The BAS National Show

After months of planning by the National Show Committee the BAS National Show has been and gone. Thank you to everyone who has given feedback claiming the show to be a resounding success. Its all down to the support that the show receives that such an event can be held...well done everyone!

I started off the week with a cold, so the decision was made not to attend the National Fleece Show and spread the bug far and wide before such an important weekend. This also meant my fleece entries failed to be judged. The first bit of bad luck. Was this an omen...

I then missed being at the back of a pile up of cars by inches. A downfall of snow on a steep hill, required hanging on to the handbrake and praying. Luckily those already involved including the motorcyclists were not critically injured. Okay all my good luck gone for the week...

However, we needn't have worried Beck Brow had a great show. We took seven juniors (plus one belonging to Florens Alpacas) and two intermediates. Two Black Sabbath progeny. Three St Patrick and five Explorer progeny. My secret wish was to come in the top three placings with all of the team...ambitious...but achieved!

Beck Brow Prime Suspect (shared Florens) Black Sabbath . 2nd placed junior black male

Beck Brow Jimmy Choos (Black Sabbath) 2nd placed junior black male (2nd class)

Beck Brow Seventh Heaven (St Patrick) 3rd placed junior brown female

Beck Brow Crafter (St Patrick) 1st placed intermediate fawn male

Florens Juno (St Patrick) 2nd placed junior fawn female

Beck Brow Bottoms Up (Explorer) 1st placed junior white female

Beck Brow Trendsetter (Explorer) 2nd place junior white female (2nd class)

Beck Brow Adventurer (Explorer) 1st placed junior white male

Beck Brow Asterisk (Explorer) 2nd placed junior white male.

Beck Brow First Edition (Explorer) Reserve Champion White Male (behind the eventual Supreme Champion)

It was the first time out for our new pop-up, featuring Beck Brow Explorer of course...

                                       

I am pleased to say that the show team were all pretty well behaved. That was until First Edition (Eddie) left the pen and lined up for his class. That was when Crafter decided to jump out after him. Considering that Crafter is in charge in the paddock, he did turn into a bit of a wuss without his friend Eddie.

                                     

Eddie (left) and Crafter

Crafter in the ring with Julia

   

First Edition (Eddie) Reserve White Male Champion (41 white males entered)

The past few months have seen me spending a lot of time sitting in my kitchen window discussing details of the show, with Julia, Philippa, Michael and Tim and also Shirley, Melanie and Harry, who are aware of my poor mobile reception and hence the inability to move. On many occasions we have been discussing fleece show details and sponsorship opportunities whilst I have a cat on my head (yes it would appear short haired, colour pointed cats like to sit on your head...or is it just ours).

I share this information because the show committee kindly presented me with a fabulous caricature of myself drawn by the very perceptive and highly talented Tracey Hey of Alpaca Pals and Inca Alpaca. Even the curtains are the correct colour as well as the wine. I love it...thank you so much.

                                             

It is very difficult to switch off and not start planning 2016 straight away...but with the Futurity and NWAG shows to come...a rest is required.

To pastures new?

There I was lying in bed last night listening to the wind howling and the rain pelting down, I could hear the beck gushing as the rain was turning the stream in to something of a river. But I had that nice feeling of knowing that we were all warm and dry. Me with my feet on Velvet the dog (Paul was away) a cat on my head, and the alpacas tucked up in various barns and shelters...or so I thought.

As I walked towards the barn this morning, I saw the gate wide open, not just ajar, but a 10 foot gaping hole. The wind combined with human error I suspect. My heart missed a beat as I neared...was I going to see over 60 females looking back at me...NO.

There were a number of girls at the back of the barn, standing the furthest away from the open gate as possible, as if to say "it wasnt' us...we have no intention of going anywhere". I looked up our long lane to the road. Nobody in the lane...but a neighbouring farmer turning in at the top suggested that it wasn't going to be the best news...

"There's about 30 alpacas up on the road lass, jump in and I'll call some help to herd 'em up".

 Now as these were all pregnant females the thought of them being chased around wasn't a good one.

"Hang on" I shout "I'll just get some feed and a rope".

The farmer had plans...a strategy as to how we were going to get the alpacas back...and looked rather surprised when I jumped out of the vehicle...shook the feed bowl, clapped my hands and shouted at the top of my voice...

"cummmm onnnn".

All 30 turned and ran towards me, jumping and kicking for joy, and straight back down the lane. I cheerfully waved thanks to the farmer as they raced back home. They were so pleased to be back you would have thought that someone had forced them to leave home!

It wasn't until I checked out those involved in the great escape (okay not quite an escape, but a wander out of an open gate) that I realised that I had remained extremely calm considering those on the road included: Foxy Sox, Snooty Boots, Camilla (dam of Explorer and High Five) Honaria (dam of First Edition and Bottom's Up), Galaxy (dam of Crafter) and the list goes on and on. Phew...

Cambridge Camilla...ringleader or just led astray?

The rain and the mud has us longing for spring. Looking through the photo archives today, I found one of my favourites; Kenzie (left) and Explorer (right) with the amazing Morden Hall Honaria. Taken in 2010, our second year of breeding, the weather was good and we were full of hope for our wee man Beck Brow Explorer.

Spoiling the photo slightly is Explorer's sticky eye. We usually have one or two cria who get runny eyes and if they don't clear up with cleaning, we have always had success with Opticlox eye ointment. However, this year we had a couple where the problem was persistent. Thus I decided to try Leucillin, sprayed into the affected eye once each day, and this has cleared them up within a few days.

The seven alpacas who left the farm for Switzerland on Saturday have arrived safely and have settled well. LOC Transport did a great job giving the alpacas a stress free journey. As we had loaded them at the end of the lane..I was just thinking...maybe the girls this morning were looking to hitch a lift to better weather on the continent!

Hettie is a natural with the alpacas and visa versa...

"If you are going to ask for one try for the black...she's obsessed with whites you'll have no chance!"

The story of an elite female!

Maybe it is because the 2015 show season is nearly upon us; or maybe it is because I can feel the excitement of those exhibiting at the BAS National Show for the first time; but I have been doing a little reminiscing. Attending the shows is still exciting, and we look forward to catching up, but nothing can beat those early days. Being in awe of the prize winning alpacas. In fact being in awe of everything...nobody knows who you are, but you know all about them!

One of my fondest memories relates to 2010, when we went as spectators to the British Alpaca Futurity (there was no way at that point that we were going to have a show team). We watched the judging, attended the lectures, and roamed around the trade stands...but nothing could distract me from a certain alpaca at the show...she wasn't in the ring, she was in the elite auction...Ep Cambridge Lady Gaga was the most beautiful female I had ever seen.

We set ourselves a limit of £10,000...then another for £12,000...how much did we want this beauty??? the auction in those days was rather like EBay, who ever had the highest bid at closing was the winner (none of this extending the time). Tactics were required...and a determination that she was going to be ours...it took £13,600 but were ecstatic. I kept going around singing...alternating between Bad Romance and Poker Face!

It wasn't all good news, she did unfortunately, before delivery, have a premature cria which was still born. We then made the decision to leave her at Ep Cambridge for a mating, awaiting the import of Waradene St Patrick of EPC. We did this, and then being so impressed with the boy, we bought him as our first elite stud male...yes, the bug had well and truly bitten.

A massive investment? Yes...and one of the best that we have made...

Ep Cambridge Lady Gaga arrives at Beck Brow in November 2010...showing the boys what they have missed...already pregnant thank you

She went on to produce Beck Brow Snooty Boots with St Patrick...a beautiful mid fawn female who has her parent's presence and style.

Lady Gaga and Snooty Boots

Beck Brow Snooty Boots newly shorn summer 2011.

This year Snooty Boots went on to produce a stunning blue black male sired by Viracocha Black Sabbath (proving once again that St Patrick carries a black gene)

Snooty Boots with Beck Brow Jimmy Choos.

Lady Gaga produced a female for us again in 2013 (after being left over the previous year) another St Patrick mid fawn, pretty as a picture and full of curls...

Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas

Cats as she was fondly known, went on to become Supreme Champion (Northumberland Show 2014). She loved her time on the show circuit...kissing everyone who showed interest in her the pen.

Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas (with Jean who received many a kiss)

We have had many enquires as to whether any of these girls would ever be for sale. So, pregnant again to St Patrick, and a cria due in 2014, we decided if Gaga had another female we would consider putting the offspring up for sale. And Gaga did have another female; Beck Brow Posh Pants. This time beige like her dam.

Lady Gaga with Posh Pants

Well I have considered it...that is all that I said...it might have been easier if she too didn't flip over her tail and come for kisses. Posh Pants is staying...I will convince Paul!!

Beck Brow Posh Pants.

The moral of the story? It just takes the investment in one excellent female for it to have a big impact on a small herd. From one elite female we now have four from the same family and a stunning potential stud male too. And cria due from Cats, Boots and Gaga in the spring and summer...exciting!

Okay I may have repeated this process more than once to have the herd that we have, but these elite females pay dividends! The plan might work even better if I could bring myself to part with more of course!

Happy New Year...a time for reflection?

The 2nd of January....always a time for reflection?

Well it's always good to have a brief glance back at what the previous year brought. However, I am not really one for lingering on either the good or the bad that has gone before...I just like to look forward at what opportunities and excitement might lie ahead. I will just say that 2014 was kind to us.

This outlook on life, I suspect has never been more so than since the obsession with alpacas took hold, for of course we start thinking towards spring and the start of the birthing season. I have been finding it rather difficult to keep a lid on my excitement at the prospect of what Cambridge Stargazer (sired by  Windsong Valley Firedragon pregnant to Beck Brow Explorer) might produce for us. So, I was struggling with my glass half full approach, when I found her looking over an aborted female foetus that I found in the barn this morning. 

The size fit with her gestation period. However, with further detective work undertaken, I am pretty sure that it is Holly who has lost her cria. Holly is eleven years old and was pregnant to St Patrick. Paul and I had just been discussing the fact that we would probably keep Beck Brow Honey Bun (Holly and St Pat cria from 2014) as it might be Holly's last female. Shame:(

The other aspect of the New Year is looking forward to the show season. This has a lot to do with getting together with everyone after the winter months, as well as checking out the competition. Having been heavily involved with the BAS National Show organisation in 2014 and again in 2015, I can't really pretend that it has only come to mind in January, but I am looking forward to getting out and about. This will be the last year that I will be Chairing the committee, so I am already looking forward to 2016 when I can exhibit stress free! Don't pretend that you having thought about your show team for 2016 already...they might not be born yet...but we all have plans!

One for the 2015 team...Beck Brow Trendsetter (dam: Bozedown Celestrial. Sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

One thing in our alpaca lives that has been difficult to avoid looking back upon, has been the decision to take a herd of 40 alpacas on agistment. The alpacas arrived late 2013, under difficult circumstances and many were in a state of either stress, ill health, or both. It has been a challenge that took up a great deal of time in 2014. All bar one are now a picture of health which is satisfying (we still have a female under weight).  

But the most rewarding part, is the change in their disposition. Alpacas who screeched, spat, bit and  kicked when they arrived, now eat from my hand. This aggressiveness was such abnormal behaviour for alpacas, we deduced that it could only be due to fear. The ones who didn't attack kushed in submission or flipped over their tails and urinated. It was a distressing experience and It has taken a lot of time and patience, but without exception, we have gained their trust. 

Lisa, arrived with barely any fleece, such was the damage from mites. We were told that she was near impossible to handle and thus treat properly. Well, admittedly she was very reluctant to be held, so we penned her and sprayed her with Eprinex and maggot oil using a plant spray, holding her only to do her face and ears. Within three weeks I could catch her and treat her single handedly. I reflect on this because, yesterday I caught Lisa's cria when she wasn't expecting it, for a fleeting moment a panic crossed her face, then she remember she was safe. She rushed, then slowed, as she approached, smelt my head, tapped me on the shoulder with her nose and squeezed in for attention too.

We had a lovely family Christmas this year, with our granddaughter Hettie making it four generations present. It was very relaxing as we all mucked in with the morning alpaca rounds and preparation of lunch. Only one minor hiccup, when Craig, who had promised to peel the vegetables, couldn't find the only potato peeler he could apparently use (news to us). We searched the utensil drawers, finding three, but no...not the one he wanted. Having revealed that he had used it the last time he stayed, we accused him of throwing it out with the peelings.. that was me about to submit and peel, but Paul never one to give up, found it. This was after searching for far longer than it would have taken to peel the potatoes and boil them....and certainly far longer than the two potatoes it took Craig to break said potato peeler. Craig did the washing up....

    

Hettie dressed in one of her Christmas gifts

Happy New Year!

Our Latest Addition to the Stud Team

When we bought our first four pregnant females in September 2008 we had a plan; we would buy the ones with the biggest eyes, the ones with the super cute cria at foot, and we would buy one of each colour (white, brown and two fawns). At this point we had purchased our alpacas purely as pretty lawnmowers, and for the pleasure of having some cria around the farm.

By March 2009 we were seriously addicted and decided to make breeding alpacas into a business. This did necesitate a plan...and the plan was to breed elite fawn genetics. Well we were obviously still niave at this point, because as we all know...you might know what colour you want from a breeding...but it doesn't mean you are going to get it!

 But then I quickly became seduced by the elite white fleeces I was seeing at the shows... fortunately, this resulted in probably the best decision I have ever made...the purchase of Cambridge Camilla...who was carrying Beck Brow Explorer (our multi Supreme Champion and sire of Supreme Champion Beck Brow First Edition). And so it was for a couple of years, we focused on our whites and fawns, and were happy enough with the occassional brown.

Thus it came as a bit of a surprise to myself...as someone who secretly didnt like black alpacas...when we bought a half share in Viracocha Black Sabbath with Florens Alpacas...note the half share, not ready to fully commit! And so it is that two of our star members of our 2015 show team are black. Whites and fawns remain my passion but I am now happy to have some blacks around...anything but greys...well that is what I thought...I wasn't even secretive about my disinterest in grey genetics...

Well, that is about to change....

                            

                              

I have been tempted... Beck Brow and Velvet Hall Alpacas are to be the new owners of EP Cambridge Gunsmith (sire: Wyterrica Propaganda) when he arrives in the UK next May. I guess it isnt really about the colour, its about the quality, and that was what made him too difficult to resist.

Talking of blacks, Jimmy Choos is one of our little stars. His dam is the gorgeous Snooty Boots, whose own dam is EP Cambridge Lady Gaga. Both Boots and Lady G are fabulous mothers...and both Jimmy Choos  and Posh Pants have been weaned today...I think mums are taking it worse than the cria are. Jimmy is actually only 5 months old but as he is over 30kgs so he joined the other 15 weanlings. Weights ranged from 26kgs (6 month old on agistment with underweight dam) to the rest between 30 and 42kgs. All cria this year are taking hard food, including little Bond who started eating Camelibra at 3 weeks.

Beck Brow Snooty Boots with Beck Brow Jimmy Choos

The sixteen weanlings enjoying the fresh grass...so far so good!

Last Sunday some of the NWAG members met for a fleece rummage before enjoying a lovely Christmas lunch at the Heather Glen. As you can see from the photo below, some members were taking it very seriously. I think we need a caption competition " Amanda doesn't normally like to point the finger...but if this fleece is black then..."

Caption required!

Finally some views to the East and the North from the top paddock (I have made that up, I have absolutely no sense of direction...could be West and South...but they are from the top paddock!)

How they have grown...

 Its been a beautiful bright autumn day here today, so I decided to get some cria photos whilst I had the chance. As you will see we have not managed to keep them very clean, and the photo quality is variable, but for those of you who like to see the cria grow, here we have some of the 2014 crop...

Beck Brow Jimmy Choos (black) is sired by Viracocha Black Sabbath and is from a fawn dam; Beck Brow Snooty Boots, who is sired by Waradene St Patrick (fawn). The fawn female born here on agistment is sired by Lavender Park Tulley. Her dam is now pregnant to Timbertop CT Goldmine,who shares his sire with Tulley.

We only put Beck Brow Explorer with one non-white female and Beck Brow Kitty La Kat was the result. In the foreground is Prima Sebastian (sire; Viracocha Black Sabbath)

 Beck Brow High Five is full brother to Beck Brow Explorer (sire: EP Cambridge Navigator of Houghton Hall) and his dam is one of our star females; Cambridge Camilla)

Here he is again. Normally he doesn't like to get in the photos!

Beck Brow Honey Bun (sire: Waradene St Patrick of EPC) looking very cute with those dark ears. Foreground is Beck Brow Illusion (sire; EP Cambridge Mirage)

Foreground; Beck Brow Soprano sired by Beck Brow Explorer. Dam EP Cambridge Aria (dam of Valley Alpacas The Diplomat)

This is one of my favourites of 2014; sired by Beck Brow Explorer she is full sister to Beck First Edition (Supreme Champion NWAG Alpaca Championships 2014). She has a very similiar fleece to her brother but beige in colour.

Beck Brow Asterisk (sire; Beck Brow Explorer) was rejected by his dam initially. Beck Brow Fine Romance rejected her first cria (Beck Brow Foxy Sox) and tried to do the same again. But with the help of Sepia (homeopathic remedy) and a persistent Asterisk all ended well. Typical crimpy chest of the Explorer cria.

 I realised that I hadn't taken a decent photo of Beck Brow Bond 007 (BBB007 is on the right) our only Timbertop CT Goldmine cria of 2014. Born the 9th of October he is a late born cria, but is gaining weight well. Here he is with Beck Brow Mr Darcy (left) who was due the same day but was born 3 weeks earlier.

Beck Brow Adventurer (sire; Beck Brow Explorer) is adorable. His dam obviously hasn't the best milk supply, so he shares the milk from our multi- championship winning female Bozedown Celestrial, with her daughter; his best friend Beck Brow Trendsetter!

Winning the prize for looking like a scruff-bag despite having a fabulous fleece in there, is Beck Brow Stardust (Sire; EP Cambridge Spartacus. Dam: Cambridge Stargazer). I suppose she did travel all the way from New Zealand.

Beck Brow Bunny Girl (Sire; Sanjo Shalimar) just never takes a good photo despite being rather lovely in the flesh, with a very dense fleece (Dam; EP Cambridge Courtesse)

Beck Brow Kitty La Kat again.

Beck Brow Hot Shot (foreground) and Beck Brow Mr Darcy (both sired by Beck Brow Explorer)

Beck Brow Prime Suspect (Sired by Viracocha Black Sabbath)

Left to right Beck Brow Explorer progeny: Mr Darcy, Adventurer and Trendsetter.

Looks like Beck Brow Mr Darcy (centre) might be well named...posing well!

Prima Sebastian (Sire: Viracocha Black Sabbath) getting in the frame again.

Paul has been building yet another field shelter. A small one this time for one of our isolation paddocks. It will be used for visiting females or when we have additions to our herd.

Taking of additions, our latest two to arrive on the farm and still in isolation, are Furze Park Sputnik (front) and Furze Park Elvira (both sired by Furze Park Telstar). We are hoping that Sputnik doesn't get any hanky panky ideas, but looking at the back of his neck, I suspect Elvira is in charge!

Lastly Beck Brow Idris (sire Lillyfield Jack of Spades) enjoying the view.

Back from blogging hibernation

Anyone who follows us on Facebook will know that we are alive, and that all is well. My blogging has been rather neglected, partly because I haven't had time to take any photos, and partly because I have forgotten what we have been up to, its been so long. I think that we all end up having a little blog hibernation after the births are over.

Firstly after all the waiting, Adelle had our long awaited Timbertop CT Goldmine cria on the 9th of October. A white male whom we have called Bond 007 (there is a bit of a tale to that one!) We have been extremely lucky with the weather and he has come on well, gaining 3 kilos in three weeks. Early impressions are that he is very fine and dense.

He is now on weekly weighing. We weigh our cria (using a sling and balance scales) every day for the first 5-7 days at least. It then depends on how they are thriving, but they go on to a minimum of weekly weigh-ins after that. This means we pick up any weight loses quickly, and we have a recent record of weight, so if any one looks off colour we can assess weight gain/loss fairly accurately.

Thus it was a bit of an anxious time when our large Salter P2000 scales went on the blink. Well more than went on the blink...they went kaput...£750 and four years old! It took over a week for it to be decided that they were not repairable, and another week or so for a new set to be delivered. In the meantime we had 32 cria to weigh with Paul holding a cria and standing on a  set of bathroom scales.

We ended up with 13 females and 10 male cria after the start of 9 girls in a row. We also had 6 males and 3 females born to agisted alpacas on the farm, so pretty even in the end.

Yesterday I completed the registrations of our 2014 cria. With the BAS National Show entries commencing in less than a month's time, I thought I best have them ready to enter. With only 360 spaces I expect entries will close early again this year...be warned!

 

Easter-Wood Adelle with Beck Brow Bond 007 (24 hours old)

We did manage to have an amazing break in Oman. It was sheer luxury staying at the Shangri La Al Husn, an adults only hotel (adults only as in no children...rather than x-rated) where we really did have a chill out holiday. Paul returned to head straight off to Spain with work. leaving me to prepare for the North West Alpaca Group Workshop which was held on the farm. Tim Hey shared his knowledge and expertise with 40+ members of the group, and everyone agreed, lots had be learnt

 

 Members and guests of NWAG enjoying the workhop with Tim Hey of Inca Alpaca.

As I said earlier I keep meaning to write a blog but never like to be short of photos. However my efforts have been poor. I did think that I would  get some action shots of the females with cria running in at feed time, but I had the camera on the wrong setting so that they were too quick!

I have marked out High Five in the first photo...

Can you spot High Five reving up...

here he has swung round the outside to gain position

he is so fast I havent managed to run backwards quickly enough!

Today set off murky and has progressed on to drizzle. My plans to get photos of some of the yealing boys, and to get them on to Alpacaseller, have thus been delayed again. It might be Spring at this rate!