AAA Member Update #12

 Welcome to our member update. Our fortnightly update is our way of communicating more effectively with all AAA members. 

Alpaca of the State: The Award’s history and development so far

It is great to see that the concept of Alpaca of the State has been embraced by breeders even if its implementation has attracted some criticism. The SJC and the Board hope and intend to continue the award into 2020 and to improve the rules and systems for calculating it by considering and incorporating all constructive suggestions.

For this first year of the award both the Board and the SJC had outlined in the 2019 Summer edition (21) of World of Alpacas their understanding of how the award would be made, the period over which, and how, it would be calculated. There were significant differences between the two approaches, however, the core message from each was the same:

• Ribbon-winning alpacas at each regional show on the AAA show calendar would be allocated points towards the award and the alpaca with the most points for its state would win.
• Winners would be given free entry into the National Show and a cash prize towards accommodation or travel to the National Show. continue reading

Camelid import changes

The Department of Agriculture have made a few changes to the import of camelids from Chile and Peru to strengthen our biosecurity at the border. Robust biosecurity control of imported livestock is essential for the maintenance of our domestic health status which forms the basis of our export negotiations and access to international markets. Camelids such as alpaca, have become increasingly common as production animals, they have been found to be capable of contracting several diseases that they were once considered resistant to.

One of these emerging diseases in camelids is foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which is considered the most serious threat to Australian livestock industries. An outbreak of FMD would seriously impact both Australia’s livestock sector and the economy as a whole. Strengthening  import policies for live animals such as camelids is a key component to reducing the risk of FMD introduction and spread in Australia.
As such, camelids can no longer be imported from Peru until the Department has assessed Peru as meeting its policy requirements for freedom from FMD.

Another emerging disease of camelids is bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Australia has invested almost three decades and an estimated $840 million (More et al, 2015) to successfully eradicate bovine tuberculosis, and is one of the few countries to have been successful in eradicating this disease. Recent research has shown that testing camelids with the bovine tuberculosis skin tests used for cattle is not very effective at ensuring they are free of the disease. As such, Chilean camelids will now need to undergo the same testing or freedom assurances as camelids from other countries such as Canada and the United States to be eligible for import into Australia.

The new conditions for camelids from Chile will be available on the department’s Biosecurity Imports Conditions database (BICON) in the near future. The changes to the import conditions for camelids from Chile and Peru will help to protect Australia from these costly exotic diseases, as well as strengthening our export market for future trade.

National alpaca show update

Education sessions
Over the show, we will be hosting four Q&A style panel sessions focusing on insurance, agritourism, biosecurity and business planning. All members are encouraged to attend these sessions as they will provide a valuable learning opportunity. 

Craft section
Located near the trade stands, the craft section will be filled with information and alpaca fibre on display. It will also have live and interactive craft demonstrations from knitting, weaving, felting and spinning and members of AAA and the public will be encouraged to join in.

National show dinner
Tickets to the dinner are available through eAlpaca and are $80pp. With delicious food (including some alpaca recipes!), lucky door prizes, hall of fame and more, the Saturday night is one not to be missed. 

Alpaca fashion show
Tickets to the fashion show are $40pp and are available through eAlpaca with drinks and canapes included. Friday 23 August you'll be able to see some of the finest displays of alpaca apparel Australia has to offer. 

AAA closed member Facebook group

The AAA closed membership Facebook group has been temporarily shut down as we revisit the vision and purpose of the group to ensure that members and the AAA alike are receiving beneficial value from it's existence. An announcement will be made through these fortnightly update's on the groups future once the evaluation is completed. 

Guidelines for Electioneering during AAA Board Election

These guidelines are only for candidates and their supporters.

1. Candidates will be given three opportunities to have the National Office forward written material by email to Voting Members:

i. The first will be limited to 400 words and go out with the notice of the AGM and of candidates for election;
ii. The second will go out towards the end of the first week after voting commences. It will have no word limit, but candidates should bear in mind that most email addresses have a limit on how much data can be sent in a single email;
iii. The third will go out towards the end of the second week after voting commences. Again, it will have no word limit but candidates should bear in mind that most email addresses have a limit on how much data can be sent in a single email.

2. Candidates and their supporters are encouraged to focus their electioneering material on the experience and skills they would bring to the role and their proposed policies to advance the Company and the alpaca industry. 

3. Candidates and their supporters are welcome to contact members who are known to them to urge such members to vote for themselves or their candidate, but are discouraged from direct emailing the entire membership. Their opportunity to reach the entire membership is given under point 1 above. 

4. Candidates may post on social media providing they comply with AAA's Social Media Code of Conduct. 

Upcoming events

• 23-25 August - National Alpaca Show
• 14-15 September - Charles Ledger Alpaca Show
• 21 September - AAA Annual General Meeting
• 30 September - Royal Melbourne Alpaca Show