alpacas: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Newby question

Hi Nan;

Yes, blue eyes are a flaw and a congenital defect that should not be allowed into a breeding program but some people do this anyway.
The reason why blue eyes (or white eyes as it is correctly called) is due the the lack of the pigment Melanin reaching far enough up to the eyes(causing the blue or white eyes), the inner ear of the animal causing deafness and can even cause Choanal Atresia (a bone growth in the nasal cavity of the cria, preventing it from breathing upon being born and it dying not long after because it can't breath), wrye face, etc. Another thing about blue eyes is if it is in the genetics, it can never be gotten rid of and actually may breed through as a dominant trait. My mom wrote a very informative and thorough article on this subject after doing much research and talking to many vets.

There was a very highly regarded and extremely well known judge who was judging whites one year at a large show. He proceeded to dismiss every blue eyed white out of the ring before judging the class. This did not make some people happy, but posed as a wake up call for some who had thought of doing this or having this in their program. Does it stop people from breeding them? No. But some have made different decisions when it comes to the background of the animals they have or choose to purchase.

Hope this helps you...

Maegan Blessing
Cedar Grove Alpacas, LLC.

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