Pass the Elastoplast Please...

Yet another busy week, I really must blog more often, then I wouldn't have to test my ability to recall what I have been up to! As seems to be the norm at the moment, I have been on the road rather a lot. On Wednesday I headed up north (yes it does get more north than us) to the Scottish Borders, to pay a visit to our weaver. I have brought back all of our yarn for a stock check, and then I will make some decisions on what to do next.

The latest throws are proving popular, with five sold in the first week. I have also ordered some more wraps (but these won't be ready in time for our Christmas fairs). We have also added a new talent to our knitters; Trish has come up with some great designs using the lighter weight yarns, and will also be coming along to the fairs with me. One day I might even get time to update the on line shop!

Our latest Beck Brow throws.

On Thursday I headed down South to Toft Alpacas, near Rugby. Rob and Shirley Bettinson are both BAS judges, and were booked to judge the Heart of England Fleece Show over the following two days. As I was apprentice judge to Rob, I was kindly offered a bed. It was lovely to catch up and talk alpaca of course. I really must thank Rob, for his teaching, and most of all for his patience...this was my last apprenticeship before certification and I was constantly questioning to get everything straight in my head. I had a great couple of days and saw some stunning fleeces (confirming my passion for white!!!). Thank you Rob and Shirley.

Unfortunately I couldn't stay for the actual fleece show on the Sunday...as I had arranged to collect Paul's birthday present before heading home. So it was, that I headed from Oxford, across country to the north of Bristol. Here I met Karen May of Amiryck Alpacas, Cats and Dogs...there is a clue there...not an alpaca but kittens!! Aster and Angel are absolutely adorable. Here they are sleeping on the settle with Angel giving Aster a hug.

Angel and Aster...British Shorthaired Colour Pointed kittens

Robyn and I have been micro-chipping the cria over the last couple of days. There are a number of lessons to be gained from this experience:

1. microchip when very young...much easier and saves the expense of a box of Elastoplasts...yes, Robyn managed to stab herself twice whilst doing the older cria, who are more difficult to hold still.

2. if you are going to microchip a group of cria, do them all on the same day. Despite hating the task we managed to microchip two cria twice...Robyn was checking the list!

Must do better tomorrow when we finish off the livery cria (not literally finish them off hopefully... just the microchips!).

As a group of females (who had been here for on farm matings with Explorer) left to head home up north on Saturday; this freed up a paddock that had been providing an isolation barrier. So our girls had another lush green paddock to explore. As you can see from the photo, when I opened the gate the black girls headed off in one direction (the right one) and the whites in the opposite...so are black alpacas smarter or just greedier?

New paddock alert...

Not a white in sight!

I am ring steward on Saturday at the Yorkshire Alpaca Group show at Thirsk. Mary-Jo is the judge so hopefully I will pick up some helpful points for my certification later in the month. I think that I must have been to 75% of alpaca shows this year, as either an apprentice or ring steward. You cant get too much experience...I will however, pass or fail, be glad to get a rest over winter!

Freedom for All!

Its been a funny old week...I set off being excited by my new found freedom...no more being tied to the farm waiting for births...I could do what I wanted for the first time in six months. So what do I do?...On Monday I clean and tidy the store room, aka Paul's games room...I rediscover the snooker table under tons of yarn. Tuesday, Robyn and I give all the livery girls a dose of Ovithrive (mineral and selenium drench. I am changing back to Maxigro, as they hate the taste and so do I) and treat them for mites with Deosect. Wednesday, Amanda and I do a load of spit-offs with our girls.

I seem to have forgotten what there is to do off the farm. By Thursday I am feeling glum...and then I realise why...no more waiting for births...nothing to be excited about quite the opposite...I actually like getting up each morning full of expectation of what might be born today.

So what shall I do?...two things. Firstly I check to see if I still have any non-alpaca friends (after being unavailable for half of the year)...thankfully I do and they are willing to drag me away! Secondly, I break my recently made plan to shorten the birthing season...Yes, Explorer has had a few extra dates (including Pepsi who is brown) but today is definitely the last day.

I have just totted up the cria on the farm...forty three...that's forty three to halter train...cor blimey that will keep us busy. At least we will have some large weaning groups which will be good for them.

Paul has been making good progress with his belter of a field shelter. So much so that we decided that it could be put to use. With birthing over, the livery girls have now been moved on to more grass and further away from the house. The livery group are still in isolation so our girls have also been moved. I love moving alpacas around, they are so nosy it is so easy...just open a gate and off they go...

Paul opening the gate to freedom for the livery girls (Sparkle and Edelweiss on the left)

Really? Should we?

Yes go for it girls! (how gorgeous is the little brown Prophecy male on the left? I want him!)

Venous (black cria) makes a dash for the front...

and makes it first...look at all that grass!

Bozedown Campari and the Pea Pods

We were up bright and early on Saturday morning, ready for our four hour trip down to Bozedown Alpacas. An exciting day lay ahead, with eighty seven 2012 born females to chose from I wanted a clear head. Well that was the plan...we were to leave at 06.30 hours...we actually left at 10.30 hrs. We found poor La-Di-Da flat out in the paddock at 06.00 hrs. Unable to stand and in severe pain, we gave here Finadyne and Buscopan. Poor little thing was running around in to fences, and throwing herself on the ground. Although Robyn and Craig were kindly looking after the farm, I wanted to make sure she was okay before we left. A very nasty case of colic.

So we arrived at Bozedown later than expected, but with ample time for a good explore. I knew I was going to find it hard to resist such high quality whites, but had in mind finding a fawn for Timbertop CT Goldmine. However, I just couldn't stop looking at a beautiful brown female, and I wasn't in the least disappointed when I got to see her fleece. Bozedown Campari is a daughter of Bozedown Bourbon and has the most delicious buttery soft fleece, which is very uniform in micron. Extremely impressive for her colour. Fleece stats: MD: 17, SD 3.2, CV 19 CF 100%. A very exciting addition to our coloured breeding programme at Beck Brow.

I did put this photo on Facebook and it was noted that Paul looks rather less excited...I looked through the photos...and believe me this is the best!!!

Paul with Bozedown Campari

Whilst we were away, the last birth of the year took place at Beck Brow. Not belonging to us, but a livery female, Razamataz had a lovely Black Sabbath male...yes more boys!

Razamataz with her Black Sabbath male.

So that's it until March when EP Cambridge Courtesse (pregnant to Sanjo Shalimar) is our first due of 2014, closely followed by Cambridge Stargazer (pregnant to EP Cambridge Spartacus)

We have had six Beck Brow Explorer progeny (3 females and 3 males). It is such a joy to see the offspring of our first home bred stud male. Here are the Pea Pods...

Beck Brow Miss Molly (sire Beck Brow Explorer)

Beck Brow Epic (sire Explorer)

Beck Brow Ludo (sitting) and Beck Brow La-Di-Da (both sired by Explorer)

Beck Brow La-Di-Da again (sire Explorer)

Beck Brow Hallelujah (sire Explorer)

Beck Brow First Edition (our star cria of the year and sired by Beck Brow Explorer)

Adelle, an adorable first time mum, who spends all of her time looking for Epic

Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas (sire Waradene St Patrick) 

Paul is struggling to find the time to get on with the belter (across between a barn and a shelter... as identified by Mark). We now have a concrete floor, but no other progress. Luckily the weather is being kind.

Has Paul lost his tools?...progress is slow!

An Epic week!

Things are so busy here at the moment that I never get the time to blog...then by the time I do blog... I have forgotten why I was so busy...so in no particular order...

On Sunday, as forecast, the weather was dreadful. Rain and gale force winds...not a day for birthing...well so we thought. At 7 pm we were out in the livery paddocks getting a female in for mating...when Paul happened to notice a crowd gathered in our female paddock...he wandered off, then come running back "get the birthing box Adelle has a head presenting"...the rain was coming down in sheets and the wind was so strong the contents of the birthing box took off around the paddock...it was a bit of a struggle but by 7.30 pm we had a cria on the ground...on its own...Adelle had ran off into the barn out of the rain!

Being a maiden, Adelle didn't quite know what to make of her cria when reunited...we shut them in together overnight and she obviously recognised him as hers...but he wasn't looking to feed and she wasn't encouraging him. Not wanting to take any chances with an evening birth, we bottle fed cow's colostrum. On Monday I left long periods between feeds in the hope that the little fellow would nurse...but no...and when we tried to help, she sat on his head....not looking good. Surely not another bottle feeder for the last born of the year (Foxy Sox last year)...then bingo...at 12.30 pm yesterday...just as I say to Amanda that I am going to get a bottle...he latches on...yipeeeeeeee

This little man carries some amazing genetics. On his dam's side we have: Cambridge The Chairman, Jolimont Commisario, NWA Ruffo, EP Cambridge Peruvian Caesar and Jolimont Enchantador. Add to these the genetics from his sire Beck Brow Explorer; Cambridge Navigator, EP Cambridge Peruvian Spartacus, and Accoyo Remarque, and he really has an exceptional pedigree. In recognition of all those Ep Cambridge males...we have named him Beck Brow Epic.

 

Easter-Wood Adelle with Beck Brow Epic

What a wonderful sight (yes, he might need an enema!)

That's it for Beck Brow...13 boys and 9 girls was the final score...better than half time! Beck Brow Explorer has had 3 boys and 3 girls. They are so like him it is comical. They all do the same grumble when you catch them, and are all so laid back like him, and of course they all look like him.

Beck Brow La-Di-Da (sire Explorer)

Vircocha Black Sabbath has also produced cria all with a very similar look...and particularly the head type. Beck Brow Sunday Best is his stand out cria...but we are very pleased with his cria in general

Cambridge Scarborough with Beck Brow Sunday Best

This is another little Black Sabbath cracker...Prima Medici...born here on livery this week

Prima Medici (brown Black Sabbath male) with Prophecy male behind (Indomitable)

Another Black Sabbath brown male cria born two days ago

A Black Sabbath female also born 2 days ago (Prima Venus of the Lakes)

Born today in the livery paddock a brown Prophecy male.

Yes, I have been a busy midwife in the livery paddocks this week. I seem to have been on my knees all week...towelling off cria and spraying umbilical cords...whilst supervising matings (if you don't own alpacas then dont even think about why I am on my knees during the initial stages of mating!). Yesterday we actually had a mating going on at the same time as a female was birthing in the same shelter...Amanda and I just looked at each other and started laughing...what a way to earn a living!

On the same subject...why have 50% of the livery females chosen to come into the brick build shelter to give birth...of their own accord...and in good weather? I feed them in there, could this be the reason? Ours always choose to birth outside. Sonata came in for breakfast yesterday and just birthed in there 30 minutes later! All credit to them, they do just get on with it. No high maintenance females on livery...Beck Brow girls?...ummm!

Beck Brow Crafter (sire Waradene St Patrick).

On Thursday I was apprentice judge at Westmorland Show, under Tim Hey. He was a great tutor for my last halter show apprenticeship. I have the HOE fleece show to go, before my certification exams next month. I am so looking forward to showing our alpacas next year. I seem to have been ring steward or apprentice at every show this year.

I had a good catch up with Debbie from Barnacre Alpacas today. She brought over Sunburst (their Champion grey male) for a date with Zola, who is on livery (remember mad Zola who has now decided to be nice) and Barnacre Sahara for a date with St. Patrick. It took Debbie about three hours to escape, as I showed her all the livery cria as well as our own!

Only one more birth to go now on the livery side...a lovely black female who is pregnant to Black Sabbath. Hopefully, this week, as we have a busy weekend lined up. Big excitement Saturday...we are going to Bozedown Alpacas to chose our Alpaca Classic female...Yes, lot 25 is the pick from all the 2012 born females at Bozedown...87 Huacayas to choose from...I have narrowed it down to seven on paper...but shall be looking at many more to be sure!

Alpaca Classic 2013

 On Friday morning I was up and about at 6 am as usual...and by 6.15 am, I had the feeling that my plans to have a leisurely morning, before heading off to Bozedown Alpacas for the Alpaca Classic...were in serious jeopardy. There in the pouring rain, all on her own, whilst everyone else was tucked up inside, was Metisha. For goodness sake Metisha... it has been sunny for weeks...and I haven't been anywhere for months...why today...and why mess about until 14.00 hours...I should have been on the road by then!

The good news is that we have another Explorer daughter. For some reason, that I have no explanation for, I have decided to call her Miss Molly...which means I can't stop singing "Good golly Miss Molly"...maybe you are too young to remember?

So Kathryn (Nero Black Alpacas) and I left a little later than planned, with me having had 15 minutes to get ready as is the norm, and arrived at the hotel about 21.15 hours. A catch up in the bar with friends, and a glass or two of wine, and it was a relatively early night ready for the weekend ahead (was it early I cant remember?)

And what a great weekend we had. Mary-Jo (Bozedown) and Nick (Alpaca Stud) put on a great event. With their generous hospitality, and fantastic seminars and workshops, I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Of course what is even more impressive is the fact that this is all free...well it would be free...if I could just sit on my hands. I need help...is there a cure for AAA do you think?...Alpaca Auction Addiction...its going to be cited on my divorce papers I feel!

I did try really hard...I resisted to the very last lot...I really hadn't intended to bid...no amount of coaxing by the auctioneer was going have me give in...and then it happened...without any encouragement at all...it was just a nod of the head and that was it! Lot 25 to Beck Brow Alpacas...am I going to have fun!

I so enjoyed catching up with everyone, you can't beat being surrounded by fellow AAA folk. Kathryn and I managed to talk for 11 hours (the journey there and back) without the slightest pause in conversation. So much so that we couldn't hear the satnav, and a number of roundabouts were navigated round a couple of times before exiting. However, the realisation that we would have to concentrate, if we were to get home at all, eventually dawned...it was after scratching about in the the bottom of our bags and the ash tray to find the change to pay for the toll charge over the bridge...that we find out that the satnav was trying to interrupt our conversation to tell us to "turn around when possible"...so we then have to pay to cross the same bridge in the opposite direction...we did get home about 10 pm!

Good golly Miss Molly (yes another Explorer head)

I think someone might be becoming a favourite...La Di Da...she is so tiny!

  

Foxy Sox always gives me such a welcome home

And lastly Young Punk Percy (owned by Robyn and Craig) who is in need of a napkin!

Young Punk Percy

The postmortem

On Friday we received the results from the postmortem on poor little Wellies. The interesting thing about the report was more about what they didn't find, than what they did find. So much so that the AHVLA are running further tests at their own expense.

We had assumed that it was an overwhelming sepsis that had been the cause of death, and with the clinical sign of a stiff neck, this was assumed to be meningitis. However, the only bacterium isolated so far has been identified as one not previously associated with clinical disease in alpacas. The only real find at this stage is a dramatically swollen bladder, with clots of blood present in the urethra. What we do not know is if this was a primary or secondary problem. The only abnormality on the blood results was a raised urea at 17.90 (normal range 3.9-10.2). Raised but not at the level you would expect of chronic renal failure (and no rise in creatinine levels which normally go hand in hand in renal failure). Of course urea is produced as a by product in the breakdown of protein, so it may just be a result of not feeding. The next step is microscopic tests on the kidneys to ascertain if there may have been a congenital component. We wait with interest to see if any further light can be shed, but I do feel reassured that we didn't let him down by missing something obvious.

Ladida had her plasma transfusion on Friday. As the vet went to insert the cannula he kept repeating himself..."my god she is tiny"...but she sat on my knee and made no fuss at all...I am truly smitten! She has ears like a spaniel... we have taped them up but she still looks like Droopy. No weight gain nor loss this morning. However, daily weighing has picked up that Ludo was losing slightly every day. Checking on mum Lucie she is rather short of milk, so we have been supplementing him with a bottle (just 200mls x 3 daily) and his weight is on the up.

I can never over emphasise the importance of weighing cria. We weigh daily for the first week and then decide on the frequency of weighing depending on how the cria is doing. Today was a weekly weigh in for the Beck Brow and livery cria. Boxster is the only one of our cria who is way behind on his weight gain (this isn't new he has never gained weight well) but he refuses to be topped up with a bottle. He does try to steal, but is a poor thief and never manages to successful get a drink from anybody but his mum (Bozedown Magic Charm).

I though I would share some photos of some of the livery cria, who are becoming much more friendly. Even the mad black one has calmed down, so much so I feel I can name her...without it been in an ASBO kind of way...yes, Zola lets us weigh her cria. Actually now that I have spent a lot of time trying to understand her, I think she was aggressive when she was frightened. I have gradually gained her trust and today when I was treating her skin she didn't even struggle never mind spit. You get what you give with alpacas...that's just one of the things that makes us adore them!

Look at those eyelashes...Maradadi is such a sweet girl, only three weeks old and full of character

Thanos is a Black Sabbath progeny...and a little stunner...he always looks like he is smiling too.

Indomitable (sire Prophecy)...luckily mum Zola has decided he may be weighed and he is doing well.

How cute is Bonnie Lad?

Only two more Beck Brow birth's to go. Adelle is 383 days gestation today...isn't it mad...we have Ladida born at 310 days gestation and we are still waiting for Adelle...73 days difference...it is impossible to plan your calender around alpaca births!

Hoity Toity, Miss La-Di-Da and Snooty Boots

Well after an angst filled week last week, things have gone better than anticipated this week...I touched wood after typing that bit...with two potentially troublesome births going smoothly.

First up was Beck Brow Lucie, who last year had a prolapse resulting in her cria being still born. She had at that point been a maiden, and we thought long and hard about remating her. Well I am pleased to say that she delivered a 9.5kg male without any trouble at all. Another Beck Brow Explorer progeny (looking very like him again), I have called him Ludo. For no other reason than I think Lucie and Ludo sound cute together!

Beck Brow Ludo (at less than 24 hours old).

Now for the second birth... Easter-Wood Adelle was 379 days gestation yesterday, so you might have thought she was going to be a goer. But no, Silverstream Hoity Toity decided 310 days of cooking was long enough for her. Going by her previous average gestation period, I had her down for the 20th September, so was a little surprised.

I am pleased to say, that after three males, Hoity has at last has given us a female (she knew we were short this year I guess). She weighed in at 7.4 kgs (light for Hoity) and was very weak on her pasterns with the floppiest ears. Now, I was on my own so was wondering the best course of action...the cria wasn't going to stand any time soon...should I just give cows colostrum...but then you stop them looking from milk from the dam.

Well, Hoity Toity is aptly named, when she is pregnant she is a bit of a madam, but she has an immediate personality transformation as soon as she gives birth. Hoity just stood in the paddock and let me milk her. With some milk on the teats, I sat the cria on my knee and managed to get her under and on the teat. I have never been completely under an alpaca before but Hoity stood statue still. I did this every half hour until at 4 hours old the cria stood by herself...a very wobbly stand but she managed...and she staggered under Hoity...legs wide apart for balance. What a little star and what an amazing dam. We have called her Miss La-Di-Da (Miss Ladida for BAS registration as no symbols allowed) as chosen by Amanda

I have organised for a plasma transfusion for her tomorrow (soonest I could get some more plasma) as I suspect she only took enough colostrum to give her partial immunity...this is a special one...I have waited three years for Hoity to produce me a female...I am taking no gambles.

Beck Brow Miss La-Di-Da (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

Miss La-Di-Da today still requiring legs apart for balance 

Beck Brow Snooty Boots appears to be coping well after the loss of Wellies (still nothing conclusive on PM) but hardly surprisingly her mating didn't take. You may recall that I wanted to mate her to Black Sabbath, but she was horrified with the idea, and thus we mated her to Explorer. Well, we played a dirty trick...we had her sit for Explorer...then quickly took him out of the pen and put Black Sabbath in...she didn't seem to notice...so fingers crossed.

Finally one or two photos from the paddock today. I obviously need to cut down some brambles that are growing through the wall...

Beck Brow Boxster...with body decoration

EP Cambridge Lady Gaga with hair adornment (the shearer gave her a bad hair do this year)

Beck Brow Sunday Best (her legs are longer than that)

Cambridge Scarborough and Beck Brow Lucie in a very Cumbrian landscape