Purely Suri Herdsire 2009 by Suri Network

Message from the President

On behalf of the Suri Network (SN) membership, I welcome you to the wonderful world of the Suri alpaca: “Rarest of breeds, ultimate natural fiber.” As I write this President’s letter for the herdsire issue of PurelySuri, I am reminded that spring is right around the corner -- or so I am told. At the moment, it is zero degrees with a thick layer of ice covered by 18 inches of snow. More snow and cold is in the forecast. We all hope that spring is around the corner! Many exciting things have taken place since your last PurelySuri magazine arrived. The very important luster study, “Samba Project,” is well under way in Colorado. Dr. Chris Lupton from Texas A & M is working with the Samba tech staff and Angus McColl. By the time you receive this issue of PurelySuri, we should have some very interesting results to announce. Thanks to all the members who took time to prepare samples for this research project. Remember to take a look at the Suri Network Product Development Blog site (surinetworkfibercommittee.blogspot.com/) to view the progress of this very active committee. You’ll find information to help educate, inform, and promote your Suri alpaca fiber. Another important development that has taken place is the merging of our Suri Network Youth Program (SNYP) with the AOBA Youth Association (AYA). This union occurred after many discussions between the SNYP committee and AOBA. You will find more on this subject in this issue. Thanks to fellow board member, Kelly Jarvis, for leading the SNYP and all her efforts with this merger. Both Kelly and Denise Sowles have been appointed by AOBA to the new AYA youth committee, and they will provide significant input as this program grows. Your board has decided to move up the Suri Network Board nomination and election schedule in an effort to better allow new board members to make plans to attend the faceto-face meetings at the annual symposium in August. Speaking of the symposium, which is August 13-15 in Estes Park, Colorado, plans are well underway to make this year’s symposium the best ever. Stay tuned for an announcement about a special speaker coming to Colorado from Peru. See the SN website (surinetwork.org) for all the details on this year’s symposium. Make your plans to attend now before airfares go up again. The other day, I visited my doctor’s office and what did I find? A copy of PurelySuri with a label recognizing my farm as the sender. Your response to our “grassroots” effort to get the word out about Suri alpacas has been fantastic. See the SN website if you haven’t taken advantage of this membership benefit. Thanks to all of you who sent in articles for this issue of PurelySuri. I am sure you will find a great deal of interesting reading. And thanks to those of you who bought ads. Without your support we could not continue this important magazine. As you can see, your SN Board has been hard at work. May you all have healthy female crias and success in the spring show ring. Thanks for your support over the past four years and remember our vision: “To be the premier organization enhancing economic opportunities for breeders of the Suri Alpaca, livestock with the ultimate natural fiber.”

4 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

Jim Barker President, Suri Network

Suri Network Board of Directors Jim Barker, President – I have been raising Suri Alpacas along with my wife, Gini, since 1996. Together we own and operate The Sweetbriar Suri Alpaca Farm, a 70-acre farm in Newbury, Ohio. I am an economics graduate of Colorado College and spent three years in the U.S. Navy before beginning a career in corporate development in office product sales, ultimately working for Staples. As disenchantment with the corporate world set in, I began raising Suris full time in 1999. I am very active in the show circuit and am proud of our accomplishments at Sweetbriar. As president of the Suri Network, I am equally proud of the accomplishments by your Suri Network Board over the past year and a half. Together we are raising the bar for all Suri breeders as we continue to dedicate ourselves to the preservation of the Suri Alpaca. I am a member of: AOBA, ARI, OABA, GLAA, MAPACA, and most importantly, the Suri Network. Michael Murphy, Vice President – My wife, Janis, and I own Flying M Ranch, which is located in southcentral Kansas. After a career as captain with a major airline, I returned to my agricultural roots. I love being involved with a growing industry and being a part of the future of Suris in North America! In the past, I served a term as President of MOPACA and served a term on the Suri Network Board. I spent four years as managing editor of PurelySuri and am now pleased to be back on the board. I was involved with the strategic planning in 2006 and am anxious to be a part of the implementation of those plans as we move forward to the future of our industry.

Eric Morti, Secretary – I currently describe myself as a grass farmer and alpaca breeder. My wife, Nina, has worked with fabric and fiber in many guises over the years, and in 2001 she learned to spin. In 2002, we purchased our first alpacas because of their fantastic fiber and started Wisdom of the Fox Alpacas. In 2005, I was able to take early retirement and we began our search for land for our farm. We finally found it immediately across the road from our current home. We are now in the process of converting 160 acres of corn and soybean fields, old pasture, and woods into a home for us, our herd of mostly Suris and a few Huacayas, plus a fiber studio for Nina — not necessarily in that order! We are members of MOPACA, the Suri Network, AOBA, and ARI. Our industry is on the threshold of a great transition and the Suri Network is leading the way. Thank you for giving me the chance to serve you as a member of the Suri Network Board. Kathleen Cullen, Treasurer – My interest in alpacas goes back 30 years, but only in the last six have I been able to be involved as an owner of Suri Alpacas. Together with my husband, Holger, we currently have 50 animals on our ranch in the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains in Washington (hence, Foothills Suri Alpacas). Prior to breeding alpacas, I showed and bred Irish Wolfhounds, and bred and judged German Angora rabbits. Both of these endeavors taught me a lot about conformation and fiber judging. I have served on the board of our local affiliate, Pacific Northwest Alpaca Association (PNAA), and participated in the Affiliate Congress. I also served on the Suri Network Research and Education Committee with Dr. Toni Cotton. I still have my “day job” in private practice psychotherapy. I go to my office to provide psychotherapy, and I go to the barn to receive psychotherapy. It’s a good balance! I am pleased to be of service to the Suri Network membership and I look forward to the continued success of the Suri industry. Kelly Jarvis, Member at Large – As a resident of the Pacific Northwest for over 30 years, I always dreamed of a place near the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range. Around the year 2000, I was searching for something productive I could do with a piece of property. Alpacas popped up on my radar. The rest is history. It didn’t take too long before I found the perfect piece of land and purchased my first female Suri Alpaca. Previous careers in medicine and biology provided me with a strong background to become a confident breeder, so an alpaca ranch was born. Not long after my first alpaca purchase, another gorgeous (and expensive) female Suri became available. So, it was time to pull in my retired father, Tyler Jarvis. Ty now owns half the herd and is happily transporting our alpacas to shows and farms across the country. Between the two of us, we have all the angles covered and are both extremely happy with our roles in this amazing industry. I am looking forward to my position on the Suri Network Board.

www.surinetwork.org

Table of Contents

Features 13 Considerations for Raising Suri Alpacas

by LuAnn Lumsden

There’s Nothing Like the First Time! by Kelly Jarvis

24 Suri Network Youth Program Merges

with AOBA Youth Association by Kelly Jarvis

25 Youth Program Updates 29 The Give and Take of Co-Owning a Herdsire by Linda Kondris

40 Caseous Lymphadenitis: Is It a Risk to Alpacas? by Toni Cotton, D.V.M.

45 Fineness, Uniformity, and the Connection

to Breeders

by Liz Vahlkamp, Christine Perala Gardiner, and John Gardiner

EPDs and Classification: How Do They Relate? by Kathleen Cullen and Dick Walker

58 Suri Knitting Patterns Coming Your Way Soon

by Liz Vahlkamp and Sue Simonton

64 Fiber, Fiber, Fiber Everywhere!

by Ann Mayes

Departments 4 Message from the President 5 Board of Directors 9 Statement of Purpose 70 From the Managing Editor 70 Advertising Index Correction - Our Mistake! In the last edition of PurelySuri, the author of the article titled “Youth Program Plans a 4-H Alpaca Show” was listed incorrectly. The author of the article is Holli Cox. 6 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

Suri Network Statement of Purpose

Spring 2009 • $10

Dedicated to the preservation of the Suri Alpaca.

PurelySuri HerdsireTM magazine is a publication of Suri Network. Statements, opinions, and points of view expressed by the writers and advertisers are their own and do TM not necessarily represent those of PurelySuri Herdsire , members of the Suri Network, the publisher, staff, employees, or agents. Suri Network does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein. Suri Network reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter. TM No part of PurelySuri Herdsire may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior express written permission of the submitting author to which the article, photography, illustration, or material is copyrighted. PurelySuri HerdsireTM assumes all work published here is original and is the work and property of the submitting author. All product and company names are trademarked or copyrighted by their respective owners.

The purpose of the Suri Network shall include, but not be limited to, the following: To promote, through education to the alpaca community and the general public, awareness of and interest in Suri Alpacas and their fiber, and related business interest. To promote the growth of the Suri Alpaca industry.

To serve as an industry and marketing group to promote and protect the collective economic and legal interests of the network’s members.

Publisher: Suri Network Design & Production: Julianna Farresta Managing Editor: Mary MacGyver Editor: Megan Fleming Marketing Consultants: Marsha and Ken Hobert Contributing Writers: Toni Cotton Kathleen Cullen Christine Perala Gardiner John Gardiner Kelly Jarvis Linda Kondris LuAnn Lumsden Ann Mayes Sue Simonton Liz Vahlkamp Dick Walker Printer: Able Publishing Cover Photo: Kelly Jarvis

To organize and conduct, from time to time, a Suri Alpaca event, which shall be open to the public and which shall further the purposes of the corporation. This event shall provide members and other participants with the opportunity to share with each other their ideas, encouragement, knowledge, and companionship.

Suri Network, Inc. P.O. Box 1984 Estes Park, CO 80517-1984 Phone: (970) 586-5876 Fax: (970) 586-6685 Email: office@surinetwork.org Website: www.surinetwork.org www.surinetwork.org

Considerations for Raising Suri Alpacas

LuAnn Lumsden, Chesapeake Alpacas

Without question the Suri alpaca is one of the most elegant and mesmerizing creatures in existence. It’s often described with words like “captivating,” “graceful,” “alluring,” “majestic” and the list goes on. Suris have captured the hearts of many with their cool, aloof charm and silky splendor. Most Suri breeders would agree that they are “hooked” and none would find anything more beautiful than a stretchy, Suri in full-fleeced brilliance standing proudly with a gentle breeze that ripples the locks ever so slightly. But is this fascination and love of Suri alpacas enough to justify a breeding business? What qualities does the Suri alpaca possess that make it unique and desirable? What factors affect the demand for Suris? What about the future? There are several factors that influence the viability of the Suri industry and provide a strong basis for optimism going forward.

Rarity of the Breed

Everyone knows that Suris are rare. But did you know that estimates place the Suri alpaca at less continued on next page

With a limited supply, and demand that is sure to increase as more and more discover the desirability of Suri fiber, the Suri is well positioned for sustained profit potential. than 1% of the total world alpaca population? Additionally, Suris account for less than 20% of the total U.S. alpaca population. This rarity ensures that the supply of Suris will remain quite low relative to their fuzzy counterparts. This fact alone makes the Suri an attractive option for investment. With a limited supply, and demand that is sure to increase as more and more discover the desirability of Suri fiber, the Suri is well positioned for sustained profit potential.

Suri Fiber is Distinct

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Suri fiber is in a class all its own. The Suri fleece is characterized by intense luster and long, smooth staples which separate into distinct locks. Suri fiber is most often found in high-end, luxury garments where it adds extreme softness and shine as well as “drape.” The ability of Suri fiber to add “drape” is one of the qualities that distinguish it and drives its use in specific end products such as skirts, jackets, and coats. Designers love it! Because it differs from Huacaya fleece, Suri fiber lends itself to different applications and therefore must be marketed separately. The Suri Network (SN) Board has recognized the need to market Suri fleece in its own right, and has plans to “brand” the word “Suri.” This branding process will ensure that “Suri” is recognized as a separate and distinct luxury fiber. New Suri breeders just getting started in the business will no doubt

benefit from this brand recognition as they begin who may not yet have their own marketing materials. to market their own animals and products over SN is also expanding the awareness of Suris to the the coming months and years. general public and working to market Suri products. The Suri Network Product Development Committee (SNPDC) is making wonderful progress. By educating youth groups The Suri Breed Standard about Suri alpacas and encouraging their involvement at a SN adopted a breed standard for Suri alpacas in young age, we are marketing to a new pool of future Suri 2007. The formal adoption of a breed standard was owners. an important step in recognizing the Suri alpaca As if this wasn’t enough, SN also promotes and supas a credible segment of the livestock industry. ports ongoing research with respect to Suri alpacas. One Currently, no breed standard exists for Huacayas. such project currently underway deals with one of the Suri Written by Suri breeders from across the counalpaca’s most important characteristics: luster. The results try, the Suri breed standard sets forth the physical of this study will be useful information to Suri breeders as characteristics that define Suri alpacas and sets they strive to improve their herds. them apart from Huacayas and other camelids (i.e. llamas). New breeders can refer to the breed standard when selecting and purchasing breeding Economic Climate stock, as well as use it as a tool in planning their The current economic climate has provided a tremendous breeding programs. While the breed standard opportunity for those who have been thinking about purdoesn’t take the place of a good mentor to those chasing Suris. Interest rates are at historic lows. As with just starting out, it does provide a useful educa- other industries, prices have softened. This means that your tional tool for new breeders to understand what investment dollar will stretch farther than it would have in continued on next page traits are acceptable and desirable. The breed standard also serves as a basis for developing Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) that will ultimately help all breeders to more accurately predict an animal’s genetic potential.

The Suri Network

Suri breeders have a real asset in SN. Founded in 1996 by a group of astute and forward-thinking breeders, SN is dedicated to the preservation of the Suri alpaca. In addition to providing education and awareness of Suris, the organization publishes this magazine, PurelySuri, which focuses exclusively on the Suri alpaca industry and highlights and promotes the unique attributes of the Suri alpaca. In addition, SN conducts an annual Suri Symposium where breeders from across the country come together to network and discuss important topics affecting the Suri industry. Informative seminars and workshops are also offered for breeders who wish to continue their education. Marketing materials are available from SN that showcase the Suri alpaca. These professionally produced brochures and DVDs can help breeders augment their individual marketing efforts and are particularly useful to new breeders

www.surinetwork.org

2007 or 2008. Though prices are certainly attractive for new buyers, one should still expect to pay prices that are relative to the level of quality of the animal and to work with an established, reputable breeder. With the volatility currently taking place in the stock market, many people are looking for alternative avenues to wealth building and investments that afford them some measure of control. Raising Suri alpacas may provide the answer. While no business is without risk, raising Suri alpacas does give the investor the ability to have some control over his or her own destiny. You have control over your expenses, the day-to-day management of your herd, and your annual sales. With thoughtful management, good husbandry practices, and careful spending, the success of your venture is very much within your control. Due to the work currently being done to brand Suri, increase awareness, and ensure demand, the future of the U.S. Suri industry is promising. The Suri alpaca is a desirable animal that produces a desirable byproduct -- luxurious fleece â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and is simply a joy to own. In the current market, prices are favorable, supply is limited, and tools are in place to increase demand. SN is a strong and active organization and a tremendous resource and ally to Suri breeders. Combine that with an industry that is still quite young with much room for growth and opportunity, and you have excellent investment potential. The bottom line is that now is a terrific time to get involved with Suri alpacas! l

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There’s Nothing Like

the

First Time!

I took the alpaca plunge in April 2002 and purchased my first two Suri alpacas. These beautiful females were raised at a supportive farm in Littleton, Colorado, about four states away. Since I had yet to obtain property in my home state of Washington, they remained in Colorado and were agisted for the first year. In September 2002, my first cria was born. The agisting farm was kind enough to document the entire process on film, but I had to see this little “criation” in person. I flew out two weeks later to gaze upon a gorgeous, dark brown Suri girl. Upon meeting this incredibly beautiful creature, I thought to myself, “I can’t wait until the first time I’m able to witness an alpaca birth in per-

Kelly Jarvis

son on my own farm!” Little did I realize how long I would have to wait. The following year a temporary location was set up near my home so that this small but growing herd of three alpacas could be closer. I was determined to witness the miracle of life for the next round of crias. My employer and I made detailed arrangements so that I would be able to leave at a moment’s notice. On a sunny June afternoon at 1:12 p.m., the call came in. “It’s happening! There’s the nose now! Click.” Time was of the essence. Speeding all the way I arrived at the pasture 20 minutes later, just in time to see a wet little creature trying to stand. Darn! I missed it. “Oh continued on page 20

18 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

www.surinetwork.org

well,” I thought disappointedly. “I have another opportunity in September.” Although I had missed the delivery, I was able to enjoy a great summer of watching that male cria pronk through the pasture. In the back of my mind, I knew I could look forward to another upcoming September due date. As fate would have it, that birth happened exactly as the last: I was too late. The third missed miracle of life moment! The emotional letdown of missing the first three births was lessened by the knowledge that I’d have two more opportunities the following summer. A new maiden was set to deliver mid-June and the veteran dam would deliver one month later. As a high school teacher I normally would have had the entire summer off, but an occupation change required an out-of-state training mid-July. “No problem,” I thought. The maiden was due June 18. “I’ll definitely get to see that birth.” Ha! She was a month overdue and had her spunky male cria the day after I departed town. (Does the phrase “a watched pot never boils” sound familiar?) To add insult to injury, the veteran dam had her cria while no one was looking the day after my return. The consolation prize for this birth was being the first one to discover another healthy little male, albeit 2-3 hours after he arrived in this world. Let’s do a quick recap: That’s four male births in a row (5 crias total), none of which were witnessed by me. Don’t get me wrong; these four fantastic boys have promising futures. But, so many males in a row? That wasn’t in the business plan! November 2004 was the target date for the next pending birth. Nope, I was not going to miss this one! I was in town and the dam was being observed throughout the day and night, so the odds were in my favor. How does Murphy’s Law go again? You guessed it. This particular mom didn’t want anyone to see her early arrival either. The fifth male in our herd arrived before his due date in the wee hours of a cold fall morning, unbeknownst to anyone until the 7 a.m. grain feeding. Should I have resigned myself to the fact 20 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

that I’d never see one of my beloved alpacas deliver a cria? No way! I kept pressing on. I hoped June 2005 would be my lucky opportunity. By then I was working at home and the alpacas were directly in sight through my office window. I didn’t dare leave the property before 4 p.m. and my binoculars were next to my desk where I was watchful for any sign — any sign at all — of an impending birth. The due date came and the due date went. Fifteen more agonizing days followed with the anticipation building every hour. Then it happened. I saw the behavior I was so excitedly waiting to see: To the poop pile, away from the poop pile, kush down, stand up, pace, pace, pace. It was time! Gulp… I’m by myself! Uh oh. I hadn’t thought about the part that I might have to step in and assist if necessary. Imagine a balmy, overcast morning with a gentle breeze blowing over a green pasture. Curious females browse about while birds chirp and sing in the background. Beyond the fence is a group of males (the five I’ve mentioned) leaning over the rail for a glimpse of the strange, little creature making soft humming noises in the grass. Nature is at her best and it’s a perfect day to be a welcome bystander to such a phenomenal, natural event. Yes, I was finally at the right place at the right time. I stood back and cheered on my very first female cria born three years ago, all grown up and giving birth to her first daughter. That’s right, a beautiful, healthy female with the most unexpected color: grey! I thought I’d be jumping out of my skin with excitement at finally observing a live alpaca birth. Instead, I had a feeling of contentment and peace and that all was good in the world. I sat in the field amongst the herd and watched this little female struggle to her feet and take her first wobbly steps. Her new mom was calm, attentive, and ready to stand statuesque as her little “criation” made nursing attempts around her body. What a beautiful sight! One which I hope everyone can experience on their own farm sooner than I did. It’s really true what they say: “There is nothing like the first time.” l ©2009 Toni Cotton

www.surinetwork.org

Suri Network Youth Program

Merges with AOBA Youth Association

This January the Suri Network Youth Program (SNYP) merged with the AOBA Youth Association (AYA). SNYP gained incredible momentum this past year with generous Suri breeders donating alpacas and volunteering their time to become a host farm ready to educate local youth. More and more Suri breeders are requesting information on how to become involved. At the same time, the AYA has been working diligently on a Youth Show Division and student judge training that can compete at the same level as other youth livestock organizations. With the merger of SNYP and AYA we are able to offer our successful Suri Network alpaca donation/host farm program to alpaca breeders across the United States—Suri and Huacaya alike. The goal will still be to put as many alpacas in the hands of students for the purposes of education. But now we have the addition of a Youth Show Division which will be a natural progression as students advance their knowledge and move on to alpaca shows and, possibly, to student judge training and competition. With the combination of talents between both committees, we have created a strong and motivated group of breeders dedicated to the education of the youth of America and the advancement of the alpaca industry from the youngest breeders on up.

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Kelly Jarvis

AYA will hold its first youth competition at the Second World Alpaca Conference in Cleveland this June. Students from across the country can compete in four different categories: display, photo/art, essay, and speech. This format follows similar competitions found at regional 4-H shows. We encourage students to enter any of the categories even if they cannot attend the show. To encourage participation in AYA, the annual membership fee remains low at $25 per student or a maximum of $75 per family. Check out the AYA website for details on membership and the current national competitions: www.aobayouthassociation.com. Again, we would like to thank all the Suri breeders who have offered their talent, time, and alpacas to the SNYP. You have helped create a successful program that we hope to bring to a whole new level — one that will reach even more students and alpaca breeders. We hope you will continue to support the AYA. l

AOBA Youth Association (AYA) The two main goals of the AYA are:

To recommend a model for a Youth Show Division within the AOBA Show System.  This model is to contain junior halter, fleece and performance shows, as well as a junior judging program with youth leadership training and development. To develop programs to incorporate alpaca education and recognition within 4-H, FFA, and any other youth livestock group or association.

Visit www.aobayouthassociation.com to learn more about the AYA and upcoming competitions at the Second World Alpaca Conference.

A Special Thanks Suri Network would like to acknowledge and thank the following breeders for their continued support in the youth education program. These farms have either donated alpacas or opened their farms to become hosts to students who want to learn more about the alpaca industry. Peter and Nancy Canning Summit Suri Alpacas John and Holli Cox Hidden Hilltop Alpaca Ranch Kathleen Cullen and Holgar Caban Foothills Suris Alpacas Keith and Deb Delana Tails of Tranquility Alpaca Ranch Jim and Laurie Konyn Hums of Faith Suris Joe and Christi Osborn Christi’s Dream Weaving Suris Tim and Beth Sheets Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas

SYNP Makes its First Suri Alpaca Donation

Congratulations to eight year old Sienna Seizyk in Oconto, Wisconsin! Sienna received a young Suri alpaca generously donated by Jim and Laurie Konyn of Hums of Faith Suris. Jim and Laurie have both completed the application process and training to become official 4H leaders and will assist Sierra as she learns about how to care for her new Suri. Sierra began her involvement in 4H this past winter with her first project showcasing alpaca fiber. Now she’ll have firsthand experience to enhance her 4H display! Once Sierra has completed her training, the transfer of ownership will be complete and she’ll become a part of the wonderful world of alpacas. Thank you to Hums of Faith Suris. We wouldn’t have a youth program without involved and generous breeders such as you!

Creativity is the Name of the Game for Youth Programs

Kathleen Cullen and Holger Caban of Foothills Suri Alpacas have generously donated their time to start a 4H group at their farm this year and have come up with a creative idea to get a Suri alpaca into the hands of a local student. The Foothills Alpaca Club began in January with a small group of enthusiastic Taylor Elmore, age 9, and students none of whom have had any her leased Suri “Foothills livestock experience. The students are Leo.” learning with a combination of handson experience and written material. Each meeting starts with an overview of the previous meeting’s material such as basic care, nutrition, anatomy, and conformation then moves into hands-on activities. One of the club members, Taylor Elmore, does not have the space to own an alpaca, however she is motivated to learn more about alpacas so she is “leasing” an alpaca for a year. Taylor spends time assisting with farm chores each week in exchange for her lease payment. The Foothills Alpaca Club is looking forward to showing alpacas at their first show this spring. l

www.surinetwork.org

Give andTake of Co-Owning a Herdsire

The

Linda Kondris

The purchase of a herdsire is one of the most important decisions that a Suri breeder can make. Your selection of the right herdsire can improve the quality of your herd for generations and bring your farm recognition and increased sales of high-quality offspring. You’ve built genetic diversity in your herd through outside breedings and have decided it’s now time to take the step to own your own herdsire. However, the price tag for the high-quality, prepotent “Super Stud” you desire is daunting. Should you consider co-ownership of a herdsire? Co-owning will allow you access to the herdsire at half price or continued on next page

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even access to two herdsires for the price of one. We continue to see increasing numbers of alpaca farms combining their resources to co-own herdsires. This article presents some considerations to help guide you toward a rewarding co-ownership experience. There are a number of advantages to coownership besides the initial cost benefit. You will save breeding fees and you can also share the costs of promoting your new herdsire through advertising and show participation. If your partner is located in a different part of the country, the number of possible clients for outside breedings will expand, resulting in increased income. At the same time, having a partner who is some distance away restricts your access to the herdsire for your own use during certain times of the year and in cases where a female becomes open after he has left your farm. You also won’t be able to control health and management issues when the herdsire is in your partner’s care. Various search vehicles are available to help you locate farms that have partial interests available in their herdsires. Or, you may already have a partner farm in mind and can search together for the herdsire that will best fit the needs of both farms. This allows you to purchase a herdsire outright and look at all herdsires available for sale rather than just those with partial interest offered. To ensure a positive and productive coowner relationship, you must first know your partner. Choose your partner wisely and know him or her inside and out so that mutual trust is established. Trust is a key ingredient in a successful co-ownership arrangement and can only be established after partners come to know and understand each other. Visit your prospective co-owner’s farm to see firsthand the environment your shared herdsire will be living in. You may wish to ask for references, and don’t hesitate to ask lots and lots of questions. You have an important investment to protect. You don’t want to find out too late that your partner fails to shear and protect from heat stress, causing your boy to come back to you unable 30 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

to perform for a period of time or, worse yet, lose his ability entirely. What are your prospective partner’s nutritional programs and parasite control regimens? What about breeding protocol and establishment of proper quarantine areas? The list could go on. The point is to get to know your partner thoroughly so that you will be at ease while Super Stud is away. Hopefully, your prospective partner is just as interested in getting to know you. If not, this may be a red flag indicating that he or she does not have the same high expectations as you for the care and health of the herdsire you will share. Co-owning arrangements can take many forms as decided by the partners. It is very important that agreements are continued on page 33

To ensure a positive and productive co-owner relationship, you must first know your partner.

While a simple verbal agreement among friends may seem like all that is needed, partners who invest the time initially to think through possible scenarios and come to agreed decisions, will avoid confusion and possible discord down the road.

reached at the onset of the partnership and are written in a signed legal format with all situations well defined. Means should be incorporated in the agreement to allow flexibility for changes, as unforeseen situations can arise. While a simple verbal agreement among friends may seem like all that is needed, partners who invest the time initially to think through possible scenarios and come to agreed decisions will avoid confusion and possible discord down the road. Following are some examples of considerations often included in co-ownership agreements. Length of time each farm will manage the herdsire. The schedule by which

the herdsire will be shared is dictated by a number of factors. Do Farm A and Farm B have the same breeding seasons due to climatic conditions? Or, are the breeding seasons opposite, such as in Florida and Colorado? If the partner farms are of different size, one small and one large, there may be a decision to allow the larger farm a greater time share to attract more outside breedings if the co-owners are sharing outside breeding fees. Remember, there may be months of nonuse that should be shared, as well as the prime breeding seasons. Most often the time share is defined on a yearly calendar basis and consideration is given to minimize the travel required of the herdsire. Transportation. After the time share is decided, responsibility for transport should be clearly defined. Often the receiving farm is responsible for securing and paying for transportation and the sending farm will prepare the Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection. If the co-owning farms are close, transport is a simple issue with each receiving farm picking up the herdsire. For farms more distant from each other, shows can be a venue for exchange when both farms are attending. Record keeping. At the time of each herdsire exchange, updated medical and breeding records should be shared, though some agreements require this on a more frequent basis. It is important to know what breedings have taken place and with which dams and farms so that when the ARI approval is sought for registration, the breeding is recognized. Recording weight and noting any changes in behavior or nutrition is important for identifying any impending health problems. If records are not exchanged, Farm B may receive the herdsire from Farm A and note his weight upon arrival which then remains consistent, without knowing that his weight has decreased over the past 2 months. Records of vaccination, de-worming, and the trimming of fighting teeth are important so that these items are not overlooked. continued on next page

ÂŠ2009 Marsha Hobert

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Important decisions about medical care. The area of medical care requires very clear definition. Will routine care such as toenail trims, vaccinations, and de-worming be assumed by the farm where the herdsire resides? Or will these items be assigned a cost and split between co-owners? Do all owners agree on when the services of a licensed veterinarian are required or does one farm prefer self-prescribed holistic treatment prior to veterinarian involvement? Communicating immediately with the other partner when any medical situation occurs (other than routine care) is essential. When a health issue arises, decisions must be reached in a timely fashion with both partners having an open discussion and sharing their collective wisdom and experience. Farm A may note a lump on the herdsire’s jaw and fail to consider it serious. However, when it’s discussed with Farm B who has had experience with abscesses, immediate action is taken. Costs for major medical events are usually shared. How will “major medical” be defined in the co-ownership agreement? Will there be a set amount of cost before medical bills are split? These are all necessary decisions to best ensure the health of the herdsire. Fertility insurance. You have made a sizable investment in your new herdsire and no doubt have him insured for full mortality and theft. But what if he becomes infertile? Fertility insurance is available and it is worthwhile to consult your livestock insurance company to learn more about this coverage and decide if it is right for you. Breeding contracts. While each partner may have a breeding contract unique to his or her farm, there should be agreement reached on some common required items such as: health certificates and negative BVD tests for the dam and cria at side, clean fecal exam prior to arrival, declaration that the dam is free from known defects, and a record of recent deworming procedures. As a matter of policy, breedings may not be offered to unregistered females or to Suri alpacas with known Huacaya heritage. The proof of your herdsire will be in his progeny and you want to manage all 34 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

you can to assure top quality, healthy crias with strong show potential. Breedings allowed and shared fees. Perhaps one of the most varied aspects of co-ownership is in the area of the number of breedings allowed and the management of funds generated from outside breedings. Often there is no limit on the number of breedings to wholly owned females and breed backs to females sold. However, there may be different needs if the size of the partner farms is dissimilar. In some cases the number of breedings per farm is set. For example, if the number of breedings is set at 10, that includes all breedings within the farm herd and outside paid breedings, and that farm keeps all breeding fees earned. There should be an agreement to address considerations due

One of the most varied aspects of co-ownership is in the area of the number of breedings allowed and the management of funds generated from outside breedings. continued on page 35

the other partner if breedings beyond the set number are used or sold. Where will breedings take place? Generally all breedings are to occur only on the co-ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; farms and under their direct supervision, but what about mobile breeding and the possibility of leasing the herdsire to another farm? Again, clear definition needs to be stated before these issues arise. In an agreement where all outside breeding fees are shared, compensation is generally given to the farm where the breeding takes place for the work involved and care of the dam and cria. This may be the first $500 dollars of the breeding fee, with the remaining amount split equally or simply a 60/40 split. Breeding fee amounts need to be established and agreement made on an advertised breeding fee, as well as a lower minimum fee to allow for discounts for multiple breedings. If a breeding takes place at Farm A and the pregnancy is lost and the dam is ready to rebreed when the herdsire is at Farm B, this situation needs to be addressed in terms of possible additional compensation for Farm B. In some cases a â&#x20AC;&#x153;finders feeâ&#x20AC;? may be established if Farm A refers a client to Farm B for a breeding due to the location of the herdsire. Also consider whether any traded breedings will be allowed. Sharing advertising and promotional costs. Advertising will be important in promoting Super Stud and the costs are most often split between the co-owners for advertising agreed to by all parties. Regional advertising to attract outside breedings may be the sole responsibility of the farm in that area, but if all breeding fees are shared, regional advertising costs may be shared as well. The co-ownership agreement may also state that all partners must be listed in all advertisements for the herdsire. Details should be addressed regarding how costs will be shared when the herdsire is entered and promoted at a show. Multiple co-owners. Most of this article assumes two co-owners with a 50/50 continued on next page

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agreement. What if more co-owners are included? Before Super Stud is split in too may slices, consider location and accessibility. Reducing the time share from six months to four, or even three months, in a four-way co-ownership arrangement can present problems unless all partners are within a geographical area that allows reasonable access to the herdsire. Reducing the time share increases the need for possible rebreeding if a pregnancy is lost or a maiden simply doesn’t get her act together in the allotted time. Of course, you may send the dam to the farm where the herdsire is currently standing rather than relocate him, but this opens up the need for another set of decisions regarding whether this is acceptable practice and at what possible cost for boarding and more. Selling an interest. An essential ingredient of the co-ownership agreement is a clearly defined written process for the exchange of ownership should a partner wish to sell their interest. This situation is usually addressed with a “first right of refusal” clause. If Farm A wishes to sell, they must first offer their interest to Farm B. What will the price be? Did the agreement state this would be at the original price of their interest, or at current market value? If the current market decides the value of the herdsire, partners need to define a clear process to determine this value; this is not an easy task and can open the door for strong debate. If Farm B elects to purchase Farm A’s interest, a reasonable time should be allowed for Farm B to secure the funds required. If Farm B declines, Farm A may then seek a buyer. The original co-ownership agreement will state that a new co-owner must adhere to the same requirements as in the original agreement. Will Farm B have any say as to who the new co-owner will be? If not, Farm B may be put in an uncomfortable position of not agreeing with the management practices of the new partner. Does the original co-owner36 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

ship agreement limit the number of co-owners so that Farm A may not further divide their interest? Selling an interest can be a point of conflict if the process has not been completely detailed in the original co-ownership agreement. Be flexible and craft an agreement that meets mutual needs. As you move into the new co-ownership arena, remember the downside and be ready to manage these issues as they arise. Plan breedings to coincide with the time Super Stud is with you and be prepared with pictures, fleece samples, and offspring to promote him when he is not available at your farm. Be flexible, as transportation does not always exist at exactly the time he is due back to your farm, and your partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite female may come open shortly before he is due to return to you. Above all, maintain good communication with your partner to ensure there are no surprises. There are many decisions to make when developing a co-ownership agreement and each arrangement may be different depending on the needs of the partners involved. There does not appear to be an in-

dustry standard document for co-owning either males or females and it will be worthwhile to seek advice from other breeders who have entered into these relationships, as well as from an attorney. A manageable agreement will be balanced so that one farm does not have a controlling advantage over the other. Remember, there is not a right way or a wrong way, just what best fits your circumstances and has been mutually agreed to. When co-owning a herdsire you are sharing a financial investment but, more importantly, an investment in an animal you care for and the fun of watching his reputation grow and his offspring excel in the show ring. Co-ownership can be a very positive arrangement resulting in lasting friendships and increased camaraderie among alpaca breeders. Good luck in finding your Super Stud and enjoying the benefits of co-ownership. Please note that the above is opinion based on experience and that an attorney should be consulted when developing any legal document. l

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Caseous Lymphadenitis: Is It a Risk to Alpacas? Toni Cotton, D.V.M.

Necropsy photo of alpaca with the visceral form of Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis.

Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) is a disease caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The organism causes abscessation of lymph nodes and internal organs. It has worldwide distribution and is most commonly a disease of sheep and goats, but it also sporadically occurs in: horses, cattle, camelids, wild ruminants, primates, pigs, fowl, and water buffalo. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a small gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by gram staining. This is in contrast to gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain (safranin or fuchsin) and appearing red or pink. Gram-positive organisms are able to retain the crystal violet stain because of the high amount of peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Grampositive cell walls typically lack the outer membrane found in gram-negative bacteria. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis produces

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ÂŠ2009 Marsha Hobert

an endotoxin which enables the organism to damage cells and spread from the initial site of infection to lymph nodes in the region and internal organs. Infection with C. pseudotuberculosis occurs after the organism penetrates through normal or compromised skin or through mucous membranes (aerosol transmission). The exudate from the abscesses contains high numbers of the bacteria which can survive for months in hay, bedding, or soil. CL is a chronic disease that tends to linger in infected herds. Once exposed to the bacteria, the animal may develop a superficial abscess at the site of infection or lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) near the area of entry. Some animals will clinically show high fever, anemia, anorexia, and local swelling at the site of infection, or they will show no clinical signs. If the animal has only superficial abscesses, this is known as the superficial or external form. In many cases the bacteria then spreads via the blood or

lymphatic system to internal organs or lymph nodes; this is known as the visceral or internal form. In sheep and goats, the superficial abscesses are normally located in the head and neck region. The diagnosis in sheep and goats is often based on clinical signs and history of the farm. The definitive diagnosis is based on bacterial culture. The recommendation to obtain a definitive diagnosis is to remove the abscess surgically, keep it intact, and submit the entire abscess for culture. The main reason that the abscess is kept intact is to minimize contamination of the environment with the corynebacterium. Serologic testing is available at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). Two tests are normally performed on the animal: the Rhodococcus (Coryne.) equi (HI) and the Caseous Lymphadenitis screen (HI). Both tests require 1cc of serum per test. The HI test is a hemagglutination inhibition test that determines the specific antigen (toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells) in the serum. This is a screening tool and if there was a risk of exposure and the animals test negative on the initial test, they should be re-tested 30 days later. There is a possibility with the visceral form that an animal may have a false-negative result if the infection is well isolated in the abscesses. In general, goats tend to have higher titers versus sheep. In sheep and goats, these are the references that the TVMDL uses: if the titer is 1:4-1:8, this may indicate exposure or vaccination; if the titer is 1:16 or higher, this is an indication of active infection. The reported superficial cases in alpacas in North America revealed similar results with abscesses in the throat/neck area. The visceral form has also been reported in alpacas in North America. In all of the cases reported in alpacas, there have been sheep or goats on the farm as well. In one report (JAVMA, 2004 Dec1:225:1743-7), 5 alpacas at a breeding farm from the ages of 22 daysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;14 months of age developed focal swellings in the subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck. Infection with C. pseudotuberculosis was confirmed on the basis of microbial culture results of abscess material, as well as a positive serum hemolysis inhibition assay specific for C. pseudotuberculosis toxin. A study performed in Peru (Am J Vet Res, 2006 Sept; 67 (9): 1570-1574 16948603) had an objective to experimentally infect adult alpacas with C. pseudotuberculosis and to study the humoral (antibody response) to the organism. The animals that were

Areas on the animal to examine for lymph node enlargement or abscess formation.

infected clinically revealed persistent fever, local severe inflammatory response at the site of inoculation, and leucocytosis (elevated white blood cell count of > 30 x 10(3) WBCs/ul.). The animals revealed internal abscesses in the renal (kidney) lymph nodes. One week post inoculation, the organism was located at the site of inoculation. Internal abscesses were found at 58 days post and there were detectable antibody titers starting on Day 16 that persisted until Day 90 post inoculation. The organism causes a granulomatous lymphadenitis in llamas and alpacas versus a caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goats. Granulomatous lymphadenitis describes the lesions formed in the lymph nodes of the animal infected with the bacteria. The lymph nodes become swollen due to an infiltration of cells from the long-term inflammatory process associated with the disease. The lesions caused in camelids are pygramulomas (pus is thickened but fluid-like) versus the caseous (pus resembles cheese curd) filled abscesses in sheep and goats. Treatment and prevention is challenging due to the nature of the disease. The organism is susceptible to penicillin, however, due to the formation of abscesses, the organism is â&#x20AC;&#x153;walled offâ&#x20AC;? in these lesions and the antibiotic cannot effectively clear the disease. Prevention is based on reducing transmission of the organism from infected to susceptible animals. Animals that have the visceral form should be culled from the herd. Any animals showing the superficial form should be isolated from the herd and continued on page 43

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all abscesses should be surgically removed intact to avoid environmental contamination with the bacteria. In sheep and goats, the most effective control program involves vaccinating, culling, and reducing exposure to contaminated items such as shearing blades, feeders, and feed. Eradication is extremely difficult and requires strict biosecurity and vaccination and culling of all infected animals. There was a recent study in Peru that looked at the protection of alpacas against C. Pseudotuberculosis using different bacterial components (Vet Microbiol, 2006 August 22; 16982160). In the study, 12 adult alpacas were allotted into 4 groups and inoculated in the left flank with vaccines of varying levels of bacterial antigens, and one received the placebo (control group). Three weeks post immunization, the four groups were challenged intradermally with 1 x 10(6) colony forming units (cfu_ of C. pseudotuberculosis). The animals were examined at specific time intervals post innocuation. There were varying degrees of protection depending upon the dose of bacterial antigens in the vaccine. The animals vaccinated with the highest dose of toxin did not show any abscesses or bacteria. The other groups had varying degrees of external and internal abscesses. There were serum antibody responses in groups 1-3 that lasted up to 3 months. The study revealed that the toxin of C. pseudotuberculosis is a very important antigen capable of inducing a dose dependent immunity against this disease in alpacas. Currently, CL is primarily a disease of sheep and goats, but it does occur in horses and alpacas. If you decide to purchase horses, sheep, or goats, stand a Suri herdsire on your farm, or add new Suris to your herd, it would be wise to screen them for C. pseudotuberculosis. The concern with this disease is that animals with the visceral form show no external clinical signs and can shed the bacteria. Once C. pseudotuberculosis is introduced into a herd and the ranch or farm environment, it is virtually impossible to eradicate. There is no commercial vaccine available for prevention of this disease and vaccination with sheep and goat products is not recommended. Autogenous vaccines (vaccines which are made specifically for the herd of animals infected with a specific strain of organism) are used as part of the “control” program in sheep and goat herds that are infected. This method of “control” is one facet in managing this disease. There

is no treatment that is 100% effective, and the practice of culling infected animals and strict biosecurity are key to the control of the disease. l References Merck Veterinary Manual On-Line 2008, Caseous Lymphadenitis of Sheep and Goats Vet Rec: 2006 July 1:159 (1): 23-24, Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis Infection in Highland alpacas (Lama Pacos) in Peru, W.U.Braga, A. Chavera, A. Gonzalez. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2004 Dec 1:225:1743-7, Infection with Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis in five alpacas. David E. Anderson, D. Michael Rings, Joseph Kowalski. Am J Vet Res. 2006 Sept: 67 (9):1570-1574, Clinical, humoral, and pathologic findings in adult alpacas with experimentally induced Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection,Walter U. Braga, A. Chavera, A. Gonzalez. Vet Microbiol. 2006 Aug 22, Protection in alpacas against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis using different bacterial components, Walter U. Braga.

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ÂŠ2009 Liz Vahlkamp

Fineness, Uniformity, and the Connection to Breeders Liz Vahlkamp, Salt River Alpacas Christine Perala Gardiner and John Gardiner, Suri Futures, Inc.

As you look through the pages of this edition of PurelySuri magazine, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see countless ads for herdsires, all with wonderful show records, outstanding photos, and some with winning offspring on the ground. Choosing between all these great herdsires may seem overwhelming, but by developing a focused breeding program you will be able to stay on track and narrow your choices quickly. So, what should your breeding program include? Every breeder will have different goals and objectives and might, or might not, include

such fiber characteristics as luster, density, color, and lock definition. But what about fineness and uniformity? How should these two factors play into your breeding program? Until now, most of us have developed our breeding programs around goals for the showring, and the success of our breeding programs has been measured by the number of ribbons we are able to garner. However, as this industry grows, the focus is continued on next page

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46 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

beginning to shift towards developing a full livestock model. It’s a model in which we, as breeders, will provide the seed stock genetics for fiber producers. Such producers’ profitability will rest on the quality of their fleeces as measured not by the showring, but by garment designers, commercial processors, and ultimately, consumers. In order for us to meet the needs of this new market, we have to understand the characteristics that consumers and business owners perceive as differentiating high-quality fiber from average or below-average fiber. We all know that luster in Suri fiber is an important, differentiating factor, and our efforts to build that into our breeding program have been well founded. But when you ask a retailer of fiber products, or a designer of apparel what they believe the most important quality is, they will tell you “fineness.” While the showring most certainly rewards fineness and uniformity, and many Suri owners will tell you they are breeding for it, a thorough understanding of these factors and a set of quantitative measurements are often lacking in those same breeding programs. Responses from the Suri Network Product Development Committee’s (SNPDC’s) questionnaire indicate that only 50%, at best, of Suri Network members micron-test their animals. Uniformity of fineness, both within the staple and across the blanket, is rarely considered as a primary breeding goal. Yet, uniformity within the staple has an important effect on the handle or “feeling” of softness, even if the fleece is not particularly fine. And fineness beyond the age of 18 months to 2 years is rarely factored into anyone’s breeding program, except when an elderly stud still exhibits fine, uniform fleece, which is a cause for celebration! It is an undeniable fact, however, that the difference in profitability between average Suri fiber and fine, uniform Suri fiber for your future customers is truly meaningful. In Peru, alpaca fiber of all sorts, greater than 25 microns, yields somewhere between $1-$15 per pound, while fiber below 20 microns yields somewhere between $25-$60 per pound. Thus, a fiber producer is naturally willing to pay more for a Suri that has finer, more uniform fiber. Those animals that maintain luster, uniformity, and a low micron count well into adulthood will be considered even more valuable.

4Peruvian White Knight was a 15-year old import who had a micron count of 21 with luster to boot!

So what does this mean for us as breeders?

First of all, it means we need to start thinking about the fiber market and not just the showring when formulating our breeding programs. Perhaps, as breeders, we will not be efficient in our fiber production because of our focus on breeding. Yet there are a few pioneer breeding farms whose focus on fiber genetics is yielding not only “wins” in fleece and halter classes, but also sales of fiber. These farms are helping pave the way for “fiber farms.” With a different profitability model, fiber farms should be more successful in producing and selling fiber for production. We must know and understand their market and represent their needs in our own breeding programs. Doing so will change our focus from short-term, show oriented goals to long-term, end use goals. We should also proceed with caution with respect to fineness. That is to say that we have plenty of research to do on our Suri fiber to really understand what the optimum fineness point might be and how it

relates to other factors in our breeding program such as luster and density – and how it may affect matting while still on the animal. Breeding for fineness does not have to mean constantly driving down the micron count. Rather, it can mean breeding for the optimum point at which the fiber can readily be processed; a point at which the strength, luster, and density of the fiber is not compromised, and the end user feels a soft-tothe-touch fiber that is perceived as luxurious. That being said, a basic understanding of how to measure for fineness and uniformity will allow you to start implementing these factors into your breeding program, and begin making the connection to the end market.

The histogram above shows a nice, steep curve which indicates there is little variance in the micron range, and hence, good uniformity.

Before selecting a herdsire, you will need to micron test all of your Suris. The test should be done regardless of the animal’s age. Ideally, the test should include a sample from the shoulder, the mid-section, and the hip. The test should be done on all your animals at least once, and it is recommended to test your older animals once every 2-3 years thereafter. Once you have this information on your own animals, ask the herdsire farm to provide their micron information. If they don’t have that available, don’t be bashful about asking for a sample of fiber from the herdsire’s first clip and its most recent clip, and then send both in for testing yourself. The results of this test should be a critical component of your breeding selection. You’re paying good money for your breedings, so gather all the facts! Additionally, you will want to know if that herdsire has been able to impact its offspring by passing on its fineness. When the Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) system is implemented across the country, you will be able to determine this information readily. Until that is fully up and running, you’ll have to do your research the “old-fashioned” way — ask the herdsire’s farm for their records, or ask for references from other farms that have cria from breedings to that stud.

Where do we start?

This well-bred Suri exhibits high luster as well as uniform fineness. The lab tests on this fleece were AFD 22.5, SD 5.0, CV 22.0 and %>30mc 5.6.

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MFD

Use

< 24 microns

Can be worn close to the skin in either pure or blended form

< 28 microns

Can be used for outerwear garments such as sweaters, vests, etc.

> 28 microns

Can be used for outerwear, rugs, crafts, etc.

Standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and spin fineness are measurements (or parameters) for the variability of fiber diameters within your sample and give you an indication of uniformity. The greater the uniformity, the better the feel of the fleece. For a fiber farm, greater uniformity translates to greater predictability and better quality of fiber — and more dollars in the door! So what should you be shooting for in your breeding program? In today’s herd, variability between color categories is still wide, but ideally, all colors should eventually offer the following: • An SD of 4.00 or under • A CV of 20 or less • Spin Fineness of 94 or greater Of course, there are plenty of other measurements that can, and should, be built into your breeding program. However, these fiber parameters will be a great starting point and will assist you in your herdsire selection process. And if you like to show, rest assured that incorporating these measurements into your breeding program will only serve to improve your standings in the ring! 48 PURELYSURI HERDSIRE

What do the results tell us from a practical standpoint? The information in the table below will give you an idea of how the various ranges of mean fiber diameter (MFD) can be used. Note that MFD is also referred to as average fiber diameter (AFD). Remember: fibers that can be worn close to the skin will generally yield higher monetary return than those worn as outer garments. Fibers that can be worn as outer garments will carry more value than those fibers used for such items as rugs.

At age 19, Bruxo had finer fleece characteristics than many a younger stud. Registered as born in 1989, his 2007 lab test results showed AFD 24.2, SD 4.7, CV 19.5 and %>30mc = 7.7.

Conclusion

There will be many factors to consider when putting together and implementing your breeding program, and choosing suitable herdsires will take serious consideration. Building fineness and uniformity into any breeding program will be critical if this industry wants to be relevant in the end use market. These factors will also be critical in meeting the needs of possible new customers: fiber producers. Our industry is an exciting and constantly evolving one. Keeping an eye on the fiber market and the end uses of that fiber will enable you to track animals that consistently produce better fleeces in their offspring, and to see a “bigger picture” as change occurs. People will always pay a premium for animals whose genetics support increasing profitability for the end product. Selecting Suri genetics that support not only that beautiful, signature luster, but also fineness and uniformity, will take your breeding program to a whole new level. l

EPDs and Classification: How Do They Relate?

Kathleen Cullen and Dick Walker

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and classification: how do they relate? Good question! Let’s start with an explanation of EPDs. They are about a male’s ability to pass on a specific heritable trait to his progeny (offspring). Let’s say I have a male with fantastic luster and I want to know how likely it is for his superior luster to get passed on to the next generation. This would be valuable information to know when deciding which females to settle with this male. This is where EPDs come in handy, as a way to take some of the “guesswork” out of sire selection. If we measure the luster of our male and compare it to that of his progeny, EPDs can calculate the positive or negative genetic impact our male had on his offspring’s luster. Luster, like all traits we see in our alpacas, is influenced not only by genetics but also by the environment. In determining the genetic merits of our male, it is therefore important to continued on page 53

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factor out environmental considerations. EPDs are a powerful statistical tool based on the field of quantitative genetics. This technology takes measurable data (fiber diameter, luster, fleece weight, birth weight, and more) and applies a set of statistical equations. These equations are designed to discount the contribution of all inputs to a specific trait except the genetic component. The effects of environment, age, and other factors are therefore minimized and we are left with a statistical prediction of the average improvement we can expect in a male’s offspring for that particular trait. We need to talk about statistics a little bit to understand how this calculation works. The term “statistically significant” is important here. It means the difference between coincidence and predictability. If I breed my male to 10 females and 6 of the offspring have fantastic luster, it may have been because of my male, but perhaps it was the quality of the females that made the difference. If I want to increase my confidence that my male was largely responsible for the offspring’s fantastic luster, I need to breed him to enough females from various environments, so that coincidence can be mathematically (statistically) decreased. An EPD value can be calculated from a single breeding, however, the reliability of that value for predicting the luster of his progeny would not be very high. As a male produces more and more offspring, the EPD value may or may not change but the accuracy automatically improves with increased numbers. The calculation also includes the measurements of luster in a male’s ancestors, and other relatives in addition to his progeny. Superior luster in those relatives mathematically increases the predictability that my male’s genetic line does carry a very strong luster gene. In addition to luster, EPDs can be calculated for many quantitative traits including birth weight, weaning weight, fiber diameter, and fleece weight. They can also be defined for qualitative traits such as lock style, head shape, and disposition. EPDs aren’t typically used for females because it would take too many years to gather statistically reliable data, especially in alpacas

(since they only have one offspring per year). Any serious herd improvement strategy requires that we identify not only our top males, but females as well. This is where classification can be useful as an additional tool for herd management. Basic herd management starts with knowing the qualities of your individual alpacas, both their strengths and weaknesses, so you can make more intelligent breeding decisions based on objective criteria. Classification involves taking measurements, and visually assessing and scoring the conformation (body), fiber, and movement (gait) of both male and female alpacas. Classification includes: body length, neck length, height, leg conformation and movement, head characteristics, proportions, and fiber characteristics. Overall, about 60 items on an animal are assessed and recorded on a score sheet. Where EPDs focus on one trait at a time, classification is looking at all of your alpaca’s major traits. For Suri classification, the Suri Network (SN) has developed a classification score sheet based on the Suri Breed Standard. This system has been field tested over the past year on herds of all sizes and is working out quite well. Once all these measurements are taken, you have a comprehensive assessment of each animal in your herd and knowledge of each animal’s strong and weak points. With that information, you can go looking for continued on next page

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a herdsire that is strong where your female is weak and use him to compensate for that weakness. Once EPDs are available, you can utilize them as a selection tool to find just the right male to maximize the likelihood of improving that weakness in the next generation. The goal, of course, is to make the most informed breeding decisions possible and thereby increase the predictability of each and every sire selection. Making these decisions correctly is very important for farms of all sizes, but it is especially important to the small breeder for whom every sire selection is a major decision. Consistent yearly improvement will increasingly depend on the adoption of these two separate, but interrelated, herd improvement tools. EPDs and classification strategies have been used for many years with great success in meat and dairy cattle, as well as other fiber industries, to significantly improve the commercial value of these livestock breeds. Applying these technologies to alpacas has only been done on a very limited scale in the world. Once the U.S. alpaca industry adopts this technology, genetic improvements in those traits selected for EPDs will accelerate. The U.S. alpaca industry should compete in the world market on the basis of quality,

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ÂŠ2009 Marsha Hobert

not quantity. Acceptance and industry-wide application of EPDs are essential to becoming a world leader in Suri genetics. For those interested in learning more about Suri herd classification and EPDs, there will be a seminar held in conjunction with the Suri Network Summer Symposium and Annual meeting August 13-16, 2009. Look for details at SuriNetwork.org. Also, for more information on EPDs, go to AlpacaAcademy.com for articles relating to this subject.l

Suri Knitting Patterns Coming Your Way Soon The Suri Network Product Development Committee, with commentary on the knitting patterns by Sue Simonton, Little Gidding Farm Suri Alpacas

ÂŠ2009 Curt Rawn

Good Suri yarn is a joy to work with. Keep in mind its special qualities, and you can be successful at making a variety of garments. For knitters, Suri yarn is like holding heaven in their hands. 58 PURELYSURI

As stated in our initial action plan in 2008, the Suri Network Product Development Committee (SNPDC) has been tackling a number of initiatives to help promote our wonderful Suri fiber. As part of this effort, one of our committee members, Sue Simonton of Little Gidding Farm Suri Alpacas, has been working feverishly to roll out a set of 10 –12 knitting patterns and prototypes for the 2009 Suri Network Symposium in August. Our first set of patterns will be geared towards alpaca farm stores across the U.S. We will offer “beginner” and “intermediate” designs for customers making purchases as part of their farm tour experience, as well as one or more designer patterns created specifically for Suri yarn. The prototypes will be used as display items at the fiber festivals where SNPDC is hosting a booth and the public can see and feel Suri fleece from roving to finished product. In 2010, we hope to come out with a set of weaving patterns, as well as more complex knitting patterns that will be sold, in conjunction with alpaca co-ops and private companies, into high-end knitting and weaving stores across the U.S. With each of these patterns, we hope to accomplish a number of things: • Increase demand for Suri fiber • Encourage breeders to send their fiber out for processing • Educate the SN membership • Begin the process of creating a true U.S. Suri fiber industry While the SNPDC recognizes that these patterns are not the only answer, they are a start. We hope that everyone will take some time to spread the word about what we are doing. If you have a farm store, look for these patterns to be available for sale after the Symposium. If you know of a farm store in your area, approach them about carrying these patterns and perhaps work with them to provide some Suri fiber that they can process and sell. If you have a knitting store that you think might be interested in these patterns, talk with them. Perhaps this will be an opportunity for you to sell some yarn! On the next few pages, we give you a glimpse of what’s to come. Sue Simonton offers comments and insight about a few patterns she has already finished, gives information that will be available on the pattern sleeve, and offers photos of some of the finished products. l

Following is a description of yarns and patterns for the knit wear project. The yarns are all mill-spun. Hand-spun yarn can work if you are careful about the grade of fiber and the weight of the yarn. Most of the yarns used in these patterns are grades 2 and 3 (22-24µ and 24-26µ respectively.) A grade 2 can usually be worn next to the skin. This assumes that the fleece is well skirted and absent many > 30 fibers. I used those yarns for the scarves. The grade 3 works for hats and mittens. The other quality I sought in yarn for these projects is Suri’s famous luster, which makes color so beautiful on the yarn. For knitted garments, the yarn needs to be softly spun. This gives a lovely lofty surface, nice to the touch and reflective of light. My preference is for 3-ply as a balanced yarn except for the lace weights, but a soft 2-ply fingering worked well for the tam and fingerless gloves.

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ÂŠ2009 Sue Simonton

Red and orange scarf and hat

This bold hat and scarf show Suri’s wonderful ability to take up and reflect color. The hat is similar to the rolled brim hat but with a deep ribbed band that can come down over the ears in very cold weather. The yarn is a softly spun 3-ply sport weight of pure Suri which is very soft (< 22µ) and very lustrous, but heavy. That’s not a problem in the hat. The scarf is knit in long rows and can be made as long and as narrow or wide as you wish. It must be firmly knit or you will be tripping on it!

Tam

The tam and the matching fingerless gloves work out very well in a soft 2-ply fingering yarn. The ribbing is doubled to get a firm but stretchy band. Suri’s drape works well here. The fagoting inserts are optional. The matching fingerless gloves are knit on #2 needles. My young model didn’t want to take them off saying, “They’re so warm!” Another nice quality of fine Suri is that it is soft and 20% warmer than wool. ©2009 Curt Rawn

Roll brim hat and blue scarf

The roll brim hat is easy to knit and versatile. Seed stitch on the body of the hat works well in Suri yarn as it is a firm but elastic stitch. Working with Suri, which is a very low compression yarn, requires that weight be minimized beyond what is needed for a stable drape, and that the stretch assumed in a knit garment be built in. The little I-cord and tassel are optional. The twin rib scarf is simple and fun to knit. The sport weight yarn has been blended with 10% cormo fleece, which gives it some bounce without hindering the drape of Suri. The scarf can be made narrow or wide depending on the need. Just remember that the longer a Suri garment is, the more care needs to be taken to knit firmly and keep the yarn weight light. Drape, which is good, can become “drag,” which is not! Relative to wool, alpaca is heavy. ©2009 Curt Rawn

Enjoy and remember to visit our blog site (surinetworkfibercommittee.blogspot.com) to give us feedback! Liz Vahlkamp, Salt River Alpacas Christine Perala Gardiner, Suri Futures Holli Cox, Hidden Hilltop Alpaca Ranch

Claudia Raessler, Royal River Alpacas Donna Rudd, Suri Textiles Sue Simonton, Little Gidding Farm Suri Alpacas

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Fiber

Everywhere! Ann Mayes, Alpacas d’Auxvasse

My name is Ann Mayes of Alpacas d’Auxvasse, and I’ve been a Suri breeder for five years. My story is probably the same starting out as many small breeders. I was a city girl and animal lover who fell in love with alpacas and Suris in particular. I imagined the simplicity of farm life with peaceful visions of raising beautiful animals and making a living from the sale of offspring and fiber. I listened to the same marketing ads as everyone else. “Buy the best stock you can afford.” “Sell the offspring for megabucks and sell the fiber for $35/oz.!” What a deal! Well, here’s how it really happened. After shearing, I happily weighed all my fiber, multiplied it conservatively by $3/oz., put a “for sale” ad in the paper, and waited to sell all my fiber and reap the rewards. I didn’t receive a single call. Next, I drove to the local fiber shop, showed them my fiber, and offered it for sale at a discount

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for $2.50/oz. They politely said they had enough fiber and “no thanks.” Then, I had it processed into yarn for a hefty price and tried to sell it. Again, no takers. Then I advertised it to alpaca breeders because if anyone would know the value of alpaca fiber, the breeders would. Surely they would want it! That’s when I first heard that “alpaca fiber wasn’t worth anything” and “good luck selling it.” I was told that, except for a few crafty types who could create beautiful finished products, I would be lucky if I could give it away. I could also send it to the co-op, but unless I then bought finished products from them and sold them, I wouldn’t get the cost of my shipping back. I was desperate by this time and decided to learn to card it, spin it myself, and sell it. That took a very long time to do and I wasn’t making much progress. My finished goods definitely weren’t works of art.

And, while it was fun and I learned a lot, I knew this wasn’t going to get me where I wanted to be. Does any of this sound familiar? Now fastforward 5 years: • This week I sold 40 pounds of raw fiber, straight off the animal for $20/lb. • Last month I sold $500 of roving, yarn, and finished goods. • The month before I sold $700 of roving, yarn, and finished goods. • I’ve had to say “I’m sorry, but I’m out of that roving…that yarn…or that color,” to many people. • I’ve sold 18 fiber boys – both mine and others — in the past year. • I still don’t know how to knit or crochet. • I’m a beginning weaver whose selvedges leave a lot to be desired. I’ve made a felted hat which was enough to swear I’d never do it again. (I’ll never sell that hat. I have too much blood, sweat, and tears in it!) • I’m not the least bit creative, can’t put together colors for a striking effect (unless your tastes run to mud), and can’t sew or design garments. • I enjoy spinning, but can’t spin enough to offer much for sale. So what has changed? Now I: • Know about my product • Know about fiber processing • Know about my markets • Know about cooperative networking I’d like to take you through my journey of the last 5 years and perhaps you will see a path that will work for you to successfully market your fiber.

has been tested. Although these things are important in the alpaca world, they don’t mean a thing to most of the people you are selling it to. Although I now have both Suris and Huacayas, when I started I only had Suri fiber. When I realized I couldn’t just sell it, I learned to work with it. At first, I was afraid to touch it because I thought I would ruin it. A local farm gave me a mixed bag of 30 pounds of thirds. The bag included toenail trimmings, spitty fiber, guard hair, and rocks — everything you could sweep off the shearing floor! I went to work on it, sorted it out by feel, washed it, carded it, blended some with wool, and learned to spin it. To do this, I had to seek out people in the fiber world to teach me what could be done with my nasty bag of fiber. I’ll never work with a bag like that again, but the knowledge I gained and the contacts I made were irreplaceable. I’ve since graduated to working with the “good stuff” and, through my experience, I can converse intelligently with my customers about the merits of the fiber, the best way to prepare the fiber for felting, spinning, and weaving. I’ve even written a brochure on preparing fiber for market that I include with every raw fleece I sell. Customers know when they buy a raw fleece from me, that I will be there to answer their questions about picking, washing, carding, and spinning. As a result, many of my fleeces are already reserved prior to shearing. You don’t have to wash and pick every fleece continued on next page

Know Your Product

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you own to sell it. But break down and get into the trenches and learn how to do it at least once so you can talk intelligently about the process to your customers.

Know Fiber Processing

All mills are not created equal! Price does not equal quality. Many mills will process anything you send them. Some mills will not process 100% Suri or will add wool to it without your knowledge. Some mills will work with you on quantity pricing. Some mills will return your fiber after refusing to process it because it is “tender” (breaks evenly at a stress point due to illness or stress), too long, or because the fiber contains too much “VM” or vegetable matter such as hay, straw, and seeds. Some mills do Suri really well. Some mills say they do Suri, but do it poorly. In order to guarantee a good batch of yarn coming back, the fiber producer needs to understand the mill process, provide the mill with quality raw material, and be able to evaluate the finished product when it comes back. The first batch of Suri fiber I sent off to be processed came back with part of it loosely spun (a “no-no” for Suri) and full of VM. Some was returned unprocessed because it was too tender. I was horrified and, after paying the bill, was petrified for a long time to send my fleece off to a mill. Looking back on that batch, I now realize that the processor did not know how to process Suri, and that I also sent unsorted prime blanket fiber and seconds which included leg, belly, and neck fiber mixed with long 18-month fleece that was felted at the skin. I also didn’t know enough to “skirt out” or remove the bad parts; to request dehairing using a fiber separator that takes out medullated or guard hair and retains the best fiber; ask for the correct yarn weight; or specify the number of plies for the yarn. The plies are the number of spun single threads twisted together to form the yarn. Two-ply is a flatter yarn often preferred by weavers. Three or more ply is often

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preferred by knitters. The lesson learned from this experience is that you’re responsible for knowing what you are asking the mill to provide and you must send them quality material to work with. Discuss your expectations with the mill and ask them what they can provide. You will find most mill operators willing to work with you, answer your questions, and come to a mutual agreement so everyone is satisfied. If you can’t have this discussion prior to sending your fiber, or the mill operator is too busy or can’t be bothered, find another mill!

Know Your Market

Perhaps this section should be titled “Become Friends with Your Market,” or better yet, “Become Part of Your Market.”

Unless you are actually working for a large entity such as a co-op, your market will probably be the cottage industry. When I say “cottage industry,” I’m not just talking about knitters, spinners, weavers, and felters. I’m also referring to high-end yarn shops and fiber shops that buy yarn and fiber on a small scale and cater to the fiber world, as well as consignment or specialty shops for finished goods on a small scale. Would you buy a car from someone who had never driven one or even ridden in one? Fiber folks aren’t very likely to buy fiber from someone who has never used it and has no idea how to describe it other than with show ribbons and micron counts. They want to know: Will it make a nice sweater? Is it absorbent enough for woven dish towels? Do you need to hand wash it? Will it felt easily? How do I prepare a raw fleece? What makes Suri different or better than Huacaya? And, the biggest question of all: What do you do with your fleeces? If you are marketing to the cottage industry, you need to enter the industry. This is a totally different world than the alpaca world, but it’s just as friendly and welcoming. The best way to do this is not as a salesman who knows nothing about what he is selling, but as a novice who is in possession of this marvelous fiber and wants to learn what to do with it. Not only will folks be eager to teach you, but during the process you’ll learn about your fiber, the fiber will market itself, and word will quickly spread. I can’t tell you how much fiber and yarn I have given away to expert artisans who work with it and provide feedback. That means I don’t have to learn to spin, knit, weave, or felt, to learn the best qualities and uses of my fiber. This is invaluable information that can’t be bought at any price. The key is quality. If you are providing less than perfect material and asking for feedback to make it better, everyone is eager to give input if it is free. If you misrepresent your product, even unknowingly, for sale at a hefty price, word will spread faster than wildfire and you will not be

forgiven. Once people in the marketplace realize what you have to offer, they will seek you out. For example, one year I offered free oneounce packages of Suri roving to the first 20 spinners who contacted me. The only caveat was that they had to have never spun Suri before. Most of these spinners are now regular customers. A few thought it was too hard to spin and told me that too. I also learned that while most fiber enthusiasts had heard of or worked with alpaca, very few knew what Suri was or how it differed from Huacaya. I offered to teach a class at the local fiber retreat. I titled it “Suri for What?” The class was mainly an introduction to the Suri animal itself and included a brief overview of its care. The rest of the class was a hands-on, freefor-all where participants could play with Suri fiber. The first year, the class did not fill up. The second year there were a couple of people on the waiting list. This year the class was full two months prior to the retreat. Because of this class, not only do I sell a lot of Suri fiber, I’ve also sold a lot of Suri fiber boys to my students! Another example of knowing your market – or in this case your market knowing you – is when someone mentioned my name on a fiber chat site along with the comment: “Ann’s roving is the caviar of spinning fiber.” The next day, I posted an ad for: “Long, raw, straight-off-the animal, contains VM fiber.” I sold 40 pounds in two days and had to turn away some requests. These kinds of things don’t happen every day. But word of mouth does happen constantly and you don’t even know it. The lesson learned: Become part of the fiber community if you want to sell fiber.

Know Cooperative Networking

When I discuss “cooperative networking,” I’m referring to connecting with other farms, fiber artists and businesses, organizations, and individuals in the industry. The reason why I feel this type of networking is so important is because, at one continued on next page

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point or another, the following statements have applied to me: • “I can’t knit, crochet, or spin, so I can’t offer finished products.” • “I don’t have time to go to fiber retreats or festivals or keep a website updated to sell my fiber.” • “The mills charge too much and I can’t sell my yarn for a profit.” • “I don’t even want to look at fiber – I just want it to go away, but it should be worth something.” (OK, perhaps not this one – I do love my fiber!) Do any of these statements ring a bell with you? Let’s hit the last one first. Remember that fiber is like anything else, the more you do yourself, the more profit you will make. But what if you’d like to make some money, at least enough to cover your shearing costs? This is where the co-ops come in. You have more choices than you ever did before, plus the future looks bright as far as bringing in a decent return. Check out the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North American (AFCNA), the original fiber cooperative for alpaca fiber producers. It went through many unprofitable years, but appears to finally be on track and seems to be a whole new and profitable organization. It is both a buyers’ and sellers’ cooperative, so you have the opportunity to make money either through combining your fiber with the other members, or buying finished goods wholesale (awesome socks!) and selling them at a profit. Take advantage of AFCNA’s free shipping on large quantities by combining your fiber with other farms in your area and it won’t cost you a cent to send it in. Also, check out the North American Alpaca Fiber Producers (NAAFP), a pay-as-you-go venture that will take your fiber from the shearing table all the way to finished product sales with as much or as little time and labor required as you are willing to invest. Although the fiber is required to be sorted by a certified sorter prior to submission, and the processing is invoiced as it

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is processed, the quality is outstanding and you have much more control of what products are produced from your fiber. They will even market it for you so you never have to mess with it again! Or, you could find another farm willing to buy your clip or process it and return a portion of the yarn to you. There are people out there that will do that. I know because I’m one of them. Consider creating your own informal co-op, partnering with farms in your area to negotiate lower mill prices and share marketing venues. Deb Hill, of Cloud Dancer Alpacas, offers an excellent seminar with advice on how to make this happen. Here in mid-Missouri, we’ve formed a very informal network of area alpaca farms and pooled everything from fiber to breeding and marketing opportunities. We even opened a brick and mortar store for the holidays! Everyone shares ideas. Some farms team up on one venture and others work on another. In this way, we are able to do much more than any single farm could do on its own. Personally, I’ve also teamed up with expert knitters and weavers. It’s a wonderful synergy. I supply them with yarn and they knit or weave finished products. When the item is sold, we split the profits. There is no cash outlay required by either side and everyone is happy doing what they do best. How do I find these people? Again, it’s invaluable networking within the fiber community. In writing this article, I’ve reflected back on my last five years in the alpaca business. I hope my experiences can give both beginning farms and established farms food for thought about what to do with our wonderful fiber. It is valuable and can become a very real income producer for your farm. l

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From the Managing Editor

Advertising Index Adams Suri Alpacas............................................... 10, 11

It was just a short 16 months ago I signed the contract and pur- Alpaca Bella Suri Farm................................................. 50 .925 Suris of Sterling Alpacas, LLC.........................7 chased Sagebrush Alpacas of Santa Fe. No sooner had the ink Alpaca Jack’s Suri Farm............................................... 19 Accoyo Partners, Ltd.............................................56 dried than I was in my car racing to attend my first Suri Network Alpaca Magic USA........................................................ 31 Symposium in Estes Park, Colo..............................................2417 A.J,’sAlpaca AlpacaRidge, Ranch. LLC....................................................... rado. Having come from the nonAlpaca This! LLC.................................................... 22, 23 Alpaca Bella Suri Farm..........................................39 profit arena, I am very familiar Alpacas at Phoenix Hill Farm....................................... 28 Alpaca Magic USA.................................................59 Alpacas de la Patagonia............................................... 16 with the conference circuit. Ameripaca Alpaca Breeding Inc................66-6742 Ameripaca Alpaca BreedingCo., Co................................... It did not take me long to reAndean Tradition.......................................................... Barmik’s Hummer Hacienda..................................2337 alize, as the song in the musical Awsome Acres ‘Pacas & Pyrs...................................... 49 “Annie” goes, I think I am going Big Meadow Creek Alpacas...................................72 Barmik’s Hummer Hacienda......................................... 16 to like it here. From the moment Brooklyn Alpaca’s..................................................23 Brooklyn Alpacas............................................................ 8 I sat down to breakfast, I real- C Squared Alpacas Inc................................................. 31 Chelsea Farms........................................................3 ized I had joined a very forwardCarpe Diem Alpacas..................................................... 55 Country Haven Farm Alpacas................................27 thinking group of people — real Chelsea Farms............................................................. 32 visionaries. ........................................588 Dancing Moon Alpacas. Country Haven Farm .Alpacas........................................ They started speaking about how raising alpacas was a real Dancing Moon Alpacas. ................................................ .....................................5236 Double Dutch Farms, Inc.. business and that there should be breed standards and a scien- Doaks Creek Farm Suri Alpacas.................................. 17 Enterprise Alpacas.................................................62 tific way of measuring the characteristics of the animals (EPDs). Double Dutch Suri Farm............................................... 54 .....................................................50 FlyingEldora M Ranch. Suri Alpacas................................................ 10, 11 Their thoughts went to the future of the industry and how, if the Flying M Ranch............................................................ Great Lakes Ranch................................. Back Cover49 youth are our future, we should be involving them now! There Glimmerglass Alpacas.................................................. 55 was talk that weekend of wanting to be taken seriously as liveHay Creek Station.................................................35 Great Lakes Ranch...................................................... 43 stock breeders and not as dilettantes raising exotic animals. And, Humm V Farm.......................................................52 Green Valley Alpacas............................................. 38, 39 if that was the case, we needed to be involved with the livestock Hay Creek Station........................................................ 17 J.C. Alpaca Farm...................................................27 breeders and get them involved with us. We needed to adopt their Hidden Pond Farm, LLC............................................... 36 Joy ofHidden Alpacas.......................................................23 proven scientific techniques of up-breeding their herds and learn Hilltop Alpaca Ranch........................................ 12 how to increase the quality and quantity of our final product. We Meadowgate FarmAlpacas................................................ Alpacas...................................6828 Hocking Valley needed to find ways to create demand for our product and to be J.C. Alpaca Farm.......................................................... National Alpaca Sweepstakes...............................1816 able to supply that demand once it was created. Meadowgate Farm Alpacas.............................. 10, 26, 27 Polo Field Farm/Suri Sculptures............................38 That weekend we decided as an organization to take the lead- Pine River Alpacas....................................................... 12 PrairiePines States Agency, Inc.....................1631 EdgeInsurance Suri Alpacas.............................................. ership role in our industry and move forward despite all odds. Polo Field Studio Arts/SuriSculpture............................ Pucara International..............................................4835 Fast forward 16 months. What a joy to see how many of the very Prairie States Insurance Agency.................................... 8 topics, projects, and issues I had so fervently supported at my first Sagebrush Alpacas................................................87 Pucara International..................................................... 44 Suri Symposium have been legislated, universally adopted, and Salt River QuestAlpacas.................................................37 Alpacas.............................................................. 36 collectively supported at the national level. River Run Ranch.......................................................... .................................................5852 Sandollar Alpacas. How proud I am to be a part of the Suri Network and to have Riverboat Alpaca Ranch............................................... 28 SierraSagebrush Bonita.....................................................14-15 been asked to become the managing editor of this magazine. Alpacas...................................................... 71 SilkenSandollar Suri Alpaca Ranch / Amber Isaac...............5236 There is nothing more any volunteer wants than to see their time Alpacas. ........................................................ and effort supported, not only by an organization with vision, but Sea Ayre Suris LLC...................................................... Sunny-Rise Ridge Alpaca Ranch, LLC..................3831 also by one that is instrumental in actively changing the industry Shaggy Chic Suri Ranch, LLC...................................... 37 SuperSuris Alpacas...............................................34 Shepherd’s Creek Alpacas........................................... 35 for the better of all concerned. Suri Futures, Inc....................................................64 Silver Penn Sales, LLC.......................................... 56, 57 When I worked in the non-profit world I coined a phase: “We Summit Suri Alpacas.................................................... 16 Suri Peak Alpacas.................................................33 are moving ahead like a herd of turtles.” That is not the case with Sunshine Alpacas of Kentucky..................................... 55 the Suri Network. It is no wonder breeding alpacas is the fastest Suz Silky Suri Alpaca Farm...................................36 Suri Network....................................................... 3, 63, 69 growing segment of the livestock industry. ................................10 Sweetbriar SuriSuri Alpaca Farm. Sweetbriar Alpaca Farm. ......................................... 7 Enjoy this herdsire issue. In the future when asked to vol- Tiger Ranch Alpacas.................................................... 19 Thunder Mountain Alpacas....................................58 unteer or for your input, please join us – the Suri Network – Victoria Lane Alpacas..........................Inside Front Cover True Weather’d Colors Alpaca Farm.......................................62 forward-thinking people dedicated to continued success of the T Ranch......................................................... 8 Weather’d Ranch................................................16 alpaca industry. WilkinsTLivestock Ranch.................................Back Cover All the best, Wings & A Prayer Alpacas............................................ .........................................837 Wilkins Livestock Ranch. Mary MacGyver Wisdom of the Fox Alpacas.......................................... 62

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Wind Walker Ranch...............................................45 Windy Hill Farm NC ..............................................16 Wisdom of the Fox Alpacas...................................37

Purely Suri Herdsire 2009

Articles inside

EPDs and Classification: How Do They Relate?