Sunday, September 27, 2009
Black Onyx
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Black Onyx, is always going to be one opf our favourite alpacas.
Superb balance, proportions, density,m and lustre.
Black breeders In Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, take time out to view this boy.
He has qualities that is sought after for the conscientious Black breeder.
Take a look at this GIFT report on his webpage.
He is now standing at ALpacalandgoed, with Yvonne Stienlet and Olivier (Belgium)
3rd Canadian Shipmenr 45 days countdown
The group that are in Quaratine presently are now in the final 45 days of quarantine.
All are doing well.
All are doing well.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
OPEN DAY IN CANADA-HUMMZINGER
Tannis, Carla and Cornie, welcome eveyone to view the alpacas that have recently come out of Quarantine in canada.There is a beautiful group of Females, and two Stud males.
Further information can be found on the website
www.hummzingeralpacas.com
goats for Seychelles
We are in the process of organizing goats for export for Seychelles.
these are the types of goats we hope to send to Seychelles.
these are the types of goats we hope to send to Seychelles.
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Australia-Canada 3
This group is currently in quarantine to arrive in Canada on 27th October, 2009
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| Make a Smilebox photobook |
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
What is a laxating patella?
This alpaca here is being screened for acceptance on the British Alpaca Society (BAS) association. It is being screened by authorised screeners by BAS.
One of the genetic faults alpacas are tested for is Laxating patellas.
It may be disappointing for the purchaser who is looking forward to seeing their alpaca, but this particular fault is detrimental to the alpaca long term, and something you do not want to breed on.
The reason alpacas are screened for the UK, is to ensure that alpacas of high quarality and carrying no known genetic defects should be accepted by the British breeders.
If you look at the vet, who gently slides to one side, the Patella, (in front of the knee), Normal patellas will return back immediately, but you can see, that this patella does not return back unless returned manually.
There is no force used in this procedure, but please unless shown how to perform this procedure properly do not try it.
You need to know what you are doing before you try this.
Veterinarians are qualified to test for this fault, and if you are purchasing alpacas, and want to confirm that your alpaca does not have this fault, please pay the vet fee to screen the alpaca for your own safe of mind.
It is always a good idea anyway to have any alpaca purchased checked out by the vet, and of course it is advisable to insure your alpacas.
Alpacas can also be insured when they enter quarantine.
One of the genetic faults alpacas are tested for is Laxating patellas.
It may be disappointing for the purchaser who is looking forward to seeing their alpaca, but this particular fault is detrimental to the alpaca long term, and something you do not want to breed on.
The reason alpacas are screened for the UK, is to ensure that alpacas of high quarality and carrying no known genetic defects should be accepted by the British breeders.
If you look at the vet, who gently slides to one side, the Patella, (in front of the knee), Normal patellas will return back immediately, but you can see, that this patella does not return back unless returned manually.
There is no force used in this procedure, but please unless shown how to perform this procedure properly do not try it.
You need to know what you are doing before you try this.
Veterinarians are qualified to test for this fault, and if you are purchasing alpacas, and want to confirm that your alpaca does not have this fault, please pay the vet fee to screen the alpaca for your own safe of mind.
It is always a good idea anyway to have any alpaca purchased checked out by the vet, and of course it is advisable to insure your alpacas.
Alpacas can also be insured when they enter quarantine.
A place in the sun
This was taken just before the fires, the fires were as close as the hills you see in the backgroud.
It was pretty scarey the fires, and my heart goes out to those that were affected by the fires.
This is the spot that Elyse and Josh would like to build their dream house one day. It is one of our back paddocks.
It was pretty scarey the fires, and my heart goes out to those that were affected by the fires.
This is the spot that Elyse and Josh would like to build their dream house one day. It is one of our back paddocks.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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In this day and times, every business looks to increase profits, and decrease expenses, but in alpaca farming, how can we do this.
Lets have a look at alpaca farming in a business sense.
I can graze continually between 7-10 alpacas to an acre, where we are in Nar Nar Goon.
An average alpaca lets say is 24 micron and cuts 3 kilos a year, 1/2 of this is seconds and the other half firsts. we get maybe at best $1 kilo for our seconds, and approx $5 a kilo for firsts in this micron range.
The price of these females on average will be approx $AUS2-3000
for easy calculation sake, we will say 8 pregnant females, resulting in 4 female offspring at $3000 each and 4 male offspring ar $500 each.
So my return per acre is $AUs 14072 for the year, and is farming $20000 worth of stock.
On the other hand if the females were some of our best females, now as mature alpacas are 21 micron ($40 a kilo at 5 kgs per year, (but these alpacas most of the fleece goes into the first, with just scraps
going to seconds, but to be fair lets say 4 kgs into firsts), same female ratio female babies $5000 at birth and $10000, $15,000, $20,000 at 12 months old), for this exercise we will work on $10,000 and the males will most certainly sell for stud males, I am always conservative with my prices.Say @2000 at birth, and a minimum of $20000 at 2 years old.
so we are just going on the production year.
That is $39,208 return on that year and the paddock is farming $119,000 worth of stock.
Next year though when the babies have also been shorn there is a different story again, lets look at fleece along, my high quality offspring have produced on average 14-15 microns, bring me $60 a kilo % kgs on average, and my progeny from the average quality dams, mated to the same sire are now producing fleece worthy of the Superfine bale, returning $40 a kilo.
high quality dams 32 kilos @ $40 kilo = $1280
8 ultrafine progeny 40 kilos @ $60 kilo = $2400
return on fleece alone for a year is $3680
compared to
8 24 mic 12 kilos @ $ 5 kilo = $ 60
8 seconds 12 kilos @ $ 1 kilo = $ 12
8 x 4 kgs 32 kilos @ $ 40 kilo = $ 200
8 seconds 8 Kilos @ $ 1 = $ 8
Total return for fleece only that year $ 2
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80That is how we can increase returns on our land.
Of course that is the commercial prices.
Talented breeders are value adding their fleeces, and gaining higher returns on the fleeces, than qwuoted above.
But again, breeding Ultrafine and Super fine fleeces, will produce fibre that can lend itself to some very beautiful garments
Recently at a meeting at AAFL, Australian Alpaca Fleece ltd, they showed me some of the latest designs of beautiful tops, jumpers, suit coats, and i have never seen anything so finly woven, it eas finer than cotton, and some had been dyed in the most beautiful pastel shades.
The high lustre gleaming through, and the way the fabrics draped, flowing with the most gentle breeze.
One look at what our fine fleeces are producing, one walks away in aure, knowing that this is a magnificant fibre.
I went home to my alpacas that are producing the fleeces that are going into the Ultrafine bale, and you can hardly feel the fibre it is so soft, and yet so alive, and nourished.
The lustre almost blinds you.
I know this is the way forward, and that is to produce this super soft handling, versatile fabric
Blackey
Sunday, September 13, 2009
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