Mobile matings and Monday meetings!

I really must do better...blogging has become a bit retrospective...and the photography a bit spasmodic (unfortunately spending hours in the paddock with a camera is seemingly not in my job specification...well not when Paul is at home to witness!).

Sunday was mobile mating day again. St Patrick is rather liking his outings. He now does a little jig as enters the van...and behaves himself very well on arrival. We are trying something we haven't tried before; normally we would only use a stud male for a maximum of two matings in one day. However, we decided to see how St. Patrick would manage three matings, with plenty of rest time in between. We had given him three days off prior to Sunday, and he had 1.5 and 2.5 hour rest between matings. The females were all receptive (although maidens and girls who have been left open) so we will wait with interest for results of spit-offs. This system also allows us time for a splendid lunch (many thanks if you read this).

Yesterday we had two visits again (Mondays are popular!). Alison, who is also a nurse, had contacted us a couple of weeks ago about calling in on their way from Scotland to the Lakes. Alison and her husband are in the early stages of making plans to keep alpacas in the future, and hopefully went away with some useful ideas.

In the afternoon we had a visit from Richard and Lesley, who having thought about it for a while, are further down the line in their plans to breed alpacas. I put together a package of females that I thought would best meet their needs and they have gone away to ponder my proposal (I have to admit to waking up in the night thinking...do I really want to sell her!!).

Don't think we will be getting any more visitors today (Finesse and Magnum)

Rumour seemed a little off colour yesterday, which did cause us some concern. She always looks so vunerable at the best of times, but she was especially sleepy. With no raised temperature, no diarrohea, and she was obviously feeding, I can only put it down to her having her first Lambivac injection at the weekend. She does seem a bit perkier this morning. 

And finally I believe that there has been a complaint...about the lack of dog photos on the blog...not the best, but here is Velvet trying to look nonchalant about getting checked out. She is especially amusing around the cria. She goes in amongst them and sits as still as she possibly can, then as they all come round she moves and scatters them all (unfortunately she also is inclined to join in the chase hence the lack of photos as she is usually being reprimanded)

Velvet, Caramella and Lucie.