BLAYDON
DISTAFF ANALYSES
In
1999, we began compiling a database which linked
the distaff (female pedigree) with show results.
In the thoroughbred industry, the importance of the
female line is considered paramount – often
as being even more important to the sireline.
Without
going into the argument over which is more important,
it cannot be denied that the female line is of great
significance in determining the genetic parameters
of an alpaca.
There
is also much debate over the importance of show results.
Again, we will not enter this debate other than to
suggest that the show ring is one avenue for the objective
measurement of the quality of an alpaca.
The
AGE program is another approach, but this has been
very poorly accepted by Australian alpaca breeders,
so show results assume a greater importance.
When
in 1996 we began examining alpacas as a possible investment,
and having a background in the thoroughbred industry,
we inquired closely into the show results of the females
we were considering. Unfortunately, we were either misled
or not informed. Nor were we able to assess the relative
merits of the different shows: we didn’t know if
a first at Camden Show was equal to, better than, or
inferior to a first at the Charles Ledger Show. Now we
know these answers, but it tooka few years.
The
solution was to find out:
- what
show performers, and what show results, had the female
line produced; and
- what
were the relative merits of the different shows?
To
get to this end result was a huge task. It involved going
back to the very first shows held in Australia (1991),
establishing from the IAR database the dam of that show
performer, and then tracing the female line back to the
original female import. Then it had to be kept up to
date, another time-consuming task. Later, we decided
to add in any auction and sale information we were able
to obtain – another important guide to buying.
And, in 2005, we began including New Zealand shows, again
going back into history to get them.
But
create and maintain the database we did, and still do,
with much assistance from others (particularly Pam Thomas
of Prestige Alpacas, who had kept excellent pre-2000
records, and Greg Ruckert, creator of the Alpacamales
website).
Now,
we can provide an accurate guide to the potential of
any female line. For example, we supply many clients
with this information – all we need is the name
or IAR number of the alpaca under consideration, and
we do the rest. We charge $45+GST for each such analysis.
See Blaydon
Distaff Analyses Sample.pdf for an example of the distaff
of one of our families, printed out in response to a sale
inquiry for the young female Blaydon Arielle Rose (highlighted).
The
analyses show all available (over 700 shows to the end
of 2006) show results, ranging from National Show Supreme
Champions to minor placegetters at minor shows. We use
standard abbreviations (mostly self-evident) throughout,
and also highlight the alpaca’s name – in
capitals, bold and/or italics, depending on the highest
placing achieved at show. For example, a top level show
results means the name is in italics, or a Supreme Championship
means the name is underlined – and so forth. Doing
this is not without some controversy as it involves us
making our own judgements on the merits of particular
shows, but we have adopted a conservative approach throughout – for
example, the top rating shows we claim to be the Australian
National, the Melbourne, Sydney and Perth Royals.
So,
in simple terms, the Blaydon Distaff Analysis provides
Australia’s only readily available linage between
show results and pedigrees. |
