Fallowfield Minerva (Minnie) was one of early alpaca purchases and is amongst everyone's favourites. She has secured her place in our herd for the rest of her days, due to her being the friendliest and sweetest little female ever. Consequently there was a little trepidation when she went into labour yesterday, after all she had a terrible time birthing last year and we eventually lost her cria. However, she managed no problem at all and is as proud as proud can be. However, he did have a bleeding umbilical cord (as did her cria last year). You can see the clamp in the photo.
We have called him Marco. Hopefully we won't have too many more males as I will be running out of names ending with o. I know... most people have a theme with names starting with a certain letter of the alphabet not ending with one...I like to be different. Talking about different...our cria certainly aren't...St Patrick is certainly stamping his head style on them!
We had to get the vet out this morning as Beck Brow Lucie had a prolapse that just wouldn't stay back in. She is 366-days gestation today, and has looked like she has been going to birth for over a week now. The solution was to use the same device used for sheep...the problem was where to tie it on a shorn alpaca (it is usually tied to the sheep's fleece)...of course the answer is simple...when in doubt use baler twine!
Yesterday we had a visit from Bev and Andy (Lane House Alpacas) who arrived when Marco was just over an hour old. It was lovely to see them both and catch up. We had the usual Friday conversation; what we would all do if we won the Euro-millions (most things involved alpacas!) but it's dream on I'm afraid!
Minnie and Marco at 3 hours old
We have called him Marco. Hopefully we won't have too many more males as I will be running out of names ending with o. I know... most people have a theme with names starting with a certain letter of the alphabet not ending with one...I like to be different. Talking about different...our cria certainly aren't...St Patrick is certainly stamping his head style on them!
Beck Brow Marco the double of Domingo!
We had to get the vet out this morning as Beck Brow Lucie had a prolapse that just wouldn't stay back in. She is 366-days gestation today, and has looked like she has been going to birth for over a week now. The solution was to use the same device used for sheep...the problem was where to tie it on a shorn alpaca (it is usually tied to the sheep's fleece)...of course the answer is simple...when in doubt use baler twine!
Beck Brow Lucie (sire EPC Top account of Fowberry and pregnant to Waradene St Patrick of EPC...should be worth the waiting!)
side view
and rear!
Yesterday we had a visit from Bev and Andy (Lane House Alpacas) who arrived when Marco was just over an hour old. It was lovely to see them both and catch up. We had the usual Friday conversation; what we would all do if we won the Euro-millions (most things involved alpacas!) but it's dream on I'm afraid!
Congratulations on another lovely baby....its great to get them here safe and sound....hope all goes well with Lucie and her pending arrival...Jayne
ReplyDeleteProlapse solution, very interesting indeed, in fact ingenious. Thanks for that Barbara - hope all goes well.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Lucie...what happens when she births...does the string stay...I just can't picture what it's doing! Little Marco is beautiful, what a gorgeous colour he is!
ReplyDeleteThere is a spoon shaped part that goes inside the vagina. It is fairly flat but keeps the prolapse inside. The vet has told us she will birth round it but we will be taking no chances, at the first sign of labour the string will be cut! We will be going nowhere.
DeleteFascinating that Minnie doesn't seem fussed about all the binding.
ReplyDeleteIn this part of the world there is more than one tractor held together with baler twine but this is something we've never seen it used for before! Shirley & Robbie
ReplyDelete