alpacas: 04/15/11

Friday, April 15, 2011

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Shows

I'm fairly new to the Alpaca world. We've not yet done any showing but what you stated about taking those ribbons as just a portion of the whole picture makes so much sense. I've shown dogs for years; ribbons are nice but if you don't know the quality (or lack there of) of the competition it is hard to know just how much those ribbons really carry. :) And, if it is at all like showing dogs, politics could have a big impact on who wins (some of the time).

Marsha

From: farmer_mam <mam2@wi.rr.com>
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, April 15, 2011 10:21:20 AM
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Shows

How do we compete against big farms at the shows? First, we evaluate very carefully and objectively our females and determine not only what they have but more importantly what they need. We do this by historical assessment such as OFDA2000 and other testing methods that are available that tell us something about the alpaca. We then evaluate the alpaca industry of potential herd sires - not just the ones on our farm, and not the ones close by or lowest cost, but those who provide the same objective information we have on our alpacas. If they cannot provide or will not provide a history of histograms but instead flash a bunch of ribbons and perhaps histograms of alpacas under 12 months we pass - insufficient information to make a decision.

We then look at what they have produced and why - dams bred to and the information about the dam compared to the sire. If we can interrogate the owners to see why they choose the breeding match they did, then this adds more information to the breeding choice. What this has done is allowed us to move our herd up to a competitive level. What that means is we take 5 alpacas and received 5th or 6th. Next year we take five alpacas and moved to 3rds. Next year we had 5 and received 1st and 2nd. Evaluate!

Next, if you wish to compete with bigger farms and you like their alpacas then invest in their breeding program. Evaluate the selections and purchase the best alpaca you can from their breeding program and then ask them to select the breeding that will best improve that dam and then ask for proof - histograms, prior progeny from both dam and sire along with relations. Again evaluate. Demand information and be cold hearted about this. If there is no information other than ribbons you are looking in the wrong place.

Please do not get me wrong. Seven banners from competitive shows says something about the alpaca but it does not predict the improvement you will see in your alpaca and more specifically in the specific improvement your alpaca needs. It does say that in the 30 seconds the judge has to access that alpaca on that day that it outperformed the other alpacas in the ring with it that day in some way. If it has 7 banners than it has been accessed 3.5 minutes out of 525,600 minutes of a one year olds life. So put that in perspective.

OK, I now have donned my flame retardant alpaca suit and am ready for rebuttal, Michael
Michael and Margery A. Morack Greenbriar Farm 262.970.9633

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