Kensmyth

well who would expect a Frost on 10th May? really – what is the Jetstream doing to us now!

exciting times lie ahead for Kensmyth this year as we did some very brave colour matings and I have several girls now overdue… so its regular checking from the (yawn) earliest hours to the latest hours when they go onto CCTV.

for those who think Alpaca birth in the mid morning coffee break – guess again – mine had never read that book and as our Vets will confirm – have done every hour they felt like in a 24 hour period – usually just as you want to go to bed! Love them and so excited to see what colours we get this year!

few realise that Alpaca require additional vitamins through the winter months due to the lack of sunshine in the uk. Hence they cannot wait for their heavy fleeces to be taken off (shorn) so they can bask in the sunshine and soak up all that goodness…

As the celebrating of 10 years breeding continues, we see more of the popularity of Alpaca across the UK generally – there are now over 45,000 Alpaca in the UK – did you know that?

Not bad for a little quadruped only introduced into the UK just 17 years ago.

well with the boys showing off to all their visitors…

 the girls started a riot and decided everybody should absolutely spend time with them too…

with the rare breed Wensleydales taking backstage position at the moment, it is time for the boys to show what Showmen they truly are…

As we continue celebrating our 10th year of breeding alpaca, we have had some lovely cards made to give to our visiting clients and friends – it was all kept under wraps for about 8 weeks and only a few close friends – and card manufacturers and sign makers knew!

few folk realise the fleece can so easily hide a thin Alpaca in the winter  – not so ours – they are all fat!

 happy Alpaca in safe fields with excellent fencing and grass

check us out on BBC One News Gloucestershire today – 4th May 2017 – live News feed

Nearly two weeks ago, when the weather was fantastic, we had our males shorn with a bit of a difference in order to celebrate our Alpaca breeding.

First of all I must say that this is a “one off” to celebrate our Alpaca business and the fact that this year will be our tenth group of Alpaca to be born to Kensmyth. The “blanket” is the best part of the fleece on the Alpaca so shearing in such a funky manner did mean that we lost a little of the best parts of the fleece this year but it is worth it. I must also say that my Alpaca males do not mind being shorn and it is not something I would try with my females! The boys love the attention and the girls are not so fussed. Plus with an 11.5 month gestation, the females are nearly always pregnant at shearing so you need to be as quick as you can to shear the pregnant girls!

We had the boys shorn early as this is something I wanted to do to promote my Alpaca Business and show people a more humerous side to Alpaca in times when Farming seems really low. I must emphasise that Alpaca are still a “wild” animal and that only castrated males are usually kept as “pets” –  I have only done this with Alpaca I know really well who were happy to have it done and who relish the attention they are getting!

As a breeding Alpaca farm, we do not have any castrated males and these funky cuts showcase the excellent fleece on my stud boys and their superb temperaments and conformation. They love showing off as you can see and yes, it will be coming off!

Well we can really see things “booming and blooming” here at Kensmyth now, despite the chilly weather for May…

the bluebells are blooming…

       the sheep are blooming … the pregnant Alpaca are blooming…

  and Kensmyth has sponsored marketing pages at successful meets… and raising money for charities itself…

A quick “jolly well done” to all entrants in the London Marathon 2017 – I had many friends entered into it and I am pleased to say all of them completed it and raised loads of money for their charities –

The first of May – Happy May Day to you all whatever you are doing – keep smiling!

As the years go, so do the Trees we planted grow and so too will the fruit this year. “For everything there is a season”

For today, as it is the funeral of our dear friend, we think of happier times and memories.