The International Huacaya and Suri Breed Standards 2007

The International Alpaca Standard was developed at the inaugural sessions of the International Alpaca Judging School in the Altiplano May 2000. Sixteen students and two instructors representing seven different alpaca-breeding countries participated in drafting this document. Of the individuals involved, a majority are experienced judges and all are experienced breeders of alpacas. It is believed that these Suri and Huacaya breed standards are excellent base documents for beginning open negotiations for adoption on a global level. The intention is to set up a task force of representatives from each country to make recommendation to the worldwide industry pertaining to adopting these standards. In November 2001 an additional 12 individuals were involved in upgrading the standards repeating the same process as had been used initially with the first draft of the standards.
These standards are offered to the alpaca industry for the use of any individual that cares to refer to them. They are also provided to be the standards for use with the International Show Format, which relies on a base standard for the judgment of alpaca in the show ring. The offering is made with the assumption that the industry will dictate further development of the alpaca standards as research is conducted and changes are required in the evolutionary process of the alpaca as a commercial fibre production animal.

THE HUACAYA ALPACA

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The ideal Huacaya alpaca has a squared-off appearance with four strong legs. It is a graceful, well-proportioned animal with the neck being two-thirds of the length of the back and the legs matching the length of the neck. It is well covered with fiber from the top of the head to the toes. It has fiber characteristics that differ distinctly to the Suri alpaca.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The height at the withers of the adult alpaca is no less than 85cm (32”) and the average weight of an adult alpaca are 60kg (140lbs).

Minor Faults
Small sized with less than 85cm (32”) measurement at the withers.
Oversized with llama characteristics.

HEAD
The head is neatly formed of medium length with a square muzzle. It bears two upright spear-shaped ears between which there is a full fiber topknot or bonnet. The eyes protrude slightly from their sockets and are large and round. The eyes can be of several shades although 90% of the population has black eyes. The other acceptable color is brown. There are also various shades of blue eyes with or without colored flecks. The jaws fit together well, with the lower incisors meeting the upper dental pad. The upper lip is centrally divided and mobile to give them more dexterity in gathering food from certain plants. The nose has two well-defined flaring nostrils. Darker pigmentation to the skin is preferred around the mouth and eyes giving them added protection to ultra-violet light radiation and the environment.

Major Faults of the head
Deafness in blue-eyed alpacas with lack of skin pigmentation and white fleece.
Gopher ears.
Superior and inferior prognathism.
Wry face.
Lump on the side of the face indicative of abscessing in the mouth.
Eyes: cataracts, entropy, ectropy, blindness.

Minor Faults of the head
A straight inside border or banana-type configuration of the ear (indicating llama traits).
Forward-set ears.
Roman nose (Llama tendency).
Narrow head.
Muffled face of the adult alpaca. (Fiber or hair impeding the alpaca’s vision).
Open-faced. (Lack of fiber coverage over the face.)
Lack of pigmentation on the lips and around the eyes.
Retained or persistent deciduous teeth.

BODY
The neck of the alpaca is straight and upright and blends smoothly into the back, which is normally very slightly rounded in the Huacaya. The rear of the alpaca has a tucked-in tail appearance, which is due to the angulation of its pelvis being more vertical than the llama, sitting at about 60 degrees from the horizontal. The resting position of the tail is such that it lies close to the body, covering the genitalia. The tail is raised away from the body during defecation and urination and for expression of temperament and mood. This gives the tail a noticeably lower set than that of the llama. The chest should have depth to allow adequate capacity for air exchange.

Major Faults of the body
Lateral deviations of the spine.
Herniated umbilicus of an alpaca greater than 9 months of age.

Minor Faults of the body
Roach back.
Sagging back
U-neck
Lateral deviations of the neck
Disproportionate length of neck (too long or too short).
Deviations of the tail; broken tail.

LEGS
The legs are supported by four two toed feet, with each toe supporting a long toenail. They should be straight with the joints aligned to a perpendicular plumb line from the hip posteriorly and shoulder anteriorly. The shoulder blade is attached by muscular tissue to the thoracic cage but should move freely as the animal strides. A leathery padded membrane, which lessens the impact on the environment where they tread, protects the feet.

Major Faults of the legs
Excessive angular limb deformity.
Subluxing patellae.

Minor Faults of the legs
Front Legs:
Knocked knees.
Calf knees/cocked pasterns.
Bucked knees/dropped pasterns.
Medially or laterally deviated pasterns.
Splay legs.
Rear Legs:
Cow hocks.
Sickle hocks.
Bowlegs.
Cocked pasterns.
Dropped pasterns.

GAIT
A free-flowing stride is characteristic of the alpaca. Its normal slow speed gait is a stable four-point gait where each foot is moved and planted separately. At a faster speed the alpaca has a pacing gait, which is two-point, where the two feet on either side are moved together.

Major Faults of gait
Excessive angular limb deformity causing excessively abnormal movement.
Subluxing patellae causing abnormal rear gait.

Minor Faults of gait
Joints tracking medially or laterally to the vertical plum line.
Gaits associated with angular limb deformity such as winging, arcing, rope walking and throwing out of the front limbs where there is rotation at the joints of the front limb.

GENITALIA (Female)
The genitalia of the female is protected internally and therefore not visible from the outside. However the
vaginal opening should be well covered by the tail, should not be too small and should be situated in a
vertical rather than a horizontal plane.

Major Faults of female genitalia
Too small of a vaginal opening.
Hemaphroditism.
Lack of any part of the reproductive system.

Minor Faults of female genitalia
Horizontally situated pelvic floor.
.
GENITALIA (Male)
The most visible part of the male genitalia is the testicles which are situated and protected underneath the tail. The scrotum is well-attached, relatively small and carries the testicles, which are relatively even in size. The penis is also an external organ, which is situated under the belly between the rear legs. The normal size of fully developed testicles is: 4cm in length, 2.5cm in width in the adult male alpaca.

Major Faults of male genitalia
Hermaphroditism.
Ectopic testicles (these testes are located outside the abdominal cavity under the skin,
sometimes migrating down the leg).
Cryptorchidism of the testicles/unilateral or bilateral (the lack of one or more testicles in the scrotum).
Too soft or too hard testicular consistency.
Cystic testicles.
Unilateral or bilateral hypoplasia of the testes (one or both testicles of abnormally small size for the age)

FIBER
Huacaya alpacas produce a fine soft fiber that grows perpendicular to the skin. In the ideal Huacaya alpaca there is marked crimp formation as the fiber grows out of the skin. The hair follicles are situated close together in the skin, giving density to the fleece with groups of fibers bunching together to form defined staples. The following fiber characteristics are applicable to Huacaya fiber:
1.) Fineness – this is the thickness of the fiber, which is measured in microns. The finest fiber on the alpaca is found in the blanket area, however it is desirable to have fine fiber on the neck, belly , legs and topknot. Fineness is important for both commercial processor and the fiber grower since premium prices are paid for fine fiber and fine fiber translates into fine end products. Crimp is also related to fineness and it is desirable too to have a high number of waves per cm. or inch.
2.) Density – is the number of fibers per square measurement of skin. Density is associated with fleece weight since the more fibers per square unit measurement, the more fleece will be grown and the heavier the fleece. A dense crimped fleece also acts as a barrier to dirt and weather.
3.) Character –defined as strong crimp definition and staple formation.
4.) Length of staple – is a very important factor in the amount of fleece shorn from the Huacaya alpaca. The more rapidly the length of staple that is grown the more weight of fleece there will be.
5.) Brightness – is the amount of light that reflects from the fiber and is seen in the Huacaya. A brilliant appearance of the fleece is desirable.
6.) Medulated fiber – is the coarse-micron fiber that grows in the lesser quality areas of the alpaca. Lack of medulated fiber in the prime or blanket area is desirable.
7.) Uniformity of micron – processors require fleece of minimum variation in fiber diameter, therefore uniformity in fiber diameter is desirable across the blanket area of the alpaca. This also helps to eliminate fleece tenderness (fleece breakage) and prickle effect in the end product.

          Faults of the fiber
                        Open fleece with no density.
                        Harsh handle.
                      Short staple length.
                      Guard hair in the blanket.
                      Lack of overall coverage.
                      Tenderness and stress breaks.
                      Felting and cotting.

COLOR
Huacaya fleece comes in varying shades of color: white, fawn, brown, gray, rose-gray, and black. The ideal alpaca should have a uniform solid color throughout the entire fleece. However they can be any combination of the above.

THE SURI ALPACA

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The ideal Suri alpaca has a squared off elegant appearance with four strong legs. It is a graceful, well-proportioned animal with the neck being two-thirds of the length of the back and the legs matching the length of the neck. It is well covered with fiber from the top of the head to the toes. It has fiber characteristics that differ distinctly to the Huacaya alpaca.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The height at the withers of the adult alpaca is no less than 85cm (32”) and the average weight of an adult alpaca is 60kg (140lbs).

Minor Faults of height and weight
Small sized with less than 85cm (32”) measurement at the withers.
Oversized with llama characteristics.

HEAD
The head is neatly formed of medium length with a square muzzle. Suris have more of a tapering shape to the muzzle. They bear two upright spear-shaped ears between which there is a full fiber topknot or bonnet that falls typically in a fringe over the brow. Suri ears are approximately 2cm longer than Huacaya ears. The eyes protrude slightly from their sockets and are large and round. The eyes can be of several shades although 90% of the population is black. Brown is also a desirable color. There are also various shades of blue with or without colored flecks. The jaws fit together well, with the lower incisors meeting the upper dental pad. The upper lip is centrally divided and mobile to give more dexterity for feeding off certain plants. The nose has two well-defined flaring nostrils. Darker pigmentation to the skin is preferred around the mouth and eyes giving them added protection to ultraviolet irradiation and the environment.

Major Faults of the head
Deafness in blue-eyed alpacas with lack of skin pigmentation and white fleece.
Gopher ears.
Superior and inferior prognathism.
Wry face.
Lump on the side of the face indicative of abscessing in the mouth.
Eyes: cataracts, entropy, ectropy, blindness.

Minor Faults of the head
A straight inside border or banana-type configuration of the ear (indicating llama traits)
Forward set ears.
Roman nose (llama tendency).
Narrow head.
Muffled face in the alpaca Suri (fiber or hair impeding the alpaca’s vision or retained in the adult face).
Retained or persistent deciduous teeth
Open faced with lack of fiber coverage over the face.
Lack of pigmentation around the lips and eyes

BODY
The neck of the Suri alpaca is straight and upright and blends smoothly into the back, which is normally straight. The rear of the alpaca has a tucked-in tail appearance, which is due to the angulation of its pelvis being more vertical than the llama, sitting at about 60 degrees from the horizontal. . The resting position of the tail is such that it lies close to the body, covering the genitalia. The tail is raised away from the body during defecation and urination and for expression of temperament and mood. This gives the tail a noticeably lower set than that of the llama. The back of the Suri tends to be straighter than that of the Huacaya. The chest should have depth to allow adequate capacity for air exchange on exertion.

Major Faults of the body
Lateral deviations of the spine.
Herniated umbilicus in an alpaca greater than 9 months of age.

Minor Faults of the body
Roach back.
Sagging back.
U neck.
Lateral deviations of the neck.
Disproportionate length of neck (too long or too short).
Deviations of the tail, broken tail.

LEGS
The legs are supported by four two-toed feet; with each toe supporting a long toenail. They should be straight with the joints aligned to a perpendicular plumb line from the hip posteriorly and shoulder anteriorly. The shoulder blade is attached by muscular tissue to the thoracic cage but should move freely as the animal strides. A leathery padded membrane, which lessens the impact on the environment where they tread, protects the feet.

Major Faults of the legs
Excessive angular limb deformity.
Subluxing patellae.

Minor Faults of the legs
Front legs:
Knocked knees.
Calf knees/cocked pasterns.
Bucked knees/dropped pasterns.
Medially or laterally deviated pasterns.
Splay leg
Rear legs:
Cow hocks.
Sickle hocks.
Bowlegs.
Cocked pasterns.
Dropped pasterns.

GAIT
A free flowing stride is characteristic of the alpaca. Its normal slow speed gait is a stable four-point gait where each foot is moved and planted separately. At a faster speed the alpaca has a pacing gait, which is two-point, where the two feet on either side are moved together.

Major Faults of the gait
Excessively abnormal angular limb deformity causing excessive disruption to the gait.
Subluxing patellae causing disruption to rear gait.

Minor Faults of the gait
Joints tracking medially or laterally to the vertical plum line.
Gaits associated with angular limb deformity such as winging, arcing, rope walking and throwing out the front limbs where there is rotation at the joints of the front limb.

GENITALIA (Female)
The genitalia of the Suri female is protected internally and therefore not visible from the outside. However the vaginal opening should be well covered by the tail, should not be too small and should be situated in a vertical rather than a horizontal plane.

Major Faults of female genitalia
Excessively small vaginal opening.
Hemaphroditism.
Lack of any part of the reproductive system.

Minor Faults of the genitalia
Horizontally situated pelvic floor.

GENITALIA (Male)
The most visible part of the male genitalia is the testicles, which are situated and protected underneath the tail. The scrotum is well attached, relatively small and carries the testicles, which are relatively even in size. The penis is also an external organ, which is situated under the belly between the rear legs. The normal size of fully developed testicles is: 34cm in length, 2.5cm in width in the adult male alpaca.

Major Faults of male genitalia
Hermaphroditism.
Ectopic testicles (these testes are located outside the abdominal cavity under the skin, sometimes migrating down the leg).
Cryptorchidism of the testicles/unilateral or bilateral (the lack of one or more testicles in the scrotum).
Too soft or too hard testicular consistency.
Cystic testicles.
Unilateral or bilateral hypoplasia of the testes (one or both testicles are abnormally small size for the age).

FIBER
The primary characteristics of the Suri fleece are its lock structure, high luster, silky handle and long staple length. The fleece falls close to the body, moves freely, and gives the Suri a flat-sided, lustrous appearance. The locks can have a penciled ringlet formation, curling to the left or right, or a wave structure that forms from the skin of the alpaca. The fleece locking should begin from the forelock and continue uniformly down the neck, across the blanket and through the legs. The following fiber characteristics are applicable to Suri fiber:
1.) Fineness - this is the thickness of the fiber, which is measured in microns. The finest fiber on the alpaca is found in the blanket area, however it is desirable to have fine fiber on the neck, belly, legs and topknot. Fineness is important for both commercial processor and the fiber grower since premium prices
are paid for fine fiber and fine fiber translated into fine end-products.
2.) Density - is the number of fibers per square measurement of skin. Density is associated with fleece weight since the more fibers per square unit measurement, the more fleece will be grown and the heavier the fleece.
3.) Lock Structure – in the Suri lock structure is very important. The fibers group together to form ringlet type locks that turn to the right or to the left. Ideally the lock should form a ringlet from the skin. However it is common to find a lock structure that starts at the skin as a flat wave formation then continues out down the side of the alpaca in a ringlet.
4.) Luster - is the sheen or shine that reflects from the fleece. This is a highly desirable trait in the Suri fleece and translates in the end product. The smooth flat structure of the outside cuticular layer of the individual fibers is responsible for this trait.
5.) Length of staple – is a very important factor in the amount of fleece shorn from the Suri alpaca. The more length of staple that is grown the more weight of fleece there will be. A Suri will grow 60% longer fleece than Huacaya in one year growth.
6.) Medulation – there should be little or no evidence of medulated fibers in the fleece.

Faults of the fiber
Open fleece lacking lock definition.
Lack of density.
Crimp.
Harsh handle.
Short staple length.
Guard hair.
Lack of overall coverage.
Tenderness and stress breaks.
Felting and cotting.

COLOR
Suri fleece comes in varying shades of color white, fawn, brown, gray, rose-gray, and black. The ideal Suri alpaca should have a uniform solid color throughout the entire fleece. However they can be any combination of the above.