CHARACTERISTICS OF NORTH AMERICAN SURI ALPACAS A study sponsored by the Suri Network Bill Vonderhaar Alpaca Bella Suri Farm Morrow, Ohio

CHARACTERISTICS OF NORTH AMERICAN SURI ALPACAS Summarized and analyzed by: Dr. Chris Lupton Texas AgriLife Research The Texas A&M System San Angelo July, 2009

Project Design The project was designed by the Education and Research Committee of the Suri Network with input from the members. Research Committee Members: Tony Cotton - Board Liaison; Andy Tillman, Ann Hayes, Bill Vonderhaar, Bruce Van Natta, Carolyn Geise, Claudia Raessler, Jacqueline Cristini, Kay Ryschon, Laurel Shouvlin, and Mary Lou Clingan.

Objectives of study Establish means, extreme values, and variability for objectively measured weight, height to withers, and numerous fleece, fiber, skin, and blood characteristics of yr-old male and female, white and colored, Suri alpacas from several North American breeders representing diverse genetics and environments. Actual number = 63 Actual number = 63

Objectives of study 2 2. Record subjective assessments of several traits (e.g., color, lock consistency, and luster), compare with objective data when available, and calculate correlations with measured traits.

Objectives of study 3 3. Calculate correlations between all traits measured and assessed in the study. 4. Draw conclusions from the data and define additional research to further investigate meaningful correlations.

Who did what ? Breeders Provided the following information and samples: Farm location, age of animal, color, ARI number, sex (and pregnancy status for females, intact or castrated for males), BW after shearing, BCS, height to withers, weight of fleece components (blanket, neck, seconds, and total), dates of first and second shearings (permitted adjustment of weights and staple lengths of 2 nd fleece to 365 days), mid-blanket fleece sample and skin biopsy, photographs of alpaca’s head, left and right profiles, and close-up of fiber.

Who did what ? Breeders Insert pictures of some of the animals

Who did what ? Mr. Ian Watt, Morro Bay, CA Measured mid-side samples using an OFDA2000 instrument This resulted in measurement of 14 fiber- related traits

Who did what ? OFDA2000 instrument and report

Who did what ? OFDA2000 instrument and report

Who did what ? Dr. Jim E. Watts, Bowral, NSW, Australia: Measured follicle and fiber traits on the skin biopsies and staple samples that resulted in 23 traits used in the analysis.

Who did what ? Horizontal sections of stained alpaca skin

Who did what ? Bossa Nova Technologies, Venice, CA Measured specular and diffuse polarized reflected light from washed, aligned, alpaca staple samples using their SAMBA instrument. Calculated several values of luster and measured luminance for each sample.

Who did what ? The Samba Hair System

Who did what ? Dr. Chris Davitt, Washington State Using a Scanning Electron Microscope, measured: Scale length (N=873) on fibers (N=102) of known diameter from individual animals (N=29). Scale thickness (N=1000) on fibers of known diameter (N=20, range 15 to 40 microns) from individual animals (N=20).

Who did what ? Fiber diameter and scale lengths

Who did what ? Fiber diameter and scale thickness (40,000 X)

Who did what ? Blood samples were analyzed for: Mineral levels at Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health Metabolic profiles and cell blood counts with differentials at Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Who did what ? Fiber diameter and scale lengths

Who did what ? Fiber diameter and scale thickness (40,000 X)

Color Measurement WHITE BEIGE LIGHT FAWN MEDIUM FAWN DARK FAWN MEDIUM BROWN DARK BROWN BAY BLACK TRUE BLACK

Bottom line on alpaca fiber luster measurement We have an instrument and a protocol that are capable of producing highly reproducible measurements of luster and color. The current luster measurements are NOT independent of color. Further research is required to produce a luster measure that is independent of color (McColl and Lupton currently working on ARF/SN-sponsored project with this objective).

Statistics Brief Statistical Explanation Correlation coefficients (r values) were calculated between all the variables measured or estimated in this study. An r value of 1 means the two variables are perfectly correlated and one can be accurately predicted from the other. An r value of 0 means absolutely no correlation between the two variables.

Statistics Practically, most r values lie somewhere between 0 and 1 so the question arises as to the significance of the correlation. This is a function of how well one variable predicts the other (and vice versa) and the number of data pairs included in the correlation analysis. Significance of a correlation (or other statistical effect) is indicated by the probability or P value. P < 0.05 means there is a greater than 95% chance the correlation is real (or a less than 5% chance that the correlation is due to chance). Smaller values of P (e.g., P < 0.001) indicate greater confidence that the correlation is not due to chance.

RESULTS

Correlations Some predictable ones: AFD versus SP follicle ratio (r = -0.50, P < ) – –The lower AFD typically correlates to higher SP ratio AFD versus follicle density (r = -0.57, P < ) – –The lower AFD typically correlates to higher follicle density AFD versus clean luster score (r = -0.34, P = 0.01) – –The lower the AFD typically correlates to higher clean luster score Raw luster versus clean luster (r = 0.71, P < ) – –Clean samples consistently scored higher luster than dirty samples

Correlations Some less predictable ones: Clean luster score vs. variability in fiber diameter/SD (r = -0.42, P = 0.003) – –Lower SD typically correlates to higher luster score AFD versus % medullation in secondary fibers (r = 0.56, P < ) – –Higher % medullation typically correlates to higher AFD Clean luster score and % medullation in secondary fibers (r-0.48, P = 0.002) – –Higher % medullated fibers typically correlates to lower luster Scale length versus staple length (r = 0.66, P < ) – –Longer scale length typically correlates to longer staple length AFD of secondary fibers versus albumin level in blood (r = 0.45, P = 0.001) – –Higher levels of albumin in blood typically correlates to higher AFD of secondary fibers

Correlations And some you thought might be significant but are not: Subjective luster score versus: – –follicle density (r = , P = ) – –scale thickness (r = , P = ) – –scale length (r = , P = )

Correlations And some you thought might be significant but are not, e.g. Reich-Robbins luster versus: follicle density, r = , P = scale thickness, r = , P = BUT scale length is significant, r = , P = (and worthy of further investigation)!!!!!

SUMMARY Because of their uniqueness, 3 of the fiber traits measured were presented and discussed in more detail: Scale length Scale thickness Luster

SN – ARF Luster Research Project Objective – Further validation of objective measures for luster (SAMBA) and correlation with other physical properties…i.e. Scale Length. Status – Collected and tested over 100 samples – majority were white/light PLEASE!!!! We need your help! – still need over 60 colored samples to complete our project – fawns, browns, blacks!

SUMMARY Through this project, the Suri Network has provided Suri alpaca breeders, veterinarians, animal scientists, fiber scientists, and the scientific community in general with an extremely valuable, authoritative resource that will provide reference values and benchmarks to guide them in their many endeavors. Finally, the project has identified at least one area (i.e., objective luster measurement) that will benefit from more research.

Remember……… I MUST DO SOMETHING……. ALWAYS ACCOMPLISHES MORE THAN …….SOMETHING MUST DONE!