high values in summer. Plasma vitamin D concentrations increased with age, were higher in alpacas with light fleeces than in those with dark fleeces and were also higher in the Suri than in the Huacaya breed. Plasma Pi concentrations were generally lower in alpacas with plasma 25-OH D3 values < 25 nmol/L.

Conclusions Young alpacas with dark fleeces are most at risk from vitamin D insufficiency in late winter in southern Australia. The present study indicates that plasma Pi values are not a reliable indicator of vitamin D status of alpacas as assessed by plasma 25-OH D3 concentrations.

Authors: Judson, G. J. McGregor, B. A. Partington, D. L.
Subjects: Animal Cell and Molecular Biology (060802) Animal Breeding (070201)

Textile arts students at Warrnambool’s South-West TAFE have been working with alpaca fibre and yarns since the beginning of the year, and are part-way through developing some innovative and beautiful designs.

Some Western Vic. Region members approached the college in an effort to promote the use of alpaca in well designed textiles, and the Weaving Group took us up on our offer. Alpaca fleeces were donated by a number of  our Region’s members, and yarns were supplied by knitalpaca. Both huacaya and suri are being used. Recently the weaving students invited auris Jephcott to seetheir mid-term progress, and discuss the course outcomes.

Students had produced some lovely textiles using alpaca, sometimes with other fibres. The finished peices will be on display at Hamilton Sheepvention in August.

A woven, hand dyed wrap in suri alpaca

To view more of the students’ work, go to http://leisurelylesley.blogspot.com/2010/05/alpaca-project 18. html

Many classes of alpaca fibres contain a certain amount of coarse fibres, which are strong and stiff, and cause discomfort to the end users of the alpaca fibre products. It is therefore desirable to separate the coarse fibres from the fine alpaca fibres. This paper reports trial results on alpaca dehairing using a cashmere dehairing machine. The diameters of alpaca fleece, dehaired alpaca fibres and removed alpaca fibres were analysed, and the fibre lengths before and after dehairing have been compared. The results indicate that it is feasible to dehair alpaca fibres using a cashmere dehairing facility. The dehaired alpaca fibres are cleaner, bulkier and softer, with around 1.5 um reduction in average fibre diameter, but the dehairing process shortens the dehaired fibre length considerably. The dehairing effectiveness of coarse fibre removal using the cashmere dehairing technology has also been discussed in this paper. 

Authors:
Wang, Lijing
Singh, Avtar
Wang, Xungai

Our Region will be celebrating National Alpaca Week 2010 all through the month of May. Take the opportunity to meet alpacas and their owners.

Check out the Open Farm Days:

May 1-2  Alpaca Marengo 3695 Colac-Lavers Hill Rd Ferguson. In the heart of the magical Otways, we offer both suri and huacaya alpacas, lots of information, alpaca yarn and garments. Phone 03 5235 9208.

May 1-2 and May 8-9, 10 am till 4 pm  Coricancha Alpaca Stud 350 Nine Mile Road Napoleons, near Ballarat. Wonderful herd of huacaya, and information on choosing alpacas and avoiding mistakes. Phone 03 5342 0111

May 23 ‘Alpacarama’ and Glenormiston Alpaca Show.  Our high profile event introducing alpacas to the community. There will be a quality alpaca show as well as alpacas for sale as herd guards, breeding stock or just to keep the grass down. In addition visitors will be able to see and buy wonderfu alpaca yarns, garments and hand crafts, and talk to local owners and breeders. Entry is free.  Visit us at the South West College of TAFE, Glenormiston, any time from 9.30am.