Registration is what you need!
There are currently over 40,000 alpacas registered with BAS, in over 1500 BAS herds ranging in size from two or three animals to several hundred. The majority of herds consist of 10 to 20 registered animals. It is really important that all UK-born alpacas are logged with the BAS whether they are kept as companions or for fibre production.
Identification
All alpacas should carry a microchip which is the primary form of identification and is the quickest way to positively identify a lost or stolen animal. Registered animals are also allocated with an ear tag which indicates the herd in which they were born and a unique number. Tags do not have to be worn in the ear, but they are an effective way of identifying animals in larger groups.
Registration
All cria should be logged with the BAS registry as soon as possible, and before their first birthday. There are three sections of the registry – Registered, Notified and Listed.
Females and males destined for breeding should be ‘Registered’. All males which will not be used for breeding or have been castrated should be ‘Listed’.
All other males, whose destiny is not yet decided, should be ‘Notified’.
Transfer
Animals which have been sold should be transferred on the registry to the new owners. A transfer fee applies to ‘Registered’ females, ‘Registered’ and ‘Notified’ males and is normally paid by the vendor. Transfer of ‘Listed’ non-breeding males is free of charge.
Registry online
The details of all ‘Registered’, ‘Notified’ and ‘Listed’ animals is available for members, online, via the members areas of the BAS website (www.bas-uk.com) or direct to the grassroots registry.
Access to the registry requires a login and password. You can find an animal using name or tag details, or type the herd letters for the owner or breeder for a full list. The more information you provide the smaller the list offered. If you are having problems locating an animal, please contact the Grassroots office. To view more details on any one animal click on it in the list. Click on pedigree, progeny or show results for these details. Anything in blue is a link, for example to ancestors, breeder or owner.
You can manage your herd records, online or by phoning the Grassroots team.
- Record the birth of cria and apply to register, notify or list.
- Record a transfer of ownership on the animals you have sold (and invite the new owner to join the BAS).
- Record deaths and the reasons for death. This information is held confidentially, but is used to produce annual summaries, which may help to identify trends and areas where research is needed.
- Apply for DNA testing and DNA parentage tests to assist with the identification of your animals and confirm their pedigrees (all registered males have to complete a DNA test before registration is finalised.
- Enter BAS shows.
Before you buy
Please do check that the animals are on the BAS database or contact the Grassroots office for assistance. 01392 270421. It is very important that animals are registered before you buy because cria can only be registered by the person who was the registered owner of their mother on the day they were born.
If you purchase unregistered animals you will not be able to register them yourself, and any cria they subsequently produce will not be eligible for registration.