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The Alpaca

Now commonly accepted as the Genus Vicugna Pacos, the alpaca is believed to be the domesticated descendant of the wild Vicuna.

The Vicuna: Wild ancestors of the Alpaca
 

Long before the Roman empire and the Pharaohs of Egypt the Highland people of the Andes had developed this wonderful all purpose animal by selective breeding practices.  Archeological findings at Telarmachy concluded that domestication of these animals began as early as 4000-5000 BC.

There is only one species of alpaca, but two distinctive fleece types, the Huacaya and the Suri.  The Suri has angora like dreadlocked fleece, whilst the more common Huacaya has similar properties of crimp, and the appearance of the sheep.  Alpacas come in the widest range of colours of any fibre bearing animal in the world.

The Suri Enigma

“Notwithstanding the fact that the suri and huacaya varieties have been bred in complete promiscuity for several centuries, it is true that each has kept its ethnic features perfectly defined and differentiated.”  (Escobar)

 This then is the enigma of the suri.  Numerically inferior, estimates vary between three and five percent of the natural alpaca population, the suri gene has somehow managed to survive intact to this day. 

 So Why Breed Suris?

 Rarity: Traditionally this has helped to sustain prices for the animals themselves, and the resultant fleece.  Suri has usually achieved two to three times the price of huacaya fleece.  This has obvious commercial advantages for the suri breeder.  

Research:  The Suri had a reputation as being unpredictable to breed, but recent research has done much to dispel that theory.  Industry expert Chris Tuckwell stated that he believes, based on his Peruvian observations, that the suri represents a truer genetic type than the huacaya.  Consequently, he surmises, selective breeding may well improve the line faster. 

 Longer Productive Lifespan:  Observations by well known breeder Don Julio Bareeda are that Suris are still productive at 15 years of life, and maintain an annual fleece growth of one to two centimetres more than the Huacaya

 Conservation: The beautiful sight of a suri herd with their long “curtains of silk”  blowing in the wind was almost lost to the world.  There is no doubt that the continued interest of western breeders will help save the Suri in its native environment.

Suri Crossing

At right is an example of a suri cria bred from its huacaya mum, Lonach Laura 2 (foreground), which had been mated to our suri sire, Byron. One very interesting feature of this mating is the “super white”, almost silver colour of the cria. This has proved to be a common outcome from mums who carry the unfashionable trait of blue eyes. The cria’s eyes are dark, but it has retained the fleece colour of its blue-eyed ancestors.

Here at Kenilworth Park our breeding program is based on the work of geneticist Rauol Ponzoni, and his suri gene research.     We have found nothing to contradict these theories, but other interesting patterns related to fleece traits as opposed to fleece type are starting to emerge.  Perhaps the alpaca industry has something to learn from extensive crossing programs such as our own