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

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.

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.

Alpacas have arrived in New Zealand, and are enjoying the lush New Zealand pastures

Well the alpacas have passed all their tests, they have now been inspected by AQIS, and the Vet,

(AAV)

And they now have permission to load. A quick call to the airport to confirm that the plane is on time. All the paperwork has been accepted, and satisfied the New Zealand requirements, and now i have been given the health certificates that accompany the plane. It is time, the females are loaded first, a very quick process, as we set up gates, to give them a laneway to walk through and straight into the float.

It is easier to walk the males to their area. These males are halter trained, and near working age, so we have to keep them separate to the females. The females are pregnant and would spit at the males all the way to the airport, anyway. We keep the males separate anyway. The males are eager, as they are loaded into the van. All goes well with the trip to the airport. Both Rob and i are so tied, it has been a long day, since 4.30am, in the morning, with the final clean up for this group. AQIS meets us at the airport along with our freight forwarder. We load the alpacas into the crate, and they are off to New Zealand. Before loading, we check the crate out, and make sure that it is safe, and well constructed, we check the stamps on all timbers to confirm that it has been treated properly to the specificatations of IATA. Then after the alpacas are loaded, we lock the crate up secure. The the crate is lifted to the conveyor belt, and we watch the crate move into position to be loaded onto the plane.

A very smooth and well planned loading, AQIS is very happy with the loading, and there is plenty of space for the alpaca to walk around, and sit if they want to. It is a vey

long day, we had the alpacas at the airport loaded by 730pm, it is almost 10pm by the time we get home. We stopped off at McDonald's on the way home, have a fresh pick me up, before heading off home.

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.

Canadian Alpaca Import departure date set

Final arrangements are now being vonfirmed.

Plane is now booked.

19th November...16 alpacas will board Air Canada Plane and fly to Canada, a 14 hour flight, and they will arrive in Vancouver, Canada on the 19th November, yes they cross the international date line, and they loose a day.

What a wonderful transport trailer for the alpacas.

Tannis will move the alpacas still in quarantine in this trailer especially designed, and purpose built, so that she can feed and water the alpacas during their road jouney.

Everyone in canada are anxiously waiting for the arrival of these alpacas.

new Quarantine

The alpacas have now entered the next quarantine, and of course, it has been raining, and cold.

We have to shear the alpacas before they enter quarantine.

The alpacas will wear coats, whilst in quarantine which are extremely good at keeping them warm.

But we also have heaters as seen at the back here, and we encourage the alpacas to go in the heated area, although they do have access to the rest of the shedding, if they want to go there.

They are going well, as we checked them and fed them tonight, a quick clean, and made sure all alpacas were safe, and warm.

Hamilton Sheep Show

We visited the sheep show in a country town called Hamilton about 6 hours drive west from where we live.

We left approx 10am Sunday morning to travel there, we had 6 alpacas on board, all bar 1 just off their mum, and quickly halter trained. I feel it is good to take some of your best alpacas to shows, in preparation for the major shows, of the Royals and Nationals.

The weanlings when they first go into the ring, do freeze when they have to walk through an area with strange people and animals, and of course line up in front of a crowd, large or small. It takes two or three shows before they will walk in the ring perfectly, and stand for a period of time, so that the alpaca can be judged properly.

By this stage hopefully, they arrive at the Nationals, (end of Aug), and our Royal Melbourne Show (Mid Sept), and are confident, and present themselves, which gives them presence, and that WOW factor.

Also the fleece which is the main part of Judging is just starting to display it's true characteristics by about 10 months old, when it is at it's best in presentation and length.

Showing is very hard, and timing as a huge part in gaining ribbons and not.

We have many alpacas we could be showing, some just too young, some, just coming off the mums, and already stressed, so to get one at the right time, for a right show, is sometimes, like juggling.

Hamilton Sheep Show is one of the largest Sheep shows in Australia with over 10,000 sheep.

It is such a huge event that all the accomadation is booked out a couple of years ahead.

This means there was not a lot of accomadation available.

We found accomadation 1 hour away, on a 12,000 acre sheep farm.

It was absolutely beautiful place, 4000 sheep, and when we arrived late at night , the hosts, were kind enough to have a beautiful fire going, to warm this cute little cottage.

Old shearing quarters i would say, and tastefully decorated, and extremely clean.

A warm bed, freezing in the morning, -2 degrees.

But when we woke up, we were in a valley in the middle of the Grampians, called Victoria Valley.

Absolutely magic, overlooking wetlands, or a gorgeous lake.

We did not have much time to enjoy the scenery, as we had to leave around 6 am, and as you can see from the photos the sun was only just getting up.

But as we drove back towards Hamilton, the landscape changed from one second to the next, and we were just amazed at this lush valley, which would be very protected in summer i would imagine.

We did well at the show, coming in 2 seconds and 3 thirds.

An extremely high quality show, and we were pleased, seeing ou guys were the youngest in the class.