Production performance, repeatability and heritability estimates for live weight, fleece weight and fiber characteristics of alpacas in New Zealand

Wuliji, T.; Davis, G. H.; Dodds, K. G.; Turner, Pavla; Andrews, R. N.; Bruce, GD

doi:10.1016/s0921-4488(00)00127-9

Cited by 74 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…This scenario is basically the same for the other two fibre traits analysed (SD and CF). Reported heritabilities for fibre traits in New Zealand (Wuliji et al, 2000) or Australian alpacas (Ponzoni et al, 1999) are within the range reported here for the SU breed. Frank et al (2006) suggested that fibre traits heritabilities estimated in alpaca tended to be low to moderate in the high plateau environment and very high outside Altiplano conditions.…”

Section: Fibre Traitssupporting

confidence: 81%

“…On the other hand, type traits can be used as selection criteria themselves for commercial purposes. In any case, subjective scoring might also be conditioned by the breed given that fibre appearance is quite different in Huacayo and Suri breeds (Renieri et al, 2009;Frank et al, 2006;Wuliji et al, 2000). Huacayo individuals have a crimpy and bulky fleece while Suris grows a straight and compact fleece.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic parameters and relationships between fibre and type traits in two breeds of Peruvian alpacas

Cervantes

Pérez-Cabal

Morante³

et al. 2010

Small Ruminant Research

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a b s t r a c tFour fibre traits (fibre diameter, FD; coefficient of variation of FD, comfort factor; and standard deviation of FD) were jointly analysed with six subjectively scored type traits (fleece density, crimp, lock structure, head, coverage, and balance) in two breeds of Peruvian Altiplano alpaca (Suri, SU; and Huacayo, HU) to ascertain their genetic relationship. A total of 2405 fibre records and 2194 type scores were available for the HU breed whereas these figures were 709 for fibre records and 650 for type scores for the SU breed. Estimated heritabilities for fibre traits were moderate to high, ranging from 0.565 to 0.699 in the SU breed and from 0.255 to 0.417 in the HU breed. Genetic and permanent environmental correlations between fibre related traits were extremely similar across breeds suggesting that these traits are fairly the same. Heritabilities estimated for the type traits tended to be lower than those estimated for the fibre traits particularly in the SU breed (ranging from 0.173 to 0.272). Fibre and type traits were, in general, genetically poorly correlated except for crimp in the HU breed, which had favourable correlations, from moderate to high, for fibre traits. In Altiplano areas in which fibre performance recording could not be implemented, crimp scoring makes it feasible to carry out mass selection in the Huacayo breed and furthermore include rural communities in national or regional selection programmes.

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Section: Fibre Traitssupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic parameters and relationships between fibre and type traits in two breeds of Peruvian alpacas

Cervantes

Pérez-Cabal

Morante³

et al. 2010

Small Ruminant Research

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“…Genetic improvement programmes of these populations are an exception all over the world such as those arisen in New Zealand (Wuliji et al, 2000) and Australia (McGregor, 2002). One of the most successful genetic improvement programmes for alpaca fibre production has been implemented in the Peruvian Altiplano by PACOMARCA (INCATOPS S.A.).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weighting fibre and morphological traits in a genetic index for an alpaca breeding programme

Gutiérrez

Cervantes

Pérez-Cabal

et al. 2014

Animal

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Nowadays, the fibre diameter (FD) is considered the main selection objective in alpaca populations all over the world. International Committee for Animal Recording recommendations define the FD and its CV as the first two traits to be considered in breeding programmes for this specie. In addition to these main criteria, other selection criteria of economic value used are comfort factor (CF) or standard deviation (s.d.); also other less important traits being used as selection objectives are these morphological traits: density (DE), crimp (CR) or lock structure (LS) for, respectively, Huacaya (HU) and Suri (SU) ecotypes, head (HE), coverage (CO) and balance (BA). The goal of this study was to establish how to implement a combined selection index starting from genetic parameters and to study the expected correlation between genetic trends by considering different alternative procedures of weighting all the involved traits, and the consequences of a wrongly proceeding way. Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated from the data set belonging to the PACOMARCA experimental farm for SU and HU. Two approaches were used to check the consequences of a set of subjective weights essayed. The coefficients of selection indexes were obtained for two sets of reference weights. In addition, equivalent weights were drawn if applied those reference values as coefficients of hypothetical selection indexes directly on phenotypes; relative expected genetic responses were computed in different cases. Results showed that almost in all cases for both ecotypes, the weight applied to CF should be surprisingly negative. Concerning genetic responses, only CO was compromised in some cases for the HU ecotype. The essayed methodology allowed explaining the differences between ecotypes in the genetic trends. The proposed methodology was shown to be effective to study the relative importance of the traits granted by the manager of a breeding scheme.

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“…As shearing in alpacas is done at different intervals and in different months of the year there are different reports of alpaca SL (Solis 2000, Wuliji et al 2000, McGregor 2002, McGregor 2006, Lupton et al 2006. Throughout the year there are variations in the quantity and quality of pastures, which affect the nutrition of alpacas as shown by gain and loss in live weight of alpacas (McGregor 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of genotype and sex on fiber growth rate of alpacas for their first year of fleece production

et al. 2014

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RESUMENLa venta de la fibra de alpaca constituye el principal ingreso económico para miles de familias que viven en la zona altoandina de Perú. Por otro lado, la fibra que crece durante el primer año de vida de los animales resulta ser la más valorada, sin embargo en la actualidad, existe muy poca información acerca de la tasa de crecimiento de la fibra (TCF) durante este periodo. Por estas consideraciones en la zona altoandina de Perú (Huancavelica) se realizó el presente trabajo a fin de determinar la TCF, para lo cual se utilizaron 22 crías de alpacas de dos genotipos (10 Suri, 12 Huacaya) considerando diferencias entre sexos (10 hembras, 12 machos). La técnica del "teñido de banda" fue utilizada para determinar la TCF. Para evaluar el efecto del sexo, mes y genotipo se utilizó un modelo aditivo lineal de efectos principales. Adicionalmente para evaluar el efecto del sexo y genotipo sobre la TCF a lo largo del año se utilizó un modelo de medidas repetidas con dos factores: genotipo y sexo. Los resultados mostraron que la TCF es afectada por el genotipo y el mes pero no por el sexo. De este modo la fibra de Alpacas Suri crece un 20% más que fibras de alpacas Huacaya (1,34 contra 1,10 cm/mes, P < 0,001). Asimismo se encontró que la TCF se incrementa significativamente durante los primeros tres meses (P < 0,05), pero que luego se mantiene casa constante. En función a la TCF, se concluye que es posible la esquila de animales desde los 8 meses de edad, pues dichas fibras tendrían el largo suficiente para el requerimiento del proceso textil.Palabras clave: alpaca, longitud de fibra, tasa de crecimiento, esquila. SUMMARYThe sale of alpaca fiber is the main income for thousands of families in the Central Andes of Peru. Little information exists on the fiber length growth rate of alpaca (FLG), especially throughout their first year of life when the fiber is most valuable. We aimed to determine the monthly FLG of 22 alpaca offspring of two genotypes (9 Suri, 13 Huacaya) and considering sex differences (10 females, 12 males) in the High Andes of Peru. FLG growth was determined using dye-bands. An additive lineal model with three factors (genotype, sex, month) was used for statistic analysis. To evaluate the effect of genotype and sex on the profile of the FLG throughout the year a two factor repeated-measures model was used. The results showed that FLG was affected by genotype and month but not sex. The Suri genotype had 20% higher FLG than Huacaya genotype alpacas (1.34 vs 1.10 cm/month, P < 0.001). FLG increased over each of the first three months (P < 0.05) and then maintained a near constant rate for the remainder of the first year. The resulting staple length indicates that shearing at ages from 8 to 12 months of age will provide fleeces of sufficient length for textile processing.

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Production performance, repeatability and heritability estimates for live weight, fleece weight and fiber characteristics of alpacas in New Zealand

Cited by 74 publications

References 8 publications

Genetic parameters and relationships between fibre and type traits in two breeds of Peruvian alpacas

Genetic parameters and relationships between fibre and type traits in two breeds of Peruvian alpacas

Weighting fibre and morphological traits in a genetic index for an alpaca breeding programme

Effect of genotype and sex on fiber growth rate of alpacas for their first year of fleece production

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