Kaisho

Kaisho is on her way today to Belgium.
She will be the Only Progeny of Coolaroo Rialto in Europe.
Any enquiries can be directed to Yvonne Stienlet. on Alpacalandgoed

PERUVIAN SIRE JOLIMONT OMERO Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White PERUVIAN DAM Sire: JOLIMONT PATCHE Solid White JOLIMONT MAESTRO Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White JOLIMONT ISA Solid White JOLIMONT OLIVIA Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White Animal: MARIAH HILL ALEXIS Solid White PERUVIAN SIRE SHANBROOKE PERUVIAN SIGNATURE Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid Light Fawn PERUVIAN DAM Dam: MORNING BRAE PERUVIAN SEABREEZE Solid White PERUVIAN SIRE JOLIMONT GEMMA 2 Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White PERUVIAN DAM PURRUMBETE HIGHLANDER Foundation Animal (Imp. Chile) Solid White
	CHILEAN DAM
	JOLIMONT SCULPTOR Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White
ANDEAN PARK PALOMA White
	JOLIMONT PARMA Unreg. Imported (Imp. Peru) Solid White
	PURRUMBETE HIGHLANDER Foundation Animal (Imp. Chile) Solid White
PURRUMBETE MINDEROO Solid Medium Fawn
	PURRUMBETE FLAMINGO GOLD Foundation Animal (Imp. Chile) Solid Medium Fawn
	PURRUMBETE EL DORADO Foundation Animal (Imp. Chile) Solid Medium Fawn
COOLAROO PJS SILHOUETTE Medium Fawn
	COOLAROO HALCYON Unreg. Imported (Imp. Chile) White

An alternative for European Importers for alpacas

Beautiful floral gardens, carved totem poles, and huge jade carvings greet you on arrival at Vancouver airport.

There are two ways to Heathrow, Via Luxembourg, and the other option now available to us for the English clients is through Canada.

This gives you two options to choose from, which offers you a direct flight from Canada to Heathrow, no stopping elsewhere or unloading.

Same time through to UK, and a different approach to exporting to UK.

European Breeders that land in Luxembourg still need to go through NZ.

How much does the enviroment affect your fleece-Alpaca?

The discussion at the moment is on GIFT which is the latest Fleece Testing Technology, used to be able to identify the genetic Traits for fleece, by taking our the enviromental noise.

We had a very different summer this year.

The last week of January 2009, the heat on this farm, measured 47 C degrees approx. 7 days in a row, and then it accumilated with not only the hottest day in Victoria's record, but, also one of the worst days in Victoria's History.

they now call Feb 7, 2009, Black Saturday, with heat on our farm, on my car temperature guage, reading 52 degrees C as i was drivng through the paddocks, as i was putting in place my Fire action plan.

Little did we know what that day was to bring.

A few may have read my blog the

morning of that fateful day, when like the previous week, i could see the plume of smoke in Bunyip forest.

All of a sudden that plume of smoke was a nightmare to begin.

In realising that some fellow alpaca breeders farms may be in danger of the oncoming fire. I rang a few breeders up, two the fire was very close, and within approx 2.5 hours, approx 100 alpacas, were moved to our farm, considered the safest but we hd enough land to support the group of alpacas until danger was over.

Little did we know that this took over a month before finally a large rain storm diminished the fire to finally be no longer a danger to anyone.
Just recently, one of the breeders whose alpacas were moved to our farm, by co incidence only took some fleece samples of his alpacas.

Fleece samples had been taken in the December, Before the alpacas were shorn, i have given only 1 example of a histogram from Alpaca C, which is the second histogram to the right.

This was typical of all the alpacas on the farm, and displaying a norm as far as nutrional intake for the 12 mth growth along the fibre diagram.

When he got his samples back raken the mid march, approx 3 weeks after his alpacas were moved to his own property. First histogram is the sample alpaca as histogram 1, for the less than 4 month period which started from being shorn, extreme heat, the move to our farm, and then when the alpacas were moved back to the original property.

Histogram 3 and 4 are also samples taken after shearing, arriving on our property, extreme heat for a month, and then the move back. When glancing at his histograms, the original breeder could not understand the huge difference in his histograms in such a short time.

i was glancing through his file of approx 20 odd alpacas, when i noticed an alarming pattern in the along fibre states (the line graph), which was almost consistantly the same in all the histograms excet for one, which seem to shape the other way.

I know this graph is the graph that tells me the micron blow out along the length of the fibre, b ut how was it that the blow out was so extreme in all bar 1 alpaca.

Then i realised, that from this point forward, just after shearing, his alpacas were moved to our place, because of the fires- maybe it had to do with the extreme heat, maybe to do with undue stress of the move, as the alpacas were obviously affected from the complete rush of whole herds being picked up, and on a complete new property.

Maybe smell of smoke, as it was constant the whole time, and animals seem to sense danger.All the paddocks had dried out because of the excessive heat, and we had just fresh hay bales around all the paddocks, as the hay had just been cut the week before, which they all seem to love.

I would like to point out before i go further into the story, that the original histograms of alpaca C

But then why is there 1 alpaca with the bell shape curve going the other way?

I said to our fellow breeder, when the alpacas (shorn) were here they just all stood around the hay bales, and just ate non stop all day. They ere in the middle of the paddocks and the almost demolished all the hay.

I would like to point out before i go further into my story, that Alpaca C, the histograms were taken in 3 spots, by daughter had taken the samples, and so the subsequent samples would have been taken in almost the identical spot as the previous tests sites.

We take hundreds of samples yearly, and everytime we take samples, when we open the fleece, we usually open the place to take the samples we often see a sample has already been taken from that spot.

The sebsequent histograms (due to space i have only placed 1 sample of each alpaca, there were three samples taken here also. So the comparison is pretty uniform on three samples taken of each alpaca, samples shown here are all the midside sample, and the alpacas, were all shorn the same day, and samples the same day, all in the same conditions.

The girl that had the downward bell shape, was one of the late pregnant females.

There were quite a few late pregnant females, as we were averaging 3 babies born a day at that stage, and also just a hand full of unshorn alpacas, (at owners request).

These alpacas were checked on an hourly basis, in that heat any baby would die very quickly if it was born and did not get up quick enough.

But even the nights were hot, with most nights being mid 30's C.

I kept a very close eye on the late pregnants, and unshorn alpacas, as we moved some of the hay bales in front of the cypress row of trees, leaving approx 10 mt gap, this causeway was a cool relief from that burning sun, and heat in the air.

and the late pregnants and unshorn alpacas, would sit between the hay bales, and cypress tress, not gutsing like the other shorn alpacas, but comfortably nibbling at the hay in the coolness.

That is why the histogram shaped the other way, the late pregnant females, and unshorn alpacas, even though they were placed in the coolest place we could think off, were not out being a normal alpaca grazing like the others in the paddock, and most likely the stress of being so late pregnant in those unexpected conditions.

This highlights to me how the enviroment can actually affect histograms, and how important to be able to take away the enviromental factor, to see an alpacas true worth.

It will be interesting to see what the histograms will be like since settling on the own farm for the rest of the year.

I could not believe the pattern in the histograms that came through was almost identical from one alpaca to the other.

When i glanced at alpacas on my farm in the same period, they were not displaying any unusual steep curve like the alpaca vistors did.

Change of feed, farm, conditions do play a large role in how the fleece is affected, and how much it can change the histogram.

My breeding experiences

I would like to say in my own experience, of selective breeding for a particular trait, although only a personal research but over a period that extends longer than 12 years, and on a herd size of 200+ alpacas in that time.The significant gains we made from average breeding females, has been immense, where i can honestly say we do earn a good income from our fleeces each year.We have also been approached from a number of fibre collection points for our fibre. almost a 1/4 of our clip going towards the ultra fine bale, and some also to the Super fine bale.Many year ago, in my own observation and studies i decided to breed very differently to the trend at the time.I identified in my breeding plan to aim for the lowest SD i could breed for,looking for the SD of the males (although a simplified personal research) compared to some other breeders at the time, we have improved our fleeces, from probably below average to above average in not only fleece weights but also fineness, and low SD, and reduced variation across bundle and across body of fleece.As we have three to four generations now of this study, i can use as an example.Stefano, (i only have fibre states of Stefano at an age greater than 12 yes of age), the following stats were taken when he was approx 15 yrs old, Mic 21.70 SD 4.3 CV 19.9 Comf Fact 96.3 spin fine 20.9 then his son, Olympic dream, 18.7 4.2 22.5 98.8to a granddaughter of Stefano, 19.23 4.24 22 98.5the result with a magnificent fleece14.6 2.8 18.9 100 14this is just one example of the lines i have kept records on.I would also like to add, that i was also breeding for a certain look and body type of an alpaca, so although fleece traits was main objective, i was not compromising any physical assets.But as we fined our herd up through observing SD, the fleece changes, and becomes so uniform over the whole body of the alpaca, that our 1sts every time, without fail, when weighed was 2/3rds of the total fleece, compared to unimproved dams, which would only be 1/2 of the total clip.Fleece weights are between 5-6 kgs per 12 m th growth, good fleece length, our heaviest to date is 7 kgs, with our progeny average out 14 micron, and our finest being 12.6 micron with SD always in low to mid 3's, with our lowest being 2.6 SD.As the fleeces fined up, increased fleece weights were experienced, including the highest lustre, and handle, resulting with all progeny coming in at 100% comfort factor. with low blow out with age.Through a conversation with Paul, and explaining what we have been looking for with our breeding, he then mentioned, that a similar method can be tested for, and that is when we discovered GIFT.I can see how GIFT can give my breeding program even more advancement, as it has highlighted to me, that although i have been breeding for low SD, i was not aware that i was also lowering my Along Fibre variation", and the importance of this.We have some animals that only vary .5 mic, along the length of the fleece, whilst i have seen reports of some varying up to 5 or microns along the fibre.I see this as an important factor to also take into mind for breeding, and to start breeding for.For an example, if we look at the Ultra Fine Bale which paid out $AUS60 a kilo last year.Because this bale has to be exact, to gain the high prices, some fleeces may only attract 500 grams towards this bale, and purely to simplify things for this example, so there were 20 breeders who contribute for the ultra fine bale.Once completed, 5 core samples are taken from the bale, and if any part of each core sample has a breaking point, then the whole bale is rejected, and so is 20 breeders income, that could have been earned from this bale.The other thing that GIFT has taught me, how important the Between Fibre SD is, and reducing the variance of nutritional intake on fibres standing beside each other has a huge bearing on low variance of micron between fibres in a bundle, which ultimately extends across the fleece.Although we were seeing these results, i was not totally aware of what i was experiencing.I have since introduced the GIFT breeding technology to a few friends, and they are quite impressed with the information the reports give them. As we take the environmental factors out, we can see what the real SD is displaying, and sometimes, this can be a finer SD, and sometimes it can be higher, than you see in a normal histogram.So not everyone are going to be happy.I think also, what GIFT does do, is highlight what we should be breeding for.When we all went into this industry, we were all told Alpacas produced the finest fibre, but when we all got our alpacas, they were not breeding fine.Many breeders over the years, are breeding and they do get advancements in their fleece, but really have no aim for what the end product will be.By identifying the end product, as supplying an Ultra Fine Bale, for example, gives breeders direction on what they should be breeding for, and how to achieve this in the shortest way.I would also like to say that in Australia, we are often referring to the Merino and sheep industries.I think the main reason for this, is as they say for many years Australia rode on the sheep's back.But also, we have seen over the years, the sheep f;fleece industry, go off breeding in many different directions, and in only a few generations on these trends the sheep breeders then would;d realise they went down the wrong path.It took them many more generations and often after culling to correct their breeding.Australian alpaca breeders, take note of the mistakes that the sheep breeders took, and try to avoid the same mistakes.When my husband and i started in the industry we were in our mid 30's, now in our mid 50's, although i have a daughter who is a full time alpaca breeder, and who we will hand our herd to, b but still in the same instance, looking at others at the same stage of life.making a wrong breeding decision, can take years to correct. Our working life do not have those years to waste with these wrong breeding decisions.Using a tool, that is affordable, and everyone has access to, i believe, is an asset to those who use it.I read in one of the posts, querying the amount of samples, etc.There has been a DVD published to show how the test is actually done, and the assets of the testing, which can be obtained through Paul, in this DVD you can see the fibre being tested, and instead of the normal measurements being taken every 5mm, there are over 10, 000 measurements taken every 1mm.If you want more sample spots Gift does not restrict you to just 3, the more samples per alpaca can give you more of an idea if that is what you want to test for, I know the cost of 3 samples spots and the report is $35.00, so i would guess that 3 others spots on an animal would be also approx the same price.You would have to confirm this with Paul.Paul says also that for those that use the Skin follicle testing, Gift could also be used to assist any breeding decisions.Above all, i believe GIFT will be a valuable tool for those new into the industry, as it gives them guidance on the traits each alpaca needs for improvement, and what to look for in a male to go over that alpaca.on the site i mentioned in an earlier post, there are some more samples of alpacas to show how in depth the individual report is.I hear Paul also has put some sample reports on his site as well.I was a t a show in the USA just recently, and i was speaking to a breeder who said to me, that her fleeces have a soft handle, but she cannot seem to fine up her herd.She has been breeding for low CV. But when i told her to look for lowering her SD she was really surprised.The above is only my experience, and i can see that GIFT is a breeding tool, to assist the breeder in making the right breeding dicisions.

GIFT- Genetic Improvement Fibre Technology

Recently we were dropping off some alpaca fleece to NSW, Ast, for the Ultrafine bale, and met Paul Vallely.He was telling us about the latest technology GIFT, which can be used as a tool for breeders to identify alpacas that have the best Genetic traits for producing premium fibre, which will maximise the fleece returns.These alpacas also have the ability to pass on these genetic traits, and once these alpacas are identified, they speed up the genetic gain of one's herd.Importantly, it is very easy to use, just fleece samples, cost effective, and non evasive, and being the latest technology, is currently the most accurate system that is currently being used in the Merino Fine WOol Industry in Australia, which has been independantly researched by CSIRO in the sheep industry for the last 10 years, and alpaca industry for the past 2 years.Samples can be sent in from all over the world, just the right paperwork to accomapny the samples, i think if there are any complications in sending fleece overseas, just contact Paul vallely and he can advise ow to do this.We sent samples off to see what the Gift report entailes, and us and a couple of other breeders,just to see what these reports will tell us.We were fascinated with the results, and recommendations that the GIFT report gives.In the report, we do get copies of the histogram, and not only the explaination of each facet of the histogram/fleece is individually analysed but also traits identified for imporvement for future breedings are given as a tool for breeders to make the right breeding dicision for their females.The sheep industry had been looking for this guide for many years, and as the word gets out about this fantastic technology, which helps to fast track genetic gains in the fleece

GIFT- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT FIBRE TECHNOLOGY - a tool for the Alpaca Breeder who would like to produce premium fleeces

We at Mariah Hill Alpacas & Exports, have been producing fleeces that meet the requirements for the Ultrafine and Superfine bae for years. People would ask us, how we are producing these fine fleeces.

until now, there was never a Name for the methoid i was using. One day, Rob & I were sitting talking to Paul Vallely, when Paul said well i can test for the Genetic traits that are passed on to the next generation.Soon an afternoon was gone with discussing this new technology.

Independent research has been completed over a 10 year research by CSIRO, an independent research body in the Fine wool Sheep industry, and already 2 years of of reseach by CSIRO, has been completed in Alpaca.

Wow, we have to tell the world, about this new tool breeders can use, to almost predict the quality of their progeny before they are even conceived.

A sample Gift test

AAFT-Supporting Alpaca Breeders
GIFT* test report
Owner/s: Mariah Hill Alpacas & Exports, Victoria. Australia
Alpaca Name/Number: Warlord
Description
Age at sampling 9 months
Growth of sample 9 months (incl pre/post natal growth)

Midside Test Data
AFD: 15.4 microns SD: 3.3 microns
CVD: 21.5 % Comfort Factor 100 %
Length: 105 mm Curvature: 50.1 dg/mm
SD ‘Along Fibres’: 1.1 microns
SD ‘Across Sample’: 3.03 microns

Analysis and Comments
As this sample includes pre/post natal growth, it may be necessary to test the second fleece to confirm analysis.

The ‘across sample’ SD is 3.03 microns. This is very much below the average for alpacas which is about 4.5 microns. This alpaca is regarded as superior with regard to breeding for reducing variation between fibres and reducing incidence of coarse fibres.

The average fibre diameter currently places the alpaca in the ‘Ultrafine’ grade. Given the age of the alpaca, this alpaca will likely be regarded as superior with regard to breeding for low fibre diameter.

The Micron Profile indicates the usual rise in nutritional intake by fibre follicles due to lactation diet (pre weaning).

The curvature at 50.1 dg/mm indicates ‘tight’ crimping fibre, however, this may be influenced by either environmental or genetic causes. Given the staple length, however, it is more likely to be an indicator of true ‘ultrafine’ type.

This alpaca is likely to be highly recommended for breeding progeny for premium type fleeces, pending a test on its second fleece.

As the above information is based on interpretation of individual data from supplied fibre samples, no responsibility can be accepted for any liability arising from reliance on the whole or part of this information.

Australian Alpaca Fibre Testing
PO Box 246, Crookwell, NSW 2583. Australia
Ph (61) 2 48342132
Website: http://www.aaft.com.au/
Email: info@aaft.com.au

please visit the two websites

http://www.giftalpacafibre.com/index.html

and http://www.aaft.com.au

PLease feel free to ask any questions, we will only be too happy to answer them

Black Onyx is on his way to Belgium

Yvonne and Olivier are so pleased with their purchase, congratulations.

A wonder ful male, a fabulous fleece.

Excellent Density.

loading alpacas at airport-pt 3

Once the crate is loaded, the crate is lowered very slowly down so that the top deck can be loaded, which takes only a few minutes as you can see, and then the crate is slowly raised, the crate is on rollers and then is manouvered ever so carefully along rollers into the position on a little train then taken to the plane, and on a scissor lift is loaded onto the plane.

All safe measures are taken into account, and safety for alpacas and people working with them is always planned to precision.

kasarni-med brown female

Kasarni, is a gorgeous Md Brown female, show ribbon winner, at National level, and State level at ROyal Melbourne Show 2007.

KAsarni, is a lady..perfect in every way. She has superb crimp structure, heavy tight stapled all over, and extremely fine, sired by Olympic Dream son of Stefano, full accoyo multi award winner himself, Olympic Dream, is polishing off the perfection she displays. She will be at Alpacalandgoed in Belgium

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.

Austar is on his way to Belgium

Austar is on his way now to Belgium, he has to stay for 6 months in NZ, first, and then approx June 2009 He will fly out to Luxenbourg.AUstar has a beautiful lustrous Black fleece, and will be at Alpacalandgoed, for any enquiries

Aailyah

Sire is Vallon De Oro",
He has been putting spectaculat fleeces onthe ground.
The fleece tester last night who is the man that buys the ultra fine bale, said that the consistancy of our fleeces, and stats, would place us one of the top ultra fine /super fine studs in Australia, this guy tests most of the fleeces in Australia.
He especially liked this fleece, (I love her ), as he said when you have a SD 3.2, you know that the whole fleece is consistant in micron, but not only that, it is all over, and she then has the ability to pass this on. Most of our SD are in the 3's some in early 4's. He said most studs are not getting under 4 in the SD. She has outstanding fleece. She still is maturing, and she is spectacular, she is devoping nicely, the dam's offspring have all grown out well.
Aailyah also hs the most gentle, beautiful, sweetest personality.
She has just flown to NZ for her second leg of the Journey, where she will stay for 6 months for residency. Then she is due in Belgium in June 09

it is snowing in Belgium-Alpacas

Yvonne tells me they are receiving their first snow for the season.

Primera and Dakota look s though they have settled in, and enjoying the life in Laakdat, Belgium

But who wouldn't enjoy the fabulous facilities at ALpacalandgoed, in Belgium.

It certainly looks like a winter wonderland.

Yvonne and Olivier, are proud of their alpaca stud, in Belgium,

Black Onyx, is such a georgeous male, although he now knows how to work, he is starting to be a bit of a macho.

One of the finest Black working males icurrently in Australia, Black onyx is now on his way to being another top stud male for the Alpacalandoged in Belgium.

One of the leading Alpaca studs in Belgium, run by Yvonne and Olivier .

Just before he was shorn and has gone into Quarantine for New Zealand first, we took him down to a lake just near our home. He really loves posing for photos, and has the most georgeous personality. He has started working young, and we do have a number of females now pregnant to him, so although he is on his way to Europe, we hope that we will be able to still have a part of him in his future offspring. as i am writing this blog, i have the rainbow lorikeet dancing on my arm, tickling my finger, and smooching up to me, it is a bit difficult to type and have a loriket balanced on your hand.

You can see him in a previous post

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.

ALPACALANDGOED

Yvonne, from ALPACALANDGOED alpaca stud in Belgium, this is her property, with her alpacas.

They look lovely.

I think it is becoming to be autumn there in Belgium, with winter very soon.

Here in Victoria we are the other extremes, today being 30 degrees C, which was so nice to feel the sunshine on your skin.

Summer is on the way, grass is growing really well.

I look forward to receiving my emails from Yvonne.

She and her husband operte a mechanic shop in Belgium, and enjoy farming alpacas.

English Rose has settled in well. I am so glad that English Rose has settled in at Yvonnes place.

I think she will do well.

I think it will be very soon, and Primera, and English Rose's sister will join her in Belgium.

Been A while

We have been to many shows over the past few weeks, all seem to be a minimum of 3 days.

We had three vet students here for two weeks, and a hectic time.

This is a friend who took an alpaca into the show ring at the Royal Melbourne Show. English Rose has arrived in Belgium, at Yvonne Steinlet, from ALPACALANDGOED.
I have seen pictures from her farm, and she has a beautiful farm, (right), her farm looks like parkland. Both Yvonne and I have just found out that Primera has had a white Female girl, we are both pleased, and glad that it is a girl. This means that Primera can now start her testing, and hopefully both Primera and cria will be in Belgium very soon. Yvonne is looking forward to seeing them both. I hear Lady Titicata is doing well in Uk, and will be mated to CZAR who is on ANZAC alpaca stud in the UK. Dominic Lane owns ANZAC alpaca stud, and loves it in England. His farm has oodles of feed, and is not that far from London.We have been busy with Quarntines, one for New Zealand, and still the Canadian Quarantine is doing well. As the weather is warming up for us, we are starting to hand trim the alpacas for Canada. We have had a very cold winter, and so it has not been disreable to shear the alpacas earlier. But i hear they will be going to snow, and most likely temperatures of -20 degrees, which we never experience here. We have been advised to leave leags, underbelly, head and tail fleece on, as this will help them keep wamr, and are the most exposed places when they are kushing in the snow. We need to bring their fleece back a bit, as these alpacas mainly coming from NSW, have over 12 months fleece on them. In NSW, they will have most of their alpacas shorn by now, in fact they shear more likely before the end of August, where in Melbourne, we will shear more like November, and still we will have days we have to watch the alpacas do not get too cold, with the sudden cold change, brought on by heavy rains. We need to trim the fleece down to approx 2 inches long, this way, we have enough fleece on them to help them keep warm when they arrive in Vancouver, before their 3 day long journey to Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. But they will have also less fleece for when they go into the shipping crates, and they will be more comfortable. I hear that there is much excitement for the alpacas to arrive in Canada. The picture above is of Elyse trimming one of the alpacas, and you can see how much fleece we have trimmed off. This fleece that we are trimming is too short now for processing. This is a picture of the fleece of one of the alpacas. I trimmed one of the larger alpacas, which took 4 hours, and now i have blisters over my fingers from th scissors, so i have to rest them while the blisters hear before i can trim again. ELyse also has some blisters on her hands, she has now trimmed 6 alpacas, a few more to go. We have also completed screening for the uk, of 9 alpacas. this procedure was over a two day period. This week proves a hectic week also. I am still completing the paperwork for both shipments, working around plane flights etc. There is a lot of planning when organising shipments, and it has to be just right. I take pride in our exports.

Before i go, I wish Yvonne and her husband, from ALPACALANDGOED Alpaca Stud in Belgium, lots of luck with her alpacas, now 4 female alpacas, and look forard to a long and happy business relationship.