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Herd
WORKS Quarterly!
Issue No.
1 |
Distinguish Your Alpaca
Farm from Other Farms with Improved Herd Records that aid in Sound Decision
Making
Save
time.
Reduce Errors.
Make better decisions.
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NEW! Online
Workshops
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Excerpts from "Thoughts on
the Future"
(Editors Note: In this
article, author Ian Watt helps you understand
the importance of keeping good data and how those
that do will be well positioned as future industry
leaders.)
"...demands (from
buyers) for more attention to fiber traits and
production records are moving the attention to
objective measurement and recorded data away from
hype and marketing
hyperbole."
"As
the fleece becomes more sophisticated so the
demands of buyers will tend toward scientifically
measured and supported data as against ribbons and
hype."
"...fiber and
follicle testing along with better recording of
production data will be the primary adder of value
to animals in the future."
"The key to determining a future for
any alpaca enthusiast is understanding where they
now are, where they want to go, how they intend to
get there and how they can measure their progress
and success - in other words, put all the resource
demands in perspective by understanding where they
are in the industry of today before they do
anything else."
"Establishing a brand based on
unassailable scientific data, supported by
accurate and extensive records with a clearly
defined and articulated breeding plan with
demonstrable consistency of reproduction will
place individual breeders in positions of demand,
sustainability and financial
security."
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Welcome to the first issue of
Herd WORKS Quarterly! 
The year is already off to a fast
start. Between tending to daily chores,
performing routine weighing and health
maintenance, registering crias for the upcoming
show season, and feeding lots of hay, you're
probably busy trying to keep up with your
records.
If
you are a current user of Alpaca
Herd WORKS, now is a great time to
work to update your current records. If
you have not yet tried it, why not download a
free trial and see for yourself if it can help
mange your records. As always, help
with your questions is readily available (we
raise alpacas ourselves).
Check out the new online
workshops listed in the left sidebar to help you
get started. The workshop on March 9 is
the basic overview demonstration that introduces
you to the various modules of the software.
2010 will
bring some exciting enhancements
to Alpaca Herd
WORKS. One new feature
is already available in the newest release; a
new module called myHERD (my
Herd Evaluation Records Database).
myHERD is a tool that will help
you objectively evaluate your herd by
scoring each alpaca on key production
traits. Read more about myHERD below and
watch you email over the next few months
for other beneficial enhancements.
Thank you for
reading about Alpaca Herd WORKS.
Let me hear from you about
how I can make your alpaca operation
record keeping easier for
you!
Sincerely,
Tim Sheets
Creator of
Alpaca Herd
WORKS |
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Introducing
myHERD
Herd Evaluation Records
Database
The newest release of Alpaca
Herd WORKS has an exciting new
module for recording and evaluating key
production data within your herd.
One of the major decisions in
any breeding program is to select which animals
should be retained within a herd for breeding
and to which sire or dam they should be mated.
Historically such selection has been based on
the visual assessment of the animal, it's
pedigree and by its performance in a show
ring.
 Today, elite breeders
record and analyze production data from their
herds to help them make informed breeding
decisions. myHERD is a
tool to help you evaluate each alpaca in your
breeding program on fiber traits, conformation
traits and maternal traits and herd sire traits.
Reports can then be generated that score and
rank each alpaca on the compilation of these
traits. Careful analysis of this data is used to
help make the best breeding decisions based on
your herd production goals.
This is not a tool to compare
your alpacas to the nation herd. EPDs will
help you do that. Values recorded in
myHERD are intended to
be used for across your herd comparison only.
They have no value outside your own herd and are
not designed for comparison among herds. A nice
feature is that you can use
myHERD as is, or
modify it to fit your breeding program. The main
point is to be consistent in scoring within your
herd. Check out
myHERD by downloading
a free trial of Alpaca Herd
WORKS today. Or, attend the
online workshop on March 2. As always,
current registered users can download and
upgrade to this version at no charge.
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Thoughts
on the Future of the Alpaca
Industry
 For some years the future
growth and prosperity of the US alpaca industry
has seemed assured in both demand and price. The
recent economic melt-down, the near collapse of
the financial markets and underlying investor
insecurity together with the explosion of the
housing bubble have left investors and the
general public shaken and feeling somewhat
battered.
It is not
unreasonable to expect that the growth of the
alpaca industry would be immune to these events
and the market today for alpacas and alpaca
product reflects our vulnerability in these
trying times.
However, the
things that made these animals and their
custodians seemingly recession proof are the
same things that will position the industry for
recovery, growth and prosperity - it will offer
many opportunities for growth and consolidation
whilst for some it will continue to be a
challenge.
There is little doubt in my mind that the
structure and operational habits of the past are
under change. Recognizing the changes and
adjusting for a new era in industry development
in a positive and proactive way will reward
forward thinkers and planners as never before
and will, I believe, will be the key to
long-term success and prosperity for
many.
read
more...
(Reprinted
by
permission) | | |
