Blast's Fleece
Having unpacked the truck I have had a chance to examine the scorecard for Windrush White Blast’s fleece that won white color champion at the TxOLAN Alpaca Spectacular last weekend.
One of the reasons I like fleece shows so much is that no matter where you place you get your scorecard back with your fleece giving you some feedback on where you fleece scored high and where it scored low. The scorecard is a good record that you can look at and keep with your alpaca files. In halter classes if you place the judge will give oral reasons for your placing, but then you have to remember what the judge said, which when you are showing several alpacas over the course of the day can prove to be a bit of a challenge. Oral reasons are not given to the alpacas that place outside of the top six. We figure to have half a chance of remembering accurately what the judge said in a halter class you would have to have a) a good memory b) a tape or video recorder running during the show or c) use a tape recorder immediately after your class to record what the judges comments were about your alpaca, which could be difficult if you have back to back classes.
With AOBA fleece shows the scoring is done using an absolute point system. You have the potential for scoring 100 points total and that 100 points is divided over several fleece traits.
Below is a copy of our scorecard for Blast’s fleece. As you can see he scored high pretty much across the board, with his lowest score being in the area of fleece weight. I had suspected that the score for the annualized weight of Blast’s fleece would be a little low because he has fine fleece and also he is not a very big alpaca.
Blast's Fleece Score Card
Blast’s total score was 84.5 – not too shabby! I like the judge’s comments too “Overall wonderful traits! Wow! I might be biased but I have to agree with the judge on the Wow factor of Blast’s fleece.
Blast will turn two in June and his breeding career will hopefully begin by fall of 2009, so if you know of any single female alpacas looking for a hot date give us a call or drop us an email as we are sure Blast will be willing to oblige!
A Taste of Life at Windrush Alpacas 
Beautiful stuff!!!
Will you be going to the Alpaca Fiber Symposium in April?
Comment by Leigh — February 18, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
WOW Rosemary! It’s like Wade “wanted” to give him a perfect score, but just couldn’t quite.
Congratulations!
Susan
Comment by Susan Frank — February 18, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
Hi Susan and Leigh,
Thanks for the comments, I am sure you can tell we are proud of our boy Blast. I don’t think I will be at the Fiber Symposium, I would love to go but Ric is teaching for a lady who is on maternity leave for all of April and May and it will be a bit challenging for him to teach and manage the farm on his own. Wish I could go as it sounds to be a great event. If you are going Leigh I will look forward to reading all about it on your blog when you return.
Rosemary
Comment by alpacalady — February 19, 2009 @ 2:41 am