ࡱ> bda'` *bjbj 4T"-----7h.h.h.h.h.h.h.h.6666666$8hn:r6/h.h.//6h.h.6E3E3E3/h.h.6E3/6E3E3E3h.\. <&-2jE33607E3:/3:E3E38:}3$h.L.6E3.,/h.h.h.66/3h.h.h.7////88 New Fibre Test For Genetic Selection It could be argued that selecting breeding stock for fibre production can be like trying to pick the winner of the Melbourne Cup three years in advance. Many breeders will testify that attempting to predict how progeny will perform based on observable traits of the sire and dam can be extremely frustrating. The effects from environmental influences can be one of the greatest hindrances to predicting which phenotype traits of breeding stock will pass onto their progeny. It can be argued that a sire or dams fibre traits will be influenced by environmental factors as much as they are influenced by genetics. Given many breeders rely heavily on fibre testing to select breeding stock, how can we decipher which parts of the fibre test results have a chance of being passed onto a breeding animals progeny, and which are nothing more than a reflection of what has passed down the animals throat. There is a solution. Recent advances in fibre measurement technology now mean we can isolate the genetic aspects of one of the key fibre traits fibre diameter variability. Firstly, the question of why is fibre diameter variability such a big deal. To effectively compete in todays apparel markets, natural fibres need to feel soft against the skin. Any significant evidence of coarse or prickly fibres will result in substantial discounts or may not be tolerated at all. This is particularly the case for the potentially lucrative high-end apparel markets. In addition to this, a high variation of fibre diameter may result in irregularities in the various stages of processing. This problem leads to eventual cost inefficiencies and inferior end-product. A major fibre processor recently agreed to this in stating it didnt matter whether they were primary or secondary fibres, medullated fibres, kemp, guard hair or whatever else if there was a high level of coarse fibres, the raw product could be rendered irrelevant. It has been continually shown that this problem is not so much a result of fleece classing. It is mainly due to the fact that the offending fibres are found right throughout the fleeces. This has been noticed with the fleeces for the alpaca ultrafine bale scheme. Although they represent the most superior fleeces to be found in Australia and are subjected to a most fastidious classing procedure, we are still finding far too many coarse fibres in the consignments. The message is clear to improve our product, breed out coarse fibres. The best method to identify fleeces with coarse fibres is to determine the extent to which the diameter of individual fibres vary on the fleece. A higher than normal variation will pinpoint fleeces with higher than normal amount of coarse fibres. A further aspect of fibre diameter variation is that research (Vic DPI 2007) indicates animals with low variation measurements are more likely to have less variation in fibre diameter over the whole fleece. Our own experience supports this research. In other words, by breeding for low diameter variation, not only does the fibre become more valuable, there becomes more useable fleece on the respective animals. Anecdotal evidence also suggests these animals are less prone to micron blow-out as they age. Animals with low fibre diameter variation, therefore, offer immense scope for improving genetic performance for fleece production. How then do we identify these superior animals? I should mention at this stage, that we use Standard Deviation (SD) as it is the true measurement of variation. Coefficient of variation (CV) increases or decreases as a result of the means value. And now for some good news in this case, we have Mother Nature working on our side. Fortunately, variability of fibre diameter is a highly heritable trait and therefore it is relatively easy to achieve genetic improvement. Reported at about 40% heritability on sheep, it is not as high as average fibre diameter (reported at about 55%), but high compared to many other traits (NSW DPI 1990). How then do we differentiate between the genetic component of fibre diameter SD from the environmental component so we can rely on the fibre test results when selecting breeding stock. This fact is best explained by looking at the two forms of variation in a fibre sample. Firstly, there is the variation along the fibre. This variation is created by the ever changing levels of nutrition reaching the follicles. High nutrition such as flush spring feed will increase diameter while drought or heavy worm burden will result in a decrease in diameter. This variation along the fibre is therefore created by environmental influences. The variation in diameter along individual fibres is normally 2 to 6 microns. The second form of variation is between the individual fibres in a fibre bundle or staple. Depending upon the breed of animal, some fibres might be 20 microns finer than the coarser fibres in the one staple. The variation between the fibres in the one bundle or staple is primarily the result of variation in the follicle traits of the animal. While the eventual follicle traits will be influenced by pre and post natal nutrition, the foundation upon which these follicle traits are determined is genetically influenced. It is this form of variation that holds an important key to selecting breeding stock for fibre production. The SD measurements normally found in fibre test results is the amalgamation of both forms of variation. These results, therefore, are a cocktail of both along and between fibre variation. The noise created by the environmentally influenced along fibre variation reduces the effectiveness with which we could use this trait in selecting breeding stock. Fibre testing, however, has just got a lot better. We are now able to differentiate between along fibre variation from between fibre variation. The data generated by the program is therefore able to isolate fibre diameter variation that is influenced by environmental factors from that influenced by genetic factors. To illustrate this form of testing, 6 alpacas were tested using the new program. The results are contained in table 1. As with all measurements of SD, the higher the value, the greater the degree of variation. It should also be mentioned that this breeder has successfully bred for low SD and therefore, the figures are lower than average. Table 1 AnimalAvg diameterOverall SDOverall CVAlong fibre SDBetween fibre SDAlpaca 117.273.5320.40.863.14Alpaca 223.13.7616.271.42.87Alpaca 320.814.12191.223.15Alpaca 421.894.4320.231.653.07Alpaca 523.234.2118.120.664.15Alpaca 621.573.7517.380.773.45Goat 116.175.131.50.474.74Goat 217.595.5831.70.915.14Sheep 116.13.6322.54.733.54Sheep 217.12.7716.2.792.59Sheep 316.73.1218.68.973.05Sheep 418.73.6518.981.553.02 From table 1 above, we can see that alpacas 2, 3 &4 experienced greater variation in nutritional intake owing to their along fibre SD. Alpacas 5 & 6 have greater variation between fibres and probably, greater variation across the fleece. Compared to other alpacas of relatively similar micron, these two would have more coarse fibres and consequently, inferior fleeces. For the purpose of this example, alpaca 4 is of interest to us. This alpaca had the highest overall SD reading (& second highest CV reading). Normally, we would have discounted this alpaca for high variation based on these results. The information from this new program, however, reveals a different story. Alpaca 4 had a high overall SD because of the abnormally high variation in nutrition it was exposed to. The along fibre variation was a mighty 1.65 microns clearly above the average. The variation between the fibres, however, was a very respectable 3.07 microns. In other words, this alpaca is genetically sound in so far as its fibre diameter variation. It would have little variation over the fleece, genetically capable of producing superior fleeces, but above all, likely to breed progeny that are capable of producing superior fleeces. The true breeding potential of this animal would have been camouflaged using the existing method of fibre testing. I might add that this is not an uncommon event. With the use of this technology, we are identifying many superior animals that might have otherwise been culled. I should also stress that interpreting any fibre test results requires experience as the issue of fibre metrology is far from being a case of black and white. It should be noted that a number of alpaca studs in Australia and the UK are now using this testing as part of their alpaca sire selection criteria. In the future, in may be the case that between fibre variation is routinely used by breeders. In the mean-time, some of our best breeding stock may be going unnoticed. %&!'!(!.!/!;!*B*OJQJ^JmH phsH )hjhjB*OJQJ^JmH phsH 7hjhj5B*CJOJQJ\^JaJmH phsH ,%&] ^ _ ` q1$gdjgdj $1$a$gdj*qrVWNO? @ !!1$gdjgdj!&!(!/!"C"D"H"I"M"N"O"U"V"["\"_"`"d"e"i"j"n"o"p"v"w"|"}"""""""hjhjB*KHphhjhjB*mH phsH /hjhj5B*OJQJ\^JmH phsH P!!!!!!!!!"Ukd$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj $$1$Ifa$ """"""$")"`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd`$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj)"*"3"9">"D"I"N"`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd8$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytjN"O"V"\"`"e"j"o"`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytjo"p"w"}"""""`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""### #########***hjheiB*ph)hjhjB*OJQJ^JmH phsH hjhjB*phhjhjB*KHphhjhjB*mH phsH /hjhj5B*OJQJ\^JmH phsH ;""""""""`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj""""""""`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kd$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj""""""""`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kdp$$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj"""# ####`UUUUUU $$1$Ifa$kdH $$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj####$$%%''`ZUZUZUZUgdj1$gdjkd $$IfֈA NZ 622 l4aytj '((())4***gdj1$gdj21h:p`". A!"#h$% $$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytj$$If!vh555555Z#v#v#v#v#vZ:V  6,55555Z/ 22 l4 ytjF`F eiNormalB*KH_HmH ph33sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R  Table Normal4 l4a (k@(No List2o2 eiCM7CJOJQJaJXoX eiDefault-B*CJKHOJQJ_HaJmH phsH tH ,o, eiCM8 B*ph338o"8 eiCM3dLCJOJQJaJ"T%&]^_` q r V W NO?@&(/<GRcvw$)*39>DINOV\`ejopw}  !!4"""0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000000000000000%&]^_` q r V W NO?@&(/<GRcvw$)*39>DINOV\`ejopw}  !!4"""0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00 x0 x0 x0 x0 x0 x00 x0 x0 x0 x0 x0 x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x00x0x0x0x0x0x0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0 0 !"*#q!w!!!")"N"o"""""#'* !"$%&'()*:[CT;[C<[CN=[CW>[C!  !!!"  !!!"9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplaceB*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region U [`).49CHAG#)+56<>BJPu {  Q W |   }"fk  %+1]c BG X]/2Y^lqek8=L Q (!-!_!d!d"i"""": \ L@d"i""""3333333"""#x bmei`"j&/<GRcvw$)*39>DINOV\`ejopw} "@""0"""`@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z ArialA&  Arial Narrow"qhFF4?4?!h24""2HX)?ei2Fibre Curvature in AlpacasJulieJulieOh+'0  < H T`hpxFibre Curvature in AlpacasJulieNormalJulie2Microsoft Office Word@G@t@t4՜.+,0 hp|  ?"' Fibre Curvature in Alpacas Title  !"#$%&'()*,-./012456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPRSTUVWXZ[\]^_`cRoot Entry FN&eData +1Table3:WordDocument4TSummaryInformation(QDocumentSummaryInformation8YCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q