Archive 2007

Good News?
29 November 2007

First the good news - we had FIVE cria on Thursday 29 November - bad news (?) was they were all boys!

Evaki Working
23 November 2007

We are pleased to say young Silverstream EVAKI (86940) our new stud male settled and started working with the girls over the last few days. A Windsong Valley Ice Man stud male this guy is packed with a bright white crimpy fleece consistently through his large frame. A real good-looker - top right.

Beautiful Weather - get the swimming pool out!
22 November 2007

A heat wave in Dunedin! Honest! It did bring a few cria to birth but the main fun was watching several mums getting into their own swimming pools, be they the pond, the water trough or a 'Warehouse Special' green bath. Never see the cria doing it but often the mums will be standing cooling in a water hole of some description. They love it and we love to watch them paddle around!

National EXPO 2007 - Mystery Creek, Hamilton
12 November 2007

Flagstaff Alpacas were again sponsors for the National Alpaca EXPO 2007 at Mystery Creek, Hamilton. We had our own trade site with Nicki and Bill Grant, and welcomed plenty of North Islanders to Otago and Southland alpacas and hospitality!

Our congratulations go out to the EXPO organising committee for a great event. And our congratulations to Sheryl, Kit and family Johnson at Silverstream Alpacas on winning the Huacaya Supreme Championship in a really tough field!

And to cap it all we will be bringing Evaki, our new Ice Man boy, back from the Show and EXPO to get him working. Come visit to see his fleece! I can tell you it is a very long drive back!

How to Fail at Hide'N'Seek !
6 November 2007

As you can see in the second picture right this cria needs to listen to mum a little more - when it comes to playing 'Hide'N'Seek'! "Yes we know you can't see the other cria but one has to say there are a few clues to finding you!"

Picture courtesy of Andy Kerr at Bessborough Alpacas in Masterton. Yes, the boy did eventually concede his hiding place was really a alpaca lolly dip - some feed nuts hidden in the bottom of the bucket!

Busy ... Anne
1 November 2007

Hope you have had a chance to look at our seven new yarns on our 'Product' page. Anne has been busy with our bottle green yarn - fresh picture on the products page - making a childs super-soft pullover - took just six balls.

Alpaca Blogs ... 'Alpaca Blogs' page
22 October 2007

Quick reminder just to check our 'Alpaca Blogs' - recent commentary gives an insight into the IT revolution emerging in our alpaca communities.

Australian National Alpaca Show - Melbourne
20 October 2007

Always expect the unexpected in alpacas. What a line-up of huacaya alpacas over the long weekend of 19-21 October at the National Alpaca Show, this year in Melbourne. A powerhouse of names through the adult and senior classes of alpaca names that have dominated the ring for the last 8 years - Warrior, Tor, Centurion, Yucatan and Khan ... and Celtic Triumph was in the sidelines panting away with a really giant coat!

But all were upstaged (this time) as the Supreme by a great, compact male from Serena Lodge in Tasmania (middle picture - solid white with the red soil 'tinge'). A REALLY popular win from this stud that has been a key sponsor backer of a number of events through Australia and New Zealand over the last three years so very, very well deserved! A great venue and high quality alpaca auction to close the event. Good news is we won't have to wait 12 months for the next event as the AAA Nationals will be in late August 2008 in Canberra.

If your serious about alpacas and taking the industry forward you must be at the AAA Nationals to see some of the world elite alpaca on Show! These boys and girls will all contribute to building the luxury alpaca fleece mountain critical to our global image of a sustainable and luxury fleece industry!

Fleece Results
18 October 2007

Fleece results have been added to some details though our site - some very fine and high curve Southern Warrior cria amongst the results for the first time. Now we are sorting alpaca over the next month into shearing groups. See last years 'crop' processed and available for sale in yarns and cones on our product page.

Fleece Testing
11 October 2007

Important time of the year as we are completing our herd fleece testing. Important for at least two reasons as it gives us an understanding of the progress in our breeding plans and herd quality as well as in preparation for shearing in November and December. The shearing plan will work around those results as well as direct handling by Andy and shearing helpers so that we sort from the shearing table. We processed over 100 kilograms of our best white and light cream fleece recently - see the product page - and hope expect to achieve that again this year.

Our problem is volume of good coloured fleece for processing into natural coloured yarns. Our processor is keen on 100 kilograms minimums so we will mix several years clips this season.

With respect to fleece testing results you should see many reflected in updates to our alpaca stud males and alpacas for sale statistics. If you need any further explanation please make contact.

Back to Work!
5 October 2007

Let the fun begin. We have just started this years matings with Toledo, Enrico, Warrior, Que Cee, Ben Elvis, Mitcham, Castel and Sea Stallion joining their girls for the early part of the season. Otto remains at Bessborough Alpacas in Masterton, starting with a fresh mating to Moonlight, and Enrico has been working with the girls at Anne and Brian's home farm in Crookston, Tapanui.

We look forward to several cria arrivals in next 4 weeks so watch this space for details.

Galena Foetus Loss
22 September 2007

We all have good and bad days. Overnight Galena, one of our suri females, lost her very late term foetus/cria overnight. The dark brown fleece cria, by Castel, was found dead in the morning. The umbilical cord was found to be tangled around the rear legs of the female cria and appeared abnormally long and/or stretched. The presentatoin of the cria on the ground implied a breech delivery. Galena looks well and comfortable.

Bundle of Boys
22 September 2007

I guess it happens to us all but our first five cria this season, after the birth of guanaco female Guinivere, have been boys ...!!! Hmmm! We now await due arrivals from Amberfern, Fair Miss and Rhianna .... with interest!

Updates on Guinivere and Lumi
2 September 2007

Picture updates on our winter cria arrivals - both alpaca and guanaco. Both Lumi the alpaca, a Southern Warrior boy, and Guinivere are doing well - pictures right.

Spring Plans!
1 September 2007

Glorious weather here in Dunedin and got us thinking about alpaca plans for the coming Spring. Primary events will be attending the Australina National Show in Melbourne in mid-October, and then a Show journey north to, hopefully, the Manawatu Show, Palmerston North/Fielding, on to the Alpaca EXPO at Mystery Creek, Hamilton and finishing the alpaca road-trip at the Royal Show in Christchurch - all in November.

Other than that we should see about 12 cria born in the next 3 months - we had our first 'spring' cria earlier this week! So hope to see you at the Shows or simply visiting to see the new and old ... alpacas!

Stay Alert!
23 August 2007

Think it's cold outside? Well it is a good time to keep an eye on your alpacas as the worst of a long winter means they may be more susceptable to any bugs around the paddock. We keep testing for intestinal worms and coccidia, thanks to our vet Verona Mitchell and local alpaca owner Angela Ruske.

A keen eagle-eyed alpaca owner is the best detective though so do spend time watching your herd for any strays or unusual, passive behaviour! Any thoughts, concerns or questions please make contact.

Sea Change - cria boy named 'Lumi'
10 August 2007

Sea Change cria has been named 'Lumi' - chosen by Tuula Nikulainen the Finnish felter visiting, exhibiting and doing workshops in Otago and Southland. Lumi - means white, snow, protecting, warming the earth. Picture top is Lumi with mum Sea Change late one bright Dunedin evening.

Sea Change - cria boy at last!
2 August 2007

Pleased to say our Conference cria was eventually born - one month late. Little male cria born to Sea Change, by Southern Warrior, is happily bouncing around the paddock on a glorious day to arrive in the world. Nice work, mum!

Guanaco Cria - BREAKING NEWS!
23 July 2007

Thorn, our breeding guanaco cria, gave birth to a little female here today - to our surprise. Mum and cria are all well and ... wonderful! Pictures right - seconds and a few hours after birth. Any thoughts on a name for this lovely ... big ... little cria! UPDATE - 24 July: mum and cria all well after some heavy overnight rain and winds. Thorn has never been keen on luxuries such as a roof over her head. Cria is wearing a coat. For more pictures SELECT THIS LINK . Cria has been named Guinivere.

UK Floods - BAS to the Rescue
22 July 2007

See our fellow UK alpaca breeders - coordinated by the British Alpaca Society - are busy helping fellow breeders affected by the severe floods through much of England and Wales. Must be a very unpleasant experience for all involved and here's hoping all alpacas and owners are OK.

Hay - Lucerne and Quality Meadow Hay
15 July 2007

Our store of Central Otago lucerne hay is beginning to run low - we have passed-on over 200 bales already. But we do have plenty of very good quality meadow hay ($6/small bale. Includes GST and we can deliver in Otago and Southland by negotiation). Many of our alpacas continue to ... feast ... on baleage ... love it!!!

Veterinary Clinic
5 July 2007

Short comment on the veterinary clinic held here during Conference. Several procedures were demonstrated on alpaca volunteers such as liver biopsy, catheritisation, castration and CSF collection as well as an actual diagnosis of infertility on a visiting alpaca.

Our thanks to BCF Ultrasound Australasia for supplying FOC the DP-6600Vet Ultrasound for the Conference weekend. We conducted a number of rectal and external diagnosis with ease through the Conference weekend and the lead speaker, Dr. David Anderson from North America, commented the high quality imaging of the DP-6600 made life much easier during hs conduct or several workshps through the long weekend. Our thanks to BCF for supplying the unit over the weekend.

Conference OVER!
4 July 2007

Phew! - the AANZ Alpaca Conference has closed here in Dunedin. Good to see so many people from New Zealand and Australia enjoying Otago hospitality - and some excellent presentations by a pedigree group of very enthusiastic speakers. A big thanks to all those involved in organising the Conference and to the efforts of the speakers in providing such a high level of presentation and Delegates Notes.

Winter Watch - Time to Know Your Alpaca
15 June 2007

Critical time of the year to stay alert to any changes in your alpacas social habits - a clue to any 'winter-wobbles' from stresses such as the cold, worms, mineral or vitamin deficiency, or nutrition run-down? We noted Galena, one of our suri girls, limping off her left front leg - proved to be a small tear on the pad but could have been a first clue to rickets or vitamin D deficiency.

All of our own vitamin D supplementation pre-mid-winter day is completed but still the cria are watched fairly carefully - usual clue to a phosphorous issue is the little cria does not join in the games and races around the paddocks. Or if mum is suffering and milk availability is down then a careful eye on numbers of feeds.

Alpaca Movements various
25 May 2007

A series of deliveries to various places around Otago today in the Alpacamobile. Tapanui to Mainholm Lodge for a bunch of boys to meet visiting residents or diners at the Lodge was the first stop of over 600 kilometers in the day! Pacas, as always, just sat in the back of the van enjoying the views through Central Otago! My thanks to all the tea and coffee providers along the way!

Winter is Coming - a Helping Hand to Cria
7 May 2007

Another short warm-spell over the weekend has allowed us to start vitamin D shots for cria and younger alpaca mums. With our last autumn cria on the ground and running hard Vitamin D is critical to keeping those cria fit and growing. Vitamin D is critical for for phosphorous retention, especially its recovery from phosphorus-rich saliva in the digestion cycle. Clinical signs of phosphorus depletion are rickets, swollen joints and lack of growth - so please don't short-change your cria and other susceptible alpaca from a dose (orally or by injection) in these gloomy low-sun exposure days!

International Alpaca Show - Ulm, Germany
14-15 April 2007

We attended the inaugural International Alpaca (Alpaka) Show in Ulm, Southern Germany, weekend of 14-15 April. Despite movement restrictions in parts of Europe the Show attracted alpaca entries from France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The first ever overall Champion, judged by Australian judge Diane Condon, was a white Huacaya female from Northern France.

The Show also included a number of trade activities and other camelid visitors - 2 camels offered rides to the public and llamas competed in performance classes. But the public were generally focused on the showing, as was Press and TV coverage. Competitors freely and proudly allowed us access to their alpacas, and we took the opportunity to match our own herd fleece types and confirmation with these alpacas from Europe.

Interestingly, respecting extremes in European weather, a number of alpacas had been kept inside for much of the winter - all appeared healthy but their time out of the sun was obvious in both growth rates of cria and in the lack of brightness and richness in some mature fleece. However, Germany was enjoying very warm weather and many alpaca would now have 8 months in rich pastures.

A great Show to attend and our congratulations and thanks to the organisers.

Kobe ... the correct dress for feeding alpacas
29 March 2007

Always wondered what to wear .... when feeding an alpaca? Well our top-dresser and chief herdsman, Kobe, demonstrates in the picture top right (click on picture for larger version). 'Black-tie' ... Kobe told us ... and mum, Charlene, as always, pressed Kobe's tux before he started on his daily duties with the 'pacas. Jacket's off - a warm day on the farm.

Start them young I hear you say!?? Well Kobe and Bianca - nose in bowl - all seem quite happy with the arrangement!

Hitting the Ground Running - Welcome AVIS!
24 March 2007

A very special arrival - not another I hear you say! But little Avis arrived 22 March 2007 in what could be described as NOT the most ideal of circumstances. As people know who have visited our farm mum Sea Lass as a a cria damaged the external opening to her urethra. Despite the very best efforts of Eric Van Schreven and our vet Verona Mitchell, with treatments various, Sea Lass, at times, has trouble passing urine - only small amounts of fluid are passed, not in the usually controlled manner of an alpaca, and the outcome is soiling of Sea Lass's rear. On advice we progressed a pregnancy to Sea Lass and the outcome, literally running at birth, was a very strong female cria, young AVIS, on 22 March 2007 - middle picture aged .... a few seconds!

There has been no stopping this cria from the moment of birth. It was as if she knew her start to life amongst the clovers, herbs and grasses was potentially going to be real tough! Picture middle right is at about 2 minutes and she was feeding, to a very accommodating maiden mum, within the hour. Very seriously an alpaca, as always, determined to survive.

Currently Angela Ruske and family are looking after mum, Sea Lass and Avis. We have discussed the potential for the problem with Sea Lass to either be aggravated or addressed by the late stages of pregnancy and the actual birth. Currently Sea Lass's problem has again disappeared but may well recur - we plan to rest Sea Lass until the spring. Plenty of eyes are carefully watching Avis with mum but don't think Avis really cares - she plans to stick around you can tell!

Birthday Present for an Alpaca?
14 March 2007

What would you get as a birthday present for an alpaca that has everything? They've already got herb pastures, lucerne tree and lucerne hay, and a number of trees and shrubs to put-their-head-through-the-fence-and-nibble-on. So fresh from Flagstaff Alpacas here's a fresh idea: the latest Van Morrison Album: At the Movies: Soundtracks(2007).

Obviously, I've had the opportunity (100 times) to review the album and the alpacas seem to love it? Well they have no choice as I stuck the CD player in the middle of the paddock under their favorite tree and left the album playing at full volume! Their favorite seemed to be Van the Man with the Chieftains: "Irish Heartbeat". Fantastic!

Strangely the CD has now disappeared? There could be 2 reasons why; either the alpacas didn't really like the album (played at full volume) and confiscated it ... or ... far more likely ... one of them sneaked it away to use on their own personal CD player! We suspect 'The Seeker' and she will be under close observation over the next few days ...

Wanaka Show - Sun, Ribbons and ... more Sun!
10 March 2007

What a fantastic 2 days at Wanaka in the sun ... again! Great Show thanks to the organising Committee and that was reflected by record crowds enjoying the Show.

And we had a good showing day. Flagstaff AMBERFERN, one of our suri girls, was Reserve Suri Champion and the latest addition to our herd, in partnership, was Silverstream EVAKI (86940), was Champion Huacaya. But the star of the Show was little SANTA (bottom picture right), with mum Flagstaff Escara and owner Grace Johnstone. Santa seemed completely at home at the Show - as long as he was within 5 meters of mum! No halter required Santa showed the difference between other livestock around the Show and these wonderful animals! 100% pleasure.

Late Summer sun-burst - ACTION STATIONS
7 March 2007

A mini heat wave brought on a bundle of cria here and for friends from around the area. Cria everywhere would be a fair cry and all easily coping with the transition from a safe womb to a more hectic lifestyle of feeds, sunbathing, charging around the paddock and then more feeds. Some cria are taking in excess of 20 feeds a day and mum's are all comfortable with those demands. More details from the alpacas themselves on their 'Alpacas Blogs' page.

East Taieri School visit
5 March 2007

Flagstaff Alpacas had a visits by 90 children with parents and teachers for the East Taieri School on 5 March. Could I take the opportunity to congratulate the teachers on how well behaved and well informed (in advance) the children were! Some of the questions had me thinking. Only hiccup was Phantom was not keen on demonstrating the shearing table and found a way of sliding off! A very pleasant visit - and thanks for the bundle of names provided for our March cria!

Sasha ... Fonterra? ... and daughters
4 March 2007

I know, I know! We all say we have had a special cria, the best we've ever seen. Well this is NOT that story but we have had a little girl to one of our ... not so smart girls Sasha (IAR: 38519). Now Sash is not, definitely not, really .... really ... really ... not ... NOT ... the most attractive girl in the alpaca world. But, boy, she does produce some real little crackers (and generally girls). We had a Sasha arrival 28 Feb .... solid white little thing running the Olympic 100 meters inside 12 seconds only 3 hours after birth ... by Mitch. Nice one Mitch.

I do have to say if we were to rename Sasha you might call her Fonterra ... huge, huge udders by alpaca standards ... she even walks around rear legs 'wide-based' as she acts as tries to copy the European Community milk mountain.

Pictures to follow soonest of Sasha's daughter ... if we can get past mum as she does like to look after her 'kids' using green supersonic missiles ...

Girls ... lovely girls ?
4 March 2007

We all talk of runs of girls or boys but we are in a run of girls at the moment with only big little boy 'Dallas' spoiling the run. Sasha's story is above but this is a great time of year to be amongst the alpaca.

Tracey, Andy and their boys in Masterton have just seen a blue-black female by Ben Elvis born to Clara, one of our girls visiting the Kerr's at Bessborough Alpacas. Ben Elvis is at Bessborough Alpacas at the moment so sounds like Claire will be revisited later this month by Elvis!

Pictures and name to follow. But this black girl adds to a great February of happy, healthy cria!

Black Magic
8 February 2007

All cria are special - but a few are very special. Picture bottom right shows an arrival on Waitangi Day - a beautiful little girl to mum Miss Ebony we have named her Princess. Dad is our boy Ben Elvis and Princess has the slim figure of mum and the black lustre and crimp of her dad. Lovely and soft, the fleece on Princess is a rich blue-black. Trouble is you can't get to handle that fleece easily as mum is very possessive of her little girl! If you look carefully at the picture you can see Princess has milk on her top lip!

Diary - Thought for the Day !
27 January 2007

Busy days with cria arrivals at the moment. But don't forget to watch the condition of the rest of your herd - all 'pacas should be hitting peak condition helped by a very green summer in Otago and Southland. Fortunately we do not see much grass staggers and our alpacas are generally on herb paddocks but we all tend to watch for new cria. Main point of note has been how little condition most of the mum's have lost while nursing their young ones.

We now have cria in various locations including Dalzel Road, Puddle Alley, Chain Hill Road, here at home and with Anne and Brian in Tapanui. Cria everywhere!

Ben Elvis, Otto and Southern Warrior - on their North Island duties!
25 January 2007

Tom and Andy are just back from delivering girls through the North Island in the Alpacamobile. And they left Ben Elvis and Otto working between Andy and Tracey Kerr in Masterton, and Tamara and Stephen Mullholland in Wellington over the next few months. Southern Warrior is already working with Chuck and Kathy Rademacher at Kiapara Pines Alpacas near Auckland through until Easter - Chuck and Kathy already have some of Warrior's cria to meet.

And don't forget Mary Grant in Invercargill has both our suri boys, Que Cee and Castel, at various times through the summer and autumn working as well! Hard life for a stud male alpaca!

Alpacas - in the Business News
10 January 2007

The New Zealand Herald gave a business feature coverage of alpacas on 10 January 2007. Identifying the pet and fibre attractions of the alpaca the article featured overseas interest in the New Zealand alpaca, and commentary from the agrisector. The article link follows: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=293&objectid=10418397

Brian Thornton's news feature on TVNZ is now a live link on TVNZ News One: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/946131

American Annual Alpaca Conference!
7 January 2007

A date for the diary - and an alpaca trip overseas - is the American (AOBA) Alpaca Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, dates 16-20 May 2007. We liked the theme - and some of the wording sounds very familiar: "Wake up to the Wonderful World of Alpacas". Hmm!

For more Alpaca News Archives try the following:

News Archive Late-2006 - click this link!

News Archive Early-2006 - click this link!

News Archive 2005 - click this link!

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