NWAG Alpaca Championships and other twitterings...

I have been hanging on...hanging on to the hope that we would have our first cria of the year born before I wrote this blog. Silverstream Galaxy (pregnant to Timbertop Goldmine) is our first due and is bagged up and hummimg away to her unborn (who is obviously in position to be born as feet can be seen pushing up mum's tail). Maybe tomorrow!

Galaxy is the dam of Beck Brow Crafter who was featured in my last blog. I am delighted to say that we have recently found the perfect solution to our dilemma regarding his future. Fangdale Alpacas, based in Yorkshire were happy to work with us to ensure we kept some interest in him. Thus, whilst Fangdale are now his proud new owners, they have allowed us to retain some stud service for the future. We wish them every success.

Last Saturday was the NWAG Alpaca Championships. Robyn and I had a busy time winning six Championships and five Reserve Championships. In fact we received a broad ribbon in every colour category that we had entries. The boys took Champion and Reserve Black (no grey or brown entered), Champion and Reserve Fawn, Champion Light (we only had one entered) and Champion and Reserve White.

Females; Reserve Champion Black, Champion Brown, Reserve Champion Light (no fawn or grey entered) and Champion White. The icing on the cake was Beck Brow First Edition retaining his Best of British and Supreme Championship from last year.

The show was fun as always. With Mary-Jo Smith judging and Julia Corrigan-Stuart as apprentice, we all learnt lots as well as enjoying ourselves.

                        

                          

Robyn and I sandwiching Judith from Cockerham Alpacas  (junior white male class)

                                      

Robyn with our stash, only two thirds (where we had first in the classes) and everyone else first or second (in many cases second to ourselves!) We also took Florens Juno (sired St Patrick) who took the Fawn Female Championship for Amanda. We  did well in the progeny classes with Beck Brow Explorer getting first in the light sires progeny and Viracocha Black Sabbath  first in the dark sires progeny (no rosettes as we had just ran out!)

                        

Beck Brow First Edition taking Supreme with Raffles, Prime Suspect, Seventh Heaven and Trendsetter in the line up, only Boxster out of the shot.

Florens Juno causing Robyn to drop the posing.

                           

Despite mum being busy in the ring, our grandaughter Hettie enjoyed some Easter sunshine

Beck Brow Crafter (sire Waradene St Patrick) recently purchased by Fangdale Alpacas.

On Sunday, I felt that I was due a well earned rest...but no. We separated 80 females into 3 different groups. Those due in the next 3 months, those due late summer, and those not due at all this year. Not only does this help with feeding regimes for differing needs, and makes observing those due easier, I do think they settle better in with those of similar status. You know what its like as a teenager you don't want to be stuck with a load of pregnant females discussing the colour of the nursery. Likewise when you are nesting ready for birth you don't want 25 youngsters pronking about and reminding you of how young and slim you used to be. Whilst we were at it everyone got their selenium and mineral drench, and those in the six week from birthing window, received their Lambivac.

The start of birthing is always exciting, but we have some of my extra special ones in the birthing paddock; Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas (Supreme Champion) was born within days of Crafter. Both sired by Wardene St Patrick, we knew these two were special from day one. Cats is pregnant to Goldmine.

 Beck Brow Cats Pjyamas

Also mid fawn, but looking rather pale in the photo, we have Beck Brow Foxy Sox (front) and Ep Cambridge Solstice back. Sox is a favourite here and is due her first cria (Goldmine) sometime soon. Solstice is without doubt our densest fawn female (sire Windsong Valley Firedragon) and is pregnant to St Patrick

Sox and Solstice

We have lots of breeding decisions to make, but until we see what Goldmine produces over the females he has mated, nothing is set firmly. We only put Beck Brow Explorer over one fawn female last year, as Kitty his fawn daughter was born at the end of the mating season, this again was his only coloured female covered in 2014. He is doing exceptionally well with our whites, so we are excited to see what he can do with colour, he will dating more colours this year (if we can persuade him...he does like his whites)

Two of our intermediate females awaiting a decision:

Beck Brow Hallelujah sired by Explorer (not quite sure why I missed showing her at NWAG)...a bit plump but not pregnant (she doesn't read this don't worry)

Beck Brow Sunday Best sired by Black Sabbath (Res Champion NWAG). I am thinking Ep Cambridge Gunsmith (arriving May) as her match. With Prince Bishop Pippi-Long-Stockings (sired by Black Sabbath) taking Grey Female Champion at NWAG this is looking likely.

We are looking forward to a weekend with no showing, but wish all those entered at the Heart of England this weekend, the best of luck!

A Fine Question about Alpaca Fleece Statistics....

I have a bit of dilemma: it concerns at what point do you sell a potential stud male, and when should you be considering them for your own stud, even when you own the sire? The question I have for those of you out there who are interested in fleece statistics is...how unusual is Beck Brow Crafter's dam...

We purchased Silversteam Galaxy (ET) in 2009 as a two year old (she has Czar, Ruffo, Hemmingway in her pedigree). Her fleece stats were: 

MFD: 19.8,  SD: 4.1,  CV 20.7,  CF: 97.5%. 

Now, anyone who has visited our farm will know we have very lush grass and we can add a micron or two to the best of them. This is why we like to use AAFT for our fleece testing as the graph over time shows clearly what happens here in the spring and summer. However this female has never had anything other than a minuscule change in her fleece stats. Her graph is a straight line. Her Seventh stats are:

MFD: 19.7,  SD 4.3,  CV 21.9,  CF 96.9%

She has had five pregnancies but lost two to prematurity due to stress when weaning (we will be leaving her future crias at foot until her due date). Her daughter has produced two show quality cria but has had some incremental increase in micron with age, although still fine. We sold her other progeny. She is due to have a Goldmine cria next month. Goldmine had kept his fineness well, but has crept to 20 microns (sixth fleece) from 17.0. as you might expect I have never seen a fleece not change at all.

So the dilemma...Her son (Crafter) with St Patrick is a handsome boy, he has good density and grew a first fleece of 150mm resulting in a skirted blanked of 2.2kgs (cria fleece). His first fleece stats were MFD 19.2 microns. Thinking that we would be placing him on our for sale list we have had second fleece stats taken...

MFD 19.0,  SD 4.3,  CV 18.7,  CF 98.3%

Virtually exactly the same as his dam's second fleece stats and no shift in micron (actually slightly less) than his first. He is very healthy and is a good weight. Are we seeing an unusual genetic influence? With black toe nails, we believe, like his sire, he will be capable of producing black...black with a constant micron....

Has anyone else had a fleece that hasn't had any movement in micron over time? 

Beck Brow Crafter's fleece taken last week (9 months regrowth)

He is so sweet natured. Here is below running to get his photo taken earlier today.

Beck Brow Crafter

Beck Brow Crafter with Julia, winning 1st placed Intermediate Fawn male at the BAS National Show

Crafter and Tracey.

Tracey from Wiseman Alpacas started work on the farm three weeks ago and it seems like she has been here forever (in a good way). She mucks in with every thing. Today she was poovering and still managed a smile...

Whereas Paul had the sitting down job of sweeping but didn't manage a smile

I was out early with the camera this morning. It actually felt like spring might be on its way. Here are some photos with the dew still down...

Above is a group of weanlings. Far left is Stargazer who came all the way from New Zealand at 6 weeks old. She had been born prematurely but the decision was made that she was better to travel and go in to summer in the UK. She has never looked back...I adore her.

I also adore Beck Brow Posh Pants (sister of Snooty Boots and Cat's Pyjamas) who is the image of Lady Gaga

And of course everyone adores Dixie Chick who has appointed her self leader of the weanling group (behind her is best friend Asterisk and Sputnik...yes he needs to be moved in with the boys). Okay we will just assume that I adore them all now...

Beck Brow Seventh Heaven

Beck Brow Adventurer (went to the BAS National Show at only 6 months old last week and got placed 1st)

Looking very cute is Kingwell Smokey Joe who is for sale when I get him advertised.

Last and least is Beck Brow Bond 007 who is 6 months next week, when he will be weaned. He is our first and only Goldmine cria. He does rather like himself

It was still misty when I was first out. Astor likes to come round the alpacas with me. I am sure she thinks that she is helping!

Yesterday I decided to challenge myself to fail yet again with a fleece shot. I thought it would be good to share a photo of Furze Park Sputnik on Facebook but unfortunately none did him justice. The only one in focus was of his upper leg which looks rather strange.

Furze Park Sputnik upper leg fleece

That's it ...I'm back out to enjoy the weather!

The BAS National Show

After months of planning by the National Show Committee the BAS National Show has been and gone. Thank you to everyone who has given feedback claiming the show to be a resounding success. Its all down to the support that the show receives that such an event can be held...well done everyone!

I started off the week with a cold, so the decision was made not to attend the National Fleece Show and spread the bug far and wide before such an important weekend. This also meant my fleece entries failed to be judged. The first bit of bad luck. Was this an omen...

I then missed being at the back of a pile up of cars by inches. A downfall of snow on a steep hill, required hanging on to the handbrake and praying. Luckily those already involved including the motorcyclists were not critically injured. Okay all my good luck gone for the week...

However, we needn't have worried Beck Brow had a great show. We took seven juniors (plus one belonging to Florens Alpacas) and two intermediates. Two Black Sabbath progeny. Three St Patrick and five Explorer progeny. My secret wish was to come in the top three placings with all of the team...ambitious...but achieved!

Beck Brow Prime Suspect (shared Florens) Black Sabbath . 2nd placed junior black male

Beck Brow Jimmy Choos (Black Sabbath) 2nd placed junior black male (2nd class)

Beck Brow Seventh Heaven (St Patrick) 3rd placed junior brown female

Beck Brow Crafter (St Patrick) 1st placed intermediate fawn male

Florens Juno (St Patrick) 2nd placed junior fawn female

Beck Brow Bottoms Up (Explorer) 1st placed junior white female

Beck Brow Trendsetter (Explorer) 2nd place junior white female (2nd class)

Beck Brow Adventurer (Explorer) 1st placed junior white male

Beck Brow Asterisk (Explorer) 2nd placed junior white male.

Beck Brow First Edition (Explorer) Reserve Champion White Male (behind the eventual Supreme Champion)

It was the first time out for our new pop-up, featuring Beck Brow Explorer of course...

                                       

I am pleased to say that the show team were all pretty well behaved. That was until First Edition (Eddie) left the pen and lined up for his class. That was when Crafter decided to jump out after him. Considering that Crafter is in charge in the paddock, he did turn into a bit of a wuss without his friend Eddie.

                                     

Eddie (left) and Crafter

Crafter in the ring with Julia

   

First Edition (Eddie) Reserve White Male Champion (41 white males entered)

The past few months have seen me spending a lot of time sitting in my kitchen window discussing details of the show, with Julia, Philippa, Michael and Tim and also Shirley, Melanie and Harry, who are aware of my poor mobile reception and hence the inability to move. On many occasions we have been discussing fleece show details and sponsorship opportunities whilst I have a cat on my head (yes it would appear short haired, colour pointed cats like to sit on your head...or is it just ours).

I share this information because the show committee kindly presented me with a fabulous caricature of myself drawn by the very perceptive and highly talented Tracey Hey of Alpaca Pals and Inca Alpaca. Even the curtains are the correct colour as well as the wine. I love it...thank you so much.

                                             

It is very difficult to switch off and not start planning 2016 straight away...but with the Futurity and NWAG shows to come...a rest is required.

To pastures new?

There I was lying in bed last night listening to the wind howling and the rain pelting down, I could hear the beck gushing as the rain was turning the stream in to something of a river. But I had that nice feeling of knowing that we were all warm and dry. Me with my feet on Velvet the dog (Paul was away) a cat on my head, and the alpacas tucked up in various barns and shelters...or so I thought.

As I walked towards the barn this morning, I saw the gate wide open, not just ajar, but a 10 foot gaping hole. The wind combined with human error I suspect. My heart missed a beat as I neared...was I going to see over 60 females looking back at me...NO.

There were a number of girls at the back of the barn, standing the furthest away from the open gate as possible, as if to say "it wasnt' us...we have no intention of going anywhere". I looked up our long lane to the road. Nobody in the lane...but a neighbouring farmer turning in at the top suggested that it wasn't going to be the best news...

"There's about 30 alpacas up on the road lass, jump in and I'll call some help to herd 'em up".

 Now as these were all pregnant females the thought of them being chased around wasn't a good one.

"Hang on" I shout "I'll just get some feed and a rope".

The farmer had plans...a strategy as to how we were going to get the alpacas back...and looked rather surprised when I jumped out of the vehicle...shook the feed bowl, clapped my hands and shouted at the top of my voice...

"cummmm onnnn".

All 30 turned and ran towards me, jumping and kicking for joy, and straight back down the lane. I cheerfully waved thanks to the farmer as they raced back home. They were so pleased to be back you would have thought that someone had forced them to leave home!

It wasn't until I checked out those involved in the great escape (okay not quite an escape, but a wander out of an open gate) that I realised that I had remained extremely calm considering those on the road included: Foxy Sox, Snooty Boots, Camilla (dam of Explorer and High Five) Honaria (dam of First Edition and Bottom's Up), Galaxy (dam of Crafter) and the list goes on and on. Phew...

Cambridge Camilla...ringleader or just led astray?

The rain and the mud has us longing for spring. Looking through the photo archives today, I found one of my favourites; Kenzie (left) and Explorer (right) with the amazing Morden Hall Honaria. Taken in 2010, our second year of breeding, the weather was good and we were full of hope for our wee man Beck Brow Explorer.

Spoiling the photo slightly is Explorer's sticky eye. We usually have one or two cria who get runny eyes and if they don't clear up with cleaning, we have always had success with Opticlox eye ointment. However, this year we had a couple where the problem was persistent. Thus I decided to try Leucillin, sprayed into the affected eye once each day, and this has cleared them up within a few days.

The seven alpacas who left the farm for Switzerland on Saturday have arrived safely and have settled well. LOC Transport did a great job giving the alpacas a stress free journey. As we had loaded them at the end of the lane..I was just thinking...maybe the girls this morning were looking to hitch a lift to better weather on the continent!

Hettie is a natural with the alpacas and visa versa...

"If you are going to ask for one try for the black...she's obsessed with whites you'll have no chance!"

The story of an elite female!

Maybe it is because the 2015 show season is nearly upon us; or maybe it is because I can feel the excitement of those exhibiting at the BAS National Show for the first time; but I have been doing a little reminiscing. Attending the shows is still exciting, and we look forward to catching up, but nothing can beat those early days. Being in awe of the prize winning alpacas. In fact being in awe of everything...nobody knows who you are, but you know all about them!

One of my fondest memories relates to 2010, when we went as spectators to the British Alpaca Futurity (there was no way at that point that we were going to have a show team). We watched the judging, attended the lectures, and roamed around the trade stands...but nothing could distract me from a certain alpaca at the show...she wasn't in the ring, she was in the elite auction...Ep Cambridge Lady Gaga was the most beautiful female I had ever seen.

We set ourselves a limit of £10,000...then another for £12,000...how much did we want this beauty??? the auction in those days was rather like EBay, who ever had the highest bid at closing was the winner (none of this extending the time). Tactics were required...and a determination that she was going to be ours...it took £13,600 but were ecstatic. I kept going around singing...alternating between Bad Romance and Poker Face!

It wasn't all good news, she did unfortunately, before delivery, have a premature cria which was still born. We then made the decision to leave her at Ep Cambridge for a mating, awaiting the import of Waradene St Patrick of EPC. We did this, and then being so impressed with the boy, we bought him as our first elite stud male...yes, the bug had well and truly bitten.

A massive investment? Yes...and one of the best that we have made...

Ep Cambridge Lady Gaga arrives at Beck Brow in November 2010...showing the boys what they have missed...already pregnant thank you

She went on to produce Beck Brow Snooty Boots with St Patrick...a beautiful mid fawn female who has her parent's presence and style.

Lady Gaga and Snooty Boots

Beck Brow Snooty Boots newly shorn summer 2011.

This year Snooty Boots went on to produce a stunning blue black male sired by Viracocha Black Sabbath (proving once again that St Patrick carries a black gene)

Snooty Boots with Beck Brow Jimmy Choos.

Lady Gaga produced a female for us again in 2013 (after being left over the previous year) another St Patrick mid fawn, pretty as a picture and full of curls...

Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas

Cats as she was fondly known, went on to become Supreme Champion (Northumberland Show 2014). She loved her time on the show circuit...kissing everyone who showed interest in her the pen.

Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas (with Jean who received many a kiss)

We have had many enquires as to whether any of these girls would ever be for sale. So, pregnant again to St Patrick, and a cria due in 2014, we decided if Gaga had another female we would consider putting the offspring up for sale. And Gaga did have another female; Beck Brow Posh Pants. This time beige like her dam.

Lady Gaga with Posh Pants

Well I have considered it...that is all that I said...it might have been easier if she too didn't flip over her tail and come for kisses. Posh Pants is staying...I will convince Paul!!

Beck Brow Posh Pants.

The moral of the story? It just takes the investment in one excellent female for it to have a big impact on a small herd. From one elite female we now have four from the same family and a stunning potential stud male too. And cria due from Cats, Boots and Gaga in the spring and summer...exciting!

Okay I may have repeated this process more than once to have the herd that we have, but these elite females pay dividends! The plan might work even better if I could bring myself to part with more of course!

Happy New Year...a time for reflection?

The 2nd of January....always a time for reflection?

Well it's always good to have a brief glance back at what the previous year brought. However, I am not really one for lingering on either the good or the bad that has gone before...I just like to look forward at what opportunities and excitement might lie ahead. I will just say that 2014 was kind to us.

This outlook on life, I suspect has never been more so than since the obsession with alpacas took hold, for of course we start thinking towards spring and the start of the birthing season. I have been finding it rather difficult to keep a lid on my excitement at the prospect of what Cambridge Stargazer (sired by  Windsong Valley Firedragon pregnant to Beck Brow Explorer) might produce for us. So, I was struggling with my glass half full approach, when I found her looking over an aborted female foetus that I found in the barn this morning. 

The size fit with her gestation period. However, with further detective work undertaken, I am pretty sure that it is Holly who has lost her cria. Holly is eleven years old and was pregnant to St Patrick. Paul and I had just been discussing the fact that we would probably keep Beck Brow Honey Bun (Holly and St Pat cria from 2014) as it might be Holly's last female. Shame:(

The other aspect of the New Year is looking forward to the show season. This has a lot to do with getting together with everyone after the winter months, as well as checking out the competition. Having been heavily involved with the BAS National Show organisation in 2014 and again in 2015, I can't really pretend that it has only come to mind in January, but I am looking forward to getting out and about. This will be the last year that I will be Chairing the committee, so I am already looking forward to 2016 when I can exhibit stress free! Don't pretend that you having thought about your show team for 2016 already...they might not be born yet...but we all have plans!

One for the 2015 team...Beck Brow Trendsetter (dam: Bozedown Celestrial. Sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

One thing in our alpaca lives that has been difficult to avoid looking back upon, has been the decision to take a herd of 40 alpacas on agistment. The alpacas arrived late 2013, under difficult circumstances and many were in a state of either stress, ill health, or both. It has been a challenge that took up a great deal of time in 2014. All bar one are now a picture of health which is satisfying (we still have a female under weight).  

But the most rewarding part, is the change in their disposition. Alpacas who screeched, spat, bit and  kicked when they arrived, now eat from my hand. This aggressiveness was such abnormal behaviour for alpacas, we deduced that it could only be due to fear. The ones who didn't attack kushed in submission or flipped over their tails and urinated. It was a distressing experience and It has taken a lot of time and patience, but without exception, we have gained their trust. 

Lisa, arrived with barely any fleece, such was the damage from mites. We were told that she was near impossible to handle and thus treat properly. Well, admittedly she was very reluctant to be held, so we penned her and sprayed her with Eprinex and maggot oil using a plant spray, holding her only to do her face and ears. Within three weeks I could catch her and treat her single handedly. I reflect on this because, yesterday I caught Lisa's cria when she wasn't expecting it, for a fleeting moment a panic crossed her face, then she remember she was safe. She rushed, then slowed, as she approached, smelt my head, tapped me on the shoulder with her nose and squeezed in for attention too.

We had a lovely family Christmas this year, with our granddaughter Hettie making it four generations present. It was very relaxing as we all mucked in with the morning alpaca rounds and preparation of lunch. Only one minor hiccup, when Craig, who had promised to peel the vegetables, couldn't find the only potato peeler he could apparently use (news to us). We searched the utensil drawers, finding three, but no...not the one he wanted. Having revealed that he had used it the last time he stayed, we accused him of throwing it out with the peelings.. that was me about to submit and peel, but Paul never one to give up, found it. This was after searching for far longer than it would have taken to peel the potatoes and boil them....and certainly far longer than the two potatoes it took Craig to break said potato peeler. Craig did the washing up....

    

Hettie dressed in one of her Christmas gifts

Happy New Year!

Our Latest Addition to the Stud Team

When we bought our first four pregnant females in September 2008 we had a plan; we would buy the ones with the biggest eyes, the ones with the super cute cria at foot, and we would buy one of each colour (white, brown and two fawns). At this point we had purchased our alpacas purely as pretty lawnmowers, and for the pleasure of having some cria around the farm.

By March 2009 we were seriously addicted and decided to make breeding alpacas into a business. This did necesitate a plan...and the plan was to breed elite fawn genetics. Well we were obviously still niave at this point, because as we all know...you might know what colour you want from a breeding...but it doesn't mean you are going to get it!

 But then I quickly became seduced by the elite white fleeces I was seeing at the shows... fortunately, this resulted in probably the best decision I have ever made...the purchase of Cambridge Camilla...who was carrying Beck Brow Explorer (our multi Supreme Champion and sire of Supreme Champion Beck Brow First Edition). And so it was for a couple of years, we focused on our whites and fawns, and were happy enough with the occassional brown.

Thus it came as a bit of a surprise to myself...as someone who secretly didnt like black alpacas...when we bought a half share in Viracocha Black Sabbath with Florens Alpacas...note the half share, not ready to fully commit! And so it is that two of our star members of our 2015 show team are black. Whites and fawns remain my passion but I am now happy to have some blacks around...anything but greys...well that is what I thought...I wasn't even secretive about my disinterest in grey genetics...

Well, that is about to change....

                            

                              

I have been tempted... Beck Brow and Velvet Hall Alpacas are to be the new owners of EP Cambridge Gunsmith (sire: Wyterrica Propaganda) when he arrives in the UK next May. I guess it isnt really about the colour, its about the quality, and that was what made him too difficult to resist.

Talking of blacks, Jimmy Choos is one of our little stars. His dam is the gorgeous Snooty Boots, whose own dam is EP Cambridge Lady Gaga. Both Boots and Lady G are fabulous mothers...and both Jimmy Choos  and Posh Pants have been weaned today...I think mums are taking it worse than the cria are. Jimmy is actually only 5 months old but as he is over 30kgs so he joined the other 15 weanlings. Weights ranged from 26kgs (6 month old on agistment with underweight dam) to the rest between 30 and 42kgs. All cria this year are taking hard food, including little Bond who started eating Camelibra at 3 weeks.

Beck Brow Snooty Boots with Beck Brow Jimmy Choos

The sixteen weanlings enjoying the fresh grass...so far so good!

Last Sunday some of the NWAG members met for a fleece rummage before enjoying a lovely Christmas lunch at the Heather Glen. As you can see from the photo below, some members were taking it very seriously. I think we need a caption competition " Amanda doesn't normally like to point the finger...but if this fleece is black then..."

Caption required!

Finally some views to the East and the North from the top paddock (I have made that up, I have absolutely no sense of direction...could be West and South...but they are from the top paddock!)