ALPACAS IN NZ QUARANTINE FOR EUROPE

WOW, THE ALPACAS HAVE ENTERED QUARANTINE IN NEW ZEALAND AS THEIR LAST LEG TO EUROPE.
A SMAL GROUP OF GIRLS HERE ENJOYING 5 STAR TREATMENT

How enviroment can influence the fleece -GIFT example 2

We are looking at how much the first fleece can change over the period of time, which can reflect in the micron range of the fleece stats. Remember, when we are looking at histograms, we are looking at any point of time.We are looking at Alpaca "K"" for this purpose, who was born 30/12/06. If we look at Graph 1 we can see the point of birth, and all the influences that can change over the period of time that has been tested.

This is her first fleece, and pre and post natal influences does affect the fleece.

The fleece that you are seeing at that point of time, is influenced by 6 weeks prior, so in other words, under the skin, what enviromental influences you are seeing at that point, is from 6 weeks ago, which is how long it takes that fibre from the point of conception to the time it erupts through the skin is 6 weeks.

Again as we look through Graph 1, we can see the point of weaning, the stress Kasarni experienced through being weaned, which is very normal, and then the slight increase, being the spring flush, and then how she settles down after being weaned, and she is getting quite happy being now apart from mum, and also the beginning of summer as we see the nutritional intake is going down again as the grass dries out, and less nutrition in the grass.

Sheep farmers use these graphs to see how their farm is going, as if all the graphs of each sheep is the same, then any changes over the years, reflects the environmental influence on the fleece because maybe a bad or good year.

But if one graph is different to the rest, then it reflects, something is going on in that one sheep, maybe stressed, or suffering something that has not yet been picked up.

This is a vital tool for the breeder and farmer.

So if we go to graph 2, which is the first fleece test, and again, we can see how this is only part of the picture, as we can see in graph 3.

If we measure the points that the ODFA 2000 has picked up along the length of the fleece to come to the final fleece stats, we can see that the average of all the points is 19.2.

But if we just test the fleece 2 months later, on 27/10/07, on graph 3, we can see that there were other influences along the fleece, that affects the outcome of the micron.

as you can see graph 1 is the line graph from graph 3, and we have picked up 14 points along the graph, which brings the micron down to 18.9.

Interestingly, on year 2, we see a different picture, although i do not have a graph to show this, but i do have the statics which are.

Mic 16.9 SD 2.9 CV 17.1 Comf Fact 100 sp fineness 15.9 for a full years growth on her 2nd fleece.

So we now do not have the mothers influence on the fleece, here, Kasarni had settled down to being away from her dam, and her fleece reflects a different picture.

i would also like to note in this example, that the spin fineness in 2007 was 16.7, which is reflected again in the 2008 fleece.

I would also like to point out in Graph 2 and graph 3, different information was picked up.

so for instance graph 3 has picked up a little more information that graph 2.

Also in the 2008 fleece, her along fibre SD, was .9, which means along the length of the fleece, the micron range was only .9 difference, which reflects that this alpaca is a high quality female, as the environment is not affecting her nutritional intake, which also means that each fibre in the bundle is taking up a more even amount of nutrition, that the average alpaca, and that is also reflected in her SD 2.9.

I hope I have explained this so you can understand.

After being more heavily involved in GIFT, although i had a good understanding of reading histograms, i can pick up so much more now, which helps me to breed better fleeces, and helps people that i am associated with to understand breeding a lot more, which ultimately will assist them in making more precise breeding decisions, because of their fleece results and understanding these statics better.

GIFT has given me a great breeding tool.

How can you increase Fibre Density-Alpaca Fleece

fibredensity
if you concentrate on the proper aspects of breeding you will gain this.
click on this link to read this explaination by Paul Vallely
Genetic Improvement Fibre Technology

Male certification - Snow drifter

Snow drifter is off to Belgium. A magnificant Stud Male, great consistant lines. Australian Alpaca Industry, has strict rulings on th males that are used for services. Before they can be used, they must oass a strict criteria, which is the Male Certification. It is to make sure no stud male has any genetic faults that can be inherited to the next generation. Some of the things that they checked for are similar to the Bas Screening. Tail, must ber straight not bent; laxating patellas, none at all, Eyes clear, and no problems to be seen inside them, straight legs, muzzle, no wry face, to mention a few. Here our vet Dr Tim Henderson, is checking against a sheet, that gives him the angles of the legs, so he is holding this sheet up, to confirm his legs are straight. Snow Drifter passed with flying colours. Now he is on the next leg of his journey, he has 6 months residency in New Zealand, and should fly out approx june 09.

Ultra fine fleece Bale-Alpaca

The main reason we farm alpacas is for their fleece, with most alpaca breeders aim is to breed as fine and consistant throughout the body of the alpaca. The above fleece shot, is our finest tested to date, atr 12.6 micron. We are very proud of our boy, and we have a few morewith absolutely beautiful fine fleeces, but consistant throughout the body of the alpaca.

Mariah Hill Alpacas have always bred fine, without sacrificing the style, handle, density, coverage, but with increased Lustre, increasing the frequency of crimp, and heavy staples, preferring the matchstick style staples.

With Australia's Ultra Fine fleece bale in Mind, a great detail has been taken this year to prepare all the fleeces, and although the alpacas had previouslt been sorted out in the colours and microns prior to shearing.

The rain, gale and storms we had this weekend, proved that all the alpacas had to put together as a herd for protection from the winds and rain.

Elyse though had made detailed planning on how she was going to manage the shearing shed.

She had studied shearing shed managment at her wool classing courses at Deakin University in Geelong. Elyse has also assisted in fleece sorting at AAFl, which has given her a great understanding of fleeces, and how it is expected the fleeces to be handed in.

We are also very lucky at this farm, that are fleeces keep considerably clean from debris. they can be dusty though, especially over the past couple of years, after almost 10 years of drought, our land like others is drying out.

and although we do get good rainfall, this year is the first time, i have seen dust come off our alpacas, even just after a rain storm.

this video is of Adele', who is on her way to Canada, although the pictrure may not be overly clear, as i took this with my mobile phone, you can still identify the high lustre her fleece holds.

super soft handle, and superb high frequency, even crimp style. I hope you enjoy the video.

The shearer is Mike Snow, my husband ROb, and a friend and fellow alpaca breeder Ed, also assisted in handling the alpacas, placing on tables, and feeding the alpacas to the shearer.

You can see here, that Mike is shearing with two tables, so as one is being shorn, the other table, the shorn alpacas is unloaded off the table, and the the next one is placed on the table.

We were lucky today to Have also a fellow alpaca breeder Rose Thorougood helping us, that was fantastic, as it was her birthday. Sam was not feeling well, but she was really wanting to come and help, thanks Sam, we really appreciate that you have a great heart, and wanted to help us.

And of course, if it was not for elyse, what can i say, she is the heart beat of our alpaca ranch, both Rob and I are so grateful to have such a gorgeous daughter that is always there for us both.

Alpaca shearing 2008, Mariah Hill Alpacas & Exports

The past few days, we have been shearing most of the herd. With heaps of thanks to Ed Hunt, and of Course Rose Thorougood, and of course my husband ROb, and ELyse as shed manager, sorting fleees, taking fleece samples, organisation of the shearing shed, and alpacas to be shorn.

The alpacas were really looking to be shorn, they just laid on the table and just were almost begging for the shearing. Monday was cold, and still drizzling, yesterday it got up into the 20's and today we were up to 25 degrees, but then they are predicting really bad thunder, lightenng, halstones, rain, and gale force winds for 3-4 days. We really do not know how the weather is going to pan out, so all alpacas bhave been moved to safe protected areas of the farm. Thanks Mike Snow also, he has been fantastic, and made sure that our main herd, especially our super and ultra fine alpacas were shorn before the really hot weather comes. We really appreciate him, and would recommend him as an alpaca shearer to anyone looking for a reliable shearer. Already, some of the alpacas have been sweating and their fleeces were really ready to be shorn.

SUNDANCE KID

SUNDANCE kID HAS ENTERED QUARANTINE. HE IS NOW ON HIS WAY TO BELGIUM, AS ONE OF THE FUTURE STUD MALES OF ALPAKAGOED.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

OLIVIER AND YVONNE WHO ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING THIS BOY APPROX JUNE 2009.

YVONNE HAS BEEN BREEDING ALPACAS NOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND NOW FARMS APPROX 20 ALPACAS. SHE IS ALSO AN APPRENTICE JUDGE.

China Display

I have been asked to put a display at Yangling Agriculture fair in China.

The display will be up for 3 years.

I had to write a promotion brochure, and display information, and then get it translated into Chinese, which was not an easy thing.

We look forward to meeting out Chinese contracts sometime in 2009

Alpaca numbers are under 100 currently in China, but they are looking into starting a registry, and farming alpacas in larger numbers in the coming years.

We have also been asked to meet some of the Chinese farmers who are interested in breeding alpacas.

We will hold a meeting with these interested Chinese in the New Year.

Mariah Hill is established to be able to meet the Chinese protocol for importing alpacas.

Mariah Hill Quarantine facility was originally desidned to cater for many protocols.

and the Chinese protocol, has always been in mind, when the facility was designed.

We have 20 acres set aside for China, which will not interfer with any Canadian exports, or New Zealand exports.