East Fork Ranch
Since 1982 Heather Bamford – Neil Josselyn
P.O. Box 662
Cave Junction, Oregon  97523
541 592 3612

East Fork Ranch – A UNIQUE Suri Llama Program
   Our Suri program predates the recent importations of suri style animals from South America by several years, and follows a comparatively unique course.  We were the first breeders to formulate a plan to breed for suri fiber traits in llamas,  the first to advertise a suri-llama program,  and the first to bring locked, unbrushed llamas out into the ALSA show rings.  However, we chose a totally different track in developing these fiber traits in llamas than most of the other suri  breeders in the world.
   Our llama breeding program began in 1982, with a heavy concentration on large, elegant frames carrying super-silky, drapey wool.   Twelve years ago, in 1992, we added a suri-locked sire (75% old North American lines, 25% Chilean)  to our program, and formulated a plan for our future breeding goals.   We studied the composition of suri fiber traits;  the single coat of hair, the extreme luster and slippery handle, the lock structures, twists, and curls,  and compiled information on bloodlines that produced these traits in llamas.  We began pursuing individuals of these bloodlines to add to our program, including individuals  that excelled in just one trait or another (luster or curl).   We kept production records on the resulting offsprings’ fiber traits.  After just a couple of crops of babies, it was easy to confirm our theory that suri fiber on llamas is the result of several fiber traits coming together in one individual animal.  We would see incomplete manifestation of the suri traits in some individuals,  with wool type fiber that curled and locked and single coat of hair with no lock.  It appears we may have been following the same path as the ancient creators of the suri alpaca breed, by putting together all the traits that compose the suri fleece.
   We have always respected the ILR policies of screening for phenotype, and separation of species,  maintaining as pure a llama as possible.   It is with this respect, and our unwavering vision to retain large, work capable frames, that we have always steered clear of individuals of crossbred phenotype or origin.  Though our course of concentrating suri fiber traits in llamas is slow and steady, it is proof that one does not have to resort to crossbred blood to achieve suri fiber traits in llamas, and proof that not all suri llamas are of crossbred origin.
 
 

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