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We are a family run Alpaca Farm, Rob, Raelene & Elyse since 1992, running over 400 alpacas, a Quarantine Facility for Export to anywhere in the world, and Raelene is an AQIS accred Exporter. Our successful Breeding Program is producing some of the finest alpacas in Australia-producing "elite" fleeces. using the GIFT technology, the latest technology in Alpaca Fleece Improvement. We welcome you to visit and enjoy our Blog page, and share experiences of alpaca farming in Australia
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
How different is GIFT to other breeding systems?
How different is GIFT to other breeding systems?
GIFT is a breeding tool which is designed to deliver a superior breeding program to breeders with specific breeding goals in place. The breeders can use these tools to make important, breeding and financial decisions.
GIFT is designed to deliver measurable results for specific objectives in alpaca breeding programs.
Comparing GIFT to other breeding systems over a 10 yr period in the Merino Industry (AUST), it has been proven to make genetic gains faster than other systems who rely on longer term for breeders who aim to be producers of superior quality animals and fleeces.
GIFT offers breeders these important tools and reports by which they design and manage their own breeding program. Other Breeding's systems rely on Skin follicle tests. This is only part of the story, it is like looking at the car, but like under the bonnet of the car, the engine which drives the car, the skin is only part of the story. The fibre above the skin, tells more of the genetic gain which can be passed onto the next generation.
There are many other factors including the Skin follicle tests.
But now with this technology, we do not have to rely on skin test, we can get the same information and more through the GIFT test. Used as an objective measurement and visual markers of important fibre characteristics.
GIFT is designed to meet individual needs and wants, and is particularly aimed at improving colored alpacas to produce elite fibre in the future - in essence, to produce elite animals producing elite fibre- ultimately increasing profits for the astute alpaca breeder.
GIFT tests although completed in Australia, is available for anyone in the world. Currently, GIFT is the only place we can obtain these reports, and testing. Educational seminars can be arranged, anywhere in the world.
Please email me to organize any
seminars or for any information
is a departure from traditional breeding philosophies and practices and stands alone as an exciting option for progressive breeders.
Using accurate tools, histograms, and taking out the environmental factor, leaving you with the genetic potential, the animal has to improve fleeces.
Identifying these animals, male and female, is the key to making good breeding divisions,for animal or fleece, with in mind the value adding exercise to maximize your $ not only in the sales of your alpacas, but also with the fleece, commanding high demand, with high returns.
Ultrafine and superfine fleeces in the sheep industry command the highest prices
this is also achievable in alpaca.
Gift in uninvasive for the alpaca tested, no joining fees, or club, but a huge database of fleece records. Reasonable prices, proven already in the sheep industry, and already showing improvement in the alpaca industry.
Reports to help you through and understand the results, and guide you into the right business decisions.
Create meaningful record systems
Fibre testing and interpretation
Education workshops and seminars
GIFT-Genetic improvement Fleece Technology
What is GIFT?
GIFT is a breeding tool which is designed to deliver a superior Fleece to breeders with specific breeding goals in place. The breeders can use these tools to make important, breeding and financial decisions.
GIFT is designed to deliver measurable results for specific objectives in alpaca breeding programs.
Comparing GIFT to other breeding systems over a 10 yr period in the Merino Industry (AUST), it has been proven to make genetic gains faster than other systems who rely on longer term for breeders who aim to be producers of superior quality animals and fleeces.
Skin follicle tests. This is only part of the story, it is like looking at the car, but like under the bonnet of the car, the engines which drives the car, the skin is only part of the story. The fibre above the skin, tells more of the genetic gain which can be passed onto the next generation.
There are many other factors including the Skin follicle tests.
But now with this technology, we do not have to rely on skin test, we can get the same information and more through the GIFT test. Used as an objective measurement and visual markers of important fibre characteristics.
GIFT is designed to meet individual needs and wants, and is particularly aimed at improving colored alpacas to produce elite fibre in the future - in essence, to produce elite animals producing elite fibre- ultimately increasing profits for the astute alpaca breeder.
GIFT tests although completed in Australia, is available for anyone in the world. Currently, GIFT is the only place we can obtain these reports, and testing. Educational seminars can be arranged, anywhere in the world.
Please email me to organize any
seminars or for any information
is a departure from traditional breeding philosophies and practices and stands alone as an exciting option for progressive breeders.
Using accurate tools, histograms, and taking out the environmental factor, leaving you with the genetic potential, the animal has to improve fleeces.
Identifying these animals, male and female, is the key to making good breeding decisions,for animal or fleece, with in mind the value adding exercise to maximize your $ not only in the sales of your alpacas, but also with the fleece, commanding high demand, with high returns.
Ultrafine and superfine fleeces in the sheep industry command the highest prices
as illustrated on http://giftcom.homestead.com/slide27.html
this is also achievable in alpaca.
Gift in uninvasive for the alpaca tested, no joining fees, or club, but a huge database of fleece records. Reasonable prices, proven already in the sheep industry, and already showing improvement in the alpaca industry.
Reports to help you through and understand the results, and guide you into the right business decisions.
Create meaningful record systems
Fibre testing and interpretation
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Illaro’s Fibre
and we are very impressed with Illaro’s fibre, cannot wait to see the GIFT (Genetic Improvement Fleece technology) report on this guy, i would imagine he is approx. 14 micron, would not be much higher in micron.
This is his second fleece.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
13122010077.mp4
Weather is still unpredictable, with really almost tropical thunder /hail storms at a moments notice.
Really odd weather, yet it is quite warm especially when the sun is out.
we have to take advantage of as much dry weather as we can, and yet we are only shearing a dozen or so at a time, as if the weather breaks up, we need to be able to shed all the shorn alpacas. at least for the first few weeks.
Rain and wind is a bad combination on shon alpacas, wind cill factor!
We use a table designed by my husband to shear the alpacas.
We find the alpacas are a lot calmer when they are up on a table.
My husband believes in making life easier for us and the alpacas.
As the alpacas can be difficulkt to get up onto a table, so we have the table top on hinges, and we put a harness around the alpaca, and the alpaca just leans on the table top, and then as we pull the table top down to the horizontal position, the alpaca is quite calm, whilst we stap him/ her down so that we can contain the alpaca, so they will not get accidently cut by the shears.
Alpacas are very leg and head shy, and have very quick refexes, so we do not want the alpaca to startle, and jump, whilst we have the cutting implement close to tendons, legs, etc.
We also try to keep the atmosphere calming for the alpacas whilst being shorn.
We always have them watching the others as they get shorn, so they can see that we are not going to harm them.
A few sunny days with a full coat on, and the alpacas are almost jumping on the table to get their fibre off.
You can also see how the alpacas come off the table.
So i have started with an alpaca coming off after being shorn, and another being placed onto the table.
Also, injections, and toe nails are cut at this time as well.
It is also a time you can really assess the fleeces.
Density especially, as the dense ones, it is very hard to push the comb through their coat.
The fine ones, are just so fine, soft, and light.
It is so beautiful, as you see a beautiful fleece peel away from the animal as the shear glide through the fleece, the lustre and the crimp close to the skin, with no dirt through the coat.
You really then can appreciate your breeding, and the results you are seeing with fleece improvement from each generation.
Really odd weather, yet it is quite warm especially when the sun is out.
we have to take advantage of as much dry weather as we can, and yet we are only shearing a dozen or so at a time, as if the weather breaks up, we need to be able to shed all the shorn alpacas. at least for the first few weeks.
Rain and wind is a bad combination on shon alpacas, wind cill factor!
We use a table designed by my husband to shear the alpacas.
We find the alpacas are a lot calmer when they are up on a table.
My husband believes in making life easier for us and the alpacas.
As the alpacas can be difficulkt to get up onto a table, so we have the table top on hinges, and we put a harness around the alpaca, and the alpaca just leans on the table top, and then as we pull the table top down to the horizontal position, the alpaca is quite calm, whilst we stap him/ her down so that we can contain the alpaca, so they will not get accidently cut by the shears.
Alpacas are very leg and head shy, and have very quick refexes, so we do not want the alpaca to startle, and jump, whilst we have the cutting implement close to tendons, legs, etc.
We also try to keep the atmosphere calming for the alpacas whilst being shorn.
We always have them watching the others as they get shorn, so they can see that we are not going to harm them.
A few sunny days with a full coat on, and the alpacas are almost jumping on the table to get their fibre off.
You can also see how the alpacas come off the table.
So i have started with an alpaca coming off after being shorn, and another being placed onto the table.
Also, injections, and toe nails are cut at this time as well.
It is also a time you can really assess the fleeces.
Density especially, as the dense ones, it is very hard to push the comb through their coat.
The fine ones, are just so fine, soft, and light.
It is so beautiful, as you see a beautiful fleece peel away from the animal as the shear glide through the fleece, the lustre and the crimp close to the skin, with no dirt through the coat.
You really then can appreciate your breeding, and the results you are seeing with fleece improvement from each generation.
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