CAMERON  HOLT - SENIOR AOBA JUDGE

"Using Breeding Strategies to Improve your Progeny" Saturday 9:00am - 10:30 am  

“ Evaluating Fleece Clinic” Sunday 9:00am – 12:00pm     

Cameron has had over 45 years in the wool and specialty fibre industry.  He has focused on the production and marketing of wool and other specialty fibres. He was a Senior Wool Technical Officer with a leading Australian Wool Broking Company for twenty years.  This has required him to become skilled in the breeding and flock management of sheep and goats, and in latter years Alpacas.  His responsibilities included, classifying and valuing wool in the company stores and on the wool production farms for the international wool market, advising wool growers on fibre preparation, flock improvement, animal classing and purchasing of stud stock and also farm finance.  His experience also includes management of the Mohair department of the Company.

Cameron has been responsible for fieldwork where fibre sampling of animals has occurred, enabling measurement of the fibre to take place. In 1980 he then turned his attention to vocational training and research in the fibre producing industries.  Here he has gained extensive experience in vocational education in these industries, by means of teaching in a variety of situations including College based courses through to lecturing at Universities. He has traveled to Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.A. where he delivered educational programs in fibre production and has been instrumental in the development of training programs for the Australian, British, Canadian and US Alpaca Industries.

Cameron designed and implemented a research program on Alpaca fleece characteristics.  As a result of this research project he developed a sampling procedure for alpaca fleece.  This project set out to establish the validity of sampling techniques for specialty fleeces.  Cameron continues with his research into Alpaca fibre.  He has been a Competition Judge for the Wool, Cashmere, Mohair and Alpaca industries.  He is currently judging for the Australian Alpaca Association and in his role as Senior Fleece Judge and trainer for AOBA, has been involved in the training of their judges as well as judging.  He also has judged in Britain, Canada and New Zealand

Cameron was Head of the Wool and Fibre studies department of R.M.I.T. University School of Textiles (formally the Melbourne Institute of Textiles), where he was responsible for the delivery of training for the Wool and allied fibres. He is currently conducting training programs on a global basis in alpaca fibre preparation and selection. Cameron is also consulting internationally with various alpaca organizations, as well as writing articles for various magazines.

DR. NORM EVANS, DVM

“How to manage the breeding process from start to finish?”Friday: 2:00pm – 3:30pm

"Causes and Cures for Alpaca Infertility" Saturday 10:30am – 12:00pm

Norm Evans, DVM has worked with camelids for twenty years. With an existing background in large animals, he brought to the industry an interest in health, nutrition, and reproductive problems. Observations of the available forages, feeds, and vitamin-mineral products used by owners have been a primary focus. These observations have affected his opinions regarding llama health and fiber production. Stresses encountered and the resulting affect on blood values as they relate to herd health and management has been a major interest. His present focus is genetic fiber improvement.

BRETT KAYSEN (Photo by Marsha Hobert)

"EPD's - Expected Progeny Differences" Friday 3:30pm – 5:00pm 

Brett Kaysen has been an influence in the Alpaca Community on many levels since 2001.  He has traveled coast-to-coast teaching seminars on alpacas consisting of classroom presentations as well as “hands-on” workshops.  Brett also holds an instrumental position with the AOBA Judges Training Program where he teaches Oral Reasons and Conformation.  Brett has a passion for educating, especially in the area of youth education.  He has taught the nations youth about various livestock industries and has spent countless hours volunteering to educate youngsters involved in 4H programs nationwide.

Brett was raised east of Brighton, Colorado where he has always been involved with every aspect of raising livestock.  He earned a Bachelors degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1997.  Brett continued his education at CSU earning a Masters degree in Cooperative Extension and Education in 2003 and most recently, a Ph.D. in Management Systems.  Brett currently holds a faculty position with CSU in the Department of Animal Sciences.

This presentation will cover the importance of EPDs and their impact on livestock industries.  Featuring an in-depth discussion on the benefits of implementing this system in the alpaca industry. The role of alpaca breeders is to improve the genetic quality of the breeding stock that they sell to other breeders.  Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) have become a popular genetic improvement tool in recent years.  This presentation is intended to explain some important factors that must be considered when EPDs are being used in a sire selection program.

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