Well it is now nearly midnight and I thought I would remind those who like to lie in that you lose an hours sleep tonight – Its clock forward tomorrow so 8 am will be 9 am.

Spring is truly on its way

BOOM!

As a farmer, despite the cold, the extra work lugging water, mucking out and inevitable soggy ground to follow when it melts… it IS beautiful…

some of my readers were confused that the “hairless cria” was ours – no I think it was in the USA actually. They ended up calling her LuLu but she was not given a plasma transfusion in time (if I read the story correctly) and so her immune system could not cope and sadly she died last night I believe.

However, whilst this is so sad, my thoughts are with the RED ARROWS family tonight.

We have been busy filming here again so apologies for not catching up with every phone call and email – the weather is sooo helpful!

Moving on, just a quick thank you to a friend who has helped me see a sick Alpaca through this evening. As I type it is heading towards midnight and there is a long night ahead yet for me even with the CCTV.

However, Alpaca friends share information and experiences and I would like to thank my friend again publicly tonight – she knows who she is, who gave up her Saturday night to talk me through a procedure whilst I was in the barn in the freezing cold when she could have been drinking wine and having fun.

Note to my friend – Alpaca now eating, drinking, chewing the cud and pooing happily!

Best friends who care about their livestock as much as you do are irreplaceable!

Alpaca have long since proven that although difficult to get pregnant and stay pregnant; once they are they can “hold” a pregnancy for more than a month after their due dates and can birth early by many weeks.

Thus making the “birthing window” for each Alpaca on farm a long one – with a gestation of 11.5 months that is adding at least 4 weeks either side!

This article from KIT BLOOMAN on Facebook – records what I believe might be the first Hairless cria born “about 5-6 weeks’ early, fully formed, teeth erupted, 5.5kg/12lbs ” surviving and doing well.

The fleece “hair” will follow shortly. I believe they have named her “Baldilocks”

At the end of a Husbandry session when you have to come in and cook, sometimes having a Take Away just has to be done… enter the Thai Emerald… thanks Mum!

Manly chats were held when someone put the Bins out on the wrong day and had to get them back in…

There are some Alpaca that you just know will be with you for life – that’s 25 years to most!

Never have the Alpaca needed their ADE vitamin jabs as this winter – due to their origins they need topping up with the vitamins that they would normally receive from Sunshine. Sunshine? What IS that this Winter? LOL

I am soo pleased that our Sharps Bin – a must for all Livestock Farmers – shows that we still have a way to go to fill our 2015 bin. Meaning that we do not “overdo” it with any injections!

Sensible paddock rotation, no overstocking and no need to endlessly “jab” with wormers – nope doesn’t happen here!

Funny how most people do not know that you have to have a Sharps Bin and you cannot throw needles away…

Those of us in the Alpaca world a long time know that shearers need to be booked a year in advance. Most receive phone calls and texts in January and February to book the larger herds which are done first. Unfortunately for those with only a few Alpaca they are then fitted in later in the year. Inclement weather and the inability to get your herd in for shearing means that shearers will not do it when it is wet – this has become an increasing welfare issue over time as many Alpaca have ended up unshorn. Our sheep are shorn separately.

We are delighted that we have always been able to have our herd shorn to the timings we prefer and although it is hectic – its always fun. A real family affair with many cakes eaten and beers had when it is finished.

I have been threatening Ollie with the shearers – who do you think needs it most?