"MARIAH HILL PROTEGE

Second fl Mid	15.8	3.5	...sample taken at 17 mths old 100 001		14.7
Pin	16.9	4	100		15
Shoulder	16.7	4.2	100		14.7

Date taken 10/5/10
One of our boys destined for stud work.





'Next Photos are Protege second fleece

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELYSE

........







Most of you that have known us from afar, will know of Elyse. She has been with alpacas virtually all of her life...20 years.
Today she celebrates her 23rd Birthday.She is a wonderful kid, we love her so much.She has been there for me, as you all know, and she is there to assist her father at a moments notice.
She also helps out her brother if he needs help, carpet laying, and has assisted building the quarantine facility, all three facilities that is incorporated in the one quarantine, she has just finished helping her father and boyfriend, building fort knox, all the extra fencing required to make this a 5 star quarantine facility, which we can now quarantine three species and three countries at once, which is a feat for a small little self taught exporter in Victoria.
Elyse also has completed and i may say the first alpaca person, the fleece classing for alpacas, and sheep.She has expertise in animal husbandry, managment, and manages the farm, and the animals.
Puts out the hay, repairs fencing and any leaking pipes. around the farm.
She also is in charge of all the shearing, and when you are shearing approx 400 alpacas, that is a mean feat.
Those who have assisted us with shearing, cannot compete the the speed and efficiency that Elyse displays.
When we have done quarantines for Russia and China, where the countries government vets come out to observe all the testing and procedures that are undertaken during the quarantine, are bewildered how this girl, 5 ft 5 in, and not a large girl, can handle this very wild mature animals, with efficiency and accuracy, The men stand back and let her do it, the men stand back as they euther can not handle the animals or scared to. In their broken language we can understand, they say, they are amazed at Elyse, she is wonderful.She has competed as Junior judging and has won three times at National and ROyal levels.
She is almost a miracle worker, and has a wonder rapoir with the alpacas and any animal that we care for through our quarantines.Thank goodness she has had enough sense to get medical assistance for me twice or I would not be here.This is not being written by a mother who can only look through rose coloured glasses, but from a friend, and a person who admires Elyse's qualities and capabilities.
We have travelled the world together, with alpacas, trying to open up new marketplaces together, and we have learnt along the way, many things which she will carry through her working life.
She was there for her sister through a tough time and her pregnancy, her birth, and being the first person to hold her nephew, to give us a ring at my hospital, to let me know that- he's here", were her words.
She also has been there now for her cousin, for support.
I know she is a wonderful girlfriend, partner, and good cook for her boyfriend Josh, whom we all love.Thanks Elyse your are a great Kid.
have a happy 23RD Birthday...... I am proud to be your mum.

Friends

I think these two are up to mischief, lucky Illustrious and Protege'are keeping an eye on them.

The passing of an ERA

It was a sad easter this year, as our other original Peruvian import Stud Male, Cristiano was euthanaised as he was just too old.
He still was seen mating until two days prior to his passing, and he was looking good, then One day, he just did not want to live, he was depressed, he had been showing signs of old age for a while, but he just did not want to do anything.
Was not interested in anything at all, and so we placed him in a holding area close to the house so we can keep watch of him.
We thought he would fade in his own time, but Elyse especially could not sit and see him just fade.
It was decided to euthanaise him, as he could have probably just gone on for a couple of days, and he was not interested in eating or anything.
He did make around 19.5 years old, which we think is a good innings, and our vet when he came, said we had made the right dicision.
Cristiano, weas imported in 1995 from the Alianza Old Peruvian group, in the first Jolimont Peruvian shipment to arrive in Australia.
Cristiano, progeny are around the world, and we are proud to say he has been a huge influence on our breeding along with the other stud males, Stefano, Patche', and Vallon, for our consistancy in ultrafine, dense and highly lustrious fleeces.
The Stefano / Cristiano crosses were reconised as a great combination, producing high frequency, highly lustrious fleeces.
His progency were the first reconised fleeces to measure the highest primary to secondary ratio, (SRS talk), and this record was kept for many years (tested through the mountains of Peru, chile, and also through Europe and Australia, when this record was first announced approx 1998) until the past couple of years.
We are so proud to carry his genetics, and have males sired by him to carry on his name.
Thanks Cristiano for your friendship, and all the babies you produced us, the champions you sired, and the future champions carrying your genetics.
A beautiful spot was dug by Elyse herself, with the help of Leesa, Andrew's fiance, he has a beautiful resting spot beside your friend Stefano, with a beautiful plant to mark your special place.

Vallon's Quest

..has been tested one of the finest alpacas tested in Australia to date at 12.6 micron.
He is growing out so beautifully, i checked his fleece today, and it is so beautiful, a gorgeous high lustre, super soft handle, and super high frequency crimp.
Vallon has produced some very stunning, super fine fleeces in his progeny.

Vallons Quest and another alpaca called Illustrious, are the pride of our herd.
18 years of breeding and concentrating on certain traits, when selecting males.
We started with Stefano, who really stamped the offspring.
He also drew a line in the sand, and basically his genes were so strong, that he cut out two colours, blue eyes, and from his generation on, all his progeny bred forward, and not throwing back.
Stefano, a Full Accoyo male, was amazing in some of the fleeces that were produced from him.
Cristiano, woul go over his progeny and visa versa, which turned out to be a perfect combination, with wither male complimenting the former.
Progeny from both these male have been reconised for their high density, lower SD, and high S/P ratios, and have been used in some of the large alpaca ET breeding programs, around the world. Patche'came in over these, and he just added, bone, and fined the progeny up more, producing the most super softest handle. Little to Nil guard hair or medullated fibre (coarse fibre), polishing the progeny off again.
El Condor, sometimes came in again throwing a higher amptitude and more the broader (or woder), crimp style, coming like horseshoes, coming back at itself, whilst the others produced almost merino style high frequency crimp.
The ultimate came though when we purchased Vallon De Oro', a recent Peruvian import.
What took our eye when we selected him, although compact, due to the altitude he was bred at in Peru.
He had the most densest fleece, a high frequency crimp, high lustre, beautiful legs, and conformation, and coverage.
He has now taken our herd to one more step, with all his progeny producing premium fleeces, super dense, and a beautiful merino style crimp.
very high frequency, a sparkling lustre. He also seems to tap into those colours behind the dam, which is really good, as my endeavour is to consistantly prodyce colours the same quality as the whites.
Take a look at this guys histogram, he is a dream alpaca. Can we keep producing more like this boy?
I look at this years progeny, and YES, instead of producing two to this standard last year, we have produced at least a dozen. I winder how fine we can really go.
ALthough this boy has come in at 12.8 Alpaca actually feels like 4 microns finer than Sheep's wool.
If this yarn was purchased as sheep, it would be measuring 8.8 microns.
How much finer can we go.
But it is not just the fineness, it is the charchter these fleeces are displaying, as i am discribing these fleeces to appear like merino, the second fleeces coming through are just like that.

This is what every alpaca breeder should be aiming for with their breeding dicisions.
We cannot wait for this guy to start working.
His dam also has produced some our best alpacas as well, so he should make a huge impact, like his sire....Jolimont Vallon De Oro

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.

HOng Kong

What an experience, a trip to Canada to see the alpacas in quarantine at Manitoba, the flight is stopped at Hong Kong, to break the flight up a bit, we stayed in Hong Kong for 2 days.

Thank goodness as the flight is a long one.

Beautiful city, we went toDisneyland.

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.

Fleeces

We have been concentrating on our breeding to produce fleeces for the Ultra Fine and super fine bale.

We are pleased with our breeding results, better than we imagined.

We estimated quite a few of our progeny to reach the ultra fine fleece bale, but we doubled what we estimated. Vallon De Oro' has been a great asset to our herd, but i believe the foundation of Jolimont Stefano, and Jolimont Cristiano, and Jolimont Patche', (full Peruvian), from the Accoyo and Alinza herds is the secret the the advancement we are making with out fleeces.

The high brightest lustre that is coming through is only emphasising the fineness we are producing.

We have been told, that so far we have produced the finest alpaca tested in Australia, at 12.6 micron, sired by Vallon Deo Oro'. Even our red dirt, which always gives our alpacas a pinkinsh look, as soon as you open up those fleeces, the lustre almost knocks you out.

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.

ALpacas are off to New Zealand.

The next group of alpacas have passed all their tests for export,

They will get their final checkup, and procedures completed tomorrow, whilst AQIS check out the shipment, the quarantine facilities, and the running of the shipment.

The alpacas have done really well, it has been great the past few days, wiuth beautiful sunshine.

They have enjoyed having their coats, off, and just lapping up the warmth in the sun.

They head off during the night on Friday, and arrive most likely around lunch time Saturday morning in Auckland.

Good luck to all the owners of your alpacas, they are a fabulous group, and it has been a pleasure looking after them for you.

looking forward to seeing them or their babies in your National shows of the future.

export for canada approved

Well, i have been working hard on a new protocol for exporting alpacas to Canada.

which is a first in something like 14 years.

A new marketplace, and i am just so pleased to be able to open this marketplace up.

It was a battle to get canda opened, but i had some good advice on how to go about opening up protocols.

There are alot of enquiries at the moment for many countries.

I gave a large quote yesterday for a plane load of alpacas to china, keep our fingers crossed, i hope it comes off.

Another two quotes today given out for China, for a tourist trade, and i am working on a protocol for Taiwan at the moment.

New market places, whilst still trying to work on new marketplaces in Europe.

I have been communicating with a lovely lady from Belguim.

Alpacas do make this world a small world.

I am so wrapped to have got this protocol through, as i was told that i had buckleys, but i followed my instinct.

I know this protocol is needed for Australian alpaca, and for Canadian alpaca breeders.

I have not heard back yet from my Canadian, but i am sure she is celebrating.

I hope the effort means it is the first of many shipments to come.

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.

Farm Chores

We have now 5 vet students to help s clean the quarantine, learning quarantine procuedures.
Todat they weighed some weanlings, wormed and innoculated for Vit D, and 5 in 1.
Frosted Rose, had a abcess on her Jaw.
The vet was up anyway, sho he treated this, and showed the vet students how to clean this out.
The weather has been extremely cold, and windy.
Heaps of rain, so the herd has been moved to the safe paddocks on the lower part of the farm, where the wind just goes over the hill.
Fibre samples were taken, to be sent off to the fleece testing.
We will take more fibre samples tomorrow. OUr average fibre test for the progeny has been 15 microns, over 100 weanlings, that is not a bad average.
Vallon De Oro' is producing a superb density, lustre, and evenness with fineness.
I have been trying to finalise all my paperwork for the end of the financial year.
must go now, just updating my webpage
www.mariahhillalpaca.homestead.com/mariahhillalpaca.html