The most commonly affected areas related to legs, specifically sickle hocked, cow hocked, and knock kneed, the most common leg faults. All of these deductions were increased from 7 to 10 points. In other cases, such as calf kneed, increases were added based on recommendations from the veterinarian screeners. For the first time deductions for locomotion abnormalities were added to the phenotype form. Both abnormal walking motions had been consistently noted in earlier screening activities but not scored as defects.
Density is a desirable trait in alpacas.
At this writing the new point deductions have been applied to three import groups. A detailed analysis of the results will be published at a later date, though it is fairly clear the additional point deduction burden has had dramatic impact. For a detailed explanation of screening procedures and rationales behind screening decisions, see the Alpaca Registry Journal I, no. Refine Screening Criteria.