[Alpacasite] Re: Breeding Maidens (again)

On Wed. 23 Nov 2005, "gatewayfarm" <johnwmerrell@e...> wrote:

> If, as an industry, we are truly interested in developing a fiber
> based future, we really need to focus our breeding on production
> traits. By this I mean we need animals that require the least
> amount of intervention possible. ...
>
> The current industry practices are not sustainable. $25-30 per
> head for shearing is one example. Throw in pharmacutical parasite
> control, specialized feeds, routine veterinary interventions,
> vitamin supplements, specialized mineral supplements, etc., and
> any chance of a profit has vanished.
>
> We need animals that are reproductively sound and that are hardy
> and healthy. That may in fact require some changes in breeding
> selections, and some significant culling - even of some very nice
> looking animals.
>
> I think you will find in other livestock endeavors that many
> problems we see addressed repeatedly on alpacasite would not be
> tolerated. Prolapses, hernias, consistently slipped pregnancies,
> poor milkers requiring hand feeding, still births - the list is
> actually pretty lengthy - all of these would be grounds for
> permanent culling, particularly if the issue showed up more than
> once, or more than one of the issues were experienced in the same
> animal. ...
>
> And, of course, this returns once again to the issue of BS, since
> many of the issues I list above will/can not be contained in a
> simple description of the "ideal" animal.

I agree that the alpaca industry as it stands now will never be
profitable, except through the sale of animals.

Strangely enough, however, all the livestock industries that focus
on those reproductive traits that Mr. Merrell mentioned all have
breed standards.

Ken Madl
Aviana Farms

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