Instructions for recording and submitting AGE data

How to record AGE data
The following information will assist you to accurately record and submit the performance of the alpacas you wish to enrol in the AGE Database. The comments refer to the AGE Excel Recording Form available here ( zipped to reduce download time).

AGE evaluation is based on the performance of groups of young alpaca progeny bred in a herd. An alpaca's performance is normally recorded once for each trait, however additional performance can be recorded.

Important principles
There are three major principles critical to ensuring the genetic performance values resulting from the AGE are accurate:

1. All traits must be accurately evaluated and recorded, using a method that is consistent across all alpacas in a Recording Group. Please refer to the AGE Trait List and AGE Evaluation Protocols documents on the AAA website.
2. All progeny in a group need to be included (unless their performance is affected by injury or illness) otherwise the breeding values produced can be inaccurate.
3. Maintain the same sex progeny of a recording group together and provide them with the same feed and management as much as possible, so that they all receive "a fair go" relative to others in the group.

AGE reports
After you have submitted an AGE Recording Form the performance of the progeny it contains will be added to the AGE database. All the alpacas in the AGE database, including yours, are analysed together to obtain benchmarked across-herd Alpaca Breeding Values (ABVs) that describe the alpaca's genetic performance for each trait.

You will be sent the performance of your alpacas in your AGE Private Report. Your report will only be accessible to you via your private AAA Website IAR registration login password. Email a request to the AAA Office to obtain your password.

To access your web report go to the Members Home page, select On-Line Registration (not IAR Database), insert your 3-letter herd code and password, select Sign on, then select My Folder to see your AGE Private Report in Excel format. You can then copy and print it.

Your AGE Report lists each of your alpaca's ABVs for the analysed trait you submitted. The ABV is reported as a value + or - relative to the industry benchmark. The important reason for presenting ABVs this way is so that in later years as you obtain reports on new groups of progeny you will be able to compare the progeny in the new group with groups evaluated in previous years. You may be able to compare your alpacas with those owned by other AGE breeders who are willing to share their performance data with you, provided there are across-herd linked sires. At present some traits in the AGE Trait List cannot be reported as an ABV because there are insufficient performance records for that trait to allow the trait to be correctly analysed.

AGE Public Reports list ABVs for alpacas bred by many breeders. An alpaca's owner must give permission before they are added to a Public Report.

Alpaca age at Evaluation
Breeders normally only evaluate, record and submit a group of progeny's performance ONCE to the AGE database. Depending on the trait, performance evaluation and recording is usually carried out just prior to, at or shortly after shearing.

Because the heritability of performance for a trait such as fleece weight is higher for values measured at the shearing closest to an alpaca's second birthday there is an advantage in submitting performance measurements at this older age. However if any progeny in the Recording Group are likely to be sold or castrated before this shearing it is better to evaluate the traits at the shearing closest to their first birthday so that all progeny can be submitted.

If all progeny from a birth year are not evaluated and submitted the subsequent AGE analysis will not be accurate and the performance of alpacas in this group may be incorrectly reported. The performance of alpacas in other groups in the herd and other herds can also be affected.

Some breeders may wish to build up ageing related performance (e.g. fibre diameter blow-out) so they may send in data from one or more adult shearings. Only one adult shearing can currently be use in the AGE analysis - but additional data records will be valuable over time.

How to complete an AGE Recording Form

Step 1: Header information
In the green highlighted cells above the main trait recording table record Stud Prefix, 3-letter herd code and nominated person to receive the confidential AGE Private Report.

It is the responsibility of the nominated person to obtain the prior permission of all owners whose alpacas are recorded on the form to submit their alpaca's performance to AGE. The AGE will only communicate with the nominee regarding all AGE matters relating to the alpacas submitted. Nominees may transfer these rights to another nominee (e.g. if an alpaca is sold) by submitting a completed Nominee Transfer Form available on the AAA website.

It is an advantage in establishing the AGE performance of progeny of agisted alpacas if the progeny are included in a bigger Recording Group for analysis.

List only the total number of progeny including unregistered alpacas in a birth year progeny group that will not included in the performance information detailed in the form, and the reason why they were not submitted. This information is essential to ensure accuracy of the analysis.

Step 2: Individual alpaca data

Which alpacas are recorded?
It is best to submit data on all alpaca progeny born within a 12 month or less period (unless they are ill, injured or dead by misadventure) on the one Excel AGE Recording Form. However there is no need to separate alpacas into groups by age, sex or type as this will be done from IAR records during the analysis. You can also include data on older alpacas if you wish, but unless they can form a genetically linked group it may not be practicable to report ABVs for them. For additional data recorded earlier than the 12-month period covering the main progeny group, please use the additional sheets accessed at the bottom of the screen.

Include all progeny
All progeny born in an analysis year need to be submitted to AGE to ensure the AGE analysis is not biased by missing genetic data. Normally all male and female progeny should be recorded, however you can opt to submit all females only.

If for some reason a significant number of males aren't registered (it costs only $5.50!) you should not include only higher quality males as this will invalidate the genetic analysis. If you have more then one shearing in a 12-month period please ensure the different dates are shown on the form.

Only data from registered alpacas can be submitted to AGE - to enable IAR pedigree linkages to be established.

Information recorded

• IAR number: alpaca's IAR number without a prefix letter.
• Name: alpaca's name (optional, for ease of later reference).
• Birth date: required format - day (dd)/month (mm)/year (yy)
  e.g., 8th May 2007 = 08/05/07 and 8th May 1998 = 08/05/98.
• Evaluation dates: In the next 6 columns record dates of evaluation for associated traits. If a trait is not evaluated leave the column blank.
  1. Previous shearing date: the mean date of the shearing prior to the shearing when traits being submitted were evaluated.
  2. Shearing date: the mean shearing date when the fleece weight related traits were evaluated. Visually assessed traits are considered to have been evaluated at or close to this shearing date unless otherwise recorded.
  3. Fibre sample date: the mean date when the fleece samples were obtained. If this was at the shearing date this does not need to be recorded.
  4. Body weight date: the date when body weight was evaluated. (Average if over several days.)
  5. Testicular measure date: the date when testicular size was evaluated.
  6. Skin samples date: the date (if) skin samples were obtained.
  Note: Fleece weight and diameter traits evaluated before 6 months of age or with less then 6 months fleece growth cannot be submitted.
• Traits: The evaluation of traits should follow the protocol set out in AGE Evaluation Protocol and AGE Trait List available on the AAA web site. All traits are optional, and all allowable AGE traits are listed in the Excel Form. They should not be added to, deleted or moved; just leave blank those traits not recorded. Use the correct units, e.g., fleece weight in kg, not pounds. Only record 1 decimal place please.
• Comments: Briefly describe any alpaca that has been treated differently to the Recording Group in general, e.g., 'Birthed 09/06/07', 'Off-farm mating for x-weeks from 01/03/07' or 'Vet treatment and different feed for y-weeks from 05/04/07' or 'Castrated 05/04/07'. Ignore minor events not affecting an alpaca's 'fair go' such as short duration matings, minor feed changes at shows.

How and when to send your Recording Form
To reduce costs all AGE data needs to be sent by email to the AAA Office in an Excel AGE Recording Form (zipped). Data can be sent in at any time and the results will be reported after the next scheduled analysis.

Always retain a copy of the AGE Recording Form you submit in case it is lost.

If you do not have access to Excel contact the AAA Office (details below) for advice.

All inquiries
Email or phone the AAA Office - Janette Law - janette@alpaca.asn.au Tel 03 9873 7700 Ext1

AGE Working Party Authors
Bob Richardson, Allan Casey, Murray Basingthwaighte, Colin Langford and Ian Davison