GENETIC TEST FIRST
Laurence Varlet, from Alpagas Du Maquis in Belgium, shares her experience as the first alpaca owner to use a new genetic test to identify classic grey coat colour in a commercial herd breeding programme.
> The circle was not filled enough
About the author
Laurence is co-owner of Alpagas Du Maquis with her husband Eric. The couple started keeping Huacaya alpacas in 2011 and have built a herd including carefully selected US, Australian and Peruvian lineage. The first stud male arrived in 2012. Today one of the main stud males is Inca Grey Flyte, from UK breeder Inca Alpaca. The Belgian herd has produced multiple champions, including multiple titles of supreme champion Huacaya fleece in Benelux 2020, Italy 2019, France 2019, Germany 2018 and France 2018 Fleece Shows. In 2014 Laurence and Eric opened an alpaca mill and have since developed an “exceptional” line of 100% alpaca products designed and made in workshops on the farm. In 2019 at the BAS National Show Fibre zone competition, they won first and second prizes in each category mill spun yarns and handwoven neckwear. The latest innovation in 2020 is the creation of their own brand "Alpa'n'Age" with a unique concept of textile traceability.
24 Alpaca #86
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n September 2019, we read an article on the internet that caught our attention. The Neogen lab in Australia was working on a DNA test seen as a breakthrough for alpaca breeders – a grey coat colour test. We were delighted; finally, a significant scientific advance in our profession! As breeders of grey alpacas, we know how important it is to be able to identify a hidden grey gene as quickly as possible. No one wants to miss a hidden grey; first for the value and interest that the animal has within the herd and second to avoid producing blue eyed white alpacas (BEWs) that can happen when the grey gene is present in breeding animals. We contacted the company immediately to find out about the availability of this valuable tool, but we still had to wait a few months for the trials to be completed. After much discussion with Neogen's scientists and salespeople, we were finally able to receive our sample kits at the end of January 2020. After trying different blood sampling techniques, we finally opted to use a small puncture in the upper lip with a conventional needle using a new one for each sample. To take the sample you must press the lip and allow time for the drop of blood to form and then you fix it to the support provided by the laboratory. We have seen how some alpacas coagulate very quickly which of course makes the process more difficult with some individuals. The first time we just fixed a drop or two, but when I sent a photo to the lab of
