What is a Lunkarya
Lunkarya's are a newly emerging breed in the UK, originating in Stockholm, Sweden since 1986. Monica and Annika Lundgvist discovered the gene when a unique guinea pig was offered for sale at their pet shop. One of the boys was an usually-curly long-hair and the parents were normal Abyssinians. They paired him with a Peruvian and the offspring were long-haired curly¡¦s. It soon became apparent after many matings, the curly gene was dominant.
Currently there is a very limited source of information and only a select few breeders, mainly Swedish, are continuing the breed.It is a unique gene for several reasons:
* It is the first time a 'curly' gene has risen in a long-haired cavy
* 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.
* 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 require AIR-CONDITIONING!
It is possible to cross-breed the Lunkarya gene with other long-hairs (Sheltie, Coronet). Obviously, the offspring will not be true 'Lunkarya's' as the skin will be much softer and not maintain the harsh coat. It should never be crossed with an Alpaca, Texel, Merino or Rex! The coat is not the same and they cannot be classed as a pure bred Lunkarya. They cannot be created by crossing Texels with Rex's!!
The Lunkarya must maintain the harsh, rough skin! Also it will maintain the gene and prevent dilution.
for more info on the care of this unique breed please take a look at www.lunkarya.proboards102.com
Lunkarya Pedigree Ratings
Based on the closest Peruvian in the pedigree
L1: Peruvian parent
L:2 Peruvian grandparent
L:3 Peruvian great grandparent
L:4 Peruvian great great grandparent
L:100 No back peruvians
The RVCC Lunkarya Proposed Guide Standard LUNKARYA (Proposed Guide Standard)
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.
Due to 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 and should be judged accordingly.
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. Swedish Lunkarya Breed Guide The Lunkarya Standard as used in Sweden. This is a Guide Standard and not recognized in the UK but can act as a Guide when breeding the Lunkarya.
Body: Shall be short & compact. Firm and in keeping with age, with wide shoulder. Head to be short & broad. The head should be in proportion to the body, at least ¼ of the cavy
Faults: Flatness of the head, long slim head with pointed muzzle, Too large or too small head. Poor angular slim shoulders. Too wide or too narrow at rear.
Disqualifications: Skeletal defects and growths.
Ears:
Eyes: shall be superb, round & clear, large and drooping. They should be level and wide set
Faults :Folds , small ears , high ears , unequal, drooping eyelid or non visible fatty eye
Disqualification: Cataract , glaucoma , visible fatty eye , blind
Texture
Coat should be harsh and wavy. A cavy with very harsh coat can be curly when young but coat gets harsher with age. Coat is softer with the young than that for which you are striving. Cavies over 12 month are continuing to strive for this aim. Coat does NOT follow the body and therefore you are seeing coat sticking up. The coat should not be cut.
Faults : soft , greasy , and/or worn down patches. Lacks volume and/or vigour
Disqualification : Shaved (Trimmed or chewed)
Density
Coat shall very full and dense. Coat shall be clean all over body and in good condition.
Faults: Matted coat
Rosettes
Lunkayra Peruvians shall have 2 rosettes seated parallel & beside each other on the rump.
Faults Hair not behaving as should for age. Low rosettes
Disqualifications Wrong length of hair in relation to age. Poor rosettes or no rosettes on rump, Visible damage to coat
Shoulders & Chops: should match with coat and should continue from sides. Shall be of length in keeping with age
Fault Short on Shoulders of Chops, Chewed cost, less significant damage to coat
Disqualification Very short on Shoulders & chops. Significant damage to coat
Frontal: Shall come over face. Coat in frontal shall be of good length & in harmony with shoulders & chops. So that they form a whole. Ideally Lunkarya Peruvians from above should form a circle with equal length of coat all over with an oval appearance
Faults ~ Lack of Frontal, chewed or damaged frontal, Minor Damage to coat
Disqualification ~ Very short on Frontal. Significant damage to coat
Condition & Presentation: Cavy shall be muscular & solid. A cavy shall be well presented clean and in full longhair condition. Unmatted and on a board
Faults ~ Excess Condition. Dirtiness of Ears Coat, Eyes etc
Disqualification: Want of Condition, extra condition, illness, disease, disease of coat, problem in teeth
The RVCC Lunkarya Proposed Guide Standard
LUNKARYA (Proposed Guide Standard)
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.
Due to 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 and should be judged accordingly.
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.
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.
Due to 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 and should be judged accordingly.
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.
Swedish Lunkarya Breed Guide
The Lunkarya Standard as used in Sweden. This is a Guide Standard and not recognized in the UK but can act as a Guide when breeding the Lunkarya.
Body: Shall be short & compact. Firm and in keeping with age, with wide shoulder. Head to be short & broad. The head should be in proportion to the body, at least ¼ of the cavy
Faults: Flatness of the head, long slim head with pointed muzzle, Too large or too small head. Poor angular slim shoulders. Too wide or too narrow at rear.
Disqualifications: Skeletal defects and growths.
Ears:
Eyes: shall be superb, round & clear, large and drooping. They should be level and wide set
Faults :Folds , small ears , high ears , unequal, drooping eyelid or non visible fatty eye
Disqualification: Cataract , glaucoma , visible fatty eye , blind
Texture
Coat should be harsh and wavy. A cavy with very harsh coat can be curly when young but coat gets harsher with age. Coat is softer with the young than that for which you are striving. Cavies over 12 month are continuing to strive for this aim. Coat does NOT follow the body and therefore you are seeing coat sticking up. The coat should not be cut.
Faults : soft , greasy , and/or worn down patches. Lacks volume and/or vigour
Disqualification : Shaved (Trimmed or chewed)
Density
Coat shall very full and dense. Coat shall be clean all over body and in good condition.
Faults: Matted coat
Rosettes
Lunkayra Peruvians shall have 2 rosettes seated parallel & beside each other on the rump.
Faults Hair not behaving as should for age. Low rosettes
Disqualifications Wrong length of hair in relation to age. Poor rosettes or no rosettes on rump, Visible damage to coat
Shoulders & Chops: should match with coat and should continue from sides. Shall be of length in keeping with age
Fault Short on Shoulders of Chops, Chewed cost, less significant damage to coat
Disqualification Very short on Shoulders & chops. Significant damage to coat
Frontal: Shall come over face. Coat in frontal shall be of good length & in harmony with shoulders & chops. So that they form a whole. Ideally Lunkarya Peruvians from above should form a circle with equal length of coat all over with an oval appearance
Faults ~ Lack of Frontal, chewed or damaged frontal, Minor Damage to coat
Disqualification ~ Very short on Frontal. Significant damage to coat
Condition & Presentation: Cavy shall be muscular & solid. A cavy shall be well presented clean and in full longhair condition. Unmatted and on a board
Faults ~ Excess Condition. Dirtiness of Ears Coat, Eyes etc
Disqualification: Want of Condition, extra condition, illness, disease, disease of coat, problem in teeth
Body: Shall be short & compact. Firm and in keeping with age, with wide shoulder. Head to be short & broad. The head should be in proportion to the body, at least ¼ of the cavy
Faults: Flatness of the head, long slim head with pointed muzzle, Too large or too small head. Poor angular slim shoulders. Too wide or too narrow at rear.
Disqualifications: Skeletal defects and growths.
Ears:
Eyes: shall be superb, round & clear, large and drooping. They should be level and wide set
Faults :Folds , small ears , high ears , unequal, drooping eyelid or non visible fatty eye
Disqualification: Cataract , glaucoma , visible fatty eye , blind
Texture
Coat should be harsh and wavy. A cavy with very harsh coat can be curly when young but coat gets harsher with age. Coat is softer with the young than that for which you are striving. Cavies over 12 month are continuing to strive for this aim. Coat does NOT follow the body and therefore you are seeing coat sticking up. The coat should not be cut.
Faults : soft , greasy , and/or worn down patches. Lacks volume and/or vigour
Disqualification : Shaved (Trimmed or chewed)
Density
Coat shall very full and dense. Coat shall be clean all over body and in good condition.
Faults: Matted coat
Rosettes
Lunkayra Peruvians shall have 2 rosettes seated parallel & beside each other on the rump.
Faults Hair not behaving as should for age. Low rosettes
Disqualifications Wrong length of hair in relation to age. Poor rosettes or no rosettes on rump, Visible damage to coat
Shoulders & Chops: should match with coat and should continue from sides. Shall be of length in keeping with age
Fault Short on Shoulders of Chops, Chewed cost, less significant damage to coat
Disqualification Very short on Shoulders & chops. Significant damage to coat
Frontal: Shall come over face. Coat in frontal shall be of good length & in harmony with shoulders & chops. So that they form a whole. Ideally Lunkarya Peruvians from above should form a circle with equal length of coat all over with an oval appearance
Faults ~ Lack of Frontal, chewed or damaged frontal, Minor Damage to coat
Disqualification ~ Very short on Frontal. Significant damage to coat
Condition & Presentation: Cavy shall be muscular & solid. A cavy shall be well presented clean and in full longhair condition. Unmatted and on a board
Faults ~ Excess Condition. Dirtiness of Ears Coat, Eyes etc
Disqualification: Want of Condition, extra condition, illness, disease, disease of coat, problem in teeth
