Embryo Transfer Program
In 2004, we embarked, with the assistance of Jenny and Dr George Jackson of Banksia Park Alpaca Stud on a very successful ET program.
Our three donor females, Hillside Gardens No 9, [a Peruvian import] Hillside Gardens Miss Nuie and Hillside Gardens Josephine, all exhibit soft handling fleeces with excellent lustre.
Hillside Gardens Miss Nuie fleece statistics are: 1998 2nd shearing ... 16.1 micron. 2005 9th shearing ... 19.7 micron. Her first son, Hillside Gardens Napoleon [currently owned by Banksia Park Alpaca Stud] is a multi ribbon winner from Shows around Australia, and is one of their most productive sires.
Napoleon has added softness and character to a number of his progeny’s fleeces, many of whom are also ribbon winners.
Miss Nuie’s first female cria, Hillside Gardens Josephine, a Fleece Champion in her own right, has been used extensively in our ET Program. Miss Nuie's most recent offspring which are sired by Banksia Park Khan ET, continue to exhibit that same excellent lustre, fineness and a soft handle.
The use of quality males in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 ET programs, including Somerset Accoyo Challenger, Banksia Park Peruvian Prince and Banksia Park Khan ET, [National Champion 2005 and winner of 6 Supreme Championships], combined with our 3 quality donor females has produced offspring with fine, soft handling, lustrous fleeces. These are the fleece characteristics that we seek in our herd.
Whilst we have endeavoured to use some of the best stud sires available we have never lost sight of the importance of a sound breeding female. The traits we look for in our female alpacas are excellent mothering instincts, quiet temperament, strong bone structure and a healthy appetite.
We have currently ceased our ET program and are now breeding on from the high quality females obtained over the last 3 years, using Banksia Park Khan ET and Somerset Accoyo Challenger as our elite sires.
