Evaluating Alpacas

Evaluating alpacas often sounds strange to outsiders. Are these shows just entertainment for alpaca breeders, or is there more to it? 

Is judging an alpaca much ado about nothing? After all, what could possibly be wrong with an alpaca? In the end, all alpacas are cute and lovable animals. 

Indeed, every alpaca should receive the recognition it deserves. No professional show judge would ever speak negatively about a breeder or their herd. On the contrary: during their training, aspiring judges are taught to highlight the positive traits of every animal. Even disqualifications are handled discreetly and respectfully. 

Judging alpacas is not about putting down certain animals because of their appearance. Rather, it serves a higher purpose: improving the gene pool and thus the overall quality of breeding animals. As explained in previous chapters, there is much more to these charming camelids than their cheerful nature might initially suggest.

Evaluating livestock is not a new concept. On every marketplace, products are judged—whether it's vegetables, used cars, or animals makes no difference. No buyer wants to throw money out the window or buy a pig in a poke. Only through inspection and classification can a fair purchase value be determined, which can then be used for negotiations. 

Evaluating an alpaca is therefore a natural part of the process: excellent traits are needed in breeding to open doors for further improvement. Even someone putting together a small herd for personal enjoyment will select animals according to personal preferences, not randomly. The search for visually appealing alpacas with unique fleece colors and patterns is, in itself, a form of evaluation.

Animals and their species-specific traits and qualities have always fascinated people. The wonders of evolution have produced highly specialized and extraordinary species—among them, the alpaca. The most impressive animals have always had the ability to attract and astonish crowds. 

Just a few decades ago, showing an alpaca in Germany left people speechless, struck by the animal’s odd body shape and fluffy fleece. Today’s evaluation of alpacas has nothing to do with that exotic fascination anymore. 

Quite the opposite: the more familiar the animal and its utility become, the more precise and meticulous the judging criteria. Sometimes these seem overly nitpicky—splitting hairs at the microscopic level. The alignment of an alpaca’s teeth might be off by only a few millimeters, the legs slightly turned inward, the fiber just a few microns coarser—is that really a problem?

Often, it’s not a problem for the current animal. But in breeding, decisions have far-reaching consequences. Animals that possess beneficial traits for the health and productivity of the herd should influence the appearance of future generations. 

Anyone who relies on crooked legs for several generations will have a hard time breeding this trait out again. Evaluating alpacas thus comes down to even the smallest differences, which can be crucial for breeding in the long run.

In alpacas, these differences can be categorized into three key areas: conformation, reproductive capability, and fleece. By assessing their own herd based on defined criteria, breeders can gain a more objective view of its condition—even outside the show ring. This evaluation also forms the basis for assessing animals from other breeders. 

Only those who have thoroughly evaluated the qualities of an outside stud male have a solid foundation for negotiating the stud fee. It is therefore advisable to scrutinize selected alpacas closely before purchase. Although the weighting of individual judging criteria plays a significant role in the overall score, it is first important to be able to properly assess each criterion on its own.

Excerpt from: LEIDENSCHAFT ALPAKA – HUSBANDRY, BREEDING & SHOWS, Editor and Author, Show Judge Robin Näsemann, 2020