Loving the dry weather!

Herby has been out enjoying the dry weather....

as has April...

Herby and Cinnamon have great fun playing.

The young boys have been moved in to live with the big boys and be weaned.

Halter Training pt2

After a couple weeks off we decided to get back to the halter training. Isla was the star handler today.....

...even in the face of adversity!!!!

The beautiful Dill above and below -GORGEOUS!!!

Herby

...and the wire girls

Keeping up with the Steeles and Fleece Stewarding

After all this inclement weather we decided we needed to get ourselves another field shelter and as per the mighty Patou's recommendation we got ours from Stables and Shelters. We would recommend them to anyone looking (efficient and well priced)!

Here are the alpacas checking it out!

The first day and a half of my futurity trip were spent fleece stewarding. Above are the fleeces and the two judges (Tim Hey and Rob Bettinson) and below the winning Huacaya fleece. Notice the beautifully filled out form :o). Well done EP Cambridge and Nav's new owners Houghton Hall Alpacas on the result.

The Futurity

For those of you wanting a photo fix from the futurity, here you go. Unfortunately the subject matter is a bit biased but you can get the gist!!! We had a great, although tiring weekend, as always, in good company.

Champion Fawn Suri Male (a Remus baby owned by Moonsbrook) - Gorgeous!

The mighty Patou, Mark with Millie winning Reserve Brown Champion Female!

The intermediate brown female class - well the 2 animals that mattered anyway ;)

Darwin - a beautiful brown boy bred by Inca Alpaca

Thanks to dad for the photos!

Oh Herby!

Poor Herby is beside himself, his mum is in season, so he is very worried. He can't eat or spend more than a minute without whining! He has now decided that he has to chew on Isla's slipper to ease his frustrations!

April, deciding it's game on for getting away with things, perches herself on the window seat - no she isn't meant to be on there!

Black alpaca breeders day

Inca alpaca very generously hosted a day for black alpaca breeders yesterday at their farm. There were talks and discussions on fibre processing and the associated preparation of fleece. An opportunity to see some high quality older females to recognise the traits we should be looking out for in those and some examples of the results and consequences of breeding decisions. I was very lucky to be invited and appreciate the effort that was put in to holding this event. A great way to learn more about the industry!

Kerry from Toft Alpaca Shop talking about fibre processing.

The hog roast!

Kerry showing us the principles of sorting a fleece for processing.

Sun at the weekend

We were lucky to have some sunny weather last weekend so I was out camera in hand to snap the alpacas enjoying it.

Moselle (isn't she just lovely Mark ;o) )

Coco's family... Cinnamon, Coco and Danika

Two Jack cria, Dyer and Danika

Another lovely Jack cria, Dorrigo

Danika and the one eyed but very beautiful Dill