National Crisis....Near Miss!

It's been a busy old time since my last blog. Not all work I have to confess. Last week Paul was away in the USA, and whilst we had some gastly weather here, and the alpacas spent a number of nights in the barn, I did have some help at hand. Even after a night of good food and wine, team work meant that we got the jobs done in super quick time, and invited more friends over for breakfast (fresh fruits, croissants, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon or pancetta). This rather went on, and by 1pm we were playing card games (okay gambling) with a glass of Hendricks dressed with the obligatory slice of cucumber. Well, you know that nurses know how to enjoy themselves!

We still managed to get plenty of work done, and good news on the weanling and cria weight gains. Whilst we have introduced haylage for the weanlings, the cria at foot don't have access to this. The common factor seems to be the introduction of GWF hembra and cria feed (we used this last year but they forgot to include it in our reorder). The cria at foot (four little Explorer progeny who are so cute) all come to the gate to be let out to feed from their separate bowls. All have had really good gains.

Other news; I had the two Christmas party girls scanned when the vet was out doing some vet checks on some sold females. You may remember that I accidentally let Goldmine in with the females on Christmas Eve. The results: Galaxy is pregnant. Foxy Sox is not (so is now getting to go to the shows).

It was my birthday on Monday. Paul excelled himself. I got a cup of coffee in bed. No card. No present. Yesterday I went to the farm shop and selected the most expensive pair of Aigle wellingtons...and put them on his account! 

Philippa and I did a silly thing yesterday...we uttered the words "all seems to be going well" with connection to the National Show. By 6pm all had gone rapidly downhill....

January I contact the rosette and sash company, that we wish to use to supply the BAS National Show. I explain that the show has a closing date and I cannot give exact numbers and sponsors until the day after. I give the dates of the show. All in writing. They confirm they can achieve this. I place the order. So yesterday I send off my exact requirements. At 6pm I receive the call...

"What's this, we can't do all these sashes in the time available, this is madness" 

Me: "but you agreed and I have it in writing in an email"

"That may be the case, but we have a large order from Slovacia we haven't time"

Me "but surely you accepted my order, should you not have kept space available"

"We can't just wait around for you. We didn't expect that you wanted them all made at once. You should have been in touch to check"

I ask if he can help at all, do halter or fleece show...but it seems that I am "an idiot" to expect them to do all this work when they are so busy!! Luckily there are some great companies out there who understand good customer service. To the rescue; Castle Rosettes and Hazelden Rosettes (sashes). I can't pretend it was a restless night waiting for companies to open this morning. We had visions of awarding a sash, then whipping it off the winner on exiting the ring, to use on the next. 

We have had one a two fine days. It has been lovely to see the alpacas 'fluffed up'. The dry weather does seem to have got some of the male weanlings a bit fresh...

        

 

                                         Beck Brow Bespoke taking a liking to. Prima  Lillibet

                                       

                                                          Beck Brow Cat's Pyjamas

     

       

                                                              Beck Brow Boxster

None Stop Alpaca Chatter!

I have been intending to write a blog all week, but time just seems to have run away from me. I have been busy; keeping the alpacas in to keep them warm and dry, bedding them down with lots of straw, making up buckets of sugar beet...all ready from the storm and gale force winds...I apologise to those in the South..but it has been a none event here...maybe tomorrow...as I have left them out tonight! 

That is not to say that we have had dry weather. Last Friday Andi (owner of a couple of lovely females on agistement here) flew in from Switzerland, to be greeted by the usual rain, wind and mud. We still managed a bit of a fleece rummage, before we all caught up with Stuart and Jean (Velvet Hall Alpacas) down at the Fox and Pheasant on the Friday night; then paid a visit to Amanda (Florens Alpacas) and Kathryn (Nero Black Alpacas) on Saturday. Full on Alpaca or what?

On Sunday morning we had a delivery to make, as three of our pregnant females were going to their new home just 20 minutes away. Bozedown Bonita and Bozedown Blanche were two of our first females to come to Beck Brow, and have done us well. They are now both 11years old and still produce some of the best cria weight gains in our herd. They were joined by Ardo Jet, as a black female was on the wish list. I was amazed to see quite how quickly they settled (lots of grass and a lovely purpose built shelter helped) and were eating out of their new owners hands within half an hour. It will be lovely for the girls to be made so special within a small herd. The girls are now known as Eden Alpacas and Gemma (aged 12... I think...hope that's right Gemma) has started writing a blog: www.edenalpacas.blogspot.com.

Well, the entries for the BAS National show are now closed, as our maximum numbers have now been reached. There will be an all junior team from Beck Brow, some are not looking as good as they did a couple of months ago but it is always useful to get feedback (especially as I am an apprentice judge). We now just need to get everyone's entries in for the NWAG Show in Carlisle now (we have 100 already). I have entered lots of our weanlings just for fun, I am sure that they will have mixed success but we are supporting the show (in fact I think... if you are weaned... you are going!)

I have not managed a single decent photo of late. It's either raining or if it isn't, I am too busy to spend the time....

                       

                           

              Beck Brow Crafter (St Patrick) refused to lift his head despite my chicken impersonations!

                             

                           

                   Beck Brow Victoria's Secret our first ever Appaloosa (she has grey/gold spots all over)

                                           

And another Goldmine Cria from down under...yes it is a different one they just look very alike!

Amanda and I had an afternoon of A, D & E and cria weighing. we have now introduced haylage for the weanlings to try to get some weight on them...roll on spring...pleeeeease. Tomorrow we have Angela and Ian visiting, who have recently purchase their foundation herd from us...we are just waiting for Miss La-Di-Da (who is looking a little stunner) to reach weaning weight.

I have that Friday night feeling...not sure why that is as we work 7-days a week...might be that I am about to make scallop and samphire risotto served with a lightly smoked salmon fillet and a glass of rather nice white...right must go!

A Gold Rush and more Additions...

My blog writing is poor these days, and this is largely because every week in January so far has consisted of the same things...coping with the rain...and full on with the organising of the BAS National Show. We are doing better with the latter hopefully!

On Saturday the National Show Commmittee met at Telford Exhibition Centre in order to finalise the layout of trade stands etc. This was the first time that we have been at the centre when a big event was taking place...it really did create a great atmosphere and added to our anticipation of a great show. 

The show is shaping up very well thanks to the support of everyone involved; sponsors, volunteers, and those bidding on the stud services auction. The auction is really generating some excitement on a Sunday evening (yes so much so we did crash for 15 minutes this week,due to the amount of bidding!). A big thank you to C S Alpacas who donated £770 to the funds, by successfully bidding on Timbertop CT Goldmine ET of Beck Brow.

Below is a photo received today of Gilt Edge Gold Dust (sire Goldmine). Goldmine had his last three cria to be born in NZ born this month. If the curls are anything to go by...this one is going to be a stunner!

                                       

                                                        Gold Rush...look no mud in NZ

Halter training has continued today with the help of Amanda (Florens Alpacas), Carole (Prince Bishop Alpacas) and Sheila (Alpacaed out!)

                                

                                                  Wet and muddy but training continues

We have a few logistical problems regarding getting our show team to the National Show, largely being that I will already be there, and Paul will have to load on his own. Thus we are taking an all junior show team (8) just to make his life easier (all from one paddock and mixed sex). We have just made a another purchase, adding a lovely brown female to our junior show team...

                                   

Who might this be...check her out at the National Show!

We have also secured the purchase of a beautiful fawn female, who is sired by the awesome Firedragon, and who will be travelling to the UK with Stargazer (another Firedragon daughter who is pregnant to EP Cambridge Peruvian Spartacus). 

I actually was away all weekend, as I had another BAS meeting on the Sunday. I came home late evening to be greeted by Paul looking very sheepish..."I have had a bit of a disaster" he tells me. This was a clever tactic, as of course by now I am fearing the worst. The disaster?...Epic is covered from head to toe in mud...not just a bit dirty...filthy...honestly I can't go anywhere...but it could have been worse!

Weigh-in and waiting...

At last a day without rain...cold but dry. I have spent so much time mucking out over the last month, I feel that all of my time has been taken up trying to keep our alpacas warm and dry...well dryish!

We did a weigh-in at the weekend and the weights of our cria (at foot) have really suffered. Very little weight gain, and in some case slight loses over the fortnight. All the cria received Cydectin and Vecoxan a couple of weeks ago and are up to date with all their Vit A, D & E, but are just a bit static. We are feeding the dams Camelibra and Speedi-beet but have added some Carrs Camelid mix (with molasses) as a boost.

Interestingly the cria belonging to the large group of livery females, who's dam's arrived overall with low condition scores and thus get additional pulses, had all had good weight gains. Such a balancing act between stopping alpacas getting very overweight (we have some) and ensuring good milk production. You can never underestimate the amount of energy it takes to keep warm in wet and windy conditions.

The weanlings are all doing well and gaining weight. We did start locking them in at nights during the particularly wet weather (although our own cria come in through choice the agisted weanlings did not). Halter training is going reasonably well but still considerable practice required before the National Show. We do need to get these 20 trained before the next 20 are weaned!

I am afraid the opportunities to take photos are rare at the moment. Here we have Beck Brow Blue, whose mum didn't have enough milk due to having mastitis. Some of you may recall that he had to have a plasma transfusion which took four attempts hence the shaved neck. He is weaned from the bottle but we are now trying to wean him from being hand-fed hard feed!

Beck Brow Blue (sire Waradene St Patrick)

The kittens (Astor and Angel) love the morning routine and come out on the feeding rounds with me. Not quite sure how they manage to stay so white but they do...

Astor

Astor doing some halter training...without the halters!

Only two months to go...our first cria of 2014 will be due...the BAS National Show will be over...and we will have a granddaughter. Yes, I really am wishing time away with good reason....might we also have some sunshine!

Halter Training @ Beck Brow

This is Robyn's attempt at a head shot of Beck Brow Crafter...I suppose she did get his head...just not the ears!

It is at this time of the year, when our juniors are put to the test. We find out; who is a born leader; who is a follower; and who just likes to sit down on the job...yes, halter training begins! We had figured that Cat's Pyjamas would be a leader...well more of a show off really...more Madonna...than Mahatma Gandhi...but anyway she was off and away as anticipated. With Crafter and her being inseparable (follower) he too was a star to train. The same can not be said of First Edition 'Eddie' a definite 'sit down on the job' sort.

Why do I always get the rubbish walker...Eddie what are you doing?

We made it to the top of the lane, but had a sit down on the way back (Cat's checking out the cat!)

Cat's and Crafter trying to pretend they are not with 'not so fast Eddie'

Prima Lillibet a yearling was recruited to lead the next outing (with Robyn, Craig and Esmee Mae..Bespoke behind)

With more helpers recruited, we had a mass outing up the lane...now I know it all looks rather messy at this point...

...but we made it no bother. Note I have Eddie, now on his second outing and much improved)

Now, just in case I made that look too easy...this is Pheonix (on livery here) demonstrating the fourth style...lie down and play dead...

Pheonix just doesn't fancy any halter training today thanks...Angel the cat goes to check her pulse!

Epic for sale?

Happy 2014 everybody! I actually do feel I can say that with meaning today...no rain...a whole day and no rain... I have fluffy alpacas!! Extremely dirty alpacas...but dry ones. The paddocks are still a bog, and the farm has never looked such a mess, with muddy gateways and shelters; but the alpacas enjoyed the dry weather, and so did we. Of course I couldn't resist some fleece inspections...and don't they just look so much better. I always think that the cria fleeces are going to be ruined by such weather, but they survive.

It's been a full on alpaca day today, with all of the cria getting their A,D & E top up, and the rest of the herd getting their Maxigro drench (mineral, vitamin, and most importantly selenium supplement). We then moved most of the herd around (including ponies). The liveried females now have access to a ten acre paddock (no one could ever say we are overstocked). In order to give them access to this and to their shelter, we moved Goldmine and his pals in with Explorer and Co. I wasn't quite sure how that might pan out, but it looks like Goldmine has quietly taken charge.

The Beck Brow females now have access to the top paddock.

Beck Brow Explorer trying to look especially macho now that Timbertop Goldmine is sharing his paddock (I think that he is looking more like his sire (EPC Navigator) as he matures. Still no guard hair visible on that chest!)

Not quite sure what Velvet is doing but Goldmine doesn't look impressed...with Explorer following

The livery females in their 10 acre paddock

The dreadful weather has certainly tested Paul's belter of a shelter. It has been well used by the livery herd; however, if he thought that he could get away without guttering, the torrential rain and wind has proven him wrong. Having left a small gap at the top (to allow the wind to pass through, and the roof to remain where it should) the gale force wind was blowing in the rain as it came of the roof. So that has been sorted. Thank goodness we decided to put down a concrete floor, I can only imagine the mess we would have had otherwise.

Paul putting up the guttering...Cumbrian dry stone walling foreground.

We had a visit last week from a couple who have 12,000 free range chickens...and a visiting fox! Nimrod, Julius and Snowstorm will have fun on guard duty. Homework had already been done, and the reputation of alpacas in this type of role is spreading.

Finally...just in case you were wondering...I DONT THINK SO....

                                         

P.S. He is gaining weight steadily. He just doesn't like all the mud...so I lift him over the muddy entrance to the barn! Love Epic!

Farewell to 2013

Well that's 2013 coming to a close. It seems to have been all about rain, wind and mud...with a break for a couple of months of sunshine...then back to the same, but worse!

I will start with my favourite photo of the year. Not an alpaca, but Velvet with one of her kittens (Angel)...she adores her new friends...

                               

On the alpaca front we have had our best year ever, but not without some sadness. I have really struggled to do a review of the year; because the loss of our beloved mother and daughter (Bahati and Poppet) it is still so painful to think about.

Bahati and her daughter Poppet...so close...and sadly missed.

But of course life goes on and for us that included the birth of 12 males and 10 females at Beck Brow. Undoubtedly our best crop yet; made extra special by the birth of Beck Brow First Edition, the first born progeny of our home grown, 4 times Supreme Champion; Beck Brow Explorer. I couldn't have felt more proud...and what a stunner he is...possibly our best cria ever born here!

Beck Brow First Edition (Eddie)

We have added a number of elite females with top notch genetics to our herd. Two maidens (Bozedown Campari and Inca Garland)  and three females who have produced championship winning progeny (Cambridge Scarborough, EP Cambridge Courtesse, and EP Cambridge Aria). We also added to our stud males, with the importation of Timbertop CT Goldmine ET, a superfine herd sire who has already produced Supreme Championship winning progeny.

We have done well in the show ring, not least with Waradene St. Patrick of EPC taking a Supreme Championship. In fact we came home with quite a stash from the YAG Show from only two entries!

                           

We have been extremely busy on the sales front, selling more than we actually intended. We have sold all of our 2013 born females available for sale, before they were weaned; and other females that were not actually meant to be for sale! And we already have interest in our 2014 cria...We can't keep up!

It has been a hectic year, I have had to accept that I am not Wonderwoman, and we need to look for some help next year. I have been up and down the country attending nearly every alpaca show possible, as part of my British Alpaca Society Judge Training. We were also one of the key organisers of the NWAG Alpaca Championships, a new show in Cumbria, which proved to be a great success and will be repeated in 2014. 

In addition to all that, I was appointed to the board of the British Alpaca Society. My key role has been to head the BAS Show Committee and thus be heavily involved in the organisation of the BAS National Show 2014...rather more time consuming than anticipated!

Oh and we also increased our alpacas at Beck Brow by 40 with the addition of another agisted herd. That means 43 cria to halter train!

We are looking forward to 2014. Lots of lovely cria expected, the arrival of Cambridge Stargazer from Australia (who is pregnant to EP Cambridge Peruvian Spartacus), but most of all because we will be welcoming our granddaughter's arrival.

Happy New Year Everyone!

P. S... I love Epic...just in case you were wondering!

                                            

Beck Brow Epic