MINIMUM BREED & FIBER STANDARDS FOR ALPACAS
AOA HUACAYA BREED STANDARD
The ideal Huacaya alpaca is the epitome of true alpaca type with an attractive head, outstanding conformation, and a fine, dense, uniform, bright, and adequately-stapled fleece. As alpacas approach the ideal state, they express more positive fleece characteristics than less improved types. The Huacaya fleece exhibits highly aligned staples of fine fleece with little guard hair. The concept of the ideal alpaca is not a static model. It is the process of the pursuit of excellence that will fuel genetic improvement for decades. Highly heritable traits are selected for genotypic gain in the individual offspring’s expression of positive breed characteristics, which exist along a continuum.
AOA SURI BREED STANDARD
The ideal Suri alpaca is the epitome of true alpaca type with a distinctive elegant profile, perfect head, and outstanding conformation. Suri Network members strongly believe that it is important to preserve the purity of the Suri genotype by breeding Suri males to Suri females. The Suri fleece exhibits highly aligned, draping locks of high luster, fine, slick and cool handling fiber. As Suri alpacas approach the ideal state, they express more positive fleece characteristics than less improved types. The concept of the ideal alpaca is not a static model. It is the process of the pursuit of excellence that will fuel genetic improvement for decades. Highly heritable traits are selected for genotypic gain in the individual offspring’s expression of positive breed characteristics, which exist along a continuum.
U.S. ALPACA FIBER STANDARD
Alpaca fiber shall be recognized within the seven (7) grades defined by micron span as follows:
Grade 0 15.0–16.9 micron
Grade 1 17.0–19.9 micron
Grade 2 20.0–22.9 micron
Grade 3 23.0–25.9 micron
Grade 4 26.0–28.9 micron
Grade 5 29.0–31.9 micron
Grade 6 32.0–34.9 micron
Length shall be within the following processable* ranges:
Huacaya: between 2 and 5.5 inches**
Suri: between 2 and 7.5 inches**
Processing length should be uniform across the blanket **
This range of length is aligned to measurements used in the Innovative Fleece Assessment.
Based on histogram results, the average fiber diameter with a standard deviation of three (3) and below represents uniformity.
Note: The Fiber Committee chose not to assign names (baby, royal baby, superfine, fine, etc.) to the standards, as the committee found these terms to be inconsistent across the world. The committee used quantitative measures instead of subjective terms.
ALPACA https://www.plumcreekalpacas.com/page/10290/male-alpaca-considerations
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Friday, January 12, 2024
