Daves bid for Freedom

Yesterday I treated the herd to a new trailer - they don't know yet, but I went to an alpaca auction at Bristol Sales Centre straight after collecting the trailer, and was able to return home with it full of soft fleece-bearing alpacas!

The sale was mainly the dispersal of a herd on behalf of breeders who had emigrated to South Africa, along with a few from each of several other breeders. Unfortunately for vendors, the alpacas outnumbered serious bidders by a factor of around ten, and it occurred to me that maybe the bidders should have been paraded in the ring, and the alpacas allowed to bid for their new owner!

We had decided what we were looking for to add to our herd, and I'd spent hours assessing the genetic ancestry during the week, so that I went with a clear idea of what I was after, and how deep (shallow) was my pocket - essential, as with little competition, you could easily feel drawn to bid for too many!

Settling in.

I was pleased to get Lot 2 as intended, a female sired by Dovecote Jaquinto of Alpaca Stud and with Accoyo Remarque as grandsire, and she is pregnant to CCNF Talon of CME - her previous cria from this mating was also for sale and very special, so I could see the potential, and we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Helenia Diana

Later,  I was successful in buying Caton Freedom, a lovely female yearling, again with Jaaquinto as sire, CME Centurion as grandsire on the dams' side, and Purrumbete Highlander several generations up the line - I brought back two for another breeder, and so the trailer earned its keep. The newcomers are all in a quarantine paddock while we carry out the necessary tests.

Caton Freedom

Unfortunately, being unsettled, they are not posing for good photographs, sticking in a close-knit bunch, and with ears flattened often.

Meanwhile, today we got a bit more field division underway with some stock fencing, so we can tackle weed treatment safely, paddock by paddock.

Our garden and paddock have been adopted by a stray Guinea Fowl, rather apt as auctions are conducted in guineas, but it had spooked the hens who wouldn't go into their hut until I had 'guided' the Guinea Fowl into a tree!

Halter training continues.

Discovery is proving to be very attentive to halter training, while Darcy is taking after his brother and sister in being stubborn.
The shelter-shades have withstood endless easterly and northerly winds, and today have had a constant strong southerly which they have resisted well - the steel spiral 'dog-anchors' are excellent in the ground, holding the frame with tree ties.

After an afternoon of post-tapping, we took advantage of a slalom of obstacles for halter training - Darcy shows Joy, that he's not willing

Lead and seed.

Joy discovers what it's like to be a Maypole.

Last weekend the herd were given vitamin AD & E injections, and today it was time for Lambivac vaccinations.

Yesterday I hung a pair of gates to one of the new paddocks, and I am very pleased that they are plumb, level and that they open...and close....and it was warm enough, sheltered from the wind by a hedge, and doing a lot of chiselling and bolting, to get down to a tee-shirt! Short-lived though, todays temperature and wind has required several layers again. Nevertheless, I've scattered some grass seed on the newly-landscaped field entrance and pipe trench, for the expected rain and milder weather later this week.

Golden Delicious has joined the halter training group, and we hope that the boys will show her it can be a lot of fun!

Closing dates for some shows have passed, so entries have been made...the year is picking up pace...shearing soon.

The boys pose infront of the girls paddock - nice pair of well-hung (ahem) gates on the horizon!

Darcy Spice, Discovery and Golden Delicious - in the background is Pelachuta who is dam to dsicovery and grand-dam to Golden Delicious

Strange goings on.

Fellow bloggers, my blog account is behaving weirdly, and I'd appreciate if you get notification of this post, would you let me know with a Comment, so I can try and fathom out where the problem is. Could be me being a Muppet! Thanks, Dave.

Let's hear it for the boys.

Camelot looks across the laneway to the girls paddock. Discovery and Darcy Spice behind him.

After two months, the boys had eaten the old tennis court out of grass, and we were able to bring them into one of the new paddocks. The whole herd were given ADE yesterday, which should be the last time this winter, we've had several bright days this week, though still a fierce cold wind in exposed places. The boys are getting very good on halters, and so we brought them back by road through the village.

Boys and mums reunion.

Excitement across the wires.

Conversing around the water-cooler.

The girls.

I hope those affected by the extreme snow are getting back in order over this weekend.

Phase 2 paddock division.

Sorry, boring title - After an enjoyable weekend at The Futurity, it's been back to the grindstone this weekend - we were 'fortunate' to have two days of rain at the end of the week, rather than the snow many have had - so we had a day of post-bashing yesterday, and have fenced 115metres of internal paddock and lane-way today - squelchy under-foot, but the tractor didn't make much mess, and wrapped-up against a bitter easterly wind, we've made good progress - the girls have enjoyed some lush grass, and the boys will be coming back when this is finished over the Easter 'holiday'. Meanwhile their halter training continues, with trips to a lush garden to graze. I have to return the digger this week, so I need to spend another couple of hours trenching with it after work this week (early finish - yeay!).

Man v. machine

Another phase of the paddock development was carried out this weekend  - with two sons and a partner available and willing for some grafting, (apparently here for Mothers Day) we had a load of fence posts to unload and set out, followed by laying a water main.

 

The herd had cleaned up after three weeks without rain (!), however yesterday and today rain and sleet have turned conditions back somewhat - at least we aren't showing at The Futurity. We will be there, with entries in the photography and craft sections - our way of supporting the event rather than pretensions of brilliance. I have entered a photo into the BAS National competition, however I thought the theme for the photography rather odd (connecting the alpaca with its South American roots), but I tried, with a bit of creative writing.

Halter training the boys is progressing - Darcy Spice (not one of the Spice Girls) was reluctant to begin with, but today clearly remembered that fresh grass lay at the end of the walk, and was first in line up the lane.

Next a photograph from the digger-drivers view-point, having dug a trench, seeing three men grafting and sweating to fill it in again with a little pipe at the bottom, while I dug furiously as they gradually caught up with me - such fun! ...but my hands and feet did get vey cold in that cab!

Looking foward to the Futurity and meeting up with friends old and new.