Variance components and repeatability of productive and textil traits of the fiber of Huacaya alpacas (Vicugna pacos) raised in a communal system

Abstract

A trial was conducted with 41 alpacas (22 males and 19 females) during the years 2009 and 2010 in the rural community of Santo Doming de Cachi in the Junín region of Peru, to estimate components of phenotypic variance, phenotypic correlations and repeatability of the average fiber diameter (AFD), coefficient of variation of same (CVAFD), dirty fleece weight (DFW), fiber curvature (FC), and staple length (SL). Animals born in 2008 were sheared annually, along with measurement of each of the characters under study. Samples of fiber were taken at midside of each animal. The results show that alpacas of the study area produce fleece of adequate weight and fibers of the desired fineness, with low CVAFD and that the yearly increase in staple length meets the requirements of the textile industry. Animal age had an effect on AFD, FC and SL, but not on CVAFD nor DFW, while sex affected only DFW and SL. The genetic + permanent environmental variances (VG + VAP) of ADF and FC were greater than the temporary environmental variances (VAT), while the opposite was true for CVAFD, DFW, and SL variances. The phenotypic correlations among the five characters studied were mostly on the order of 0.28, some being negative and others positive, while the two correlations of AFD with CVAFD and CVAFD with FC were not significant. The negative correlation of AFD with FC was the one of highest magnitude. As for repeatability estimates, the highest was that of AFD (0.71 ± 0. 08), and the lowest that of SL (0.29 ± 0.15).