Alpaca World Magazine Spring 2005 - Classical MileEnd Alpacas

News Societys’ to vote / Peru fi bre concerns / AZVD changes
Peru’s alpaca breeders, processors
and its government are increasingly
concerned about the decline in quality
of alpaca fi bre. They are worried by the
steady increase in the amount of coarse
fi bre that is 31 microns plus and the
decline in the production of fi ner and
more commercial qualities in the 20 to
26 micron range.
It is estimated that of the total
amount of alpaca fi bre produced in
Peru, 45% is coarse (31 micron plus),
35% is superfi ne (24.5 to 26 micron)
and 20% is baby (20 to 22.5 micron).
Commercially the fl eeces in the 20 to
26 micron range command better prices
in a market that requires fi ner fi nished
products while the coarse is becoming
increasingly non-commercial.
Both the state and private sectors have
recognised the poor state of the alpaca
in Peru today and a number of joint
initiatives are underway all of which are
working on genetic projects to select and
improve the quality of the national herd.
The latest project involves a fi ve-year DNA
study of selected herds funded by one
million dollars from the United Nations
Industrial Development Organisation.
Dr Jane Wheeler, who studied
mummifi ed alpacas and llamas, found
NewsRoughing it in Peru?
Societys’ proposals will
be put to a vote
British Camelids and the British Alpaca Society have resumed talks in an attempt to
bring about a merger of the two societies and create a federation to represent the
industry.
Agreements were reached and signed off between the two boards at a meeting
in February to begin a process of full co-operation that will eventually lead to formal
recognition of these relationships through the creation of a Camelid Federation. The
notion is that the Federation would encompass independent single species societies,
veterinarians and other associated bodies. Three joint steering committees were
formed to come up with detailed proposals in various areas and it is anticipated that
these proposals will be put to the membership before the end of the year. It was also
agreed that the chairman of each society would be invited to attend each other’s board
meetings as an observer and consultant enabling a co-ordinated approach to be
maintained throughout the process.
The immediate effects of these agreements are that the formation of a single alpaca
registry is being readdressed; all alpaca shows for 2005, except the BAS National
Show, will be open to all BAS and BCA registered alpacas; the BAS will work with its
show organisers to create opportunities for the BCA Llama Group to profi le some of
their llamas at BAS alpaca shows during 2005.
A letter to the members of both societies, signed by Rob Bettinson for the BAS and
Nick Weber for BCA, says, ‘The existing co-operation enjoyed by the Welfare and Shows
committees will continue to be strengthened and both boards have agreed to support
and promote the activity of each society through their memberships.’
Mr Bettinson concludes, ‘Needless to say, all those present at the meeting see the
agreement to develop these proposals as a signifi cant turning point within our small
community.’
Royal Bath & West Show
The closing date for entries is getting near
and the organisers are putting the fi nishing
touches to the biggest alpaca show in
Europe that runs from June 1 to 4. The
South West Alpaca Group in conjunction
with the Show Society is responsible for
the running of the classes and draws on
its large group of enthusiastic members
to help. Jill MacLeod from Canada is to
judge the Suri section and Dominic Lane
from Australia will be putting the Huacaya
section through their paces. Fleeces will
be the primary focus this year with both
judges taking part in judging the fl eeces
for both Huacaya and Suri with classes for
each age group and colour. The fl eeces
will be judged on Friday with both Huacaya
and Suri classes being judged at the same
time on Saturday.
2005 is the year for the new alpaca
owner and breeder. SWAG would like to
invite and encourage owners that have
never shown before to enter their alpacas
and fl eeces and to take part in this great
event. Please take the time to halter train
your alpacas and don’t forget that alpacas
can be shorn this year and their fl eece
entered in the show.
On February 13th the AGM of the Alpaca
Breeding Association of Germany (AZVD)
took place in Kaufungen. Forty-six of the
164 voting members were looking back
on a successful year in 2004 following
eight long hours of reports, discussions
and elections of the new AZVD board.
The screening and registry rules were
slightly modifi ed. You will fi nd the new set
of screening rules and the minutes of the
AGM on the AZVD website, unfortunately,
their fl eece far fi ner and more uniform
than today’s animals. She heads up
CONOPA, an organisation that researches
the genetic purity of camelids, and is
also a visiting professor at San Marcos
University in Lima. Dr Wheeler attributes
the present parlous state of the Peruvian
alpaca to hybridisation between the
camelid family members.
She says, ‘The present status of the
South American Camelids is the product
of a largely unknown past. However in
the light of the increased movement
of both wild and domestic camelids in
1983, there is an urgent need to identify
relict populations of genetically pure,
pre-Columbian llama and alpaca breeds
to ensure both their preservation and the
possibility of a return to high quality fi ne
fi bre production’.
Changes at the AZVD
they are still in German and need to be
translated into English.
The new board members are: Frank
Schnoetzinger (President), Heinz
Kuhne-Pfaff (Vice President), Katrin
Kaufmann (Treasurer), Sabine Schoengen
(Schriftfuehrer), Jasmin Schneider
(Registry), Michael Kall (Screening),
Simon Klink (Zuchtwart), Notary Klaus
Winter (Public Relations), Andreas
Boettcher (arbitrator).
4 | Alpaca World Magazine Spring 2005