Fan-tastic.

On thursday we left home with film directors from L.A staying in our studio bed-sit, the dog went to friends at one end of the village, the hens and 2-day old chicks in the care of our neighbours, and the remaining alpacas to be checked on by our farm neighbour. Miraculously, everything seemed to work out, with all of the animals and keys in the correct places when we got home late last night. We had a steady journey to the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, for The British Alpaca Futurity 2015, and got unloaded and parked fairly swiftly.

Apple Vale Florina receives some calming words.

For cooling the alpacas in a warm arena, breeders use electric fans, and some time ago I looked into whether re-chargeable battery versions existed. I located a Makita fan at Axminster Tools, on-line, which are quite cheap, but the batteries and charger are considerably dearer - never-the-less, they can be used with other Makita tools, such as drills, and besides, we can use them in agricultural shows, the barn in hot whether, or the trailer even, so I took the plunge, and ordered everything - with the hotel being in the arena complex, re-charging was straight-forward, and the batteries last for 3-4 hours depending on high or low setting. At night we set one running before ten o'clock lock-down, and the alpacas were fine in the morning. So, we were very pleased with the outcome, and many breeders were inquisitive to see the set-up - the two fans suited us for 3 alpacas, and would probably do for 5 or 6 - fan-tastic!

This was our first time of showing at a national show - Day 1 we had two females in the show ring, Apple Vale Florina, Junior Brown, and Apple Vale Empress, Intermediate White - whilst they both have good characteristics, we are realistic and know that there are some aspects they are not the best, so we weren't surprised that they did not get in the rosettes, amongst stiff competition.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. - presenting the rosettes.

On Day 2, we had Apple Vale Fortune, Junior Male, and White, sired by CCNF Talon of Classical MileEnd, with grand-sire Dovecote Jaquinto of Alpaca Stud. We knew he had many special characteristics, but he was in a class with three groups of nine, all containing progeny of championship-winning sires.

Judge Peter Kennedy from Australia presents the rosette

When the judge placed Fortunes fleece sample on his sleeve, I saw the brightness immediately jump out compared to some others, and allowed myself to think we had a chance, so it was a relief when he beckoned us to the front line, and fantastic when he directed us into third place - the alpaca judging ring (and show) is a serious, professionally operated example of British alpaca breeding - but everyone, including judges, know not to take themselves too seriously - it is fun, and there are light-hearted moments, and we all love our alpacas - so I allowed a smile to spread across my, normally (too) serious face, but with-held the 'fist-pumping' and cry of "yesss" until we got in the car! After all, in over six years of alpaca breeding, I've made the 'walk of shame' (which of course, it isn't) a few times, as we have steadily improved the herd through careful breeding on our compact farm. We'll have a glass of wine tonight.

Listening to the judges summing-up and reasoning.

The fibre, fleece products and crafts were celebrated by the 'P-Lush Show' running alongside the alpaca show, and contained some fabulously exotic garments to demonstrate the possibilities with alpaca fleece.

Apple Vale Fortune with his rosette.

Sit-and-ride mower.

Four days until The British Alpaca Futurity at The Ricoh Arena, Coventry - this afternoon I gave the trailer a spring clean, rinsing off the green lichen, so it is gleaming. New banners have been made for the pen, and I have written the list of 'stuff to take'

Thanks to good weather, the show team of three are quite clean (paddock condition). We have continued halter training, and today I enlisted my grand-daughter, Pixie, and daughter, Kerry to introduce some new faces, with the hope that Florina would be happier to walk - as you can see, she was more interested in the lush grass up the avenue, than going for a walk!
Once back in the paddock, Pixie (age two-and-three-quarters) requested a ride on an alpaca, so we nominated Fortune, as he is the biggest, and he was quite happy for her to sit there.

We can only hope that the sense of 'occasion', and the interest in the new sights, sounds and smells of the show ring will sharpen their walk in the 'catwalk' of the show ring....
Meanwhile, on friday, I joined the alpacas for the eclipse, to observe their behaviour as the false dusk fell..

Scrumpy wonders what is going on as the eclipse begins.

The eclipse 'party' is in full swing!

The eclipse is three-qaurters finished.

At the back, Florina is 'disttracted' by Scrumpy our stud male...

See you at The Futurity, hopefully - come and say hello.

Weaning and haltering.

Weanlings and their 'teenage carers' enjoy the rested pasture

The weanlings are being halter-trained, whenever we have the chance - we use our lawn as an enticement as there is plenty of grass. We've kept them in the 'home' paddock where we have a good shelter, and it's easy to take them to the lawn.

Florina and Fortune with their 'carer' Elstar at the front

However there comes a point when the grass is negligible, and with each shower it becomes more muddy, so today we led them over the hill to fresh pasture which had been rested since Christmas. They only have one of my wind-break/sun-shades over there, so we'll give them a couple of weeks, weather permitting, and then bring them back to try and get them clean(-er) for the Futurity, our first show of the year.

The adults gather around the hay-manger, while the young ones enjoy their fresh pasture beyond - Herdsire Scrumpy, minds his own business in the top left paddock.

This winter has been much better for us - the paddocks have held up well - before this recent changeable spell, we had four weeks without rain, and plenty of frosts. I took the mower out this morning to do a bit of scarifying, and was pleased that it started first time since November, no flat battery! The ground was a bit too soft and greasy on the hill, so I didn't continue.

Golden Delicious nursing Flamenco

We have one cria still being nursed, a September birth, so she isn't quite ready.

We have had a steady run of visitors, including a family considering alpacas as a business venture, and a group of ladies for a felting workshop.
We will be attending the Futurity in four weeks time with a finely-tuned show team, and we've just decided on different teams for another three shows, which I must get on with making the entries for, before they fill up - that would be disappointing. Good luck at the National next week.

Dyed fleece, ready for a felting workshop.

Mums look on proudly, to see their weanlings being independent (?!)

Sunrise in the frost.

Apple Vale Florina-  dam: Apple Vale Bramley, sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou

Not a good start to the day, as the cat had died ovenight - she was showing signs of her age, so it wasn't unexpected, and she wasn't a pet, but a feral cat we had adopted from Cat Protection, and she had sole rights to the summerhouse for six years, so now we can reclaim it, although the window fell out on thursday, so she obviously hadn't been carrying out maintenance in accordance with her tenancy...

dessicated coconut cap, or frost?

We've made some entries to the British Alpaca Futurity Show at the end of March, and arranged the accommodation, so very excited about that.

With weaning begun two weeks ago, we started halter training last week, and yesterday led them down the 'avenue' where they could enjoy fresh grass, and they all took to it very well (bribery often helps). With diminishing grass, and the frequent showers, the paddocks have deteriorated, and so it's taking a vigilant eye, and timely moving to minimise damage and mud - the alpacas are certainly in 'paddock condition' - the frosts of the last week have brought some relief, and is a good thing for the paddocks in many respects.

We had a lovely Australian couple staying in the B and B studio yesterday , and they were very pleased, leaving this comment amongst their review: " ...Now the alpacas! It will absolutely make your day/week/month/year to get a cuddle from one of them. I didn't want to leave!" The studio is advertised on www.airbnb.co.uk, under 'spacious studio on an alpaca farm', if anyone is interested.

So that's the first post of 2015, and after a month or three of little happening, the alpaca year is truly underway, with mating plans made, and sales strategy discussed.

Driving home for Christmas.

We save the home paddock for mid-winter, so that with short daylight hours and poor weather, we don't have so far to trek, to feed and water the herd. Yesterday we brought them over, and they LOVE a change of grazing:

Out of the paddock and into the avenue - Golden Delicious neck-and-neck with Empress;

Round the first bend and up the track, Golden Delicious takes a commanding lead, leaving her baby, Flamenco in 7th place;

Congestion at the paddock entrance as the stragglers arrive, but they are just as eager;

They all head for the rolling pit, as if they've missed it for two months!

It's first come, first served, room for 3 rolling at a time, so the others get down to the new grazing;

Wait for me!

Grazing next to their shelter, beside the garden;

We planted some conifers that had out grown their pots, and the alpacas love to straddle them, to scratch their bellies and rub their coats against them;

We gave them all a shot of vitamin ADE, and checked faecal worm counts for a couple, part of our periodical health monitoring.
Wishing you all, whether breeders, potential alpaca owners, or just interested in alpacas, a very Happy Christmas, and thank you for your involvement and comments over the last 12 months! All the best for 2015.

Smoking jacket.

I lit a bonfire near the paddock, and, although the smoke wasn't drifting across, the alpacas all lay down and had a roll, - I've seen this before, it's as if they believe the smoke is cleansing, like dust in their fleece.

I trimmed a Hazel bush, and took the trimmings over for the alpacas, as they love Hazel leaves, but they are turning brown and falling, so there's not many left.

With the damp ground, the herd are getting grubby now, but you can't wrap them up, they 're better off with fresh air and sunshine, and their own space, rather than confined in the barn, and with it being so mild, they are still out at night.

Flamenco continues to gain weight steadily at the same rate as before 500g/week. I registered this years cria this afternoon, a good feeling for a proud breeder.

Bramley feeding Florina, as the sun sets behind.

Weighting game.

Apple Vale Florina (s: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou)

The herd are starting to look a little dirty now, as the rain falling is outweighing the moisture evaporating, and the paddocks get squelchy. It's still very warm, so the herd are staying out in the far paddocks with their mobile shelters while there's still some grazing. We're saving the home paddocks for the depth of winter when the days are really short, and they'll have some good grass and a good solid shelter from cold winds.

Apple Vale Fortune (s: CCNF Talon of Classical Milend)

We weighed all of the babies today - only the youngest, Flamenco is being weighed weekly, as she is only 8 weeks old - we had been concerned as the weekly increase had slowed to around 500g, but after checking faecals, trying a top--up with goats milk (which gave her the squits, so counterproductive), we concluded that being a September birth, the quality of grass and length of daylight slows the rate of growth - her mum has milk, and we see her nursing and grazing, and it is a steady increase - what do other breeders think?
We took the opportunity for a fleece check and we are very pleased with all of the cria, especially Florina (super soft) and Fortune (bright, organized and nice crimp).

Apple Vale Fiesta

Apple Vale Flamenco (I like the impression of a very long-necked alpaca behind!)

And finally a new take, on a 'selfie':