Colour Coat DNA Tests

The recent webinar with Dr Kylie Munyard walked us through colour genetic research about inheritance patterns and molecular causes of all colours and patterns in alpacas.

The DNA tests now available on coat colour testing can be organised through the AAA office either individually or in conjunction with male certification or parentage verification

Cost is $38.50 for the test on its own, or $90 when combined with parentage verification and $310 when combined with male certification.

DNA test for identifying colour in alpacas to help breeders better predict breeding outcomes. This is of interest to alpaca breeders of all colours – while an alpaca may look like one colour, it might actually be something else! You can learn how to identify homozygous for the “white” allele and then breed to ensure progeny from white and fawn alpaca will be white.

Coat colour in  alpacas is  a  complex  trait,  involving two main genes responsible  for  base coat  colour  (ASIP  and  MC1R),  and  an  as yet unknown  number  involved  with  pattern.  Alpaca  fleece has  22 natural  shades  that  ranges  from black  to  white,  grey,  fawn to champagne.  Breeding  for  a  specific  coat  colour  can be a  complex process.

The  ‘classic  grey’  phenotype  can be problematic  in  breeding  due to  its  association  with  the  blue  eye  white phenotype  and  associated possible  health defects.   Classic  grey  can  be hidden  or  cryptic  on white or light backgrounds.

With  the  release  of the  Alpaca  Coat test,  breeders  have the opportunity to  test  their white  or light  fawn animals,  those with uncertain  patterns  or  mutations  or animals  they wish to  determine the base  coat colour to  deduce common progeny colours.  The test also  identifies  animals with ‘cryptic  grey’  coat  patterns  that are  generally too  pale  to  see.

Example  of Results

Breeders  will  receive  a  grey/non-grey  status  for tested  animals,  as  well as  a  base  coat  phenotype  for the  following  colours: