The objective of the SRS® Breeding System is to assist breeders to achieve accelerated genetic gain in fleece traits for their breeding programs. Integral to the concept of accelerated genetic improvement is that of developing an identifiably unique Australasian alpaca that has been specifically bred to meet the highest standards in commercial fleece and conformational traits, an alpaca that will ultimately benchmark international standards, and will be sought after as seedstock by other breeders around the world. SRS® is a system that identifies and produces those commercial fleece traits that the marketplace is seeking: fineness, handle, lustre, length and style, and delivers these traits with higher fleece weights.
The 'package' of desirable follicle and fibre characteristics we are seeking to breed in our alpacas is:
- Very fine primary fibres of uniform diameters (eventually finer than the secondary fibres).
- High follicle density associated with high levels of secondary follicle branching (the latter equates to high secondary follicle to primary follicle [S/P] ratio. Hence the secondary fibres are also fine, uniform in diameter and highly aligned.
- Very long fibres of uniform length.
The Objectives of SRS® - Progress to Date
Today
Skin tests have shown that alpacas of good fleece quality by current industry standards have, on average, a follicle density of about 40 follicles per square millimetre and an S/P ratio of 10 to 1. Primary fibres are mostly medullated and about 10 microns coarser than the secondary fibres. The average fibre diameter in adult animals generally varies from about 20 to 30 microns.
The fibre length of young adult animals averages about 0.40 millimetres per day, and in old animals, about 0.25 millimetres per day. The higher the fibre length to staple length ratio, the higher the crimp amplitude (that is, the deeper the crimp) is likely to be.
Tomorrow
It is certainly possible to breed animals that are a lot denser, finer and longer than current industry standards. The SRS® breeding goal is to breed alpacas that have primary fibres finer than the secondary fibres, secondary fibres that are up to 10 microns finer than currently seen in adult animals, follicle densities above 85 follicles per square millimetre and S/P ratios above 20 to 1. Ultimately, no fibres should be medullated, irrespective of the age of the animal or the follicle type. The objective is also to improve fibre length to 0.70 millimetres per day or more and maintain this length throughout much of the animal's life.
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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