SRS® Alpacas International

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Joining Strategies

Who does it?

Classing and joining decisions are carried out by an SRS® Certified Breeding Consultant (CBC) in consultation with the member.

When and how often?

Annually and when the alpacas have at least six months fleece. Herds of less than 20 females have the option of being classed every second year.

Time Required

At least half a day for herds of less than 50 alpacas and a full day for more animals.

Subscriber's Duties

1. Book classing through SRS® Alpacas International using the Herd Assessment Booking Form (see below). Allow at least 1 month prior to classing.
2. Provide animals for inspection on the day, in a dry and presentable condition. Animals are to be ready and penned before the CBC arrives.
3. Provide adequate facilities and staff to allow the animals to be thoroughly inspected in a timely manner.
4. Provide details of age, pregnancy status, sire and dam and shearing date for all stock.
5. Provide meals and accommodation if required.
6. Implement advice given. Any changes require both the member and CBC to agree.
7. On receipt of written report and invoice, return signed Herd Assessment Report Receipt Form to SRSAI office along with payment for the Herd Assessment.

Breeding Consultant's Duties

1. Contact the subsciber within one week of receiving Herd Assessment Booking Form to set a classing date. Advise the office of the agreed date.
2. On the classing day, discuss with the subscriber:
• breeding goals
• the principles of SRS® breeding and new developments
• mating strategies (including outside matings, animal purchases, embryo transfer)
• culling strategies
3. On the classing day, obtain from the subscriber:
• confermation of contact details
• Ensure written consent to collect skin and fleece samples on the day by completing Skin Testing Request/Permission Form if testing is required.
4. Class the alpacas, the preferred order being:
• sires
• sire's offspring
• prospective sires
• breeding females
• weaner / unmated female
• weaner / junior herdsires
5. Keep the following records on each animal classed:
• date of assessment
• identification (IAR)
• sex
• colour
• age in years and months
• subjective gradings for density and length.
• breeding type ('Wool' or 'Frame')
• Individual animal comments.
6. Discuss with the subscriber any relevant details about the stock.
7. Collect skin and fleece samples for density and length measurements if required and agreed by the owner. Skin tests are taken from animals where measurement is considered likely to be important to the future breeding and reputation of the herd. It is often useful to test sires, yearling males for retention or sale and females being considered as embryo transfer donors. Send skin and fleece samples to Dr. Watts within one week of collection along with a completed Skin Testing Request/Permission Form along with animal details required for skin testing.
8. Provide a written report of the classing and joining decisions for breeder invoicing, to the SRSAI office within 14 days of classing.
9. Contact subscriber to discuss any skin test results and later to confirm joining decisions have been enacted. Provide on-going breeding advice to the subscriber throughout the year.

Skin and fleece testing services

Skin tests are conducted by Dr Watts. Skin testing can be arranged only by an existing SRSAI subscriber. Skin test collection must be performed by a CBC.

1. The CBC sends skin and fleece samples to Dr. Watts within one week of collection and a completed Skin Testing Request/Permission Form.
2. Dr Watts will email a density and length report and profiles to the SRSAI office within 6 weeks of receiving skin and fleece samples. The office will send the full report to the subscriber with an invoice for the service and forward a copy of the report to the CBC.

Other Services

Breeding consultants are available to assist in the sourcing of outside animals and matings. Additional costs apply to this work.

Fees

SRS® breeding advisors' fees (inclusive of GST) are:

• Dr Jim Watts: half day, $550; full day, $1,100
• Other CBC's; half day, $440; full day, $880
• A half day constitutes no more than 4 hours assessment and discussion, normally for less than 50 animals. Costs of travel, accommodation, and meals are extra.
• Other services such as preparing classing and joining reports, providing on-going breeding advice, sourcing animals and matings is charged at $110 per hour.

Confidentiality

All skin testing and herd assessment information will be kept in strict confidence between the subscriber, and SRSAI and their agents unless otherwise authorized by the member.

Request for Herd Assessment or online >>

Skin Testing Request / Permission or online >>

Information on this page was updated 03/09/07