The SRS® breeding system, developed by Dr. Jim Watts in the 1980s, has been used successfully to improve fleece quantity and quality in Merino sheep and Angora goats by selecting for increased fibre density and fibre length (see www.srswool.com). If an animal grows more fibres (density) and if those fibres are longer, then it will produce more weight of fleece. The higher density also reduces the mean fibre diameter and the variation in fibre diameter of the fleece.
More recently, these selection techniques have been used successfully by alpaca breeders to improve fleece quantity and quality whilst moving rapidly towards eliminating "guard hair".
The alpaca fleece (left) has many guard hairs protruding from the outer fleece surface. The alpaca fleece (right) appears to be mostly free of guard hair.
Guard hairs are coarse and hollow centred primary fibres that form the outer coat on the fleeces of alpacas which lack fibre density. Guard hairs do not absorb fabric dyes and spoil the appearance of finished products.
There are two types of alpacas. The Huacaya alpaca grows a fleece with crimp (right). The Suri alpaca grows a fleece which coils (right).
Both of these alpacas have measurably high levels of fibre density and fibre length with fine primary fibres. The fleeces consist of many long, thin and clearly defined staples which are soft and lustrous. The crimp of the Huacaya alpaca has high amplitude and low frequency. The Suri alpaca has gently coiling staples.
Using visual selection for these fleece traits together with measurements of primary fibre diameter, fibre density and fibre length, the following changes have occurred over the last four years in the herdsires selected for use in alpaca herds implementing the SRS® breeding system.
| Primary fibre diameter (microns) |
Secondary fibre diameter (microns) |
Fibre density (per square mm2) |
Fibre length (mm per day) |
No. of alpacas |
| Selection pool available at outset: | ||||
| 38.1 | 26.6 | 43.3 | 0.31 | 72 |
| Initial selection of herdsires: | ||||
| 33.0 | 23.4 | 47.6 | 0.36 | 42 |
| After 4 years of selection: | ||||
| 29.1 | 20.7 | 49.5 | 0.36 | 37 |
The herdsires now being used have primary fibres and secondary fibres that are, on average, 9 microns and 5.9 microns finer respectively than were available at the commencement of the breeding programs. The fibre density has increased by 14% and fibre length by 16%.
The list of the 50 highest ranked alpacas for breeding values with equal emphasis on fleece weight and fibre fineness in the AGE (Across-herd Genetic Evaluation) program was published in Alpacas Australia, Issue 59, Summer 2009, pages 58-59. There are 747 sires in this analysis.
Illawarra Alpaca Stud, Cambewarra, New South Wales, has been applying the SRS® breeding system for 6 years. The stud has 4 sires in the top fifty with Illawarra Yucatan (IAR 62620) ranked first and Illawarra Yohimbine (IAR 62650) ranked second.
Illawarra Yucatan is a white Huacaya male, now 6 years old. His progeny produced , on average, 2.9 kgs of 18.7 micron wool (30 animals) on the second shearing and 3.1 kgs of 20.9 micron wool (12 animals) on their third shearing. When tested at 25 months of age, Yucatan had a density of 48.8 follicles per square millimetre of skin and a fibre length of 0.39 millimetres per day. Three of his male progeny were tested at 20 months of age and averaged 56.1 for density, 0.37 for fibre length, 29.5 microns for primary fibre diameter and 22.2 microns for secondary fibre diameter.
Illawarra Yohimbine is a solid white Huacaya male, also now 6 years old. He has an impressive frame and exceptional fleece length. When tested at 24 months of age, Yohimbine had a density of 46.0 follicles per square millimetre of skin and a fibre length of 0.44 millimetres per day.
Illawarra Alpaca Stud excelled in the same trait list for females with 13 of its hembra in the top list of 50.
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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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