Alpaca & Muscovy

Blog

Cirencester Corn Hall Kensmyth busy busy busy

Well its crazy manic as usual and I have been accused of being quiet on the Kensmyth blog. well, I can only say that we have been busy with new Alpaca product lines, our stand at the Corn Hall and half term…

cornhall feb web 2

the day before Valentines is always romantic and with our ground here too wet to commence Alpaca walking just yet (booked ones forwarded in the diary) we had a fantastic day at the Corn Hall on 13th Feb.

our new product lines flew out of the door and we took numerous bookings for walks once we reopen on April 1st … no, not a Fools. We respect the ground here as it has to work for everybody and be safe.

corn hall feb web 1

Cria fleeces 2016 – marvellous

with the recent rainy weather we have been catching up with some husbandry ADE injections, toenails and fleece assessments … really pleased with the weanlings fleeces. Some were great within weeks of birth but they have to keep the crimp coming and the standard up beyond weaning and onwards to be considered for future stud males. Fineness is critical… we are really pleased with this boy in particular…

what these photos show are flank, shoulder, rump, head etc – all with excellent crimp all over the boy!

cria 1 web

cria 2 web

 

cria web 4

Driving Test pass first time

so much to catch up on but BIG congratulations to Mitchell for passing his driving test first time…

well I had to put up a photo of when he was young and cute didn’t I??

mitchell car web

Sports Relief 2016 Alpaca Mugs

we have been absolutely crazy mud and rain manic and will catch up soon… meantime we have our lovely Alpaca Mugs on our shelves, courtesy of Sports Relief 2016… simply stunning and donating at the same time…

Alpaca are so popular now they are everywhere!

sports relief 1

alpaca mugs 2

Fox Guards available for lambing season 2016

FOX GUARDS AVAILABLE NOW – PROTECT YOUR LAMBS THIS SEASON

Alpaca are renowned for their guarding capabilities and protecting lambs. They walk towards the “predator”, make a loud noise, enough usually for the most persistent fox/crow etc.They also protect and keep company orphans.

Shorn annually providing excellent quality fleece, paddock grazers.

Kensmyth Stud have available castrated male Alpaca for sale ready for this job – and of course your enjoyment of their company and fleece too!

Biosecure, Closed herd, stock available all year round.

team kensmyth

Used on farm for Alpaca walking (note they walk within farm ring fence only) with visitors, these  are now for sale.

Castrated males, rising 3 years, one black and one fawn available now – sensible price to genuine home. Delivery within 40 mile radius can be arranged.

Please note these are halter trained, castrated and trailer trained as well.

Please view Alpaca Walking on www.kensmyth.com to see them in action with visitors to our Alpaca farm.

Helen@kensmyth.com Tel: 07799700587

Its February – stop and think for a moment…

A thought for February 2016. As I welcomed February 2016 in the early hours out in the wind and light rain, I thought who really knows what is going on in the life of someone they seek to hurt other than that which obsesses them at that point?

feb 1st 2016

Feeding is critical in winter months – checking bodyscores

Body scoring Alpaca is essential in winter months. Alpaca quickly lose weight and take a long time to recover.

All Alpaca are fed small rations twice a day off ground here at Kensmyth and we have a few that need to enrol in a Gym this month too!

cold and frosty morning 2

isn’t it great when your Fleece Samples come back with really low micron and you know that your Alpaca are really fat so the real “score” is even lower!!

Micron count in Alpaca varies at the time of year, age and weight of the Alpaca. It is also affected from country to country by ground and heat conditions. For example Australian Alpaca in dry hot conditions ranging over plains will have a lower Micron count than New Zealand Alpaca in lusher less hot conditions… bring them to the UK and even more lush grass and you have different again!

there is no “one size fits all” in Alpaca fleece and keeping our Alpaca in good body condition is priority !

cold and frosty mornings

there are age old sayings… beauty is in the eye of the beholder…

early mornings  and this certainly applies to cold and frosty mornings…

cold and frosty morning 1  and another saying?

you can take a horse to water but cannot make it drink…

even if you have Field shelters in every single field for them … they do not always use them!

IMG_7303  but they do love fresh crispy breathy frosty walks!