Game On for Sox

Thank you for all your comments, emails and calls giving moral support to Sox (pictured above today) .She is being brave, much more than I had anticipated. However, she was in no way fooled by my efforts to sneak Dingo away from under the towel...she is raging with me...blaming me for taking him. Raging to the point that it is difficult not to smile, as she makes such a deliberate effort to let me know she is mad. She wont even look at me. and marches off if I call her. It is good, as she has moved her focus from Dingo to me. She will eventually forgive.

However, I have broken my resolve to keep births tighter next year. Matings were planned to start mid June...yes, Sox and Cat's Pyjamas have been mated today. As Paul always quips - "the majority of Barbara's decisions around alpacas are based on emotion rather than practicality" - so here's another one! They both seem happier knowing they will have another cria.

Now that I have changed plans I decided to at least get a few mated together, rather than have stragglers. So, Explorer was brought to the barn for some romance, whilst Goldmine was looking after his girls. First into the pen was Pheonix...pretty little maiden...who sat as Explorer mounted. Seconds later Explorer is standing, sniffing where gentleman ought not to, and then he just sits beside her. Now, Explorer is fussy when it comes to colour, he dislikes blacks with a passion, but Pheonix is beige, he doesn't have a problem there.

Next I try Elvira (lovely white Telstar daughter also a maiden) this time he sniffs and doesn't even bother to mount. Okay I am getting worried now, our star stud male no longer likes the ladies? Is it because they, and he, are fully fleeced...too much effort?..he is lazy. Does he want a bigger percentage? I used to reward him with a few peas and beans but they weren't good for his waist line...cant have a stud male where his belly gets in the way of work.

Then I remember that he is much smarter than I; he knows when females are receptive with one sniff. I bring in Renatta, a female left open to bring on to summer birthing, she is sitting whilst Goldmine is working...wham, bang, mated...no holding back. Normally I do let maidens see some matings first and get them sitting, but both these girls are coming up two years so I thought that they might be more receptive...stick to the tried and tested methods... Explorer knows best!

Beck Brow Game On is a delight. So friendly like all Waradene St Patrick cria. This boy must have the densest fleece I can remember seeing on a cria of this age. He is a hungry boy, and I have struggled to get a photo of him when he hasn't been under Solstice. I suspect she hasn't the greatest milk supply being a maiden (no weight gain today still 9.2kgs)

Solstice and Game On

Beck Brow Game On

Our other three cria are doing well. Applause and Golden Sunset (both sired by Goldmine) are the very best of friends...

Sunset and Applause this morning

Sunset and Applause this afternoon

Beck Brow On The Money 

And two Goldmine cria agisted here belonging to clients...

Kingwell Charlotte (beige)

Prima Yoko (brown)

We have another white addition to Beck Brow: A Cotton de Telear puppy called Milly, bred by Julia Smith of Astonishing Alpacas, she is super cute. Although Velvet (dog) Astor and Angel (cats) and Hettie (granddaughter) are yet to be convinced. However, she has won over Paul, despite his efforts not to fall for a "handbag dog"

Tracey with Milly with Velvet showing her disdain!

The story of Foxy Sox...

 I have been meaning to write a blog for a day or two. A blog about Beck Brow Foxy Sox and her son Beck Brow Dingo. It was to be a heart warming tale. How I wish I had got around to telling it sooner.

I will start as it should have been....

Those of you who have followed this blog for a number of years will know Foxy Sox well. The photo below is of her as a cria. You can see where she has had her neck shaved for a plasma transfusion

 

Beck Brow Foxy Sox as a cria

 The reason for this was, despite Sox being the most beautiful little cria, her dam rejected her at birth. She knew that she was hers...she just didnt want her. Thus Foxy Sox was bottle fed and is very special to us.

Although Sox is in no way pushy, she doesn't always understand alpaca etiquette. Not having been taught  the dos and donts of alpaca manners by her mother, she can get into trouble with her peers.. Because of this we did wonder what kind of a mother she would be. Well, I can tell you...she is the best mother any cria could wish for...the most loving and attentive...as if she is saying "no cria of mine will not be loved as I was".

Dingo was born a week early on the bank holiday Monday. He weighed in at 6.1kgs. A little down on his pasterns, we gave him some cows colostrum to get him going, then Sox took over the feeding. He slowly but steadily gained weight and was 7.5kgs at two weeks. Dingo the star of the cria paddock...popular with everyone...Sox could not be more proud.

 

Beck Brow Dingo

Yesterday Sox was obviously worried about Dingo. She was telling me that something was wrong. I took his temp (lower end of normal range) I put on a couple of coats. I checked his eyes for redness, no signs of infection (I must confess to still giving him an antibiotic). Resp rate a little high (pain?) No signs of dehydration. I listened to his bowel sounds, fairly quiet. Yet he did appear a bit colicky. I gave him a soapy enema (normal faeces) I gave him Buscapan and Finadyne and he appeared to improve and was playing. I am not going to drag this out any longer...I got up at 4am this morning to check on him...and found him dead.

I have cried for hours. Why did it have to happen to Sox? It is so cruel. She loved him soooo much. We have had a postmortem and Dingo died from peritonitis. It is a good thing that he went quickly as this is a painful condition and his chances of being saved would have been so slim. The thing that I am beating myself up about is not giving him plasma when he was born. I always say if cria are premature or very light they do not have the ability to create antibodies even when they get colostrum. The problem was he was borderline on both weight and prematurity. A sad, sad, lesson learnt.

I left Dingo with Sox for 10 hours (she never left his side), eventually leaving the towel with his scent on in his place. She has been back and forward but appears to accept that he is gone. She is back treating me as her mum, the only mum she knows who loves her.

In amongst all this, and with hailstones and thunder storms being the order of the day, Ep Cambridge Solstice decided to give birth. We had to bring her in, which I prefer not to do with maidens as they often get a bit stressy. However, she appeared calm and gave birth to a handsome fawn male who weighed in a 9.2kgs (quite a size for the diminutive Solstice). All looked well until the weather improved and I decided to let them both out...with the cria born and room to eat...Solstice headed off to feast on the grass...leaving the cria to fend for its self. 

We have eventually got some kind of bond established, although Solstice leaves him out in the rain. How ironic that Sox loses her beloved son and Solstice really isnt keen. He has had a plasma transfusion today, as we really were not certain that he received enough colostrum in time. No more taking chances. I have been feeling too upset to thing of a name...but I know I need to pull my self together...and with that spirit he shall be called Beck Brow Game On...keep fighting!

                      

Ep Cambridge Solstice and Beck Brow Game On

Introducing the first cria of 2015 (only 44 to go)

Having decided to wait until I had some cria photos to share before writing a blog; I am now a week or two behind...a combination of being too busy and so much wet weather...at last today some sunshine (well its not raining and the sun is teasing us from behind a cloud) and a chance to get out the camera.

The births on the farm so far...

First to be born was Prima Imagine who is now 18 days old. A lovely blue black, Black Sabbath female, born at first dawn, she weighed a healthy 9.4 kgs. By the time she was a week old she weighed 12.6 kgs, I don't think I have seen such weight gain!

Second to arrive was Prima Ringo another Black Sabbath progeny. Ringo was born at 4pm and was rather down on his pasterns and not looking to drink from his dam. He was bottle fed bovine colostrum and subsequently goats milk, given plenty of vitamin B1 injections, and he was off and away feeding from his dam by day three.

We unfortunately had a very disappointing start to our Beck Brow birthing season, when I found a dead cria at 5.30 am. Our beautiful Cat's Pyjamas had birthed 6 weeks early and during dreadful weather. Very sad, but we console ourselves that Cats did not come to any harm (I perish the thought had she got in to trouble in the middle of the night).

Next to birth was Anzac Amaretto, the first Goldmine cria for the Prima herd. A very dense and curly beige female, again born early morning. This one has been named Lolita. 

Then at last it was our turn, born at 6pm (what is happening this year, we normally have births between 9am and 3pm, no one so far has played ball) we welcomed a handsome dark brown male from Bozedown Campari and sired by Timbertop CT Goldmine. As this is exactly as I would have requested, I have named him Beck Brow On The Money. He is looking very promising...time will tell.

Continuing to keep us on our toes, we had another Prima herd female birth at 7am the following morning. A whooping 11.1kg Black Sabbath dark brown (could be bay black!) female. Named Prima Michelle (you may have guessed by now...Prima are having a Beatles naming year).

Last and indeed least we have another Beck Brow cria. Beck Brow Foxy Sox birthed at 333 days. The only one to have read the chapter on time of day to birth (if not the part about gestation periods) she had a lovely fawn male at 10.30 am. He was a little premature in presentation and only weighed 6.1kgs, but he is doing well. He also had bovine colostrum and vit B1, but drank from mum the same day, once he got some strength to do so. Foxy Sox was rejected by her own dam and was completely bottle fed, no chance she is going to do the same, she is the most loving and attentive first time mum. With so much rain the poor little man has been in and out, and in and out, of the barn trying to avoid a soaking. With his full Australian pedigree we have named him Beck Brow Dingo

Beck Brow Dingo (sire Goldmine)

Foreground: Beck Brow On The Money (sire Goldmine)

Prima Ringo (sire Black Sabbath)

Prima Imagine (sire Black Sabbath)

Prima Lolita (sire Goldmine)

Prima Michelle (sire Black Sabbath)

and finally Dingo gets his coat off!!

Galaxy, who was scheduled to have the first cria of the year, is now 367 - days gestation. Stargazer and Solstice are both 351 days, so hopefully exciting times soon.

We added six cria and sold eight boys over the past couple of weeks. The boys have found homes in Scotland, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Two of the boys, Epic and Raffles were amongst my favourites, I was sad to see them go but they have definitely landed on their feet with five star accommodation...

Epic (left) and Raffles

Five star accommodation

NWAG Alpaca Championships and other twitterings...

I have been hanging on...hanging on to the hope that we would have our first cria of the year born before I wrote this blog. Silverstream Galaxy (pregnant to Timbertop Goldmine) is our first due and is bagged up and hummimg away to her unborn (who is obviously in position to be born as feet can be seen pushing up mum's tail). Maybe tomorrow!

Galaxy is the dam of Beck Brow Crafter who was featured in my last blog. I am delighted to say that we have recently found the perfect solution to our dilemma regarding his future. Fangdale Alpacas, based in Yorkshire were happy to work with us to ensure we kept some interest in him. Thus, whilst Fangdale are now his proud new owners, they have allowed us to retain some stud service for the future. We wish them every success.

Last Saturday was the NWAG Alpaca Championships. Robyn and I had a busy time winning six Championships and five Reserve Championships. In fact we received a broad ribbon in every colour category that we had entries. The boys took Champion and Reserve Black (no grey or brown entered), Champion and Reserve Fawn, Champion Light (we only had one entered) and Champion and Reserve White.

Females; Reserve Champion Black, Champion Brown, Reserve Champion Light (no fawn or grey entered) and Champion White. The icing on the cake was Beck Brow First Edition retaining his Best of British and Supreme Championship from last year.

The show was fun as always. With Mary-Jo Smith judging and Julia Corrigan-Stuart as apprentice, we all learnt lots as well as enjoying ourselves.

                        

                          

Robyn and I sandwiching Judith from Cockerham Alpacas  (junior white male class)

                                      

Robyn with our stash, only two thirds (where we had first in the classes) and everyone else first or second (in many cases second to ourselves!) We also took Florens Juno (sired St Patrick) who took the Fawn Female Championship for Amanda. We  did well in the progeny classes with Beck Brow Explorer getting first in the light sires progeny and Viracocha Black Sabbath  first in the dark sires progeny (no rosettes as we had just ran out!)

                        

Beck Brow First Edition taking Supreme with Raffles, Prime Suspect, Seventh Heaven and Trendsetter in the line up, only Boxster out of the shot.

Florens Juno causing Robyn to drop the posing.

                           

Despite mum being busy in the ring, our grandaughter Hettie enjoyed some Easter sunshine

Beck Brow Crafter (sire Waradene St Patrick) recently purchased by Fangdale Alpacas.

On Sunday, I felt that I was due a well earned rest...but no. We separated 80 females into 3 different groups. Those due in the next 3 months, those due late summer, and those not due at all this year. Not only does this help with feeding regimes for differing needs, and makes observing those due easier, I do think they settle better in with those of similar status. You know what its like as a teenager you don't want to be stuck with a load of pregnant females discussing the colour of the nursery. Likewise when you are nesting ready for birth you don't want 25 youngsters pronking about and reminding you of how young and slim you used to be. Whilst we were at it everyone got their selenium and mineral drench, and those in the six week from birthing window, received their Lambivac.

The start of birthing is always exciting, but we have some of my extra special ones in the birthing paddock; Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas (Supreme Champion) was born within days of Crafter. Both sired by Wardene St Patrick, we knew these two were special from day one. Cats is pregnant to Goldmine.

 Beck Brow Cats Pjyamas

Also mid fawn, but looking rather pale in the photo, we have Beck Brow Foxy Sox (front) and Ep Cambridge Solstice back. Sox is a favourite here and is due her first cria (Goldmine) sometime soon. Solstice is without doubt our densest fawn female (sire Windsong Valley Firedragon) and is pregnant to St Patrick

Sox and Solstice

We have lots of breeding decisions to make, but until we see what Goldmine produces over the females he has mated, nothing is set firmly. We only put Beck Brow Explorer over one fawn female last year, as Kitty his fawn daughter was born at the end of the mating season, this again was his only coloured female covered in 2014. He is doing exceptionally well with our whites, so we are excited to see what he can do with colour, he will dating more colours this year (if we can persuade him...he does like his whites)

Two of our intermediate females awaiting a decision:

Beck Brow Hallelujah sired by Explorer (not quite sure why I missed showing her at NWAG)...a bit plump but not pregnant (she doesn't read this don't worry)

Beck Brow Sunday Best sired by Black Sabbath (Res Champion NWAG). I am thinking Ep Cambridge Gunsmith (arriving May) as her match. With Prince Bishop Pippi-Long-Stockings (sired by Black Sabbath) taking Grey Female Champion at NWAG this is looking likely.

We are looking forward to a weekend with no showing, but wish all those entered at the Heart of England this weekend, the best of luck!

A Fine Question about Alpaca Fleece Statistics....

I have a bit of dilemma: it concerns at what point do you sell a potential stud male, and when should you be considering them for your own stud, even when you own the sire? The question I have for those of you out there who are interested in fleece statistics is...how unusual is Beck Brow Crafter's dam...

We purchased Silversteam Galaxy (ET) in 2009 as a two year old (she has Czar, Ruffo, Hemmingway in her pedigree). Her fleece stats were: 

MFD: 19.8,  SD: 4.1,  CV 20.7,  CF: 97.5%. 

Now, anyone who has visited our farm will know we have very lush grass and we can add a micron or two to the best of them. This is why we like to use AAFT for our fleece testing as the graph over time shows clearly what happens here in the spring and summer. However this female has never had anything other than a minuscule change in her fleece stats. Her graph is a straight line. Her Seventh stats are:

MFD: 19.7,  SD 4.3,  CV 21.9,  CF 96.9%

She has had five pregnancies but lost two to prematurity due to stress when weaning (we will be leaving her future crias at foot until her due date). Her daughter has produced two show quality cria but has had some incremental increase in micron with age, although still fine. We sold her other progeny. She is due to have a Goldmine cria next month. Goldmine had kept his fineness well, but has crept to 20 microns (sixth fleece) from 17.0. as you might expect I have never seen a fleece not change at all.

So the dilemma...Her son (Crafter) with St Patrick is a handsome boy, he has good density and grew a first fleece of 150mm resulting in a skirted blanked of 2.2kgs (cria fleece). His first fleece stats were MFD 19.2 microns. Thinking that we would be placing him on our for sale list we have had second fleece stats taken...

MFD 19.0,  SD 4.3,  CV 18.7,  CF 98.3%

Virtually exactly the same as his dam's second fleece stats and no shift in micron (actually slightly less) than his first. He is very healthy and is a good weight. Are we seeing an unusual genetic influence? With black toe nails, we believe, like his sire, he will be capable of producing black...black with a constant micron....

Has anyone else had a fleece that hasn't had any movement in micron over time? 

Beck Brow Crafter's fleece taken last week (9 months regrowth)

He is so sweet natured. Here is below running to get his photo taken earlier today.

Beck Brow Crafter

Beck Brow Crafter with Julia, winning 1st placed Intermediate Fawn male at the BAS National Show

Crafter and Tracey.

Tracey from Wiseman Alpacas started work on the farm three weeks ago and it seems like she has been here forever (in a good way). She mucks in with every thing. Today she was poovering and still managed a smile...

Whereas Paul had the sitting down job of sweeping but didn't manage a smile

I was out early with the camera this morning. It actually felt like spring might be on its way. Here are some photos with the dew still down...

Above is a group of weanlings. Far left is Stargazer who came all the way from New Zealand at 6 weeks old. She had been born prematurely but the decision was made that she was better to travel and go in to summer in the UK. She has never looked back...I adore her.

I also adore Beck Brow Posh Pants (sister of Snooty Boots and Cat's Pyjamas) who is the image of Lady Gaga

And of course everyone adores Dixie Chick who has appointed her self leader of the weanling group (behind her is best friend Asterisk and Sputnik...yes he needs to be moved in with the boys). Okay we will just assume that I adore them all now...

Beck Brow Seventh Heaven

Beck Brow Adventurer (went to the BAS National Show at only 6 months old last week and got placed 1st)

Looking very cute is Kingwell Smokey Joe who is for sale when I get him advertised.

Last and least is Beck Brow Bond 007 who is 6 months next week, when he will be weaned. He is our first and only Goldmine cria. He does rather like himself

It was still misty when I was first out. Astor likes to come round the alpacas with me. I am sure she thinks that she is helping!

Yesterday I decided to challenge myself to fail yet again with a fleece shot. I thought it would be good to share a photo of Furze Park Sputnik on Facebook but unfortunately none did him justice. The only one in focus was of his upper leg which looks rather strange.

Furze Park Sputnik upper leg fleece

That's it ...I'm back out to enjoy the weather!

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!"