Winter - Classical MileEnd Alpacas

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Alex Harrington Smith updates her diary about life and the alpaca business in Australia I normally like to sit down with a glass of wine and write my diary, it helps the art of reflection I find. Unfortunately there are a few days of very high temperatures coming through so for this poor Pom alcohol is off the menu. It has been sometime since I last wrote this diary (Rachel's patience is astounding – she loves me really) and so for once it is hard to know where to begin. The birthing season has been in full swing for at least a month now so plenty of checking of these girls is the order of the day. There are about 100 girls out there at present and all these should birth by the middle of December at the latest; plenty more to fill their shoes though. Even after nine years the magnitude of the breeding programmes in a large stud can blow your mind. Fortunately Matthew and Cathy are now back so the highs and lows are shared out a little. It was a pleasure introducing them to the new drop the day after they returned. We have some stunning cria gracing the paddocks that will move us to a whole new level of breeding. The completeness of Commisario blending with the ageless charm of the old master Ruffo, the artistry of Stravinsky, or the finesse of Spartacus over Caesar blood, the discovery of how new lines gel with the old. All of it weird and wonderful, almost incomprehensible in the way it comes to fruition. For breeders there is nothing quite this exciting. The farm at Oakbank is a hive of activity as the drought calls for some major harvesting of hay. There is a lot to cut and bale whilst constantly battling the weather – temperatures are getting high and the hay has been getting too dry to bale. Add to that the heavy dews you see in the Adelaide hills, particularly Oakbank, it can also get too wet. It seems to be a balancing act with short windows of opportunity available to get the job done. Undoubtedly it will all come together and if it is anything like the clover hay my girls received courtesy of one of the other properties it will be beautiful quality. Irrigation has also started – you often hear the sound of the irrigators creaking as they spin round. I find it quite relaxing watching these majestic jets of water slowly working there way across the paddocks, especially at the end of the day when they first get going. At least some of the paddocks will stay green during the heat of the summer – it is quite odd seeing these patches of green on the landscape where everything else can be so arid and brown. They are like small oasis in the desert. I often feel sorry for the girls on pasture which is not irrigated as they watch the girls next door partaking in some lush irrigation grazing. In this instance I guess the grass really is greener … Meanwhile the alpacas are eagerly waiting for shearing. They are often seen in rather languid poses under the shade of a gum tree or positioned under the irrigators in the early evening cooling off. The best part of shearing this year will be my well timed absence – no need for luxury holidays, just the knowledge I won't be in that shearing shed for a second is enough. Almost like finding your own slice of utopia. Now to convince everyone that Cathy is surplus to requirements (not easy!) and I'll even have a serious shopping partner. This may be pushing it a little. The other big adventure was of course the AAA National Show and Sale. I am sure there is no need for too much gossip about events irrelevant to showing as the UK blogs I read suggest all this has been more than covered by the rumour mills. The show had a great atmosphere not tainted by politics or sore losers. In this respect perhaps the best show I have been to in Australia. Plenty of Brits turned up which was good – since leaving the UK I don't think I have ever felt more at home at a show. EP Cambridge had a successful show – plenty of calls between Melbourne AUS and Baydon UK, resulting in an exaggerated mobile phone bill and some stern words from Sally. Sally who is the administration and accounts supremeo, came to the show with me and was a constant source of support and amusement – if only one could put videos in print I would show you the lesson I had in dancing to Neil Diamond's crunchy granola Suite. To give you some ideas please recall being 13 or 14 and watching your parents dance in public. Thankfully the transit van was in motion at the time and no one could possibly have seen it, if they did I hope the therapist they find is not too expensive. Luckily for us Philip (O'Conor) also turned up. Now if you ever want an evening of sophisticated entertainment in Melbourne look no further than Philip. I believe EPC UK is not his only job, he also works for the TAB (a betting agency here in Oz) and is in charge of keeping patron numbers up. We went to the TAB at the end of the road both nights and then I discover his one night in an Adelaide motel was in suspiciously close proximity to, you guessed it, a TAB. Something fishy going on there. My victory on the Pokies was the highlight of the evening. Philip gave some amazing fund to start with (at least 50 cents if not a whole dollar!) and I was up nine bucks by the end. Sally has since raised some concern over a possible gambling addiction. What else? Another successful embryo transfer flush took place last week which is always good. Great fun as ever with Jane Vaughan's ever increasing repertoire of amusing anecdotes, not to mention nutrition and reproduction 101. It really is a fascinating exercise but with its highs and lows it is not for the faint hearted. In addition to all this there is the burgeoning alpaca meat industry here in Australia, you should check out www. laviande.com.au. I took some time to get my head around the whole thing but I am now there. Having sampled the fare at the National Show it is with some trepidation that I admit how excellent it is. It has a very pleasant and subtle taste, incredibly tender and all in all pretty damn good. There are many factors in Australia which meant that the time had come and Steve Ridout has recognised this. He is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic along with being completely committed to seeing it done right and in a manner that ensures it is in no way damaging to the larger industry. 36 Alpaca World Magazine Winter 2007 / 08
Hanley Hall alpacas UK Alpaca Fully Worsted Hand Knit Yarns near Malvern, Worcestershire A gorgeous child’s cardigan designed by student Vibe Sondergaard using UK Alpaca Ltd double knit baby alpaca yarns FEMALE ALPACAS AlpAcAs for sAle From one to three years old Solid colours Quality only breeding • Cash stock on collection always Contact: James available. W A Graham Alpacas of Europe Email: jwag73@hotmail.com Also gelded males for fibre or pets. Telephone: 07624 462 973 We are always happy to give free advice on getting started. with on-going support whenever needed. Call Val or visit our website for more information. Utilising the UK’s coarse grade alpaca, a new 4 ply sock yarn that is 60% alpaca, 20% merino and 20% nylon “Did I really win?” Hanley Hall Tiberius Telephone: 01684 310214 Email: valpacas@aol.com www.hanleyhallalpacas.co.uk 752490. Email: alpaca@jarbon.com. Website: www.jarbon.com UK Alpaca Ltd’s yarns were used by fashion students to make garments for the British Alpaca Futurity fashion show Novello Alpaca Farm South Africa PO Box 106, Montagu 6720, South Africa Tel: +27 21 614 2674 Here on our farm, using traditional methods of cleaning, spinning and felting, Alpaca fibre is made into top quality knitted and felted garments and fabrics for scarves, shawls jackets, throws and cushions Sell us your fleece and help to create a great name for British alpaca yarns. Visit our website www.ukalpaca.com to find out how or ring Rachel Hebditch on 01884 243579 We also offer B&B accommodation www.novello-alpacas.com UK Alpaca Ltd, Vulscombe Farm, Pennymoor, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8NB www.ukalpaca.com 32 Alpaca World Magazine Summer 2007 Alpaca World Magazine Winter 2007 / 08 37
Page 1 and 2: Alpaca World Magazine Winter 2007 /
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to Alpaca World Magazine Cl
Page 5 and 6: www.alpaca-uk.co.uk CME Tulaco Cent
Page 7 and 8: Newbury Racecourse Berkshire 16 th
Page 9 and 10: ng and l Birthing & Cria Care a gui
Page 13 and 14: FIG. 1 C-banding pattern of alpaca
Page 15 and 16: Special Feature Genomic Era guanaco
Page 17 and 18: g e t t h e g e n e t i c s . . . w
Page 19 and 20: Bowford Farm, Goose Green Thakeham,
Page 21 and 22: Banksia Park Alpacas Jenny and Dr G
Page 23 and 24: Maremmano-Abruzzi dog or Cane da Pa
Page 25 and 26: Unless you can move sideways and ke
Page 27 and 28: Distant Echoes European links with
Page 29 and 30: Feature Distant Echoes Left: Chief
Page 33 and 34: chains - one 'heavy' and one 'light
Page 35: Advertsing Feature BCF Technology P
Page 39 and 40: Alpacas for lifestyle Perhaps the m
Page 42 and 43: 42 Alpaca World Magazine Winter 200
Page 44 and 45: … not likely, says the Royal Vete
Page 46 and 47: Health and Welfare Winter Worries ?
Page 48 and 49: THE ALPACA TRAINING CENTRE THE COMP
Page 50 and 51: Moving on Nigel and Ginny Cobb brin
Page 52 and 53: Foreign Correspondence Seeing Red A
Page 54 and 55: South America's other famous export
Page 56 and 57: • Pedigree females • Young pet
Page 58 and 59: Peru's mountainous landscape is a b
Page 60 and 61: www.hanleyhallal 752490 www.lama1.
Page 62 and 63: genetic improvement, there can be n
Page 64 and 65: Crias and crisis in Salento ! Hilar
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Page 68 and 69: Andrew Spillane shows how an expens
Page 70 and 71: alpaca feeds • contain cereals fo
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Winter - Classical MileEnd Alpacas

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