First Rufus Baby

Our first Rufus baby, a little girl. Rufus has Ruffo as his grand sire. One of our seasoned alpaca mums gave birth today, taking advantage of the last of the good weather, giving us a lovely white female alpaca. New baby was on her feet, within two hours she was running about having perfected the use of her long legs and in search of the milk bar. 

Just two hours old, Rufus first cria

Update

Hi, it's been a while since I wrote, we now have two female cria and more due soon.
The alpacas have all been shorn they are much happier with their big fur coats off, now just having to skirt the fleeces to be sent off to the spinners.
Tango, our Supreme Champion Male has just started working and has covered Camillia and Shadow, he took to his job the first time he was introduced to a female and there is no looking back now. Our next trainee is Shaman, he came 2nd in his class at the recent South of England Show at Ardingly, for quite a time he was in first place, and judge Val Fullerlove took a long time to choose explaining that all the top three were excellent alpacas and all were of the quality to gain a first place, a confirmation of our breeding programme.
Alpacas sired by Rufus, with the Highlander and Ruffo pedigree are due any day very excited to see his progeny.

First Cria of the Year

Busy day yesterday, finished the herd vaccinations before the rain started, that was good. Then whilst we were toe nail clipping our first cria of the year was born, a simply stunning light fawn girl. She is the combination of two Australian parents, included in her pedigree, the highly respected Australian Stud Male, Highlander and Jolimont Commisario, so we are looking forward to seeing her grow up.

Ballantine and her new daughter

With the weather as it was so wet mum and baby spent the night all dry in the barn. She is sporting a nice weatherproof coat, has been out for most of today but back in the barn now as we are again getting torrential rain and a cold wind is blowing. No time this weekend for papercrafting but I have been felt making for eventually creating some flower brooches.

Updating the Website

We have got some much needed rain, but too wet for paddock cleaning today. Have updated the website with new girls for sale, it has been difficult to decide who to choose as we have some lovely girls here our breeding programme is showing such promise. There are mainly whites with some fawns to choose from, select your own starter herd, with Australian Elite Genetics and mated with prizewinning stud males, yet more Elite Australian Genetics their resultant cria will be the start of your own breeding programme aiming for the finest fleeces.
We are eagerly awaiting our first cria of the season, should be any day now, just not today thank you. Plenty to be done but need dry weather, halter training in particular. Off to check on the pregnant mums.

Futurity 2012 Results

Hi The Futurity 2012 results are posted, our boys did us proud. We sent two fleeces and got a first place, a second place and reserve Champion. Well done to Cherwell Leys Tangaroa, keeping up the good work and Cherwell Leys Charnwood Phoenix, Tango will be working as "in house" stud male this season. So excitedly looking forward to next year's cria already, this year's are not on the ground yet, great news is Woody has cria due later this year. We are especially pleased as our boys are up against the best in the white classes and have both done exceptionally well for a small breeder.

Crochet Shawl goes to World Alpaca Conference

Still waiting to find out about the Futurity results, but I do have one bit of news to tell on that front.
Received a rosette in the post today, first place, that is a good start, for my crochet shawl in Tinker's fleece which is a rich shade of brown, hand spun by myself using my Roberta Spinner. My shawl has been sent on to be exhibited at the World Alpaca Conference taking place in Oxford during April, how exciting is that. No shawl to photo at present, that will have to wait until it is returned. I may not make it to the conference but I shall be there in spirit (or at least in crochet shawl !!)

Futurity Show Results Due Soon

It was the Futurity Show at the weekend and as we did not enter any alpacas in the halter show, we are waiting to find out how we got on in the Fleece Show and the Craft Show. We had two fleeces entered and five craft items.
Lovely weather today brilliant sunshine and blue sky, the alpacas are soaking it up. The expectant mums are resting and there are some looking very plump now, I am sure that I could see Caramel's tummy twitching, she is due early April so not long now !!