BEW’s or Blue Eyed Whites

So when our maiden Willy who is all dark brown with a black face birthed her first cria on October 7th we were shocked! She was bred to our Marlin (our tuxedo grey) and produced our not only first white on the farm but a BEW female to boot. With all the commotion of two births in one day and Willy not bonding and then on to other things (another blog) I really didn’t think it could happen again but hmm……on November 11th, Carletta who is a clients and is up for sale birthed our second BEW, a little boy. I hopped on the computer and dove in to find all there was to these BEW’s and what in the world was going on. I had read of breeding a white face to a white face and the possibilities of getting a BEW but not a multi and a brown. Now our Willy we have had for almost 4 years and only last year did a small dime size white spot appear on her outside hind quarter and we chalked it up to her having a shot or a bite that can take the color pigment out the the fleece (very normal) but never thought anything more of it. Thanks to all the info on BEW’s and the wonderful responses from alpacanation this is what I have learned………..

ALL tuxedo greys and or greys with any white extremities carry a BEW (blue eyed white) or a “white spot” gene. Pair them up with ANY alpaca with white on them or all white (which is a sign of a BEW or white spot gene) and 25% of the time you too will get a BEW cria. Both parents have to have the BEW gene. This is not to say that all animals with white on them have a BEW gene but the possibilities are there. From our pics our little BEW female, Tutu, she is the most beautiful thing we have ever seen but we were lucky to have her hear. Not only is the chance of a BEW possible but most BEW’s are deaf. I didn’t get a percentage on this but from the sounds of it we are very lucky. The little boy born in Nov. we still are not quite sure if he can hear but he is a wonderful, normal, bounding baby boy and very alert so I feel safe to say he can also hear as well. Now Carleeta was bred when she came to us to a tuxedo grey and produced little Izzy who is a spitting image of her mother but this year, bred to our Marlin we hit that 25% with her.

Also mentioned was that most BEW’s have remarkable fleece and Tutu is the perfect example but many people have reservations when showing BEW’s. The rule books say that judges are NOT supposed to take points off for blue eyes and a BEW took best in show in a very well known show just a couple of years ago but, others have said that they have heard of animals not placing or placing below what they should have because he judge didn’t like the blue eyes. I heard some great advice on both sides but as someone said…… keep your BEW deaf animals home to romp and play but if you have an exception BEW that is well adjusted, can hear, has great confirmation and the remarkable fleece as they are known for, go for it!

Bottom line……..Tutu is a registered female and will be with us always. If we ever breed her she will be bred to an all one color dark male. Now knowing of the BEW gene in our Marlin we will now change our breeding program with him and the girls we breed to him too. And, If our little girl keeps growing the way she is, look for the most beautiful blue eyed female in 2009 in the ring!