GnR is now owned by Fun in the Country Alpacas in Michigan. He remains on our "Hall of Fame" as herdsire emeritus, for all that he has contributed! Deciding which herdsire to use in your breeding program? Here's what we do.. Pedigree: An excellent indicator of a male's EBV (estimated breeding value). We want lines with established pre-potency that have demonstrated sustained fineness through at least 4-5 years. Click on GnR's ARI cert icon above. Conformation: It has to be a given, if it's not, the search stops here. We like a male that is well proportioned, but compact. We want good bite and head. Solid bone and strong fore and hindquarters. We prefer good sized testicles and want to see him breeding before age 2 and maintaining a vigorous libido thereafter...but an even non aggressive temperament. GnR is our poster boy for all of the above. Fiber: Hand and uniformity: That's easy! Just put it against your cheek.A grid sample can be found by going to our website...he's consistant across a broad blanket top to belly, brisket to tail. Fineness: It's not about 1st shear micron. What's the 4th shear like? Don't hide the SD and % over 30 micron...that's what the industry is crying for. And while your at it, check out the difference between the micron in primary and secondary fibers and their respective SDs (on skin biopsy stats). Brightness: GnR's fiber glows...a quality not lost on every one of his offspring. Density: Fiber doesn't have to "feel" dense...more often than not that's a sign of coarseness. Quite simply, GnR is the densest grey biopsied through Jim Watt's lab in Australia, and they've been doing it for over 20 years.If you click on the histogram icon, you will see his biopsy results. An explanation of those numbers can be found on our website. Length: His fiber is ridiculously long. His 4th shear (at right) is only 315 days.

We knew that Arturo was going to be extraordinary as soon as his fleece was dry. His namesake, Ken's father (Arthur), would have been 100 years old the day Arturo was born. We also knew that dad, our own Snowmass RRoyal Stars was a "dilution" white, with fleece density in the top 1% of alpacas biopsied by Ian Watt, as was his mom RR Rose Encantada and waited with confident expectations until the results came in. Skin biopsy report: (Ian Watt) Density: 76.7/mm2 S/P ratio: 14.2:1 In-skin mean primary fiber diameter: 21.7 SD 2.9 In-skin mean secondary fiber diameter: 18.5 SD 2.4 Comments: " An elite alpaca in all fleece respects! There is nothing to add to what the numbers clearly say..." Want fineness...look at his histograms. His histogram at 36 months--> AFD 17.5/ SD 3.6/ CV 20.8/ CF 100% and curve 55.0 Dg/mm is one that would make any cria proud! He is a stunning male and of all the ribbons and banners that he has racked up, the one that we're most proud of is "Best Hand" at MAPACA, under Jude Anderson...that says it all! PLUS...HE MAKES SOLID GREY... Arturo has established his genetics indelibly in our herd and made many Champions and banners. He can do the same for yours...