Genetic factors in training ?

[rose@almapark.com]

I have been raising and training for about 8 years . Since joining the CD program (about 3 years ago), training has definitely been easier, but as I am doing my case studies I have noticed a trend that I do not think is coincidence.

It appears (at least in the last 3 baby seasons - 18 months) that babies sired by same male seem to have the same degree of difficulty in training. For example - my one herdsire seems to throw babies that are all very mellow and can be trained in one lesson with no issue (love that :D). Another one of my herdsires have babies that stick and plant and wont move forward and then another has babies that like to jump and rear and throw themselves to the ground. There are some deviations to these generalizations - but by and large I see a trend emerging. I have had many babies this past year and a half that I have had to train (much more than in the past) so maybe this is why I had not really noticed it before. The thing that is the most interesting to note that the ones that I do have some difficulty with - it seems to ALWAYS be the SAME difficulty, the same issue. Maybe this is something that many already know - but I had my a-ha moments last season but needed more data this season in order to determine if I was reading into it and I don't think I am.

I have also noticed (but not as much certainty here yet -need more data) that my girls are harder than my boys.

Does anyone see this in their experience or am I in an alternate universe? :rolleyes:

Rose

[Dorothy Hunt]

Hi Rose, I have made exactly the same observations, and have heard Marty mention them also. Temperament does seem to have a strong genetic link, and it does seem to be more from the father. I've also seen specific behavior patterns passed through generations, but fortunately you may be able to better deal with those challenges by tweaking your handling a little. Can we talk at the show next month?

[rose@almapark.com]

Radar - I knew that I couldn't have been the only one! :)

Sure - what shows are you attending?

Rose

[Dorothy Hunt]

The next in your area is the MaPaca Jubilee--will you be bringing any interesting animals, maybe some of the youngsters you mention?

[rose@almapark.com]

Cool - I will be at the Jubilee - I will have a couple of babies that fit the criteria I mentioned.

[Marty McGee Bennett]

yep that has been my experience too. Males have a much bigger effect on temperament than the females even though the mothers are right there with the babies every day. AND the same behaviors seem to be common to the same sires... so it is not just "difficult" but difficult in the same way.
I noticed this years ago with my own llamas and it seems to be true in alpacas as well. Make selecting a sire with a good disposition pretty important in my book. With better handling skills it is easier to make short work of these problems but it is important I think to consider disposition as a selection criteria.

[rose@almapark.com]

It is actually so cool to watch it in action!! If I could I would breed ALL my girls to my mellow guy just to make training a breeze.

Thanks for the comments!
Rose

[tookoi]

Oh please let me join in on this one:) My personal experience with this goes back to my horse raising days and before, but maybe more noticeable with the alpacas because you are able to see numerous offspring of an individual animal at the same time. I believe that personality traits are a huge aspect of genetics. The problem is that we don't always get say 'trainability' with 'fantastic fleece' and many people won't even consider letting an animal's temperament influence their breeding decisions. For myself, I have dropped two very nice studs from my breeding programs because I felt that they had more personality traits unacceptable to me then the wonderful fleece traits they might have brought. So, when I can, I try to put the best with the best and sometimes...the best with the least works out well too.

[Marty McGee Bennett]

well said Tandy, and good for you for making temperament a breeding criteria I wish more people would.

[Lori]

Hi All,
We have always selected for temperment in our breeding program and yes it does work.
It gets better with every generation! We are currently halter training the 2009 crias and I can't believe how good they are!:)

[rose@almapark.com]

Tandy - I agree in what your saying a cut a boy out of my breeding program years ago who made absolutely terrible "aggressive" males and females. I will not tolerate the aggression I saw - they were bullies - even the girls! The babies I am speaking of make babies that are difficult to train but not impossible and definitely not bullies - just takes a bit longer to train. In horses it is even more important because of their ultimate interaction with humans. It could make it dangerous.

But your post has made me think of a WONDERFUL marketing idea for my stud that makes the easy ones!!!!! As you know - marketing is what makes this business work and now I have a new angle!!! :D

Coming to a breeding program near you "great fiber AND temperament" LOL

Rose

[silverpunch]

Rose, it is also true of bees where you can get an 'angry' queen if the hive is to be located in a vulnerable place and a quiet queen if the hive is to be use for demonstration work.

There is also a serious study from Russia on the genetic temperament of foxes bred for fur and it is used inthe theories behind the origins of the friendship between man and dog.

You could also look at your animals for their strategic intelligence, I've one upfront gelding, a bit in your face at twilight sort of guy who likes to get up close and another who fantastically vigilant and will simply keep his distance and is very clever how he uses space for safety (him and me get on fine, spacious, mutual respect!)
pattie punch

[Marty McGee Bennett]

I saw that show about the foxes incredibly interesting.