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*If you are interested or new to this breed please contact the secretary for additional information or contact details of breeders with stock available.*
What is a Lunkarya?
The Lunkarya was 'created' in Sweden in 1986. The breed has never been in the UK, until recently, after some imported by Heather at CavyLand sparked an interest in this unusual cavy. It will take a number of years until the breed is formally recognised in the UK, although it was been in Germany and it's native Sweden. The Lunkarya is the first time a 'curly' gene has risen in a long-haired cavy. They are similar to the Peruvian breed of Cavy, however, the hair is incredibly harsh and curly. Lunkarya is pronounced 'Lunka-ree-a' and comes from the Swedish word for sheep! If you are looking for a Lunkarya, contact the Secretary or visit a Registered Breeder's website below.
Background
Monica and Annica Lundqvist were sisters who ran a petshop in Kungsholmen, Stockholm. They bred dogs and rex cavies. In 1986, a litter of guineapig were brought in which included a longhaired curly male. He was named Prince Adam and was of common guinea pig ancestors. They kept him and mated him, it showed that would produce curly offspring when crossed with longhairs. He was the result of a mutation and is the origin of the breed.
Initially it was described as a dominant rex Peruvian, but later was named Lunkarya through a combination of ‘Lundqvist’ and ‘rya’ meaning ‘sheep’ in Swedish. At that time the texel had been bred in England and they did not wish for this to become too similar, so they chose to develop the coat towards the rough, un-brushed coat. It has been said that after a few years interest dropped and the lunkarya breed was almost abandoned. Then luckily an enormous interest restarted the breed and the lunkarya is now one of Sweden’s major breeds.
The lunkarya gene is dominant and cannot be carried. All lunkarya are the Peruvian variant and any other type, sheltie or coronet must have the lunkarya prefix attached. The main characteristic of the lunkarya is the dense, harsh coat and this can be in any mixture of colours. Sweden and Germany both have their breed standards for the lunkarya and some champions already!
It is a unique gene for several reasons:
• It is the first time a ‘curly’ gene has risen in a long-haired cavy – previous 3 as cited above were all short haired (or semi-longhaired hair for CH teddy).
• It is also the first dominant gene for ‘curly’ hair. The ‘curly’ is a short-haired Lunkarya! The Lunkarya refers to the Peruvian combination.
• The skin is very harsh, which helps result in the ‘high-standing’ of hair.
• A pup is easily recognisable after birth due to ‘hard curls’ and often the hair shaft will break off due to the harshness. As time progresses, the hair becomes rougher, thicker and stands.
• It is possible to brush out the curls, however they will return – unlike an alpaca.
• The strength and elasticity of the hair differs from Alpaca’s, Texel’s and Merino’s. The hair is comparable to sheep!
The Lunkarya is pronounced ‘lunka-ree-a’.
They do not cope well in hot weather and are advised to have AIR-CONDITIONING!
Due to this it is best not to breed them during the summer months.
Guide to buying Lunkarya’s (Written by Kalusha's Cavies)
Lunkarya buying at this stage of the breed’s development is perilous! As a new breeder you have only two options – buy the ones you can get hold of and expect to work jolly hard to improve them. Or to wait and carefully choose what is on offer.
The main issue with the lunkarya's is that they have not been the country long. I have had mine nearly 2 years and have only had a handful of litters. I breed slowly and spend literally hours planning each mating and subsequent offspring. I am now on my second generation so my pedigrees are constantly improving by adding lunkys to it, so any peruvians are more distant. It takes time - something new people to the breed don't have.
The breed has been developed to the point where there is now a widening genetic pool, but this is still small. Each individual should have a pedigree sheet detailing their parentage. At this point in time, the pedigree is likely to contain other breeds, such as Curly's and peruvians - in order to broaden the pool or improve chops. Try to find babies with as much Lunkarya x Lunkarya breeding in the pedigree as possible.
Whilst every effort should be made to buy lunkarya's with great pedigree's, sometimes breeding a 'not so great' pedigree is not so bad. As long as the coat is harsh and has good density it cannot be a bad thing. It is all about following a long-term breeding programme to improve.
My advice would be to see the pedigree first and scrutinise every detail on it. I have researched all my lunky’s ancestors to get photos or further information so I have a good understanding of that lunkaryas history and potential. Ask how much facial hair was dropped (indicator of adult coat harshness) and if they have a photo. I take photos at birth and of the facial drop as a future record.
Once you become more familiar with the breed and the stages of baby growth, you will start to recognise a good lunkarya from birth. As a summary: well defined, hard curls shortly after birth. Facial loss. Thick coat = good density.
Baby photos (Right), Photo 2 weeks later showing facial hair loss (left)
The three line description
for the judge, when judging the Lunkarya in the Newly Emerging Variety Breed Class:
"Based on the peruvian model - the lunkarya is a product of a dominant rexoid gene that produces a curly, wiry, harsh coat with cork-screw curls and grows one inch per month. The lunkarya are double coated - much like wire coated dogs, with a dense curly undercoat and a long harsh topcoat. The lunkarya will have two hip rosettes - and is shown on a board typical of other long coated varieties. The coat becomes harsher with age - so a u/5 will have a softer coat than an adult. The Lunkarya should be shown clean, tangle-free, well-groomed but not brushed out – so that the cork-screw curls are clearly present – and should grow from the base of the coat to the ends – they are presented without frontals or partings."
The Lunkarya Proposed Guide Standard
This has NOT been approved the RVCC, it is written to help Lunkarya breeder's and is based on the Swedish and German Standards.
The Lunka has not been accepted and is shown in the rare variety - new and emerging. These standards are only proposed. It is longer than required, however the extra detail will help with breeding programmes and choosing good show stock.
Frontal, Chops, Head, Eyes & Ears
of which Frontal and Chops: The hair constituting the frontal should originate from the shoulders and be of good length, in keeping with the cavy's age and in harmony with the shoulders and chops. The chops should be strong, with hair of one length and no gaps.
and Head to be short & broad, Muzzle of good width & rounded at the nostrils.
Eyes to be large, bright and bold and set with good width between.
Ears to be large and drooping, and set with good width between.
Coat Appearance (Shoulders, Sides, Sweep)
Coat should consist of hair forming natural, regular 'corkscrews'. It should not lie flat against the body, but should be even in length all over, to give a generally oval appearance when the cavy is viewed from above.
Shoulders and Sides should continue evenly from the frontal and chops of the cavy,
with good length in keeping with the cavy's age.
Sweep should cover the hindquarters, with good length in keeping with age.
Coat Feel (Texture & Density)
of which Coat Texture to be harsh and thick.
and Coat Density to be full and dense, with a thick undercoat.
Belly to be curly, woolly and dense.
Presentation To be presented clean, free of grease and unmatted, with the waviness/corkscrew pattern
of the coat left in its natural state but tangle free.
Because of the density of the rough coat, the cavy cannot be combed out.
Body To have short, cobby body; thick-set, with good width across shoulders.
To be fit and of good substance, with plenty of firm flesh.
To have good size appropriate to age.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
The cavy must be shown with no central parting, on a board of appropriate size.
This should be large enough to give an outline of coat shape, maximum 20 x 20",
and covered in natural-coloured hessian. The coat must not be cut.
GUIDANCE NOTES
The Lunkarya is a long-coated cavy with a coarse, rough hair structure that distinguishes it from all other breeds. It has two rosettes on the rump, being the curly-coated equivalent of the Peruvian. It can also appear in a Coronet and Sheltie version.
The placement of rosettes is important in producing density in the sweep.
The coat should have a tendency to fall into natural corkscrews, and be dense and rough, with a particularly dense undercoat.
The coat cannot be combed out, and it should not lie flat. However, it should be even in length all over so that the overall appearance, looking down onto the top of the cavy, should approximate to an oval shape.
There should be no central parting.
Lunkaryas may be shown in any colour, or mixture of colours.
The coat grows at the same speed and length as other standardised longhairs, approximately 1 inch per month.
SPECIFIC DISQUALIFICATIONS
Crests. Missing rosettes.
SPECIFIC FAULTS
Additional rosettes, causing a visible impact on the coat, to be penalised according to severity of this impact.
What is the Lunkarya Breeder's Association?
The 'Lunkarya Breed Association' was set up by a group of breeders in November 2007, whose main goal is to get the breed recognised by the Rare Varities Cavy Club. We are all aiming to breed Lunkarya’s to the agreed standard with purity and harshness being the main priorities.
What are the Lunkarya Breed Association Aims?
* To promote the Lunkarya breed and take steps for recognition of the breed within the UK. * To encourage the breed's popularity and hence, acceptance within the Cavy Fancy.
* To provide information to prospective owners and other cavy breeders regarding the Lunkarya.
* To breed Lunkarya's as close to the agreed Guide Standard and to only breed quality Lunkarya's.
REGISTERED LUNKARYA BREEDER'S:
| Breeder Prefix | Breeder Name | Website/ Contact Email Adress |
| 'Amarillon Stud' | Elise Feodoroff | www.amarillon.com |
| 'Bramblewood Cavies' | Alex Shephard | |
| 'Classy Cavies' | Kelly Taylor (Chairman) | |
'Etherstone Cavies' | Caroline | graemerossiter@blueyonder.co.uk |
'Guinea Pig Manor' | Paul & Charlotte | |
| 'Guineaville Cavies' | Paula Watkins | |
| Juan Mosquera, Spain | al8t@yahoo.com | |
| 'Kalusha's Cavies' | R. Long (Secretary) | http://www.kalushascavies.piczo.com |
| 'Kimberley Cavies' | Sally | |
| 'Lodge Cavies' | K. Stickney | karen@tkstickney.co.uk |
| 'Lilac Cavies' | Pete | |
| 'Lucky Cavies' | S. Rogers | |
| 'Mahogany Stud' | Caroline Jones | chjones@talk21.com |
| 'Moonshadow Cavies' | P. Ramsden | |
| 'Lantana Cavies' | Charlotte McMunn | http://www.lantanacavies.co.cc |
| 'Parry's Piggies' | Verity | http://www.parryspiggies.com |
| 'Piggy Perfect' | L. Rhodes | |
| 'Shanhara Stud' | Michelle | |
| 'Takaro Cavies' | Lorraine | |
| 'Yummy Cavies' | A. Ruggiero | http://www.yummycavies.piczo.com |
'Keynsham Cavies' | D & M Hele | http://www.keynshamcavies.piczo.com |
| 'Henryan Cavies' | L. Davis | |
| S. Tyers | sarahtyers@live.co.uk |
Joining the Lunkarya Breed Association
To become a registered breeder of the 'Lunkarya Breed Association', please contact the Secretary as detailed below:
Secretary: Rebecca kalushascavies@hotmail.co.uk
Chairman: Kelly classycavies@hotmail.com
Website written by Kalusha's Cavies (Secretary)