Looking Snazzy!

On Saturday morning, it was the usual bright and early start; but at least I had plans for the day, instead of the usual farm watch. Paul had decided that he would rather stay home, than man our stand at Skelton Show (Paul can only smile for limited periods) so it was going to be down to me.

As I drove off, I though Katkin looked rather fidgety. So when I received a call at 8.30 am, it wasn't a great surprise to hear that she had birthed...the fact that she had had a fancy was a great surprise! This was her third pairing with St Patrick, the first resulted in a mid fawn boy, the second a black male...and now a fancy boy...consistent with the males at least!

Actually, I do think that he is rather cute. I have named him Beck Brow Snazzy...because I just think he is! Partially bottle fed because Katkin has a limited milk supply (she will now be retired) he is sure to be a favourite.

Katkin and Snazzy

For those of you who do not follow us on Facebook; an up-date on Roma and her rejected cria: Roma did decide that she didn't fancy motherhood. She watched her cria, but just let him wander off searching for her. If he did find her and try to drink she pushed him away. So we closed the pair together in an outside pen, with Lady Gaga and Posh Pants for company.

 Having read the blog about Roma on Facebook, Angela (Lignum Alpacas) suggested trying Roma with Sepia (homeopathic remedy) to calm her. We were on the case, Googling suppliers, when bingo...I remembered that I some on farm. Initially excited, Paul soon stopped that when he reminded me that the reason I had some, was because I tried it last time with Roma (Jayne from Zanzibah Alpacas had suggested it). However, it was day 3 before we managed to get hold of any last time.

I dissolved some pellets in water and gave them as a drench. In the meantime we fed the cria with cows colostrum, but he stuck close to mum. She may not have loved him, but he certainly loved her. If she sat down...he sat down close beside her...she had no choice but to be near him. The next morning, not keen to take a bottle, I decided that he must have had a feed from Roma. I decided to take the chance and let them out into the paddock (having given Roma more Sepia). Well, she was frantic...frantic that she was going to lose him...result! The most attentive mother ever. I have named him Beck Brow Asterisk...a little star!

Phew...

Beck Brow Asterisk (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

and another with milk dried chops!

I have decided that we are going to start putting in ear tags. I really don't like the idea, but as Paul points out, when I am away from the farm, recognition is difficult (and that is not just immediately post shearing). So, I have the tags...and the applicator...but no nerve. I did do the microchips, and managed to stab my thumb, which I thought was just revenge! I have decided that Paul will be good at tag insertion!

Beck Brow After Eight (left) was the cause of my microchipped thumb.

Still, my favourite, is Beck Brow Bottoms Up...she is such a sweetie...and a curly wurly. The patch where her fleece was shaved for her plasma transfusion, shows the amount of organisation in her fleece. Looking forward to seeing how she develops.

Beck Brow Bottoms-Up (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

Beck Brow Cloud Nine with Chaska (sire: Lilly field Jack of Spades)

Lots of matings have been taking place on the farm; with our own, livery, and client's females, the air has been filled with ogling. This means that formal spitt-offs are often not necessary, as the open females plonk themselves down, when matings are going on. First in this queue, and this has been for the past few weeks, has been Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas (Supreme Champion at Northumberland Show this year)....so she has had a date with Timbertop CT Goldmine ET...a St Patrick x Goldmine...now that will have me excited for next year!

Another cria rejection?....

Well, after a very long wait (370 days) Beck Brow Fine Romance went into labour this morning. She had been humming away for a week, so we have been expecting a delivery any day.

 For those of you not familiar with Roma, she is the dam of Beck Brow Foxy Sox (born in 2012). Foxy Sox, who was bottle fed... because her mum didnt want her! Roma didnt have a cria last year, and we were rather hoping she might have gotten over her self importance, and look after her cria this time. So some slight anxiety...

Beck Brow Foxy Sox (born 2012)

We viewed from a distance, through the long lense of the camera...and first signs were good, she didnt seem freaked out in any way by the second stages of labour...

also it was white (we decided that she didnt like Sox being fawn, as she had ran around after all the white cria in 2012). In fact she seemed remarkable chilled, not even bothering with the final push...

Not bothering to move is; Beck Brow Cloud Nine, our ninth female delivered on Sunday by Chaska. It's as if she is saying; "hey, I haven't featured on the blog yet"...

Still trying to ignore the fact that she has a cria crawling out (a leg still inside in photo below), Roma doesn't bother to stand...

But he (yes, our first boy of the year) is determined to meet his mum (leg still inside...we are avoiding any interference)...it is looking hopeful as she looks round (below)....

After a quick dry and spray of the cord; I sat him next to Roma, and stood away...It was looking good...

 What a little star, he was up on his feet and looking for milk within 15 minutes. Roma was not having him near her udder, but she was calling him...at this point I was hoping that she just needed to pass the placenta, then she would bond. However, he was up and away and running around. She called but didn't go after him. I returned him a number of times but she wasn't interested.

We have now closed them together in a pen outside on the grass (with Lady Gaga and Posh Pants for company). Experience tells me not to hold up too much hope. Unfortunately Roma does not appear to have much of a mothering instinct. It is so sad to watch...another cria that will have to be bottle fed and not cared for by his mother...she sniffs the cria but walks away.

I am sure that the lovely Ep Cambridge Solstice will have him in her creche. She is pictured below with Beck Brow Snooty Boots (left). As mentioned in my last blog, Solstice runs the creche, as well as paddock protection services...

                     

busy in the creche...

calling in Stardust for paddock protection duty (that will be Velvet in the grass!)

Finally on a happy note...some cria who do get looked after by their dams...Juno (St Patrick) and After Eight with Valentine (black Sabbath)

Friends...some welcome, some not so!

 It's my favourite time of the year, doing my favourite job. This is when I realise how lucky I am to live with alpacas. Dam and cria watching in the sunshine...it just doesn't get any better.

 It might just look like I am sitting on a bench enjoying the view...but it is proper work. Actually, I am only partly jesting, because nothing is more rewarding than knowing your herd...and equally, them knowing and trusting you.

On Wednesday, (admittedly I hadnt looked in the paddock for about an hour as I was busy with other things) I was greeted by a head, neck, and one leg, from Anzac Showpiece. Showpiece is on agistement, but has obviously gained enough trust to just let me have a feel about without assistance. Unfortunately, I wasnt able to sort the problem, so called for Paul. It took him over half an hour (leg back and twisted behind a back leg) but eventually out came a Black Sabbath male (with very long legs). We gave some doxapram and used our newly acquired resusitator to clear the lungs. The vet arrived soon after and intravenous bicarbonate was given. He was soon up and away and has never looked back. He has been named Prima Sebastian.

Soon after this we had visitors. Jane and Barbara had purchased some Explorer matings, and were interested in adding another female to their herd (Angel has been chosen). Delighted to see a new born, they were in for a further treat, when Anzac Sweet Secret went into labour, and again delivered a Black Sabbath male. Note how I get all the females, and everyone else on farm gets males!

This was the third Black Sabbath cria in a row, as a couple of days earlier April had delivered our eighth female for Beck Brow. Named 'After Eight' she has a gorgeous fleece...we are very pleased.

 Sweet Secret and Prima Valentine

 Prima Valentine

 Prima Sebastian demonstrating which leg was back!

but soon finds the milk

 Beck Brow After Eight (sire: Viracocha Black Sabbath)

Bozedown Celestrial (pregnant to Beck Brow Explorer) is keeping us guessing. Originally mated  in May last year, she then sat again in September and was remated. However, she looks far too huge for her second dates so I reverted back to her being due now. She is now 377 days! Come on girl...I am sure she is showing signs of bagging up...is it just wishful thinking!

Any way all this watching and waiting has me enjoying the herd dynamics. EP Cambridge Courtesse only joined our herd last year, but is high up the pecking order. Her daughter Beck Brow Bunny Girl is also one of the most forward and confident cria. It seems to follow, if mum has a position, the other herd members show respect to their cria also.

Courtesse and Bunny Girl

On the other hand EP Cambridge Summer Solstice seems to be bottom of the pile. We put her in the paddock with the dams and cria, and soon to birth females, so not to seperate her from EP Cambridge Stargazer and Stardust. However, because she is neither heavily pregnant nor nursing, she gets all the jobs to do: chasing dogs and cats, and creche duties are amongst her many roles...

Summer Solstice (fawn) on creche duty

I love the way alpacas form friendships, it is one of many endearing qualities they have. Below is Bozedown Celestrial, who is looking after Seventh Heaven for her BFF Bozedown Magic Charm (note tail out...must be soon!)

Celestrial and Seventh Heaven

One relationship which isnt so mutal, is that between Crafter and my gorgeous little Epic. With all the matings going on around the farm (everyday it seems) Crafter is getting himself worked up and is practicing what the big boys do...the problem is it is always, without fail, Epic who is the chosen one. Crafter is on his final warning...in with Explorer if he doesnt behave!

Beck Brow Crafter

Beck Brow Epic left (not happy after his love in) with his best friend Beck Brow Raffles.

Beck Brow Idris (sire: Lillyfield Jack of Spades) looking good!

Bottoms Up...we are in Seventh Heaven!

Yet again rather a lot has happened since my last blog...not least Beck Brow Encore is now officially renamed as Beck Brow Bottoms Up (much to Amanda's disgust). I blame Karen from Meon Valley!

Little Bot has had a plasma transfusion and is doing okay. She hasnt really gained any weight, and we are giving her some top up with goats milk, but she is perky enough. Undoubtedly the best female we have had born here (sire: Beck Brow Explorer) she is a little star.

Beck Brow Bottoms Up in the Buttercups

On Saturday morning I was up bright and early, and off to the Three Counties Show. I was apprentice, to judge Tim Hey, at both the fleece and halter shows. I had a fantastic time, I learnt so much, and I also really enjoyed the show.

Whilst I was away Bozedown Magic Charm delivered the biggest cria ever born here. Our seventh female in a row this year, we have named her Seventh Heaven, she weighed a whopping 11.1kgs and has gained since birth.

  Bozedown Magic Charm with her daughter Beck Brow Seventh Heaven...a lovely Waradene St Patrick brown female

St Patrick does have lovely looking cria, but then he is a bit of a looker himself!

Beck Brow Snooty Boots (above) is his image. She is pregnant to Viracocha Black Sabbath...we know St Patrick can produce black, so this will be interesting!

Beck Brow Honey Bun (sire: Waradene St Patrick)

Florens Juno (sire: Waradene St Patrick)

I have to say that I am rather taken by one of the yearling females here on agistment...meet Prima Maridadi. I couldnt decide if ears up...or ears down was most cute?

 Finally, just to prove we do have all colours...some of the girls strolling out to the top paddock...

What to do for an Encore!

Well I thought we might have a birth today...the sun was shinning and Bozedown Magic Charm was looking a likely suspect yesterday. However, when Paul did the early morning check he came back to report that Morden Hall Honario was "twittering away to herself" . By 10am she was showing all the signs of early labour. Now this was exciting...not due until the 23rd...this is the dam of Supreme Champion Beck Brow First Edition...pregnant again to Beck Brow Explorer. Okay deep breaths...stand back...wait...keep calm and carry on.

However, things weren't really progressing, Honaria never stood to push, but was very fidgety and was looking a bit uncomfortable. After an hour of her attempting to push now and again, we went to get the Hibiscrub and obstetric gel. On return Paul declared that a bottom had appeared...yes completely breech with the legs under in a crushed position. We gently helped Honaria and the cria slid out, still attached to the cord. Then Honaria stood breaking the attachment. Paul quickly swung the cria, which obviously had fluid on it's lungs. As the cria was now looking blue and showing little sign of life, Paul gave mouth to mouth resuscitation. On the third administration, the cria started to breath. 

The cria was given jump-start, glucose, and was brought in under the lamp and warmed with a hair dryer. Cord now sprayed, we had chance to see, that we have yet another female (six in a row for us). We called the vet, to check that Honaria hadn't suffered any tears. Also, so that  if we needed to administer bicarbonate (given I.V.) for acidosis, due to the cria's breathing at birth, it was on its way. 

It looks like good news around. Honaria has no tearing (I have given her pain relief and long acting Amoxypen...and as I am told she may retain her placenta, Oxytocin). By the time the vet arrived the cria was looking fine. She has now had 2 x 50 mls of cows colostrum, and doesn't appear to understand what all the fuss was about!

She is showing signs of being premature so will need a close eye...but phew for now (we now have Doxapram on farm, an aid to induce breathing and a resusitator on the shopping list...well done Paul)

                       

Looking very like her sibling, First Edition (albeit a cream version) we have decided to name her Beck Brow Encore...we did consider Bottoms up (and worse) but decided against it?

We had another female born on the farm yesterday, this time belonging to Amanda (Florens Alpacas). Blackmorel Vale Butterscotch presented another gorgeous Waradene St. Patrick "look at me" cria, named Florens Juno.

                        

It's been another busy week with mobile and on-farm matings. A great opportunity to catch up with folks, not what you could really call work! We did manage to include some proper social activity, when we joined Viv and Niamh of Oakton Alpacas, in the evening celebration of their wedding. We had a lovely time.

It was back on Sunday, ready to make a special delivery of four boys to their new home. I was going to drive, but as Robyn and Craig were available to farm watch we decided to go together. The boys have gone to a fabulous new home, and it was lovely to be able to spend a little time there.

                      

                                                 The boys at their new home

Robyn and Craig took Hettie for a walk whilst on the farm...it wasn't until they returned that they noticed what was in the parcel shelf...

                           

  
                                                                Astor enjoying a trip out!

And finally for Claire...a photo of our granddaughter Hettie (Henrietta Rose)

                     

    

                                                          Hettie Kerr...little doll!

Shows, Shearing and Surprises!

 A quick catch-up...well as quick as I can be when I have been rather slack with the blogging!

At some point since I last blogged we had our fifth female of the year. What a start to the breeding season! Holly had a lovely fawn Waradene St Patrick female, who was up on her feet and looking like she owned the place within no time...thats St Patrick cria for you!

Beck Brow Honey Bun (right) our fifth female to be born

 On Wednesday we had our shearer (Ben Wheeler) arrive at 7am. As we had more that a day's worth of shearing we decided to concentrate on the pregnant females and stud males (who desperately needed their fleeces off to get working). Then at 3pm I left Paul and Amanda in charge (Paul armed with microchip reader for recognition post shearing!) as I headed off to Shepton Mallot for the Bath and West Show, where I was to be apprentice judge, to Mary-Jo Smith.

Fortunately it was a leisurely start on the Thursday, as I hadnt arrived at my destination until 10pm. I had a fantastic two days, learning so much from the experience, and I also managed to catch up with lots of folks. Bath and West is a great show and the alpaca section was so well organised...just a shame it isnt a bit closer!

I then travelled back ready for shearing part two. We were up at 6am ready for action, but we had been beaten to it, for there was Willow with a cria born and already standing. Willow belongs to Wiseman Alpacas, who now are the proud owners of a gorgeous brown male sired by Anzac Almost Illegal (who does appear to be rather good at producing brown!)

Beck Brow Willow with Wiseman Shocolate

It was the turn of the weanling boys to get shorn at the weekend...they look so comical shorn and even I am finding it difficult to recognise everyone. I think this is a photo of Epic below...what do you think?

 Beck Brow Epic pre shearing..

 Beck Brow Epic post shearing?

The weanling boys all shorn!

In amongst all the activity we also had Northumberland County Show on bank holiday Monday. We were lucky with the weather, after days of rain (we had to get towed on to the show ground) the sun shone down. Another well organised and very enjoyable alpaca halter show. We had a very welcome surprise when the judge, Shirley Bettinson, awarded the Supreme Championship to Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas. So aptly named... for she sure does think that she is!

 Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas showing off her Fawn Female Sash before winning Supreme (with Jean from Velvet Hall Alpacas).

Cats has a full sister born this year (dam; Ep Cambridge Lady Gaga. sire; Waradene St Patrick) whom we have named Beck Brow Posh Pants...as you can see in the photo below...another one aptly named!

 By the way we seem to have been over taken by Buttercups all of a sudden!

Beck Brow Posh Pants

Lastly, just because I get accused of having super clean alpacas...Ep Cambridge Courtesse...

Ep Cambridge Courtesse with Beck Brow Bunny Girl

Come on the girls!

Well its been a busy old week, as the girls just keep on coming!

On Thursday it was Ep Cambridge Aria (sire: Ep Cambridge Peruvian Ceaser) who decided that the weather was just right for a special delivery. Aria was due to have our first Beck Brow Explorer cria of the year so we (mainy me actually) were (was) rather excited...Velvet the dog likes a birth, but I don't think she is bothered who the sire is. So I called Amanda to see if she wanted a coffee whilst we waited, then Robyn and Hettie turned up, so Soprano was welcomed in to the world by an appreciative audience

As it would be Amanda and I had been discussing whether we should put Explorer over more coloureds so see what he could produce. We knew that both his dam (Cambridge Camilla) and his sire (Ep Cambridge Navigator) had produced colour, but had one of them passed on that coloured secondary gene? I had commented to Amanda maybe we will just find out by breeding him to whites (both passing on a secondary colour gene). Well we didnt have to wait long...Soprana is a lovely deep apricot colour...and the spitting image of her sire as a cria!

Aria and Soprano

Soprano...the image of Explorer

Whilst this was happening Paul was on his way to Heathrow to collect our Australian females. It was a long trip from New Zealand via Singapore (with stops in between) all the way to Heathrow. Lots of checking on arrival of 92 alpacas and a group of horses, meant that Paul didn't arrive home until 8am on Friday.

I was amazed at how calm all three females were when they were unloaded. It hadn't been our plan to transport such a young cria, but the original plan to fly in March hadn't happened. It was then decided that Cambridge Stargazer would be too pregnant to fly in May. However, she had other ideas, and decided to birth on the 6th April. Stardust was very prem. However, although only 6.5kgs she was a fighter. She needed a plasma transusion and antibiotics, but then never looked back. So we made the decision to bring her into the UK at the start of summer, rather than leave her in NZ at the start of winter.

After clean feacal egg counts and prophylactic Cydectin and Baycox (just in case not shedding), and 24 hours on concrete they are now in with the small birthing group. I just cant believe how chilled they are, coming into the barn for feed straight away.

They are such an exciting addition to the Beck Brow herd. Bred by Ep Cambridge Alpaca Stud; Cambridge Stargazer (white) and Cambridge Summer Solstice (fawn) are both sired by the amazing Windsong Valley Firedragon (bought for $AUS 165,000 if my memory is correct!). Their density has me awe struck. Stardust is sired by Ep Cambridge Spartacus (sire of some of the top stud males working in Aust, UK and mainland Europe) and is lovely...Happy days!

Stargazer and Solstice

 Stardust with aunty Solstice who does seem to do most of the child care!

 Stardust

We have been having some more fencing done in order to create another isolation paddock (the last one!). It seems that I am considered the Imelda Marcos of gates. Our fencer claims not to have seen so many 12 ft gates on our acreage before. I think he is just teasing...I have had a count...32 on fify acres is that a lot...okay maybe I like a wooden gate or two!

It was halter training on Sunday. Four of our boys will be going to their new home in a couple of weeks, so we need to get them fully trained. Below is Craig with Orlando, behind is Robyn with Epic..a new home for Epic...I dont think so!

Halter training (that's Oscar's nose in the photo!)

Well the sun is shinning, ideal for birthing. We have some exciting births due, including Bozedown Celestrial (a favourite of mine) and Bozedown Magic Charm. Both girls were bought at the Alpaca Classic in 2012. Our 2013 purchase, the lovely Bozedown Campari, has had a date with our Timbertop CT Goldmine ...and seems to be rather pleased with herself since...should be a cracker!