A very fair exchange....

Well there is no point trying to be mysterious about our purchases at the auction...I see that it is already on the Harrison and Hetherington web site http://www.livestock-sales.co.uk/2011/alpacas/0829/index.html

(don't know why I bothered doing my hair...looks like I forgot to brush it...I did say just use the one where the alpaca is standing correctly...oh well!). I did go with the intention of purchasing lot 24; Blueberry Alonso Renata 11 (Champion Intermediate Female and Best of British Champion at Northumberland Show 2011), unfortunately so had someone else. The bidding was fast and she went for the absolute maximum that I was prepared to pay (and much more that I had hoped I would have to spend!).

Our black female Blueberry Sinbad Blackbird was the third most expensive alpaca sold...I just don't get bargains! I wanted to get a little herd of 3 young females so that they could be quarantined together and the third female was chosen based on her fleece stats but also because she is due soon...I like the gamble...will she have a female...if so she may well be a bargain! She is Blueberry Max Nicola and carries Rural Alianza Don Pepe of Wessex and NWA Ltd Ruffo genetics.

Jim chooses his alpaca names as a combination of the dam and sire. Sometimes this is a bit confusing (I noticed that one gelding who had Matador as his sire and Magnolia as his dam, had ended up as Matt Magnolia...paint may be better in matt not sure about an alpaca....gloss?!) Therefore as her mum is already called Blackbird I think I will be calling Blackbird, Biba.

Nicola (L) and Renata

Biba

This morning I took along some poo samples, including those from the new girls, to the VLA for testing. We do have the kit to do our own, but had been asked to provide some alpaca poo to the laboratory 'as a favour'. It seems that they are to be tested on their sampling techniques and reporting of alpaca fecal egg counts. So I supply some poo and I get the results for free...even better I was given a nice bottle of Rioja for my trouble...turning poo into wine...can't be bad.

Just picking up a comment that Judi made on an earlier blog regarding sensitive skin (Phoebe an alpaca belonging to Robyn and Craig is hypersensitive since having mites last year) unfortunately the vet didn't really have anything additional to add. We have tried everything (including recently treating her as if she had mites just in case we had got it wrong, but it didn't make the slightest difference). It does seem to be related to flies so we think that it may be a reaction to insect bites. She really is much better on wet and windy days and doesn't seem to itch at all (luckily for her there are plenty of those round these parts). One product that has helped (but leaves the fleece a dreadful mess) is Stop Itch which includes a fly repellent as well as soother, but it is a cream so not the easiest to apply. I had asked the vet about an anti-histamine but this isn't something he could recommend.

And finally...someone has been eating too many pies...Velvet has always amazed us with her ability to squeeze through the stock fencing between alpaca paddocks...quite useful as she often needs to make a swift exit after messing with someone's cria...however she does appear to have gotten a little large for the hole!

Velvet....no way!

The Blueberry Alpaca Herd Sale....

Today was the day...the auction sale of the prize winning Blueberry Alpaca herd. Jim (Dent) a well respected local breeder had been talking about having a sale for a couple of years, so us locals had had plenty of notice. However the turn out was far from being Cumbrian, looking around I spotted breeders from virtually every county in the UK!

I had already been to look at the herd prior to the sale so had made my choices. No need to go early. Plenty of time to do my hair...do my hair?...Paul is wondering why I need to do my hair to go to an auction..."just in case I get my photo taken"..."get your photo taken?"...."yes when you buy the most expensive alpaca you get your photo taken!"....I got my photo taken!!

Someone new to alpacas actually bought 31 lots; we only bought three. I call them the expensive one; the very pregnant one; and the black one. All young girls with lots of promise. I will tell more tomorrow as I need a glass of red to celebrate, but we got what we went for, okay at a higher price than anticipated, but purchasing the alpacas that are in demand must be a good move...I hope!

The black one; The expensive one (centre...she is just fab!); and the very pregnant one (didn't I breath a sigh of relief about the birthing season being over too soon!)

Introducing Kev...

With no more alpacas due this year...we had the luxury of getting up at 08.30 hours this morning...no popping out in the PJs at 6 am to do the morning checks...not that I didn't still wake up at the crack of dawn...but it was nice to be able to just roll over!

Hoity's little boy is doing well. As expected, once he was warmed up and had some food in his tummy, he soon got up the strenghth to drink from his mum, when left to it. We have however been having a bit of a problem thinking of a name for him (I was sure Hoity Toity was having a female). Initially we thought we should have a Hollywood theme to Hollywood Attitude's cria, but it hasn't proven to be very inspiring. So far we have:

Alfie (fair enough...after the film)

Annabelle (could that be Annabelle's Party...was that a film?)

Magnum (Magnum Force)

Sophie (Sophie's Choice...I know we are stretching things)

So what to call Hoity's boy? Amanda was trying her best to provide prompts...what is your favourite film?..."The Hand that Rocks The Cradle?...Fatal Attraction?"...No doesn't help?

What about your favourite actor?..."don't really have one...hang on...what about that guy in Robin Hood...emmm...Kevin Costner...that's it!" ... "You want to call him Kev?" (no offense to Kevins but I had to agree it isn't the best alpaca name...bit like Alan isn't either...or Malcolm...you know what I mean). Well we entertained ourselves but didn't come up with anything like a suitable name.

We then went on to trying to fine names with the initials HT after his mum...but in the end I have called him Quintos...nothing to do with either parent...it was going to be Iquintos after somewhere we visited when in Peru, but I decided to drop the I. Quintos...it seems to suit him...

Beck Brow Quintos

I had organised for the vet to come on Friday afternoon for a few herd health jobs: These included checking that Roma's jaw abscess had healed (before Westmorland Show...she missed Northumberland because of it); checking on Katkin's abscess site; Phoebe's sensitive skin (she has had hypersensitive skin since having mites last year and gets dermatitis); checking Hoity's ingrowing eyelash (much easier when not pregnant); and microchipping the cria. Unfortunately the initial appointment time of 2 pm got changed to 3 pm then eventually 5.30 pm...typical madness before a bank holiday weekend...hence the last 2 tasks have been left for another day!

It is the Blueberry Alpacas herd sale tomorrow. Breeders seem to be coming to Cumbria from far and wide. We will be going along to catch up with everyone and keep an eye on proceedings...feedback tomorrow!

The last birth of the year...

Well Amanda has now completed her apprenticeship at Beck Brow, with the last cria of year being born this morning. Not that she witnessed the birth...no Hoity Toity wasn't playing ball...Paul looked out of the window first thing to spot something very small and very white lying in the paddock. Yes...Hoity had obviously decided...after three days of lovely weather...to birth in the early hours... in the cold.

Amanda has covered most things in the text book...today it was hypothermia. The little fella's temperature was so low it wasn't registering on the thermometer. However he wasn't dry so we expect hadn't been exposed too long. Heat lamp on, draft excluders in place, hairdryer in hand and towels in the microwave. It took some time (3 hours) before we actually got his temperature high enough to feed him. Luckily we always have a good supply of cows colostrum in the freezer (kindly supplied from the farmer who rents some of our land and has 400 births each year!) and we also had plasma. We gave the plasma tubed (I can never get them to drink it) and bottle fed some colostrum.

Unfortunately we have not managed to get him to drink from mum, despite her best efforts. We have held him under, squirted milk in to his mouth, but he just doesn't make the effort to suckle. Now that we feel we have got adequate into him to cover passive transfer, I have left them to it for a few hours to see what he does.

The situation was not helped by poor Hoity having a retained placenta. Looking at her rear end she looked like she had had a tough birth already without struggling with the placenta. I gave her some Finadyne for pain relief but she was still uncomfortable. Eventually we gave some Oxytocin with result (a little gentle help required) and antibiotic cover in the form of Excenel.

Phew...that's it. 6 girls and four boys this year. We haven't decided on a name for our latest arrival. His Dam Silverstream Hoity Toity is a Silverstream Czar daughter (ggs Peruvian Hemingway) and has Jolimont Conquistador on her dam's side. His sire is Anzac Hollywood's Attitude (Sire Jolimont Attitude gs Jolimont Sculptor) and he also has Jolimont Conquistador on his dams side. So the boy comes with some credentials!

Hoity Toity with her cria (looking more perky this evening)

The apprentice at work!

Just get over it...

I have needed a prescription for cria therapy over the weekend...the need to keep things in perspective...to enjoy the uncomplicated life of sitting in the paddock with the alpacas. Sometimes you just know that you have been had...but there comes a point when fighting for justice just isn't worth the stress. 

An engine management light came on in van last month, this was within the 3 month warranty supplied by a local garage...garage tells us just faulty sensor...sensor changed...next time van is driven warning light returns...van now out of warranty...yes you can guess the rest. In short the van needed a new turbo (an intermittent fault so difficult to detect we admit) but was obviously the cause on the original problem. On the bright side the Volkswagon garage were extremely helpful...even offering to cover the costs if we had a full service history...unfortunately the 'full service history' that was supposed to be with the van...appears not to be so full after all...I am now £1200 lighter...arghhh.

That's it...forgotten. We kept ourselves busy over the weekend. Paul has been putting a new roof on the portacabin (that dad kindly painted earlier in the week). This is going to be our education centre (okay its a box...but best think big!). I will post a photo when complete (could be a while).

Paul has also been doing a bit of topping. We are really struggling to keep on top of the grass this year. The alpacas are most definitely on the generously covered side. We even had 3 acres made in to large bale silage and taken away over the weekend.

I had to catch up on some domestic duties (boring but essential) but kept giving myself some time out to enjoy the cria:

Rumour Has It...such a sweet girl (sire EPC Top Account of Fowberry) and sister to Explorer

Boots (sire Waradene St. Patrick of EPC) continues to be our biggest poser

Can you spot her...everyone else is watching Velvet...but there is boots; centre looking at the camera.

I think that Boots must be the most entertaining cria that we have had born here...she is so friendly but at the same time quite full of herself and is always at the centre of everything. The next 3 photos are not of very good quality but I think sum up her spirit.

Getting stuck in with Rumour

Slight disadvantage being short

but ideal height for the jugular...

And finally another favourite playmate of Boots'...Magnum...he is so sweet despite Boots giving him what for!

 

Magum

Fleece fairy required...

I was going to wait until I had some interesting news before blogging this week...I was waiting for something exciting to report...something like our last cria of the year being born...or a miracle occurring such as the fleece fairy paying us a visit, waving her magic wand and woosh; 600 fleeces sorted...but no and no!

In amongst fleece sorting, I have been nipping between checking on Hoity Toity (over due) and keeping an eye on Westmorland Show entries. With limited room available in the tent (allowing for 3 mtrs between pens and room for an indoor ring in case of rain, it is going to be tight). I limited the numbers, but it was always going to be difficult to imagine every variable e.g male/female/adult male all needing separate pens. Any way entries are closed and we are packed (I feel a headache ahead)...Paul!!...We have entries from 22 different breeders which is great but sets a challenge for penning...just the task for an engineer I feel!

The cria have been in a boisterous mood today. Firstly Satchmo decided to mess with Magellan:

Satchmo (brown) and Magellan

However he was always going to come worst off...Magellan is one strong male:

Satchmo is counted out...

Next it was the turn of Synergy who got an ear full (or is that an eye full) from Sophie. 

Sophie and Synergy

Not very lady like? Depends if one would like to keep one's dignity intact...the reason for the fall out shown below:

Synergy starting early

Although I was only out with the camera for 15 minutes Magellan managed to get into more trouble annoying Finesse:

Magellan and Finesse

Explorer still spends all his time at the fence next to the girls. He still hasn't given up hope of being reunited with his true love (Lucie). Here he is trying to remove the staples with his teeth...it is going to take a while to get the fence all down Explorer!

Explorer...pliers would be quicker!

Boots was a week old on Tuesday. She still looks tiny but is full of mischief and frightened of nothing. Poor Lady Gaga is forever running around behind her.

Snooty Boots.

Banksy at work...

I gave myself the day off on Saturday...arguably a bit of a bus man's holiday, as I went off with a bag of alpaca fleece in tow. Yet another course (I am known to like courses) this time it was nuno felting. Julie from Hesta Scene http://www.hestascene.com/  a textile artist with a special interest in working with alpaca, was our tutor for the day. She did an excellent job as I have to admit to being rather pleased to have produced a very nice scarf. Having just purchased 600 fleeces I think I will have to come up with something less time consuming though! I have realised the fatal flaw in my alpaca wear business...there is only one of me...might have to have a re-think...me thinks!

Paul was left at home in charge of things. Hoity Toity is now 346-days so he was instructed to keep a good eye on her. As Paul thinks that all white alpacas look the same I thought that I would help him out in the identification challenge:

Hoity has a small sore...about the size of ten pence piece...possibly smaller...unfortunately Hoity kicked out and I moved but forgot to take my finger off the aerosol button!

Paul and St. Patrick were away mobile mating on Sunday. It would appear that St. Patrick got all three of the females pregnant that were mated on the same day a couple of weeks ago. As he only had two matings on Sunday, we didn't give him the day off today as we would normally do! This evening he had a date with Parisien, who sat nicely for a maiden, watched by her new owners who had come to see what it was all about.

Snooty Boots is coming along well. She looks so diddy next to the other cria. Here she is with Fendi, who belongs to Amanda and was the first cria born this year. Boots is very careful not to get any drips on herself whilst visiting the poo pile:

Boots visits the ladies with Fendi...girls always go in twos!

Magnum and Alfie...like peas in a pod and best friends too