Snow at East Martin

Well, we still have snow here. Just some pictures of the pacas.
First, our bottle fed baby, running up to see me. Then a group pose.

Skippy running up to see if I have her bottle with me, no it's the camera !!

Hello from all the snowy alpacas.

Happy Birthday Woody

Hi, it is Woody's birthday today. When he was born the weather was very similar, bright but oh so cold, he did not get the best of starts to his life. But he has put all that behind him and now he is the proud father to two adorable little boys born last summer, Shakespeare and Izaak. Shakespeare is Misty's first cria and Izaak has our Supreme Champion Tango as his illustious brother.

Above is a Woody baby picture, have a lovely day Woody.

Meet the Gang

Well, countdown to Christmas, what happened to summer ?
I thought that I would introduce you to "The Gang - Class of 2012"
Today it is the turn of Gloriana, a mid fawn female from one of our favourite dams, Caramel paired with one of our Australian/New Zealand/USA pedigree males, the Super Star - he has sired so many female alpacas.

Gloriana looking a bit muddy

She is well grown and about to be weaned from her mum. Lovely rich fawn fleece, a good all over colour, although today's photograph shows her a bit muddy from yesterday's rain.

I am busy preparing for Christmas Fayres with alpaca products made from our alpaca fleece, the first one is at Breamore village on 10th November. I will have hats, gloves and scarves available for lovely Christmas presents or just as a treat.

More Gang pictures to follow, come back soon !

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.