Genetics and Breeding

The relationship between traits exhibited by any sire or dam and the traits of their progeny is indeed a fickle affair, causing untold frustration for those determined to breed their ‘ideal’ alpaca. Firstly, there is the issue of whether the desired traits of the breeding sire or dam are being influenced by genetics or by environmental factors. In the latter case, the predictability of whether the parent’s traits shall pass on to their progeny becomes (almost) purely a matter of luck. more »