Program Overview

Strategies and Expectations 2008-09

Key strategies for 2008-09

• increase productivity by improving animal breeding innovations (alpaca, cashmere producing goats), and more successful artificial insemination rates in alpaca
• develop further benchmarking to increase production performance particularly for angora goats
• develop more textile technology innovations
• include as appropriate post-graduates in projects to increase research capacity for the rare fibre industries
• continue to encourage international linkages and overseas visits for industry representatives and researchers

Expected key outputs for 2008-09

• production of the new R&D plan (2009-2014)
• increased interest from stakeholders following the publication of the 2009-2014 plan
• additional information on the inheritance of white fleece color in alpaca
• further evaluation of cashmere producing goats including across-herd evaluation
• production of a chapter for the mohair industry for inclusion in the manual ‘Going into Goats'
• additional information in production benchmarking of angora goats

Expected key outcomes for 2008-09

• continued expansion of alpaca numbers and some larger production enterprises
• increased adoption of R&D outputs including use of superior sires and improved scouring techniques
• increased international marketing of alpaca finished products
• increased assessment of the development of organic fibre and finished products