Beck Brow Explorer has his first progeny...and the trend continues!

So much has happened since I last blogged that I could claim that I don't know where to start...but that wouldn't be true...things have gone completely out of chronological order...because I have to start with the most recent, and most exciting news...BECK BROW EXPLORER IS A DADDY!

Although Explorer has proven himself well in the show ring, winning three Supreme Championships amongst many other broad ribbon awards...we are well aware that the proof of his supreme qualities has to be in seen in his progeny. It has been a long exciting wait...and where was I when the moment eventually arrived...selling alpaca scarves on Whitehaven quayside...yes, I missed it...Robyn had the honour of being midwife!

I feel strangely emotional...it's as if I am a grandma...Explorer has had a male who is the mirror image of himself as a newborn...it's uncanny...we have had the photos out. It's the fleece style and coverage as well as his phenotype...I am proud and excited...well done my boy!

I should mention Morden Hall Honaria who did actually have a part to play in all this and is a lovely mum (she is nearly as proud as I am). We have named him Beck Brow First Edition (Eddie). Right I will stop going on about it now, but just a few photos...okay a lot....

Beck Brow First Edition (Eddie) at 20 hours old

 

Beck Brow First Edition (sire: Beck Brow Explorer gs: EPC Navigator)

 

Beck Brow First Edition (how cute?)

 

With mum Morden Hall Honaria (16 hours old and wet from all the rain overnight)

We have continued with the run of boys. I think we are now 10 v 2 to the boys at the moment. April had our first Viracocha Black Sabbath cria on Thursday. We have called him Beck Brow Inkster. He has a lovely dense crimpy fleece...I am excited to see the rest of our Black Sabbath cria if this is his standard...come on Pebbles (340 days today). Unfortunately we had to get our adopted black labarador (who was actually called Inka although I always spelt it as Inca) put to sleep on Thursday. She had been ill for over a month having severe episodes of fitting and as she was 10 years old it was just too much for her to cope with. So we have named Inkster in her memory. 

April with Beck Brow Inkster

 

 Jet also had a male; Beck Brow Jetson. This time a fawn from a black!

 

   

Sophia with Beck Brow Idris (a black from a fawn)

 Beck Brow Blue (whose mum is brown)

Now you might be wondering why Katkin's son (named Blue) is looking like he has gone through the wars...it's because he has. Last year Katkin developed mastitis at a point after we had already mated her. Thus we were concerned about her milk supply. However when Blue was born we checked her teats and she had milk and he suckled. All looked well...until we weighed him...he lost around 300gs on the first day but born at 10kgs we though it just a first day dip...by the morning of day two he had lost 900gs and he took a bottle readily. So a plasma transfusion was our only option to ensure adequate cover against infections.

Unfortunately the vet who came struggled to find a vein and poor Blue became balder and balder. A second attempt on Thursday morning faired no better. In the end a polite request to call a more senior vet resulted in the plasma being given successfully. Last year Pebbles fed Katkin's cria as well as her own, will we be so lucky again? Katkin is now going to be retired from breeding...such a shame as she is a lovely mother...Blue still suckles her but there is obviously nothing of any value there. 

But good news at Prince Bishop Alpacas...their little cria (named Horace) has eventually latched on to Finesse after 7 days...just shows how it is worth persevering...congratulations Carole.

Finally our mischief of the year...Beck Brow Crafter with Beck Brow Idris (foreground)

Son day Monday!

I did mean to write this blog on Monday night hence the title...I also meant to paint the downstairs loo and update the online shop this week...but the sun has been shining and it has been no weather for inside jobs.

So back to Monday....after no action on the birthing front over the weekend when everyone was home to help if need be...it was all go on Monday, when I was on my own! First off was Katkin, who has always produced fawn cria in the past, and being pregnant to Waradene St Patrick I was expecting the same again...but carrying on with the trend of St Patrick adding colour...she produced a lovely black boy.

Katkin was followed an hour later by her daughter Parisien (owned by Robyn and Craig), who also produced a St Patrick son. This time a medium fawn. In amongst all this I received a phone call from Carole at Prince Bishop Alpacas to say that Finesse had produced a St Patrick male at 310 days gestation, and that the cria was extremely weak.

So having ensured that both of ours were okay, and looking rather green from spraying the cord of Parisien's cria (she was rather anxious!) I jumped in the car armed with frozen plasma and colostrum and headed off on the hour and half journey to Prince Bishop Alpacas, mindful of the window of opportunity to get some colostrum into the cria. Thankfully I passed Paul coming home so knew ours would be watched over. I arrived not smelling my best, but in time to get plenty of colostrum fed before the cria was six hours old.

Poor Carole had been in the hairdressers when she received the call to say the Finesse had birthed a month earlier than anticipated,and left with her hair half cut. Their first birth has been a steep learning curve but they have done an amazing job. The little fella was obviously very premature and was weak and down on his pasterns, but had a real will to live so fingers crossed.

We have noticed that all of St Patrick's cria have a strong will to survive. It is interesting in the paddock that it is always his cria who are playing together, even at a day old they are joining in the antics. Our mischief of the year is The Crafter who is constantly getting told off, although Galaxy (his dam) turns a blind eye to it all.

Beck Brow The Crafter (St Patrick trade mark fawn ears!)

Katkin and son (and somebody sunbathing behind!)

 

 Beck Brow Boxster (sire Bozedown Omen) 

Beck Brow Idris (sire Lillyfield Jack of Spades) strange stance I think he was about to go to the loo (and someone looking very due behind!)

 

Beck Brow Bespoke (sire Bozedown Patriot) Wiseman Sweet Hazelnut (sire Waradene St Patrick)

We have heard that our Black stud male Viracocha Black Sabbath had had his first cria (a female) at Anzac alpacas...I am told that it is a 'ripper'...I think that is Australian for darned good!

Timbertop CT Goldmine ET....Our latest addition to the stud!

We received some very exciting news last night; our recently purchased stud male who is presently in New Zealand, has passed screening and will be arriving in the UK in September. This male is exactly what we have been searching for and we are very excited about having him join our Beck Brow stud team.

Timbertop CT Goldmine ET has such sought after Australian genetics. His sire is the awesome Patagonia Celtic Triumph (sire Shanbrooke Accoyo Tulaco) and with Purrumbette El Dorado on both his dam and sire's sides he really is something special. In addition to his sires input his dam: Timbertop Miss Twiggy was a top female at Timbertop and was used in their ET programme. Twiggy went on to produce a number of stud males who are working both Australia and abroad.

However the icing on the genetic cake are his fleece stats. I won't bore you with them all (if you are not bored already!) but his most recent fleece stats taken at 4years and 3 months (November 2012) are:

MFD: 17.4,  SD: 3,  CV: 17.1%,  Curv: 71.8,  CF: 100%

This is incredibly fine and uniform for a working fawn male. We can't wait to have him meet our Waradene St Patrick females...Beck Brow Cats Pyjamas you have a date for 2014!

If that weren't enough i.e. great genetics and amazing fleece stats, he also has proven himself with his progeny; Gilt EdgeWhite Gold his first born and multi championship winning female had first fleece stats of:

MFD: 15.5, SD: 2.2, CV 14%, Curv 61.9, CF 100%

Exciting times ahead...

 

 Timbertop CT Goldmine ET

Goldmine's fleece

I did cause some confusion in an earlier blog as the photo posted is of one of Goldmine's progeny (Gold Prospect) born this year not of him.

Gold Prospect (Goldmine progeny)

Fleece of White Gold (Goldmine progeny)

We have had a couple of births since I last blogged. On Monday Blanche (one of our foundation females) produced a solid fawn male. Weighing in at 7kgs but strong and away. We have named him Barnaby (sire: St Patrick)

Beck Brow Barnaby

Then this morning Sophia (sire MD Miguel of Fowberry) who is a light mid fawn with a black sire produced a very dark coloured male. His sire is Lillyfield Jack of Spades (black) and he too initially looked bay black but might be drying to a very dark brown...but lovely whichever.

Sophia with her little man

Bay black or brown?

I have decided to name Magic Charm's brown boy Boxster. He has struggled a little to gain much weight (I suspect MC as a maiden hasn't an abundance of milk) but he is doing okay...and he is adorable!

I best go as I need to skirt and weigh some fleeces that I have sold for hand spinning (I have an aversion to skirting and sorting after doing 500+ a couple of years ago). I did weigh all the roughly skirted blankets last week. I use this for my EBV statistics (not quite as accurate as full fleece weights but it is much easier on shearing day to just bag all the first and seconds together, and the blanket gives a comparison within the herd). Obviously dependent on age and micron but I would say anything 2kgs and above for skirted blanket is good...EP Cambridge Aria who is 8 years old...3.25kgs...awesome for an older female!!

Bozedown Magic Charm does it in style....

Just a quick blog to update on Bozedown Magic Charm who has been looking like she has been ready to birth all week. Well, just like Bozedown Celestrial she chose a sunny Saturday and delivered at noon in amongst the herd, and had a relaxed labour in the dust bath. What is it with those Bozedown girls do they have a spa down there? They definitely like to chill out.

There weren't many clues that she had gone into labour (well to be honest you dont expect it in the dust bath in amongst everyone) but once we saw that first push we started to get excited (no maybe that was just a 'me' rather than a 'we' but Paul was present). In this instance we were hoping for a male...a potential stud male unrelated to our herd...so we had decided it would be fawn but what sex would it be. Well we got our wish and more so...he is brown (I know he looks dark fawn in the photos but I am pretty sure he has dried light brown)...he is just gorgeous...lovely head and lots of curls!

Bozedown Magic Charm with her boy.

Magic Charm's boy (name pending)

Magic Charm taking it easy during labour...can you see the nose out?

stepping out for the final push with The Crafter taking great interest.

Like Bozedown Celestrial, Magic Charm had a text book delivery, followed by the delivery of the placenta within the hour. He was up on his feet within 30 mins and drinking at just over an hour old. Weighing in at 9.1kgs, a perfect weight. Well done girls what star maidens...such lovely mums and cria. I am looking forward to the Alpaca Classic 2013 in September already!!!

Sunny Times...

We have sunshine at last...and how good does it make you feel...pretty good...especially if someone had stripped you naked whilst it was still just a bit nippy! Yes, the alpacas as well as the humans are loving it.

On Friday I had girlfriends over, and for the first time this year we were able to enjoy a glass of  late afternoon wine in the garden. But not before Beck Brow Explorer had greeted his two visiting girlfriends. Despite them having their clothes on he was happy to do the deed. Although, he is much happier working now that he has his fleece off. However, you may recall me mentioning that he had a five minute (maximum) encounter with EP Cambridge Aria a couple of weeks ago, before deciding it was too much effort with both of them having their clothes on. Well, she spat off at her pregnancy spit off...surely not? We didnt use Explorer for the spit off so maybe she just didnt like the offering?? Anyone had a pregnancy with such a short breeding?

We at last seem to be catching up with some of the outside chores. On Sunday Paul actually allowed me to do some tractor work...I am not allowed to dive with the poo sweeper on as he doesnt believe that his fences will be safe...however I was given the task of chain harrowing the hay field to break up the clumps of alpaca poo that had been spread back on a couple of weeks ago. I know... all this work sweeping up poo... then we spread it back on again...recycling poo what fun!

On Monday we had to have the vet out to Hazel. I had found her in the paddock laid flat out, with a respiratory rate of between 55-60 per minute and flaring nostrils. Her temp was 39.1 (just high side of normal) and her membranes weren't especially red, but her tummy felt hard. So deciding that it didnt look like an infection was the cause; I tried a Fleet enema, but to no avail. Being only a few days old we decided to take no chances and asked the vet to assess her. Hazel was given Buscopan and pain relief intravenously and gradually improved over the next couple of hours. Colic does seem to knock the little ones for six.

I have been trying to get some photos of Beck Brow Bespoke for a few days, but his mum keeps such a close eye on him and always calls him over when I arrive. His mum is Bozedown Celestrial one of the females that we purchased at the Alpaca Classic elite auction last year (sire Bozedown Patriot). I managed to get one of him sitting by mum who you can see is watching back...and quickly has him on his feet.

Beck Brow Bespoke with mum

Beck Brow Bespoke...mum is calling!

Our alpacas all enjoy sunbathing and lazing in the dust bath, but Beck Brow Fine Romance (Roma) does it on a level all of her own (she is in the fore ground below). We decided to spit off Roma as she looked a bit doubtful for being pregnant...we had only mated her once as she had a September birth last year (Beck Brow Foxy Sox whom she rejected) and we had immediately regretted it... as if she didn't bond with her cria again we would have been bottle feeding all winter again. So she was mated with Explorer a couple of days ago...much better to aim for a summer birth. So not bad 28 out of the 29 are pregnant.

Beck Brow Fine Romance (Roma)...sunbathing

Bozedown Magic Charm is still hanging on...spending most of the day in the dust bath...but who is that on the edge?

Poor Beck Brow Foxy Sox doesn't really know how to behave properly within the group (having been rejected by her mum, she hasnt been socialised properly) and often oversteps her position in the herd. She has been told that she is not allowed in the dust bath (as aren't any of the weanlings) but she likes to push her luck...just my head!

And finally a couple of photos that Facebook followers will have seen already...

The herd sunbathing; Morden Hall Honaria who is due the first Beck Brow Explorer cria in the foreground...note Roma on her back again on the end of the row, with Celestrial watching me as always!

A shot of Cat's Pyjamas' fleece as she slept in the sun...looking very Shirley Temple!

Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas at 4 weeks old.

Shocks, Shows and Shearing.

Lots happening at the moment, so I thought I better write a blog before it becomes an epic. As did most of the country, we had great weather over the weekend. Ideal for birthing...but Saturday passed without event...our bets were on Chaska who was off sat on her own and hardly moved from the spot...but no. 

By 11 am I had decided that Sunday was going to be a 'no show' day too. So being a day of relaxation and a bank holiday weekend at that, I decided to sit in the orchard (overlooking the birthing paddock) and read a book. However, having low levels of concentration during the birthing season, I decided at 12 pm to take the camera out into the paddock...and there in the dust bath...all on its own...was a newly dropped cria...what a shock, it took a moment or two to recognise what I was seeing. I think poor Bozedown Celestrial was a bit shocked too. She obviously had had a quick labour and had birthed in amongst a group. After getting over the surprise she has turned in to the most loving mother with loads of milk. We have decided to name him Beck Brow Bespoke...designed by Bozedown...commisioned by Beck Brow!! (sire Bozedown Patriot).

On Monday it was off to Northumberland County Show where I was apprentice judge to Nick Harrington Smith. The weather had changed and it was rather nippy but everyone had a great time and thankfully the rain held off. Congratulations to Chestnut Farm Alpacas who took Supreme Huacaya with their adult white male; and to Newland Alpacas who took Suri Supreme with their senior white male.

We weren't so lucky with the weather back home and Paul was left with the task of getting all our alpacas undercover for the night ready for shearing on Tuesday. With a rather later start than anticipated; Ben (our shearer) didnt leave ours until 11.15 pm. My poor old body was aching on Wednesday after all the standing and bending for two days...but was I going to get a rest Wednesday...no chance.

With the barn looking like a fleece bomb had exploded in it, and bags of fleece all over the place; I had plenty to do...but Willow decided to add to the chores by giving birth before I had even got started on the tasks of the day. Actually she just did it all herself. She is a fabulous mum...she obviously decided that the damp weather was no place for a cria and brought her into the barn herself. Willow is owned by Wiseman Alpacas who were very pleased to add another female to their liveried herd. They have named her Wiseman Sweet Dew Hazelnut (Hazel for short). Another fabulous coloured cria from Waradene St Patrick of EPC.

Wiseman Hazel with mum Willlow (Paul dressed her hence the messy fastening...you wouldnt expect Paul to be able to dress a female now would you!)

Beck Brow Bespoke

Although the actual shearing day is not the highlight of my alpaca year; I do love to see the fleeces off the herd. I always think that it puts all the alpacas on a level playing field. Quite the opposite of humans...the older that the alpaca gets...the better they look naked when compared to competing with their fleeces on. Take Holly for example who is nearly 10 years old, as is the norm her fleece growth has slowed right down...but shorn she could pass for a youngster. Talking of which...how cute are Sox and Coco?

Beck Brow Foxy Sox (sire Waradene St Patrick)

Wiseman Sweet Coco (Sire Waradene St Patrick)

Some of the females enjoying some green grass at last..

Holly looking good for an older female

Finally, I thought this photo of two very contented females (Willow and Hazel) was just so sweet...

Beck Brow Willow with Wiseman Hazelnut

P.S It looks like our first Lillyfield Jack of Spades cria may be from Sophia rather than Chaska...my bets are on for tomorrow...Chaska must have just needed her massive fleece off as she has now returned to normal behaviour!

The Latest Collection...

I am becoming a lazy blogger...but I take comfort in the fact that I am not alone...I suspect a lot of fellow bloggers are taking the same approach "I'll just wait until tomorrow I am bound to have a new cria to share by then"...but they are all keeping us waiting this year. Our next three due are Bozedown Celestrial (Bozedown Comet II), Inca Van Dieman Chaska (Lillyfield Jack of Spades) and Bozedown Magic Charm (Bozedown Omen). Very exciting prospects...although the most exciting wait will be for Morden Hall Honaria (Beck Brow Explorer) due date the 23rd of June...did you see that I just slipped that in in brackets...Beck Brow Explorer!!!!

Probably just as well that the cria have held off. It has been difficult enough keeping the three that we have got warm and dry. On Saturday the rain was torrential...really torrential...northern torrential! Paul was digging channels to try to divert water from flooding the shelters. Friends Sue and Lesley were over from the North East and all plans of a country walk were abandoned when it was all hands on deck (okay we did manage a pub lunch!).

Never liking to do things by halves, Sunday had me on the net purchasing an additional twelve...yes that's right twelve...dog cum cria coats. We had kept all of the females in the barn for most of the day on Saturday, and interestingly the three cria all had the smallest weight gain that they had had since birth. So I decided much better they be out but protected. This does require coat changes during the wet weather (although they do choose to come in themselves often). So in addition to our all ready full box of cria coats (including a foal coat for an adult) we have another1 x 14 inch, 5 x 16 inch and 6 x 18 inch, and a can of spray on Gortex for those that have been through the washing machine too many times. Normally we hardly use the 18 inch size as we tend to only use coats on the very young (unless ill) but the weather has been below freezing on a couple of nights...crazy!

Here we have some (wet) modelling of our old and new collection of dog/cria coats....

Firstly we have Esmee Mae modelling a Homestead Farm Supplies Cria coat now on its third season...and newly Gortexed. You will note the Beck Brow theme of a piece of hay casually hanging from the mouth.

Beck Brow Esmee Mae wearing Homestead Farm Supplies

Next up we have Cat's Pyjamas modelling a Danish designed dog coat (16 inches) in a rather fetching check, available via Amazon (cheap but lets not discuss the tax issue). Note extended hay accessory.

Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas

Last but not least we have The Crafter (oops dropped the hay accessory...typical male!) sporting the same Danish design dog coat in the grey.

Beck Brow The Crafter...getting modelling advise from Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas.

Having heard from Matt at EP Cambridge that the gorgeous Cambridge Stargazer is spitting off to EP Cambridge Peruvian Spartacus in Australia, we decided that we had better get some matings under way here so that she is not birthing on her own. Actually we only have two open females who are ready for mating, so Blackmore Vale Butterscotch had a date on Wednesday. Butterscotch is a beautifully fine female (17 microns at 5 years) who is owned by Amanda of Florens Alpacas, but she will be staying on livery here at Beck Brow. A multiple broad ribbon female, and very pretty, Waradene St Patrick didn't have to be asked twice!

Blackmore Vale Butterscotch with Waradene St Patrick of EPC

The same cannot be said for Beck Brow Explorer...who decided to spend exactly five minutes on his date then decided to lookout for the next one...I don't think so son...he generally likes around ten minutes...we will see, but I will be surprised if he has successfully done the deed. I think the problem was that he is so fully fleeced and EP Cambridge Aria also has a very dense fleece (it was also rather warm...you know double figures warm...at 14 degrees!)...whatever he couldn't really be bothered. Hopefully he is saving himself as he is proving to be very popular, with a number of ladies already booked in for outside matings.

The weather forecast is good for Saturday and Sunday...so maybe I wont be so lazy next week and will have cria to report sometime soon!