........Stefano

Jolimont Stefano, died yesterday.
He was a fair age, and we were told when he arrived in Australia, most likely older than his birth date given from Peru, as he was aged by teeth over 7 when we got him in 1995.
It has been a very sad day, he came up as if to say his last goodbyes the night before.
You have to understand Stefano was more human than an alpaca, and his paddock was in front to the left of the house, and so if ever he wanted anything or as in last winter when he did feel the cold, he would come to us, to let us know.

He loved his paddock, it had a little shed for him, where the walls were filled in half way u, so he knew when it was going to be hot or cold, and he would go to his shed, and he had feed, water, and shade, and could still peruse over the surrounding paddocks, where he also would oversea his dams.

The past four years he has had this paddock, as the other younger males, knew he was top stud, and we did not want any males challenging him.

To keep him happy we would run a group of females, we wanted mated to him with him, so he always had company.

Last year he was depressed, as every female was pregnant, and so after doing spit offs one day, we placed the females in another paddock, He could still see them, but he had no one else in his paddock.

he was so depressed, and so we bought him up to an area we call the tent area, where we have these canvas shelters close to the house, and opposite the late pregnant females.

He seemed happier being near the females, and when there were some females available for mating we put him and the females in his paddock, and he picked up.

Over the years, i would not hesitate to say Stefano and I would have travelled, 30,000 kms plus, doing mobile matings, being toilet trained for the van, he would let me know when he wanted to go, i would pull over, and let him out on the lead.

Traffic never worried him.

He had Intelligence, and compassion, he knew he was head macho, so when it was time to go in the van for a mobile mating.

He would let the others know he was the one going and not them.

Reliable, dependable, he never let us down.

His consistent quality, that he threw into his offspring, created a demand for his services, with his last service 2 days prior to his death.

He has been bright, upstanding, and a gentleman to the end.

Elyse fed him yesterday Rob said he was looking really good, but at about lunch time, Elyse went over- he was kushing, and just looked old, so she sat with him and was talking to him, and he put his head on her shoulder and he died, she is devastated, and we are all very sad, we had a burial for him in our garden last night.,
We are still saddened.

This morning i got up out of bed, and overlooked Stefano's paddock as i would every other morning, the girls were still in his paddock, but it still seemed empty.

Thanks Stefano for the babies, the quality you consistently threw on, the many hours travelling together.

I have a picture of you when i went to Peru, not knowing then you would be mine, and then a picture of you when i visited Cocos islands, again not knowing you would be mine.

Many have said that you were one of the best males bought out of Peru.

Especially from that shipment.

The journey we had together was exciting, and fulfilling, and your heritage is being carried on today in many countries, where your offspring are still producing a quality that you stamped.

Our Farm, and Herd you helped to create, you have left us some excellent sons to carry on your name, they have been standing waiting for their turn.

Already one sons, Olympic Dream, has carried this dominant genes through producing that super fine, highly lustrous fleece you were known to produce.

Thank you Stefano.

We have found a beautiful spot in our garden for you, Elyse has gone especially to pik out a tree to plant to give you shade.

You can still peruse over the farm, and still keep an eye on our late pregnant girls.

And you are still close to the house.

MUCHAS GRACIAS PARA SIEMPRE NOS AMEGO

THANK YOU MY FRIEND WE LOVE YOU