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6 November 1998 |
Ref 98/261 |
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Alpaca breeders are getting together with leading CSIRO wool scientists and consultants to gain from their years of experience in wool industry research.
A joint conference "Fibre Science & Technology: Lessons from the Wool Industry" is being held at CSIRO Animal Production, Prospect on 7th November and has attracted alpaca breeders from NSW and interstate.
"CSIRO has extensive experience in improving wool fibre production and processing, and we are exploring how this can be used to advantage in the alpaca fibre industry," says Lindsay Brash, a breeding consultant from CSIRO Animal Production.
"This is about applying CSIRO's fibre science to an alternative industry that has the potential to produce significant livestock resources in Australia. Individuals from the alpaca industry have already recognised the need to move from a breeding-based to a fibre-based industry, producing premium quality apparel fibre."
"Topics covered in the conference will include a global view of the wool industry as well as promotion and research, fibre structure and processing, factors affecting the fleece such as nutrition and environment, and breeding and genetic improvement," says Mr Brash.
According to Dr Ian Davison, a director of Australian Alpaca Fibre Marketing Organisation (AAFMO), "This event is a significant occasion for the alpaca industry, and promises to introduce to our fledgling industry the strength of Australian fibre and animal science.
"It will bring alpaca breeders up to speed with research and development in the wool industry and will help to resolve directions for the future of the alpaca fibre industry," he added.
"The number of alpacas in Australia is now over 20,000 and although the industry is small in comparison to the sheep industry, it is now that we need to develop our future fibre market and establish standards for fleece production, clip care, preparation and processing."
"Many alpaca producers are new to the fibre industry. They are hungry for scientific information and data on which to base their breeding practices and genetic selection, factors which may one day see Australia establishing itself as an international leader in quality alpaca fibre production."
"This conference is an historic first step in that process, and we expect that it will identify for us critical areas of research that will become the starting point of that journey," said Dr. Davison.
More information from:
Lindsay Brash, CSIRO 02 6776 1463
Dr Ian Davison, AAFMO 014 040 032
Pat Wilson, CSIRO 02 9840 2741 or mobile 018 615 359
(Australia's largest scientific research organisation)
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