Droning on - Gala progress.

Gala has been progressing well - she is now eleven days old, and has averaged over 300grams per day weight gain. With alternating showers and warm sunshine, she has cleaned her fleece from the mud that stuck through being born into the rolling pit, and is now a lustrous bright white.

She shows the fabulous comformation of her dam, Apples, sire CCNF Talon and grand-sire, Dovecote Jaquinto.

We had a bit of fun this week, when a friend brought his 'drone' over, with mounted camera, and took some aerial shots and film of the herd:

As with any photography of animals, it takes time to get the views that you want, but it also gives further fascinating insight into their behaviour as a herd, and as individuals - if you have observed your herd when a perceived threat such as a cat or dog is seen, the youngest members of the group will be surrounded by the older ones forming a protective ring. In the first aerial picture above, with the exception of the white cria, whose mother has a different agenda, and keeps her close by, the fawn at the centre is a yearling, and the others kept her at the centre while they weighed up whether this was a threat. (and for the avoidance of doubt, of course we didn't fly close enough to spook them seriously, and we have no more pregnant ones).

Introducing, Apple Vale Gala

No, we are not holding a fete (gala) - last wednesday, 'Apples' gave birth to a lovely female, Gala,

sired by CCNF Talon of CME. At 12 o'clock Joy had seen her and there was no odd behaviour, then when she did a head count at 3 o'clock we had one more! She had clearly been born an hour or so before, as she was sitting up, though she was damp and covered in mud, having been 'deposited' in the rolling pit! It has taken until today, for the mud to wash out with the rain (fortunately!), as it had quickly become baked-in by the sun!

For the first time in breeding, we did not witness the placenta being discharged, which I always dispose of, nor could we find it either. It must have been punctured and quickly taken by crows or a buzzard - I eventually found the remains in the boys paddock four days later! Gala was 8.95 kg, and she is tall, just like her parents, and full siblings, Empress and Fortune. Being born takes it out of you, as the next sequence shows:

 She has put on 1.3kg in five days, which is excellent progress, and her fleece is bright and full of promise.

Meanwhile, matings have commenced, and we have a couple more arranged for next week, so the plans for next year are being put firmly in place - exciting times! We have had a steady flow of guests for B & B, who all ask to meet the alpacas, and they all comment on how calm our herd are, and want to take one with them!

Fleece and field - all baled up.

Watching the rain fall this morning, with a warm glow of satisfaction, as we got the hay in last night. A good day of hot sun yesterday, burnt off fridays' rainfall, and I mustered help from local friends to lighten the load.
We've only one alpaca left to shear now, and we'll do that before this weeks heatwave, then we can get on with a few matings. Following shearing, the herd have gone from the cuddly 'fluffy teddy-bear' look, to animals of elegance and grace.

Scrumpy, before;

Scrumpy, after;

Apple Vale Golden Delicious, with her cria, Flamenco - both just shorn;

Florina, Fiesta, Elstar and Fortune, post-shearing;

"Give me a couple of seconds" - Royal Bath & West Show 2015

Apple Vale Fortune sire: CCNF Talon of C.M.E

The Royal Bath &; West Show was the location for the South West Alpaca Group (SWAG) 2015 show. We had been given a new location on the site, not quite on the fringe as before, but without the large canvas marquee that had housed all the pens and the show-ring in previous years, provided by the show Society. This had given the organiser Di Davies several challenges, particularly in terms of layout, shelter and economics. Assisted by our Chairman, Mark Steele, a plan was hatched, modest marquees were purchased by SWAG, and breeders were encouraged from far and wide to show their pedigree alpacas, 180 in total - some travelled from Wales, East Anglia, the Home Counties, and Cornwall - a tribute to the status of the show in the alpaca breeders calender, and to the tenacity and hard work of Di, Mark and others.

I had been 'invited' to be part of the set-up team, erecting the marquees, setting-out animal pens and other stuff necessary to put on a livestock show - I assumed that I had been invited partly due to my well-honed physique, muscular and lean (pot-belly excepted), the body I wished I had twenty years ago, and belying my true age - a physique gained from the outdoor life that comes with alpaca farming - it was a chance to refresh the skills learned in the Scouts, and for male bonding - I was led to believe that the team would be 'strong, mobile, fast, multi-talented and a charismatic group of volunteers' - I wanted to be part of that - we were lured by the possibility of 'some general all-in wrestling in order to warm up' - we were enticed to think of the 'satisfaction, pride and camaraderie...but that tears may be spilt at the end' - I was prepared to take the rough with the smooth. What I hadn't considered, was that the day before we were to assemble, I was struck by a stomach virus that hit full force the night before, and there was no way I could be more than 5 metres from a lavatory for the next 36 hours.

Fortunately, it was all over by the days I was showing alpacas in the ring, and I was able to fulfill my committment to help with the breakdown of marquees and stacking hurdles on the final day - hopefully Mark's suggestion of 'Squitty Dave' as a nickname won't last.......

On Day One, rain arrived along with those of us arriving in the morning - it became torrential for a while - the gazebo had been water-proofed and so most of the rain ran off quite well, but the rain was so heavy that a fine spray was forced through - fortunately, I had brought our battery-driven cooling fans, and we were able to dry off the alpacas. Greys and blacks were judged inside the marquee - a cosy, but damp affair. The rain disappeared, so that by the time the browns were showing, the show went outside. . We then had a junior brown female (Apple Vale Florina) with a lovely soft, fine fleece, in a class of 4 entries, however, disappointingly she was the only one turn up on the day. She was awarded second place, which I understood, as her fleece is lacking in character and density, but was disappointed that in summing-up the judge placed more emphasis on the negative than the positive traits, of which there are several - hey,ho - she was literally, 'second to none'. We then had a junior fawn male, followed by a junior fawn female in the ring, both of whom have reasonable but not stunning fleeces, and we weren't surprised to pick up rosettes near the poorer end of the line.

Moved up to second place...but will we stay there?

Day Two dawned with better weather in prospect. Apple Vale Fortune found himself in a class of ten, of which all turned up! Great, a real competitive class. We were in the middle of the line-up - they enter from youngest to oldest, and he was in the middle of the age range. After the first round of assessment, the judge started to sort into placings - we were moved up into second place, but I thought this was an 'approximate' place and was ready to be shuffled back a bit. I was flabbergasted to find that was our final place, and Fortune was awarded second place in a class of ten. RESULT!

What a difference a 'couple of seconds' can make!

Yess! second place rosette being presented by apprentice judge Jo Bridge.

Further to my summary of the Devon County Show, we did find that possibly the best place to get a mobile 'phone signal, is in the show-ring! well at least that was true for Andy.........perhaps his white coat improved reception!

Having, cleared away our pens and pitch, taking coffe cups to the bins, I was amazed at how many more coffee cups I found when clearing out the car and trailer at home.

Now the come down - showing is over for us this year - four hectic weeks in May...now we must concentrate on shearing and matings.

With thanks to Scott Stevens for the photographs.

Devon County Show (or, 'colour changes, a mobile 'phone call, and a missing ball'.

On thursday and friday, we got up at 4.45, and were on site by 7.00 as required - fortunately I discovered a jammed trailer brake on wednesday night, so sorted it out with some fine adjustment with a mallet. We are all lured to the show at 'ridiculous-o'clock', by the Full English Breakfast served in the show canteen, and it is worth it. The weather was fabulous, being quite hot between cloudy spells on both days. Several colour changes, from brown to fawn and fawn to light gave the stewards some headaches.

First, we had Apple Vale Florina in the Junior brown female class, and she was placed 3rd from five, quite satisfying.

Then we had Apple Vale Flamenco, and she managed a 3rd from four. I was in the junior fawn male class (Fiesta was unplaced), when a mobile 'phone rang, and I'm glad to say it wasn't mine (set to 'silent') - I wouldn't say whose it was, but if I can find Andy's phone number, I might ring it on friday at the Bath & West, to try and get the ice cream forfeit that is levied against such 'mis-demeanours'!
On friday, we had 'lights' and 'whites'. Apple Vale Fortune found himself in the first group in a split class, against formidable competition, and we were quite satisfied when he was put into fourth from his group of five,

Apple Vale Fortune enters the ring, watched by judge Mary-Jo Smith and apprentice Viv.

Steve Powell (Ashwood Alpacas) shows the 'bite' of Imperial Force for the judge to examine.

Mary-Jo examining the fleece.

The judge gives her oral reasoning behind the placings, while 1st and 2nd take a rest.

This morning, with a warm fine day forecast, we commenced our shearing, by Yours Truly, with Joy assisting, and we got three heavily fleeced, or pregnant females done - very satisfying, given the heat - I feared I might have lost my shearing 'mojo', but it was still there, no problems, no cuts, and quite tidy, if I say so myself - just the small matter of being knac***ed - when you have done it yourself you can really appreciate the professional shearers.

This week, I am helping erect two marquees for the Royal Bath and West Show on tuesday (heave ho), Joy will be demonstrating felting, compered by Val Fullerlove, on wednesday, and on friday and saturday I will be in the show ring again. Come and say, 'hello', if you read this - oh, the 'missing ball' quoted in the title of this blog refers to one poor breeder, whose male alpaca was elliminated due to the judge only being able to find one testicle - at three previous shows this year, the said testicle had made an appearance....so... if you have seen it.....

North Somerset Show

On Bank Holiday Monday we headed off for the first local show, the North Somerset Show. Heavy showers had preceeded for a few days, so the herd had been washed and blow-dried, but then had visited the rolling pit. Nevertheless, the weather forecast was for gradual improvement, so I was optimistic that they would be dry and clean by the time we set off, and this was the case. The day dawned breezy and sunny, and we arrived in good time, with no need to set up the gazebo.

First in the ring was Apple Vale Florina, in a class of six and she gained second place, praised by judge Jay Holland for her soft-handling fleece:

Apple Vale Florina - Dam: Apple Vale Bramley (S: CME Tulaco Centurion), Sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou

Next came the fawns, and we had female Flamenco, followed by male Fiesta, both sired by our stud, EP Cambridge Columbus of Patou - a second place for Flamenco, also praised for her soft handle, but Fiesta didn't place in a class of nine:

Apple Vale Flamenco

Apple Vale Fiesta - heads into the ring full of optimism;

Finally, the junior white male class, and Apple Vale Fortune took fourth place in a class of 7, earning praise for his good frame, and dense, fine fleece:

Apple Vale Fortune - s: CCNF Talon of Classical Mile End

The rain had been threatening for an hour, and set-in as we lined up for the Supreme Champion - I expect everyone was damp by the time they set off, and got a good soaking when they unloaded at home, as we did - but a good show was had. Two more shows this month - bring 'em on!

"You gotta roll with it".

With the fabulous dry weather, the herd are looking at their best, almost fully fleeced, and clean, and the sunshine beckons me to spend time with the camera, during a rest between paddock maintainance. All that is needed is for the herd to co-operate and pose on request...fat chance of that...I have a theory that ours are not over-fed, as they constantly graze when I have the camera out...I try and attract them to look up with a variety of noises, whistling, trilling like a 'phone, and today I introduced the ee-aw of a donkey! Anyway, let the photos do the talking this week:

We are halter-training our youngest, Flamenco the fawn, while Florina the brown is the companion.

When let off their halters, they charge back to join the group!

Fiesta behind Flamenco, both sired by 'Scrumpy', EP Cambridge Columbus of Patou, our herdsire.

"I kissed the grass, and I liked it"

Elstar, a lovely 'girl'. Sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou, Dam: Apple Vale Bramley.

Empress decides to graze horizontally  Sire: CCNF Talon of CME Dam: Helens Diana of Apple Vale

Bramley leads her daughter, Florina ahead of the rest.

Dappled Elstar.

Mother:Daughter. Helens Diana of Apple Vale and Empress.

Caton Freedom of Apple Vale rolls in the dust pit.

Pixie the dog, rolls in chicken poo!

Pixie wallowing, infront of the tree den that I built in the Walnut tree for grandson Oscar.