SRS® Alpacas International

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Rules & Guidelines

Subscription to SRS® ALPACAS INTERNATIONAL is available under the following 3 categories:-

• Ordinary subscriber: A trading entity with a combination of one or more alpaca herds, at least one of which is registered with the AAA and domiciled in Australia, and where each herd is owned solely by the same entity or group of people
• Overseas subscriber: A single herd registered with the alpaca association of the country in which it is domiciled, by application only, and subject to the approval of SRSAI
• Consulting subscriber: A person with special interest in the SRS® Breeding System, whose involvement does not extend to the application of the system to their own herd, and subject to the approval of SRSAI

Each subscriber is entitled to two nominees, to be nominated at the time of application for subscription, such nominees to be entitled, individually or jointly, to participate in meetings, votes, seminars or other activities limited to subscribers of SRSAI.

In the case of a syndicated alpaca, that alpaca may be included as a part of a registered herd only if that alpaca appears on the AAA registry as a part of that herd.

Subscription is conditional upon the requirement that all subscribers will:

• Attend at least one SRSAI educational event annually
• Attend at least one SRSAI meeting annually
• Offer to all other subscribers a 10% discount on published mating fees for "Recommended" alpaca males
• Undertake regular SRS® classing, no less frequently than biennially
• Commit to participation in the AAA-conducted AGE (Across herd Genetic Evaluation)
• Subscription fees are paid within 60 days of invoice or by no later than 30th August each year, whichever is the later

SRSAI exists to provide SRS® services to subscribers. All enquiries concerning subscription, accounts, classing, open days, seminars, certification, skin testing, etc, must be directed through SRSAI office via email to SRS Alpacas. Similarly, all payments for services (classing, certification, skin testing, seminars, etc) must be made through the SRSAI office, at PO Box 1246, Castlemaine, VICTORIA, 3450 irrespective of by whom the service is rendered.

Subscription benefits include:

1. Exclusive access to certified SRS® classers (breeding advisors) and their advice in establishing your own SRS® breeding plan.
2. Access to SRS® breeding system methodology and research.
3. Use of SRS® trade make/brand in advertising and promotion, provided it is within agreed protocol (refer to SRSAI website for details).
4. Regular SRSAI Newsletters and updates from Dr Jim Watts
5. SRS® Alpaca website privileges including password access to subscribers' section. Also links to your own website and the opportunity to advertise recommended and approved stock and services at competitive prices.
6. Discounts (10%) on matings by SRS® Recommended Males (discount on advertised prices would soon pay for subscriptions).
7. Preferential access to SRS® open days and seminars.
8. Opportunity to have males and females recommended by Dr Jim Watts "as suitable for use in an SRS® breeding programme." Note - this is going to be important when selling embryos
9. Exclusive opportunity to have skin and fibre tests reported by Dr Jim Watt, with interpretation and commentary

Explanatory Notes

AGE and W/D 3

SRS® Alpaca subscribers will be asked to participate in AGE, the national program for the genetic evaluation of the production traits of alpacas. This is an important means for our herds to be independently assessed at a genetic level. AGE provides a 'common language' for alpaca producers across Australia to recognise genetic performance and buy seedstock with added confidence.

Each subscriber will be strongly encouraged to supply information to the AGE program including their W/D 3 results so that the influence of the SRS® breeding strategy can be assessed both individually and as an SRS® group.

W/D 3 is a useful measure of genetic productivity and profitability. We do not propose W/D 3 as an index for selection, rather we see it as a measure of the productivity and profitability resulting from the SRS® system of alpaca selection and breeding.

"W/D3" is a measurement of productivity of an alpaca, the FORMULA being total clean fleece weight in grams (assume a 10% reduction from greasy weight until you get a yield test done when you have your next fleece tests), divided by the average diameter in microns raised to the power of 3 (diameter cubed).

For example of an annualised total greasy fleece weight of 3kg = 3000gms less 10% = 2700gms of clean fleece weight divided by micron of say 20 micron to the power of 3 =

20 x 20 x 20 = 8000. Therefore 2700 divided by 8000 =

W/D 3 of 0.3375 say 0.34.

It is suggested you test only those fleeces taken from alpacas at their 2nd shearing and their fleece weights be annualized so as to be the equivalent to 12 months growth.

Herd Classing by Certified Breeding Advisors.

Subscribers are expected to have their animals classed at least every 2 years, depending on numbers.

Booking for classing must be made directly through the SRSAI office using Herd Assessment Booking Form, available in the subscriber's section of the website. Confirmation will be through the SRSAI office so it can be recorded and followed through.

For current costs of classing.