COUNTDOWN FOR AUSTRALIAN SHIPMENT

Only a couple of days to go, and Rob, Elyse and I will be delivering the first Alpaca Shipment from Australia, for over a decade to theairport to begin their flight to Vancouver.

Alot of planning, negotiations, committment, patience, and experience went into getting this shipment up and running. To understand the politics between countries when trying to export or import any animal, is difficult for people not in this business to understand. What seems normal and common sense to us, always seem to create a wall when talking or negotiatimng between governments, and at the end of the day, either Government can say Yes or No. So careful, planning, studying each countries requirements, and working out a way where we can meet these requirements and then get the countries Biosecurity departments to talk. Taking over 5 months of negotiations, was really fast, as to each country, exporting a small group of alpacas, was not high on their priority list.

Especially in Australia, the Alpaca in Industry is the sioze of a speck in the sand compared to the cattle, sheep and pig export trade, Alpacas seemed so insignificant.

15 Alpacas, compareed to 100,000's cattle and sheep. Why would they give the time to help put this together.

It seemed an uphill battle many times, but Raelene knew that some of these alpacas had already been purchased, and we had to get this into high priority.

Raelene requested a meeting with AQIS and Biosecurity, In Canberra, and travelled up to have these meetings, which each meeting ended up lasting 3 hours each, until, the governments would promise her they would put this high on their priority list.

Raelene (AQIS Accredited Exporter for Camelids, Sheep & Goats), http://www.mariahhillalpacas.com/ has exported alpacas now in in the sixth year of exporting and owner operating Mariah Hill Alpacas Quarantine Facility, in Nar Nar goon, with over 1000 alpacas having been exported to UK, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Germany, switzerland, Finland, Norway, Belgium, France, Holland, (through the Eu gateway), and New Zealand. Gaining a reputation for our export managment and High Biosecurity, and experience in over 50 shipments, Owning. operator of what is considered by Canberra as Australia's 5 star quarantine facility for Alpacas, gave Raelene a chance to even be heard by these usually closed Government authorities.

Raelene had also been working with both Australian Departments, on assistance with the Eu, and so is also respected by the heads of these Government authorities.

Meanwhile, midway through the first shipment, it was realised that an Envirmental assessment for each shipment of alpacas is required for Canada, which took a further 6 weeks to work successfully through, by Tannis of Hummzinger Alpacas, http://www.hummzingeralpacas.com/

Again, the committment was on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, In Australia and in Canada.

With Tannis Froese, and Raelene Strong, in almost daily communication, assisting each other with both governments, and meeting any requirements they requested.

The shipment being held up because of this enviromental assessment was back on track, and now we are seeing final days, as we are now planning our land transport to the airport.

Crates are built and delivered.

Paperwork has been finalised, hs been checked and re checked, and list of what is needed for the export has been listed and checked and re checked.

Meanwhile, Tannis has built a quarantine facility in Winnepeg Beach, Manitoba, and also had a huge float, sounds like a floating palace, all heated, to pick the alpacas up on Wednesday 28th January.

All excitment all round.

I think once Rob, Raelene and Elyse drops the alpacas off at the airport, we will sit down and have a glass of wine to celebrate, what at the beginning was a monamentous achievement, that Raelene was originally told...."Cannot DO".

Why are the alpacas being sought from Australia

world wide? With the exerience and the research for Australia's woolen industry, some of the aspects of breeding are being tapped into when selecting for herdsires, and dams, reconising the traits desired that tap into the qualities that we are acheiving. With the ultimate aim of breeding Ultra and Super Fine fleeces, without sacrificing denisty, crimp, staples, and all the other traits that is required for Elite fleeces.

Already the second shipment is under way with special requirements to be met for every shipment. If you need to find out these requirements an d you are interested in importing some alpacas for your own herd, please ontct Raelene, as these requirements are not published, but must be met.
some information is on my website, look under Canadian shipment.
Congratulations for those who have purchased in the first shipment, and i hope these alpacas will breed the genetics you are aiming for.

a day at the National alpaca show-day 1

We wake up pretty early in the morning, approx 5.30am, we have rented the rooms at a lovely motel for 5 days, It took us 9 hours drive to get to Canberra, a long drive, as most of it has been in the dark, as i had so much work to complete before i left, that i did not finish my work until 2 om.

We were planning on leaving at 9am, it has been such a long day. So by the time we unloaded the vans and trailers, it was past midnight.

Rob followed us up, as we had to pick up a boy for the next quarantine. All the packing of the show gear into the trailer, was left up to Elyse.

The grooming and halter training of the alpacas was also left to Elyse.

Rob had to clean the quarantines and prepare the feed for the next day, as my other children (adult kids), were feeding and checking on the alpacas for me, whilst Rob was gone the 24 hrs.

Also finishing the alterations that needed at the quarantine facility, which took Rob hours as well.

We lead very busy lives, and there is not one second of the day that is not taken up with the alpacas in one way or the other.

We get up and have a very quick morning drink, whilst we get ready to go to the showgrounds.

It is literly 5 mins away which is really handy.

My car is starting to play up, which is really odd, as this car has been fantastic.

As usual over night with all the alpacas in the shed, the condensation from the steel roofing, and the alpacas breathing, the alpacas are very damp in the mornings.

Some worse than others.

it seems the finer the fleeces, the more these fleeces seem to soak up the moisture.

So the idea is to get the alpacas out in the freash air, pray for a little wind, and sunshine, which we were out of luck.

We take them for a walk, and as they relax and enjoy the walk, hopefully with the aid of the breeze, their fleeces start to dry off.

You really do pray for sunshine, as the moisture takes away the density they would normally feel, and nothing like sunshine to do this.

It is zero degrees, and so, so cold, i tralk them for a walk for about an hour, and then i hook them along a fence line, so they can just relax and enjoy the outdoors.

It seems to be getting colder, and after another 1 hour, i take them in.

Meanwhile, our friends, Jenny and Graham come, and Graham, cleans out our pen, he is such a nice guy.

Jenny and i walk a little longer, whilst the pens are cleaned out.

Then we go in and have a coffee and a hot chocolate.

Then it is a day of showing.

Usually many breeders network on these occassions, and we also catch up with old friends, ones we only see at major shows.

It is wuite a good tme, and this goes on for 3 days of showing.

They are long days, usually packing up anything after 8pm -9pm of night, and early morning as well.

On the last day, there was a general meeting, and junior judging, then the auction animals are paraded around.

Some of the videos for this is on my you tube, link below.

a very tiresome time.

Latest Histogram Results

Hi, again, just thought i would like to add to my last posting.
We have just received word that we have finally now bred our First 12 micron fleece.
We are aiming to bred quality Super fine Fleeces, highly lustrous.
Last year i was pleased when we produced 2x 14 micron fleeces, out of what was tested
this year we hav acheived 8x 14 micron, and our first 13 micron fleece, i thought that was an acheivement, but still aiming of a 12 micron.
And although not even 2/3rds of the progeny have been tested as yet, we have now acheived at least 1x 12 micron fleece.
WOW, and we have more to test.
Vallon De Oro', has produced some very fine offspring, and is acheiving our aims that we purchased him to do.