The last article’s comment brought up an interesting point about retaining fineness. We have a term we use for that, we call it Lingering Fineness. Put this term in your repertoire of important traits to add to your breeding program.

When you think about it, Lingering fineness is one of the most important alpaca fiber traits that our industry has to offer. Alpacas have 4 traits that make it valuable in the world market place:

1. Alpaca is extremely fine

2. Alpaca is extremely lusterous

3. Alpaca is hypoallergenic

4. Alpaca comes in 22 Natural colors

Fineness is obviously at the top of the list. As fiber herds take hold, you can better believe lingering fineness will be at the top of farmer’s list of important alpaca traits. Years of FINE fleece production yeilds bigger profits for the fiber farm. Of course we want a large quanititys of fiber production from our herd also, but what good is it if it doesnt retain its lingering fineness?

Lingering fineness has been an alpaca genetic trait ignored by most alpaca breeders because, first of all, it’s extremely RARE and many breeders do not realize this genetic trait even exists, secondly, it takes years to discover that an alpaca posesses the lingering fineness genetic trait, and thirdly, our industry doesn’t typically judge older animals to assess this extremely desirable trait. This needs rectified!

Rectification is here! OR, at least its starting to change. Again this year at AOBA Nationals older competitors were dominating the classes . Last year, a 5 year old , named Snowmass Matrix, won the Light halter Championship. At the 2009 CABA show, a 9 year old male won Judges Choice in the fleece show, his name is Rico Suave. Its great fun to see these older animals beating the “Pretty” , young alpacas. Now , we are hearing reports of a new show in the works called the “Maturity”.

http://www.thealpacanetwork.com/Maturity_Info.html

An excerpt from the website

……… In other words we need the fiber to be a real CASH CROP. But how do you determine a cash crop? Not by looking at the newest yearling on someone’s farm, at least not from the point of view of a person operating a textile mill. A cash crop is something that can be counted on year after year to be the same quality, the same product. Long-term sustainable product is what the manufacturer will buy.

But how do you determine that product? We felt that a show for the more complete production animal was in order. As breeders we need a way to show others we are raising animals that maintain their fiber and confirmation for years. Therefore we are putting on The Alpaca Maturity.

I congratulate these folks for their foresight. And may I add,

Its about time!

There are many alpacas out there in the country that exhibit the lingering fineness gene worth mentioning. Im very familiar with a herdsire named Rico Suave. His skin biopsy report , performed by Norm Evans, last year revealed a 16.5 micron at 8 years old! Data like this needs to be put in the face of breeders, because , like me, I didnt know animals like this even existed. Once breeders start realizing that alpacas can retain extreme fineness throughout their lives, a whole new breeding focus will emerge throughout the industry. Its a good thing you folks are tuning into the AlpacaGuy via Twitter, you will be ahead of the curve!