Alpaca British Alpaca Society quarterly magazine
AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
British Alpaca Society The fibre breed
www.bas-uk.com
Alpaca www.bas-uk.com THE BRITISH ALPACA SOCIETY c/o Grassroots Systems Ltd, PO Box 251, Exeter EX2 8WX. Tel (within UK): 0845 3312468 Tel (Overseas): +44(0)1392 437788 Fax: +44(0)1392 437788 Email: info@bas-uk.com BAS CHIEF EXECUTIVE Dr Duncan Pullar Tel: 07496 578781 Email: ceo@bas-uk.com EDITORIAL Editor: Liz Wright alpaca.ed@kelsey.co.uk ADVERTISEMENT SALES Wendy King Talk Media Sales Tel: 01732 448748 Email: wendy@talk-media.uk GRAPHIC DESIGN Jo Legg 07306 482166 jo.legg@flair-design.co.uk KELSEY MEDIA The Granary, Downs Court Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL 01959 541444 MANAGEMENT Divisional Managing Director: Steve Kendall Group Publisher: Fiona Mercer Retail Director: Steve Brown Renewals and Projects Manager: Andy Cotton Senior Subscription Marketing Manager: Claire Aspinall Subscription Marketing Director: Kevin McCormick Print Production Manager: Georgina Harris Print Production Controller: Kelly Orriss DISTRIBUTION Distribution in Great Britain: Seymour Distribution Limited 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT Tel: 020 7429 4000 www.seymour.co.uk Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Newspread Tel: +353 23 886 3850 Kelsey Media 2023 © all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published. Where photographs are included, which are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The editor cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products and services offered by third parties. For more information of our privacy policy, please visit Kelsey Media takes your personal data very seriously. For more information of our privacy policy, please visit https://www.kelsey.co.uk/privacy-policy/ . If at any point you have any queries regarding Kelsey’s data policy you can email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@kelsey.co.uk.
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CONTENTS
Happy ending for Humphrey
A welfare issue that has a happy ending thanks to BAS intervention.
Cornwall Fleece Show 2023 10 Oregon adventure
24 The importance of nutrition
44 The tartan alpaca Luxury, unique products made from pure Cornish alpaca.
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On the Oregon trail to exchange learning about alpacas. Jo Bridge reports on the trip of a lifetime for her and other alpaca breeders.
12 Residential rehabilitation
At the Kenward Trust where walking with alpacas brings enjoyment to both the animals and the walkers.
26 The therapeutic impact of alpacas
The first in a two part series, Penny Rackett sets out to evaluate some of the evidence.
46 Tweed and teddies Teesdale Alpacas/ myAmelia have always been keen to utilise the ‘Best of British’ in the creation of products.
30 Versatility for community benefit
47 A personalised rug
32 Working with colours 14 Caring for crias and weanlings Joy Whitehead of Bozedown Alpacas considers if the time of birthing affects development and gives pointers to get the best start for your precious young stock.
Understanding how to breed for different colour/pattern has always fascinated alpaca and llama breeders.
40 Alpaca as a meat alternative 18 Vets on tour
Alpaca herd health in Peru.
Chris Williams of Ambersun Alpacas talks about Fleurieu Prime Alpaca and its Australian success.
Why not use your animals fibre to create a piece of art to treasure for years to come and tell a story in your home while celebrating the beauty of your animals.
50 Using alpaca in felting Di Conroy, fibre artist, says the fibre has very special properties to bring life to a project.
www.kelsey.co.uk Cover photo: Teesdale Alpacas
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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WELCOME
FROM THE EDITOR E: alpaca.ed@kelsey.co.uk
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nother issue and another fascinating three months in between. This time I attended the FutureGen webinar and the very clear presentation given on colour genetics. I’ve also been out and about meeting alpaca owners and seeing some studs and as ever, always, learning more all the time. The Australian magazine, Camelid Connections also send a digital copy of their magazine which gives a different perspective on aspects of alpaca management. I’ve also been reading about the natural habitat of alpacas which makes me keen to go and see this for myself. Therapy is often talked about and in this month’s Alpaca we look at assessing what is therapy and how we do that. I’ve had to read the piece more than once because it is so interesting and made me stop and think. Although Christmas is still some way off, the next Alpaca will be after Christmas and is also the Yearbook so I’ve looked at some wonderful alpaca fibre ideas from teddy bears, tartans to rugs to give to those special in your life who love beautiful and unique products. I love to hear from you and you can reach me easily on email, and if you wish I can call you back. Again a thank you for all your help, inspiration and ideas and for generously sharing these. This is your magazine so it matters what you are doing and your experiences with alpacas. Do keep contacting me, I really welcome it.
Photo: Karen Harvey
CEO NOTES...
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Duncan Pullar: ceo@bas-uk.com
he BAS Regional groups have been doing great work over the last year and I think it is right that I should highlight that fact. Regional groups put a great deal of effort into serving the needs of their members. Perhaps the most obvious is the halter and fleece shows that they organise and run with lots of willing volunteers. This is not a small job and the fact that a hardy band of regulars take on that work year after year is a testament to their dedication. Regional educational events, either in person, or by video call have become a staple part of the calendar. We have had vet’s, nutritionists, expert noodlers, geneticists, and behaviourists sharing their knowledge with BAS members at a regional level. As well as the subject knowledge these events help members
build their network of alpaca friends and contacts and create a community. The last year has seen the emergence of several new regional groups, so we now have the UK pretty much covered. Not living in a particular area is no bar to being a member of a regional group. I know one BAS member who is in four regional groups and enjoys all of them. Such are the benefit of modern communication systems! Recent additions are North Shires & North Wales, South Wales, and East Midlands. Well established and going strong we have Cornwall Camelids, South-West, Southern, South East, Eastern Alpaca, Heart of England, West Shires, Yorkshire, North East & Borders, North West, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. So, if you haven’t tried it yet then look into joining a regional group…or two!
Topics discussed at a recent Board meeting • Financial management of BAS reserves • Promotional opportunities at shows in Europe in 2023/24 • Newsletter format and frequency
• • • •
Possible shearing apprenticeships Alpaca magazine content for autumn 2023 BAS National Show 2024 and 2025 BAS AGM 2023
All past minutes available in the members area of the BAS website : paper-plane www.bas-uk.com/members-area/the-british-alpaca-society/board-meeting-minutes
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Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
• Website developments • Judge tutors – qualification process • Education courses, JT2, Advanced, Intermediate, and Introductory • National Alpaca Farm Day 2023 • Judging appaloosa alpacas • Welfare issues
There’s nothing quite as magical as watching your crias pronking around the paddock on a warm summers evening! Here at Pemberley we breed for quality, having a selection of advanced phenotype Huacaya alpacas in various ages and colours. All our stock are British Alpaca Society registered with full documentation Pregnant females with cria at foot Live cria guarantees provided when purchasing pregnant females Discount packages available Full documentation on the medical and health history of each animal Halter trained Stud male services (All studs are either Supreme Champions/Champions/ Reserve Champions in either UK or New Zealand) Pet males
Fields Farm, Fields Farm Road, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester, Essex CO2 0JN Telephone: 07969 952247 Email: pemberleyalpacas@gmail.com Website: www.pemberleyalpacas.co.uk
NEWS
HAPPY ENDING FOR HUMPHREY
Clara Boulton of Natterjack Alpacas reports on a welfare issue that has a happy ending thanks to BAS intervention. Humphrey
ALPACA
PODS
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Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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ack in August, we received a call about a local alpaca who had been kept on his own in a field with just some goats and poultry for company. So on behalf of the British Alpaca Society, we knew we had to go and get him! The new owners of the land were well aware that they had inherited an unhappy alpaca, and wanted to ensure he ended up in the best place possible for him. He had been left unsheared for a number of years by the previous owner, and had lived there for so long that he had now reached double figures, possibly as old as 20 from speaking to locals. Although there were a number of watchful eyes, and he maintained a healthy body condition, he had sadly missed out on many aspects of basic alpaca care, including shearing and health checks. For us, our herd standard is for every alpaca to have a health check every one to two weeks. This includes body scoring, FAMACHA scoring, teeth check, as well as checking eyes, feet and for any general lumps and bumps. We do also personally faecal egg count every alpaca in the herd every four weeks, but as a minimum we feel this should be done every three months. We can say with some certainty that this boy has not received this level of care. Riddled with mite and most importantly a giant ear abscess, he was possibly one of the easiest welfare cases we have ever had to help remove from the situation. Armed with a bit of PPE due to his skin, he was easy enough to convince to stand still whilst we haltered him in return for a good itch! We would always use some skin protection when dealing with any alpaca with mites, particularly one ‘off farm’. As much as we are concerned for our own welfare, we would be mainly worried about us transmitting it back to our own alpacas. What was most heartbreaking about the situation was how once head collared up, he then happily followed us down an overgrown path and straight into the trailer without a second thought. Just before leaving, we did find an old alpaca headcollar looped around a fencepost. Which did explain the head collar
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sandhillsalpacas@aol.com Sandhills Alpacas, Sandhills Farm Cottage, Ness Lane, Tockwith YO26 7QL
Before shearing training, but made us more baffled as to why such a well handled alpaca needed to be left in such a poor condition On arrival back to our farm, firmly placed in quarantine, within 24 hours of arrival he was sheared as we wanted to ensure he was sheared as soon as possible and fully vet checked. We also decided he needed a new name, one that matched his years and sophistication. Therefore landing on ‘Humphrey’, as he is a true gentleman. Whilst his top line was scabby and covered in damaged skin, the one benefit of his matted, heavy, ancient fleece was that it had formed such an impenetrable barrier. So his skin going down his sides was in remarkably good condition. Alongside this, his body score was not to be sniffed at, maybe due to being so weighed down with that fleece that he struggled to burn many calories during his days, or perhaps due to the kind people who kept an eye on him over the years. For mite treatment, we would always recommend going for skin scrapes first and foremost. This is so a specific treatment plan can be formed for that mite at the time. But we do always reach for the sebolytic shampoo when dealing with any dry and broken skin (which is normally related to mite in our previous experience). This really helps break up the skin, and also seems to stop that intense itching. Which in turn, stops them potentially injuring themselves from the desire to itch. What has been the main issue, and will be the main issue going forward, is KW a long term issue with his ear. Which1is the result of an12:39 Animal Services_Alpaca_JB.pdf 23/09/2020
After a bath
If anyone has any concerns about an alpaca or alpacas, contact the BAS office. If in immediate need eg a broken leg, and you cannot find an owner, call the RSPCA and also inform BAS untreated abscess (we can only assume how long that has been left, as we go back on Google street view we can see how large his ear has been for a number of years). However we are also so impressed with the reduction in size so far, and working closely with our vets we are sure he will only improve. With Humphrey’s well handled and overall easy-going nature, treating his skin has been very easy. He is easy to bathe and dry, and really enjoys the applications of any creams to help loosen up that skin! We really worried when he arrived that we would quickly become his least favourite people- after subjecting him to so many treatments. However, his lovely little face still lights up when he sees us. And despite being considerably less itchy, he still deeply enjoys a good scratch whilst he has his breakfast!
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in the ONLY magazine mailed direct to ALL members of the British Alpaca Society
Alpaca Briti sh Alpa
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YEARBOOK 2023
Contact advert sales SQUARE-PHONE
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British Alpaca Society The fibre breed
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13/01/2023
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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SHOWS
CORNWALL FLEECE SHOW 2023 Stewards for the day: Back row – Heather Lester, Sandra Muriel, Nigel Retallack, Cathy Drage, Abha Wells. Front – Wendy Scott
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Jo Bridge with Supreme winners, Wendy Scott of Dark Sky (Suri) left and Sandra Muriel of Crewenna (Huacaya) right
he fourth Cornwall Fleece Show was hosted at Carn Tremayne Farm, Praze and kicked off the qualifying shows for the National Fleece Champion of Champions 2024. In total there were 67 entries to be judged by BAS Judge Jo Bridge. The new fleece show scoring system required some homework and preparation prior to the event. As the fleeces arrived, it was interesting to see the high number of entries which were noodled, though it is not yet compulsory under BAS rules. Under the new scoring system, the computer is calibrating not only the annualised fleece weight, but fleece growth. Jo and the team of stewards did some manual calculations on the first entries to ensure we were correct in our methodology. It was exciting when the judging started, the fleeces being laid out, samples taken, scores recorded and then fleeces repacked and time flew as more stewards arrived for their shifts at the table. A pasty lunch and refreshments made the event very sociable. Linda and Abha had scribed at last year’s fleece show and again, captured the results as Jo judged, moving between the tables; they did a sterling job throughout the day. A great team of stewards ensured the show was a success until the score cards and rosettes were awarded and the top table fleeces were arranged with their sashes. Congratulations to all who entered.
Huacaya results
• Huacaya Supreme Fleece: Crewenna Corinthian (83.5 points) Owned by Sandra Muriel, Crewenna Alpacas • Judges Choice: Crewenna Corinthian • Best Of British: Castlings Royal Ermine (80.5 points) Owned by Miss Rebecca Block, Castlings Alpacas 8
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
• • • • • • • • • • •
Jo Bridge judging
White Champion: Crewenna Corinthian (83.5 points) White Reserve Champion: Castlings Royal Ermine (80.5 points) Light Champion: Powwow Hunky Dory (73.5 points) Light Reserve Champion: Castlings Fairy Queen Azufre (71 points) Fawn Champion: Popham Archer (79 points) Owned By Little Acorn Alpacas Fawn Reserve Champion: Carpalla Jaguar (72 points) Brown Champion: Castlings El Condor (77 points) Brown Reserve Champion: Artwork BR Dash (74 points) Owned By Crewenna Alpacas Grey Champion: Rosewall Earl (70.5 points) Black Champion: Rosewall Blackthorn (74 points) Black Reserve Champion: Heatherland Bourbon (65.5 points)
Suri results
• Supreme Suri Fleece: Dark Sky Du Maurier Owned by Tom And Wendy Scott, Dark Sky Alpacas • Judges Choice Suri Fleece: Dark Sky Du Maurier • Best Of British Suri Fleece: Dark Sky Creme Da Cacoa • White Champion Suri: Dark Sky Kahlua • White Champion Reserve Suri: Popham Suri Ice Queen Owned by Little Acorn Alpacas • Champion Light Suri: Dark Sky Du Maurier • Champion Brown Suri: Dark Sky Creme De Cacoa • Brown Reserve Champion Suri: Winsaula Silent Witness Owned by Crewenna Alpacas.
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in the ONLY magazine mailed direct to ALL members of the British Alpaca Society
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Higher Carpalla Farm Foxhole St Austell 01726 338580 07974 796792 nigel@nigelretallack.co.uk www.carpallaalpacas.co.uk
Alpaca Alpaca Alpaca Britis h Alpac
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British Alpaca Society quarterly magazine
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Briti sh Alpa
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mag azin e
ISSUE 97: SPRING 2023
YEARBOOK 2023
SUMMER 2023
SocietyBritish Alpaca Society British Alpaca The fibre breed The fibre breed
omwww.bas-uk.com www.bas-uk.c 15:22 Alpaca_#97.indd 1 13/01/2023
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British Alpaca Society The fibre breed
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A PACAS Nigel and Margaret Retallack
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Snowshill Alpacas Snowshill Hill Barn, Temple Guiting, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 5XX
Contact Roger Mount on 01386 853 841 or 07711044106 Email: snowshillalpacas@btinternet.com Web: www.snowhillalpacas.com
We have a large selection of potential Stud Males, Pet Males and Breeding Females available in a variety of colours. Stud Services – we have several proven/championship winning Huacaya and Suri boys to choose from. Pre-arranged visits are very welcome. We adhere to good biosecurity practices and badger deterrent fencing has been in place since 2009. Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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USA
OREGON ADVENTURE
On the Oregon trail to exchange learning about alpacas. Jo Bridge reports on the trip of a lifetime for her and other alpaca breeders.
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ur adventure began at the BAS National show in March with the auction after the Gala dinner in aid of the Quechua Benefit. Everyone loves the excitement of an auction especially when it involves Alpacas and alpaca related products, and the auction prizes this year were very exciting. It was a fantastic atmosphere and with much hand raising to the auctioneer. Tony and Hilary Monkcom from Pinnacle Alpacas finally won the bid but within seconds, Mike Safley had spoken to Amanda VandenBosch who was due to be one of the hosts for the trip. Mike then announced that if we wanted to match the bid a second trip would be arranged for us and so it was that in the blink of an eye, Quechua Benefit had doubled the donation coming from the UK BAS auction of this particular lot – there were four very happy people! Charlie from Orchard Corner and myself from Hilly Ridge Alpacas would also be going on an alpaca adventure to Oregon USA to the ‘Education with a Destination' Alpaca Conference in Bend and then to Portland to stay at Mike Safley’s Ranch. The money raised from this trip and all the other generously donated prizes were to raise money for Quechua Benefit, the charity which provides much needed medical care and education and support to the impoverished Quechua speaking people of Peru. On 22 August we left Heathrow Airport bound for Portland Oregon, via Seattle, with Tony and Hilary flying direct to Portland. We stayed in a wonderful chalet style Air BnB in Bend, Oregon and the four of us joined with the other delegates at Amanda VandenBosch’s farm ‘The Flying
Dutchman’ for day one of the four-day conference. When we arrived, everyone was so welcoming. There was a great atmosphere, we were soon in full swing. With educational seminars from vets, nutritionists, reproduction and breeding specialists, alpaca marketing and, fibre experts, the knowledge to be gained was tremendous. The atmosphere was so positive and welcoming with information to learn from and share with the other breeders at the conference. The farm set up was very friendly, relaxed and the meals that were provided throughout the four days were spectacular. Sitting and sharing together with other breeders in beautiful surroundings with alpacas grazing in the fields in the sunshine will be a happy memory to last a lifetime. In the evening there was a wonderful buffet dinner and another auction in aid of Quechua Benefit. Two scarves from the UK were auctioned, one donated by Dark Sky Alpacas while the other one was donated from the ‘Exclusively Pinnacle’ collection from Pinnacle Alpacas. The UK products were so appreciated, and the two scarves fetched just under $2,000 from the hugely generous breeders. The proceeds from the scarf auction were used to fund the education in America of Shena, a young Peruvian from Casa Chapi. Day two and three saw a change of venue and we were off to ‘Cresent Moon Ranch’ owned by Scott and Debbie Miller, only a short drive away. We were made to feel most welcome and again there were excellent facilities and we were invited to explore the ranch and take away and share our ‘Tourism ideas’ to best use alpacas within a tourism business.
Tony Monkcom inspects some fleece at the auction This was another day packed with informative outside speakers and hands on fleece evaluation, nutrition and how this affects the fleece, showing tips and what the judge looks for and how to prepare your alpacas for showing and halter training for the show ring and so much more, not to mention getting a look at the alpacas in the pens that were ready for the live auction to be held the following day. The speakers were so engaging, and it was an open question forum with so many interesting points discussed. Dr Ahmed Tibary DVM gave a Q&A presentation on alpaca reproduction and health in cria and he was truly inspiring and fascinating to listen to and speak with. On day four we were back at The Flying Dutchman Ranch, Wasim Muklashy gave an inspirational presentation on how to promote your alpaca business and get the best alpaca shots using your phone's camera which was invaluable and all four of us were soon snapping alpaca shots and scenery and proudly looking at each other’s much improved photographs. I got so much from the Alpaca Dentistry presentation by vet Dr Rachel Oxley which was fascinating. The alpaca auction atmosphere was electric with bids flying around the room and the auctioneer and his two spotters in their Stetsons putting on a great show. The alpacas were up on a stage and were so professionally presented and stood so well, like statues and were a credit to the owners and their training. There was so much opportunity to get hands on with alpacas and fleeces and discuss with other breeders and judges. The final day bought the Duck Scramble! Lots of prizes to be won and a great way to cool down in Amanda VanDenBosch’s pond trying to catch a duck!
Jo Bridge and Charlotte Major with Sue King (left) from Big Timber Alpacas who has a Suri herd in Oregon Charlie and I had been busy planning to catch the duck to win the prize and be the first UK winners! We had discussed tactics and based this on our collective experience of catching chicken’s (slightly competitive). Trying to gather some more information of what was required in the Duck Scramble from Amanda and sharing our tactics with her, we were a little shocked to find out the ducks were plastic with winning numbers on the bottom and not a lot of skill was required. This was very amusing to our American competitors. This however turned out to be a fun and totally immersive experience in a pond with fantastic prizes and lots of breeders getting soaking wet and grabbing plastic ducks! In our time at both ranches we gained not only so much knowledge we made a lot of new friendships and put names to faces from social media. We cannot recommend this experience to British alpaca breeders enough. 'Education with a Destination' will be held in August 2024. It should be on every breeders ‘places to go’ list! With our bags packed again, we headed to Hillsborough to Mike and Julie Safley’s beautiful ranch ‘The Oakwood Gardens’, where we spent a week admiring the stunning and diverse scenery of Oregon (alpaca included of course with). We had some beautiful trips to see stunning waterfalls and coastal beaches and Oregon is truly a breathtaking beautiful place to visit. Sitting on the back porch and wandering through the tranquil gardens with Mike Safley talking alpaca was a captivating experience with stories of Peru, the Quechuan people, judging alpacas and where it all started. We all enjoyed every experience. Mike and Julie welcomed us to their stunning home, and we will be forever grateful for their hospitality, they made this an experience we will never forget. We got the opportunity to visit the farms of breeders we had met and share experiences looking at: business ideas, breeding decisions, some fabulous alpacas and fleeces both of Huacaya and Suri. Everyone was so welcoming, willing to share experiences and to continue to share ideas between the UK and USA going forward. This was a trip that exceeded my expectations, we laughed till we cried and got to share this experience together which is priceless.
Jo Bridge, Charlotte Major, Hilary Monkcom and Tony Monkcom with Shena whose education is being funded by Quechua Benefit Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION
At the Kenward Trust walking with alpacas brings enjoyment to both the animals and the walkers. Tanya Long should know as she helps with these activities and explains the benefits.
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he Kenward Trust is a charity based in a beautiful Georgian Manor house on a fifteen acre country estate near the village of Yalding in Kent. The charity offers residential rehabilitation services to adults with alcohol and drug addiction issues, along with resettlement accommodation for residents that have completed their rehabilitation program. In addition to this the charity also gives advice and support to the families and friends of those struggling with substance misuse. The Kenward Trust offers a therapeutic community approach where residents participate in one-to-one counselling sessions, group work and other activities. As part of the rehabilitation journey these activities include gardening, archery, frisbee golf, pottery, goat and alpaca walking. The charity is home to a herd of eight alpacas and two goats, all with very different personalities. The residents undergoing treatment can go out on group walks around the estate with the animals on a regular basis as it is well documented that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and help alleviate loneliness and depression. Walking with the alpacas, helping with daily husbandry tasks or simply sitting with the animals in the fields can also provide an opportunity for exercise, fresh air and time to socialise with other residents away from the more structured therapeutic environment.
The non-judgmental companionship of alpacas
Alpacas are gentle, loving and inquisitive creatures that can offer us non-judgemental, unconditional companionship. They are prey animals and
Feeding time for Kenward's team of eight alpacas
12 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
so can often be very alert and quite nervous when faced with unfamiliar situations, so individuals are shown that to successfully interact with alpacas it is best to remain calm, quiet and focused in the moment. Residents learn how to gain the animals’ trust and often during their stay individuals may form a strong bond with a specific alpaca. The staff and volunteers at Kenward who are responsible for caring for the animals are not therapists but all complete specific goat and alpaca husbandry courses as well as possessing a wide variety of other professional experience. They provide individuals with a safe space within which they can focus on being with the animals and spending time close to nature. The animals also enjoy their walks and are often waiting by the gate eager to go out. It's great fun watching the alpacas munching grass, exploring the woodland and rolling over in huge piles of leaves during their walks. The Kenward Trust is also open to the public on a daily basis, offering alpaca and goat walks as well as archery and disc golf. It also has a number of conference rooms that can be hired out that all help raise money for the charity. Visitors are also welcome to have tea and cake in the Kenward Wellbeing Cafe and walk around the stunning woodland trail. The charity is an amazing and unique experience with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers that work around the clock to ensure that the residents receive the highest level of care. The Kenward Trust believes everyone deserves a second chance and hope of recovery and it aims to support and empower people so that they can create a brighter future for themselves and their families. We are holding a Christmas fair at the trust on Saturday 25 November where you can come and meet the animals, do some Christmas shopping and meet Santa.
Meet & Greets for under tens
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
CARING FOR CRIAS AND WEANLINGS
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Joy Whitehead of Bozedown Alpacas considers if the time of birthing affects development and gives pointers to get the best start for your precious young stock.
n their native Peru, Bolivia and Chile alpacas generally inhabit the high Andes, where they were domesticated from wild vicuñas about 6,000 years ago. Even there in the southern hemisphere summer, the high Andean altitude night time temperatures can be well below freezing, and alpaca females are predisposed to give birth in the morning between about 9am and noon, by which time the temperature is already well above freezing. This gives their crias (baby alpacas) the best chance of drying off, getting up onto their legs, and feeding on the precious antibody-rich colostrum well before they have to face the first freezing night of their lives. Fortunately for us, alpacas in the UK also tend to have their crias mainly in the morning. If a female has been in labour longer than usual, or is found giving birth in the evening, we need to be aware that there could be a problem.
weights at six months between crias born before the end of July each year averaging 45 kilos, and those born from August onwards averaging 35 kilos. Throughout the year we do a daily check on every alpaca in our herd, when we give them their daily minerals. We shear towards the end of April, before our crias are due, which gives the new crias a better chance of locating the ‘milk bar’, no longer hidden behind long fleeces. By this time the grass is growing strongly and is very nutritious which helps the dam to maintain a good weight while aiding milk production, and the crias grow strongly right from the start. Then careful onward monitoring of dams’ Body Condition Scores (BCS) (which can be found on the website or by emailing BAS), and cria weights alert us to any nutritional deficiencies which can be rectified by the addition of hay and/or other supplements. Any ill-thrift crias will have an IGG test to check for antibodies, lack of which will require a plasma infusion.
Weaning weights
Females whose crias are born later in the year may be lactating throughout Winter, and will certainly need nutritional support. The flush of grass growth that occurs in September is not as nutritious as the Spring grass, and so these females should be offered additional hay or haylage along with Graze-On (dried grass) which we have found to be highly nutritious and maintains good alpaca weights. In some cases you may also need to supplement with hard feed such as Alpha-Beet. We advise offering warm drinking water in the coldest weather, as this aids digestion which in turn aids lactation. Alpacas really don’t like drinking freezing water! >> Continued on next page
Female alpacas are induced ovulators, which means that an egg is released from a follicle when stimulated by the mating process. Hence alpaca crias can be born at any time of the year, after an average gestation period of 343 days. At Bozedown alpaca farm in south Oxfordshire, where we have been breeding alpacas for over thirty-four years, we noticed many years ago that crias born later in the year seemed to take much longer to reach their adult weight, and so we investigated our records of cria weights. What we discovered led us to narrow our breeding window down to late Spring into early Summer as the records showed a huge difference in the weaning
Warm drinking water aids lactation
Two Suri crias with a sheared Huacaya cria
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HEALTH AND WELFARE Weaning pointers
Nowadays we generally wean our crias in December at about five months old. The weanlings are closely monitored with weekly weighing for the first month and then monthly weighing. We have a digital weighing platform, and simply pick them up to weigh them. The weanlings are also given ad lib hay or haylage and Graze-On. Their daily vitamin and mineral supplement Camelibra is given in long troughs,
with at least 60cm of feeding space for each alpaca, the same as our adults, to ensure that each one gets a fair amount. Camelibra was originally developed for our alpacas by GWF Nutrition, in consultation with Claire Whitehead, BVM&S, MS, MRCVS of Camelid Vet Services Ltd. You may notice that the huacaya crias in the photos (taken in August) have short coats. This is because when they are born they have
Cria being weighed
supremely fine fibre which can pick up debris from anywhere and can remain in their fleeces right through to shearing time the following year. So in order to ensure a marketable fleece from them by the end of their first year we shear them in July/August to remove the ‘baby fluff’ and debris, in time for them to regrow their fleeces before Winter. The smoother suri cria coats don’t have such a knack of picking up debris, so they keep their baby coats for the entire year.
Parasites
Weaning is a stressful time for crias, so this is a time when parasite numbers may increase. Always be vigilant for weight loss and/or diarrhoea as these can indicate a parasite burden. We advise testing for worms and coccidia ten days before weaning. Treat if necessary, but then test again ten to fourteen days after weaning and treat again if necessary. Mild wet periods often result in higher parasite burdens, as we have seen this Summer. But October is a good time to re-check all your alpacas for parasites before the onset of winter. Your local large animal vet (large animals include sheep, cattle and horses) will be able to advise you and organise faecal sampling prior to worming – otherwise it’s impossible to know which wormer to use; there is no such thing as a wormer that will kill all parasites. Make sure that your vet is aware that faecal testing for alpacas requires different detection methods from those used for cattle and sheep. Camelid Vet Services – www.ukalpacavet.com – offer efficient and appropriate faecal testing for alpacas, which includes a specialist report and prompt advice on the findings. This prompt response is very important, especially for barber-pole worm which can be deadly. Please note effective dosing for some wormers is also different for alpacas than for other stock.
Rickets and Vitamin D
For more about this subject: paper-plane www.bozedown-alpacas.co.uk/alpaca-care/rickets-and-vitamin-d/
In the high Andes of South America alpacas enjoy almost twelve hours of daylight all year round, but this is rather different in our northern climate with our short winter days resulting in vitamin D deficiency from lack of sunlight. This presents as rickets – weight loss, hunched back, and painful walking, which can take months to correct. Please note the blood sample to confirm rickets needs to be centrifuged to separate off the serum quite soon after being taken in order to obtain a correct laboratory result. Prevention is always preferable to cure. Injectable vitamins A, D and E is only available from vets, who can import it under license: inject by weight every eight weeks from mid October through to March. Alternatively there is a vitamin A, D and E drench available which is given every six weeks for the same period.
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
VETS ON TOUR
Alpaca herd health in Peru by Dr Ami Sawran BVSc CertAVP (CP) PGCertVPS PhD MRCVS
I
have been a vet for 12 years and believe there is no more varied and interesting a role than that of a farm practitioner! At university, our core list of farm species comprised cattle, sheep, commercial pigs, and a small dose of backyard chickens. Embarrassingly, I’m fairly certain that once graduated, I had to Google what an alpaca was. It seems unthinkable that 12 years later, I have become a camelid vet. Thankfully, times are changing; camelids are creeping steadily into the curriculum, and I have lectured on camelid care at several universities now. I don’t just work with camelids; I see them alongside cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry and the occasional (somewhat inexplicable) wallaby, and the variety isn’t something I intend to give up, but I enjoy the nuances of camelid vetting. I lead a team proficient at caring for the myriad species that require our services, and who thankfully find camelid medicine interesting too, so we all learn and develop together. Interestingly, I’ve become a better vet to cattle, sheep and goats as a result of studying for my camelid certificate – though they are physiologically different, there
are many parallels to their care. This is something I try to emphasise to other vets who do not feel as confident with camelids. As an enthusiast (emphatically not a specialist, which is a protected term), I provide extra training to vets who want to become more proficient in camelid medicine – this has been embraced by the veterinary community; I even managed to sneak an alpaca onto the cover of Cattle Quarterly magazine, a feat that I’m sure won’t be repeated!
Going back to the origin to better understand alpaca needs
Recently, I reached a point in my career where I felt the need to explore how alpacas are farmed in their place of origin to further my understanding of how we can best care for them in different countries. Similarly, I am always on the lookout for ways in which I can be of benefit to a charity or organisation. That’s why, when offered the opportunity to go to Peru with the Ñuñoa Project, I was thrilled. My work was very supportive of this, >> Continued on next page
My peru diaries are also on tiktok and I’ll be using this for camelid specific videos going forward: TIKTOK www.tiktok.com/@getsetalpacavet
18 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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HEALTH AND WELFARE << and I was due to fly out in January 2023, however, days before our intended departure, the political situation was deemed too dangerous to allow the project to go ahead, so it was deferred to June – right at the start of unpacking season! Luckily my wonderful team were happy to hold the fort while I set off to Cusco to meet up with my project colleagues, accompanied by fellow camelid vet, Fay Pooley. We were the only British vets on the team this year, otherwise comprised of our Peruvian liaison, two experienced American vets, a new graduate and a student. We acclimated in Urubamba, taking in some incredible sights on our ‘rest’ day. A particular highlight was having lunch in a mountain restaurant accompanied by an assortment of free roaming llamas and alpacas. It’s interesting seeing animals as an attraction, rather than in a clinical situation. It was freeing to sit with the llamas as a tourist, instead of someone who was inevitably going to upset them with an examination or injection. This experience was a contrast to seeing young cria dressed up in the streets and posed for photographs. Using animals as photo props for tourists creates a lot of inner conflict; on one hand, I appreciate that cultures differ, it is an income source for poorer people, and they were at least being bottle fed at intervals. On the other, the city is such an abnormal environment for a lone cria– they were very small; clearly bred
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out of season, and I think anyone can appreciate that natural rearing is preferable. Having seen berserk males resulting from bottle feeding, it’s a risk I would rather keepers didn’t take unless absolutely necessary. We made the 5-hour drive to Ñuñoa for basic supplies (drinking water and isopropyl alcohol for scanning) to begin our work. The Ñuñoa project has been working with the farmers of the Anansaya Puna Region since 2018, based in a research station around an hour from Ñuñoa town. It is a beautiful, but desolate region, particularly in the dry season – grass has all but disappeared, and the remainder is sharp and brown. There are few trees; water is incredibly scarce. When the sun sets at around 6pm, a pleasant 15-20 degree heat gives way to a biting cold, which brought -6 temperatures to our basic dormitories. If you can get past the cold, the pitch black sky presents the most incredible display of constellations I have ever seen. It’s brutal, but it’s magical. >> Continued on next page
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HEALTH AND WELFARE << Each day, our group would either hitch a ride in a pickup, or hike to a local farm or two. Our research station was at over 14,000ft above sea level, so hikes with our alcohol bottles and ultrasound scanners were attritional. The purpose of our visits were herd status and health focused; we scanned for pregnancy, assessed fibre quality, body condition, age, dentition and FAMACHA scores. We also evaluated conformation and testicular health of males, some of these males were donated by the project to improve herd genetics. We would advise on the suitability of breeding males, and culling.
Differences in herd dynamics
Some stark contrasts between UK herds and those of Ñuñoa include the herd dynamics; animals roam almost freely during the day and return down the mountain to be corralled at night, safe from predators. Males and females run together, despite advice against it, but one can appreciate that they are difficult to separate when they travel daily to eat. The farmers note that breeding remains mostly seasonal, however we saw our fair share of matings on all our visits. Peruvian alpacas were easily shepherded. The keepers are adept at catching them even in large paddocks, and to their credit, the alpacas don’t fuss when handled. I caught a spit once, having handled hundreds of animals. I mainly ended up covered in urine due to aiding with transabdominal ultrasound. Still, it could have been worse. In general, body condition is low in Ñuñoa, with most females in herds scoring an average of 2.5. Males averaged around 3. FAMACHA scores were favourable, with parasitism fairly infrequent, a real contrast between Peru and the UK. Cria mortality was, understandably, far higher than we experience here. Farmers will often attribute cria death to ‘enterotoxaemia’ – though this is not confirmed by testing. Having examined cria on multiple
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sites and discussed cria mortality in more depth, it is malnutrition and exposure that appear to be the biggest killers. This isn’t surprising; there is no commercially available feed, and grassland is decimated. Adult mortality is attributed to pneumonia, diarrhoea, osteomyelitis, mange, tapeworms, hydatic cysts, sarcocystis, and alpaca fever. Again, no testing is available, so it’s difficult to ascertain causes of death.
Solving a low pregnancy rate
The most striking problem encountered was a herd with a 20% pregnancy rate. The vast majority had metritis, with signs ranging from slight vaginal discharge to vulvas entirely occluded with purulent material, and large, sticky scabs. Abortions had occurred, with the few pregnant animals having foetuses of varying gestations. The reason for this became obvious when we found the male:female ratio to be 1:98; repeated matings with no rest had rendered his testicles cystic and fibrotic, so it’s no wonder his success rate was low. It is important to ensure that herds are not judged on standards that are impossible to meet in such harsh conditions, with limited food, medication and preventative health care. Overall, fibre quality was impressive, particularly given the food scarcity and low average body condition. I feel so privileged to have been welcomed by the alpaca keepers of Ñuñoa, even receiving beautiful, hand knitted handwarmers made from alpaca fibre from one. Peru truly is a magical country, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from people with alpaca farming in their blood, as well as hopefully leaving a small impression that may help to improve the health and welfare of their beautiful animals. I’ve returned with a renewed enthusiasm for improved veterinary care for camelid species, and memories to last a lifetime.
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
By Claire E Whitehead BVM&S MS DACVIM FHEA MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Camelid Health and Production Director, Camelid Veterinary Services Ltd.
N
utrition is absolutely central to caring for your alpacas. If you don’t get their nutrition right, it can lead you down the garden path so that you are constantly finding new problems in your herd. This means that you will struggle to find the time to actually enjoy your animals as you’re always trying to fix the issues! If you’re like most alpaca owners I know, you bought alpacas because they’re engaging, intriguing animals that bring pleasure and calm into your lives. If you can understand how to feed them, you can avoid so many problems: • uneven body condition scores across groups, making it challenging to feed • pregnant dams potentially unable to feed their foetuses – their crias may be aborted, born prematurely, or be unthrifty • lactating dams may be unable to produce milk of sufficient quality and quantity • crias that don’t grow well or die • overweight animals that are more liable to experience difficult births • alpacas in negative energy balance which can lead to metabolic syndrome • mineral and/or vitamin deficiencies • potentially dead alpacas… Getting nutrition right is so important that I have joined forces with Dr Bob Van Saun to bring you something that has never been offered before to my knowledge. It will be the most comprehensive nutrition masterclass ever offered to alpaca owners – and we’re going to make it available online, so you can watch it conveniently from anywhere and have zero travel expenses!
Advanced Camelid Nutrition Masterclass 18-19 November
Timings are yet to be finalised (expect longer on Saturday) but roughly: 1pm - 6pm GMT on both days. For those unfamiliar with Dr Van Saun, he is one of a small number of board-certified veterinary nutritionists. In fact he's double boarded with the American College of Theriogenologists (that's repro!) and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Since breeding and nutrition are central to 24 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
everything alpaca and llama owners do, he's therefore an excellent person to learn from. Bob has a special interest in camelids and has done some very interesting work in this area over the years that he will share. He is also a world-class speaker, and is regularly invited to speak all over the globe. What will you get out of this Masterclass? • Learn what is unique about camelid adaptations and how this impacts their feeding • Learn how to read a forage analysis report and use it to make decisions on forage feeding • Understand whether or not supplements are necessary, what is appropriate and how to evaluate and use them to complement forage feeding • Discover how much to feed your camelids • Understand practical ways to develop a balanced nutritional programme • Appreciate what to do about overweight or underweight animals • Learn how to develop an organic feeding programme • Feeding for optimum reproduction • Vitamin D and nutrition • Learn about the development of the cria and how physiological changes at various stages impact their health and growth. How to register for this Masterclass Registration opens on 21 October 2023. Special early bird pricing with bonuses will be available only until 11.59pm on 25 October. One of the bonuses you might miss out on if you forget to register early is lifetime access to recordings of this course. So don’t miss out. Register at https://nutrition.thealpacavet.com
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
THE THERAPEUTIC IMPACT OF ALPACAS The first in a two part series, Penny Rackett sets out to evaluate some of the evidence.
H
ow can you not feel a sense of wellbeing looking at this face? As with many important discussions, this all started over a cup of tea between feeding and poo picking! Jean, Stuart (Velvet Hall) and Penny (Anima e Cuore, but more to the point here, psychologist) wondered: how much evidence there is for the therapeutic impact of alpacas and who in the UK carries out therapy with alpacas, as opposed to therapeutic activities? We knew there was evidence for animal related therapy and could see the visual impact alpacas have on many people, but were unsure what evaluation was taking place. From there was born the idea of gathering a snapshot of what BAS members do, an overview of any research into therapy with alpacas that may exist and a project of fortnightly visits to a specialist provision for young people with severe and complex needs, that I would evaluate. By then sharing all this information with BAS members, the hope was to support ongoing discussion of what, anecdotally, seems to be a growing area of interest and activity. 26 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
Why differentiate between therapy with alpacas and therapeutic activities/contact? It might appear at first glance that this is a nitpicking distinction. However, all therapy with humans is regulated by professional bodies, such as the Health and Care Professions Council, the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. This is to ensure therapists are appropriately qualified, abide by a code of ethics and practice, and ensure they keep up agreed professional standards – all to protect the clients they work with. There are many kinds of therapy, but they should all be evidenced based, and are generally a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems, which usually involves gaining insight into behaviour, patterns and choices.
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) often focuses on the interaction happening between the animal and the human: reflecting on what is happening in the moment can help a person explore feelings, other relationships and situations. Simply being with an animal can help someone relax and talk about themselves and what they need, facilitated by the therapist. The welfare of the animal has to be paramount. Currently, there are no set standards covering all animal assisted therapies. However, BACP state on their website: “Your therapist should be qualified, experienced and a member of a professional body, such as BACP, which demonstrates they’re committed to working to high professional and ethical standards.” Pet partners (formerly known as the Delta Society) is the largest nonprofit organisation setting standards of animal-assisted therapy worldwide [Pet Partners 2020]. The organisation has specified three types of animal work in the field of animal-assisted therapy, which altogether are defined as AAI (Animal Assisted Intervention): • AAA (Animal-Assisted Activities): Human-animal meeting with motivational and educational function focused on enhancing the quality of patient’s life. AAA sessions can be conducted in a variety of places (facilities) by someone who need not be a professional therapist, and a specially trained animal. • AAE (Animal-Assisted Education): Planned and goal-oriented therapeutic intervention with animals. The main focus is on educational goals. It is often used for children with learning disabilities. • AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy): The most advanced form of animalassisted intervention planned and focused on achieving a specific therapeutic goal. The aim is to improve functioning in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive sphere. AAT is adjusted for patients’ specific needs and record keeping is mandatory. While AAT is a treatment, delivered by a trained therapist, Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) cover a broad range of specific activities that support education, wellbeing and enhance the quality of life. They can also be delivered by a broader range of people, although they still tend to have specialist training and experience. Many activities with alpacas, such as visits to care homes, probably fall into another category of ‘therapeutic or wellbeing contact’, in that they do not form part of a programme, but aim nevertheless to enhance people’s lives. The purpose of being clear about these definitions is to safeguard both people and alpacas – by understanding the difference between therapy and therapeutic, BAS members can ensure that whatever they provide is offered with knowledge and integrity.
Evidence concerning alpacas
As many BAS members know, there is a good body of evidence demonstrating the positive effect animals in general can have on mental health and wellbeing. However, most research involves dogs, horses and other animals. We cannot take for granted that alpacas are effective in therapy: Nimer & Lundhal’s meta-analysis of Animal Assisted Therapy (2015) indicates that while the evidence for dogs in therapy is good, not all animals, including horses, have the same impact. There are as yet very few studies that explore the specific impact of alpacas in therapy. Kapustka and Budzynska, two Polish researchers, have carried out some work in this area. They state that collaborating with alpacas in therapy is on the increase “due to their appearance, gentle temper, and predisposition to training”. (2020) They describe guidelines for good practice: not working with one alpaca alone; selecting alpacas with a “mild temperament”; giving them adequate preparation; ensuring they can walk on a lead; desensitising them to tactile stimuli, particularly to touch. This of course is their view – some people who carry out therapy with alpacas would feel that it is important for the alpaca to behave naturally and it is the human reaction to the alpaca’s behaviour that can form part of the therapeutic intervention. >> Continued on next page
IT’S IN OUR DNA
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HEALTH AND WELFARE << The authors quote two sources of evidence for alpaca-assisted therapy: • “A support for the therapy of patients with neurosis, depression, anxiety disorders, and mental diseases and in children with ADHD, autism, or cerebral palsy [Kokocinska ´ 2017]. “ • “It can also be applied in patients in hospitals and nursing homes, where the animals positively influence patients’ well-being [Morales Villavicencio 2010].” As yet, there seems to be more research required into what alpacas need from humans. Windshnurer et al. (2020) looked into the impact of caretaker behaviour on camelids and found that when the person looking after the animal enjoyed tactile contact, talking to them and training them, the camelids were less likely to show signs of distress (running away, freezing, squealing) during everyday husbandry tasks. A particularly interesting statistic was that lower frequency of touch in later life was associated with a higher percentage of animals with handling difficulties. The authors' conclusions focused on the importance of the relationship with camelids and a certain amount of gentle touch. Some people reading this might wish to qualify that statement about touching alpacas as needing to be appropriate and applied with an understanding of the impact it has on the animal’s sense of balance and safety. Kapustka and Budzynska (2020) wondered whether alpacas might benefit from animal-assisted therapy in the same way as dogs: “Studies of positive interaction among humans and animals stated that the dogs experience the same physiological effects (e.g. increase of betaendorphin, oxytocin, prolactin) as the patients [Odendaal 2000, Odendaal and Lehmann 2000].” The authors have also highlighted the risk for alpacas to be impacted
upon negatively by work involving close contact. Their 2021 study found that people misinterpreted alpaca body language, as presented in questionnaire images. It is encouraging to see that there have been studies focusing on the wellbeing of alpacas, because of course this is what must be at the heart of any wellbeing activity for humans. At the same time, there is a lack of research into the precise impact of AAT, AAA and general wellbeing activities on people and alpacas. Judging from the examples given by BAS members, contact with alpacas can be enormously beneficial for a range of people – it would be good to create some hard evidence, including how we know that the alpacas enjoy this work. To find out what we found, look out for the Yearbook where we look at what BAS members told us and think about what we can take from that.
References • • • • • • • •
Kapustka, J & Budzynska, M (2020) The Use of Various Animal Species for Therapeutic Purposes in Poland: Current Perspectives, in Acta Scientiarium Polonorium Zootechnica 19(2), 3–10 Kapustka, J & Budzynska, M (2021), Human ability to interpret alpaca body language, in Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, 42, 16-21 Kokocinska, A.M. (2017). Zooterapia z elementami etologii ´ [Animalotherapy with ethology elements]. Impuls, Kraków [in Polish]. Morales Villavicencio, A. (2010). Chów alpak [Alpacas’ husbandry]. Multico Oficyna Wydawnicza, Warszawa, 29–30 [in Polish] Nimer, J. & Lundahl, B. (2007) Animal Assisted Therapy: A meta-analysis, Anthrozoös, 20:3, 225-238, https://doi.org/10.2752/089279307X224773 (published online 2015) Odendaal, J.S.J. (2000). Animal-assisted therapy – magic or medicine? J. Psychosom. Res., 49, 275–280. DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3999(00)00183-5 Odendaal, J.S.J., Lehmann, S.M.C. (2000). The role of phenyletylamine during positive human-dog interaction. Acta Vet. Brno, 69, 183–188. DOI: 10.2754/avb200069030183 Windschnurera, I, Eiblb, C , Franzb, S, Gilhofera, E.M. & Waiblingera, S (2020), Alpaca and llama behaviour during handling and its associations with caretaker attitudes and human-animal contact, in Applied Behaviour Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104989
If you have any questions or want to comment then please email: ✉ penrackett@yahoo.co.uk
28 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
VERSATILITY FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT
D
awn Golding, owner of Alpaca Acres warns “Don’t drive past the entrance”, when she gave me directions. It’s easy to find if you know how and that ordinary looking dirt track takes you down to a well laid out small alpaca farm on flat land that has so much going on. For 35 years, Dawn was a hairdresser until a medical condition forced her to give it up. She had always loved animals and desperately wanted to have a farm. A plot of agricultural land in Great Tey came up for sale and the family bravely sold their home and went for it. They needed to farm it as it is agricultural land, but didn’t want to be tied into producing animals for meat so she chose alpacas. First the land needed to be cleared. As I looked at the clean, well fenced and organised paddocks with the contented alpacas it was hard to believe that Dawn and her family had faced very neglected land. As well as being overgrown, they cleared old machinery, rubble and even animal carcases. Their first year was spent restoring it to a usable state and getting power and water on to the land and a caravan became their home. When she finally was able to provide clean grazing and paddocks, she chose her first females to begin her journey with alpacas. Studying genetics, she chose mid-range alpacas with a plan to breed for improved fibre quality. Despite the development of other ways of alpaca usage, Dawn has never changed her views on breeding for quality alpacas of the future.
Fate took another turn
Christmas Eve 2019 saw Dawn slip in one of the paddocks, something that normally results in muddy clothing and a bit of a jolt. But she hit the ground at an odd angle and severed every tendon in her leg. She didn’t
30 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
have a phone with her and had to lie there for three hours before she was found and in her own words, “experienced real pain.” After the accident, Dawn's son and daughter in-law moved back home and Paige (her daughter in-law) was literally "my legs at times," said Dawn. Without her unconditional help everyday, Dawn said she could not do what she does. Fiona, too, is a valued volunteer that is usually at the farm seven days a week plus Lea, Karen, Jenni (and mum) and Emily who help for at least a day a week. Dawn said: “It is truly important to me that these people are part of my story and the ethics of my farm – I couldn’t do it without these wonderful people." In 2020 she was given the devastating news that she would never walk again. Dawn was determined this was not going to happen and for 18 months she wore a full metal leg brace and learnt to walk (with difficulty) again. In subsequent years, more treatment has followed and Dawn has had to learn how to cope with an intrusive injury but being Dawn, she gives it some positivity. “ It pushed me into a different direction and my alpacas have kept me going.” That direction took using her friendly alpacas to help other people who are struggling with anxiety especially following the Covid-19 misery, to give calming and relaxing opportunities. She discovered that for many on the autistic spectrum, alpacas were able to allow them to express how they felt and interact with them. From this came so many people who appreciated the gentle nature and soft look of the alpacas, non- verbal, bereaved, abused and those with a range of conditions where the safe, calm and peaceful environment with the beautiful animals, made a difference to their lives. Dawn believes that her own experiences of how her alpacas helped her through a stressful time, has led to her understanding
and providing this experience for all those who it will help. Adding to this she turned to activities for families as well to experience the joy of being with alpacas, and by now other animals. It’s great for all children to experience the magic of being with animals from an early age and they offer an opportunity for people to bring a picnic and spend two hours at the farm as the only visitors with staff helping them to interact with the animals. Another activity is alpaca yoga. The yoga sessions will include 45 minutes of gentle yoga taught by an experienced instructor whilst Alpacas wander around – and maybe even join in! This is surprisingly affordable and runs regularly. All are welcome on the farm and she uses Facebook to publicise the events and to explain how to make the bookings. What does Dawn see as she looks back to when she started? “It feels surreal, I and my family have created this. It is easy to lose sight of what you have achieved. We are now doing an increasing amount of work with different charities to support children who have life-long conditions. We have also now gained Community Interest Company status which will help to provide more amenities for our families and clients.”
To find out more: SQUARE-FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/AlpacaAcres.experiences
Dawn Golding
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31
BREEDING
WORKING WITH COLOURS By Carita Saarinen, Futuregen, Pori, Finland.
I would like to pass my acknowledgements and thanks to Dr Kylie Munyard for patiently and generously guiding me to the basics of the science behind the alpaca colour genetics. And not forgetting the breeders/alpaca owners for kindly allowing me to have their animals in this article. I hope all of you readers will enjoy the article and that it gives you some more understanding and inspiration.
Futuregen Carita Saarinen Westerlundintie 38, 29700 Ahlainen, Finland In partnership with 📞 +358 45 1398 374 ✉ info@futuregen.fi paper-plane www.futuregen.fi
Capital Alpacas, UK
U
nderstanding how to breed for different colour/pattern has always fascinated alpaca and llama breeders – for an obvious reason. Alpacas and llamas come with the widest range of different base colours and patterns of all the other fibre production animals and professional alpaca breeders especially focus on a particular type of outcome. Many look for new breeding stock or stud services from preferred colour categories – with an expectation of what they will be getting. However, some essential stuff is easily missed, if we do not know the genotype of the colour. As experience has shown, surprises when we are only assuming are fairly common. Some interesting cases have been collected in this article. Only in recent years has Neogen been providing a test based on the research by Dr Kylie Munyard at Curtin University, Australia, to find out the genotype of the two main genes in the DNA of an alpaca, MC1R & ASIP, that control the base colour and also the grey/non-grey status (classic grey pattern). Since 2022 the test has developed to also include the three non-functional MC1R and ASIP mutations to offer even more 32 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
precise information. The intensity project (one of the three active alpaca colour research projects at Curtin University) is still working to find out the actual dynamics of these mutations, however, there is already a paper published in May 2023 (Identification of six genomic regions associated with pigment intensity in alpacas – Naomi GrayA, Ishani ShahA, David GrothA and Kylie A.MunyardA,*), if you wish to read further. The DNA colour test is the first commercial genomic testing service to alpaca breeders to evaluate heritable genetic traits in their stock and might just potentially open the door on the world of genomics to the alpaca industry. Being a complex topic, colour genetics, requires a bit more in depth study than reading one article or attending one seminar (which many alpaca breeders have got used when learning about the fibre histograms and traits alone). Once you are ready for it and get your own alpacas tested, it provides you with an excellent objective tool for more defined selection processes and to make your customers happy. It obviously works alongside other selection criteria. The more breeders get involved, the more can be learned together as a European wide community!
NEOGEN EUROPE LTD PH: +44 (0) 1292 562 094 EMAIL: neogengenomics@neogen.com THE DAIRY SCHOOL, AUCHINCRUIVE, AYR, KA6 5HN, SCOTLAND, UK
FUTUREGEN PH: + 358 451398 374 EMAIL: info@futuregen.fi WESTERLUNDINTIE 38, 29700 AHLAINEN, FINLAND
Alpaca Fleece Colour Test Results REPORT DETAILS: Customer Name:
Futuregen XXXXXX Alpacas
Order Number:
XXXXXX
Date:
7/23/2023
Sample Barcode
Animal ID
RegistraAon Number
XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
Name Name Name Name Name Name Name
MC1R + ASIP Genotype Ee Aa ee aa Aa ee aa Ee Aa Ee aa ee Aa
Grey/Non-Grey Status^ Classic Grey Non-Grey Non-Grey Non-Grey Non-Grey Non-Grey Non-Grey
MC1R_C901T Ee1 e1e1 Ee1 e1e1 Ee1 EE Ee1
MC1R_A82G MC1Rdel_224-22 ASIP_325-381de 7ACTT l57_b Ee2 EE AA e2e2 EE AA NR EE AA e2e2 EE AA Ee2 EE AA Ee2 EE Aa1 e2e2 EE Aa1
ASIP_C292T
ASIP_G353A
AA a2a2 AA Aa2 Aa2 AA AA
Aa3 AA Aa3 Aa3 AA a3 AA
NR designates inability to confirm genotype. ^Ma8ng of 2 animals iden8fied as Classic Grey has a 25% risk of leading to the death of the embryo early in the pregnancy (homozygous lethal)*. * Jones, M., Sergeant, C., Richardson, M., Groth, D., Brooks, S. and Munyard, K. (2019) A non-synonymous SNP in exon 3 of the KIT gene is responsible for the classic grey phenotype in alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Animal Gene8cs 50(5). 493-500. The MSIP & ASIP Genotype table is intended as a guide only. Base fleece phenotypes and progeny base fleece colour predic8ons are not guaranteed as current tests are unable to specify/iden8fy specific alleles for white, fawn or bay (brown); nor can we predict dilu8on or intensity effects of the Classic Grey allele or other novel markers if present. Research con8nues to iden8fy novel markers contribu8ng to fleece colour and pa_ern.
An example of the current test report
Why test?
• Learn to work with your animals to get the most desirable outcome – combining the quality, health and colour. • Improve colour uniformity within the herd to target a certain genotype and phenotype combination. • Reduce the risks of BEW (blue eyed white) progeny. • Improve your sales ads and make your customers happy by providing the colour genotype information so they know what they are getting when they are looking out for new breeding stock from your farm. • Helps to prevent the sale of animals that may be useful in your breeding programme. • Helps prevent you paying for something you will not get. • Helps you price your animals correctly and prevent accidental discount for instance cryptic grey animals.
When to test?
• Carry out sampling at least two months before you need the results. • There is no official recommendation to how old the animal should be for sampling but it might be a good idea to wait until the crias are about two months of age before samples are taken.
How the sample is taken?
• Blood sampling is known to be the most successful method of collecting material for genotyping, leading to the most success rate (99,15%) within different sampling techniques trialled (Futuregen trial 2021). • DNA blood sample can be collected from the edge of the ear or from the jugular vein in the neck of the alpaca. • Does not involve an additional cost for the blood card. (Needles are not included.) • Swab sampling is a simple, comfortable and an effective method of sampling and often only requires one person to do the job. Success rate with swabs is also high with 96,58% trialled (Futuregen trial 2021). • Samples taken from the nose have been more successful than the samples taken from the mouth (Futuregen trial 2021). • The cost of a swab is €3,50/pc (excluding VAT), however, this might save you additional vet costs and time.
Which animals to test?
• Any animal whose role you want to identify and target in your breeding programme. >> Continued on next page
Case study: Teasing black to the daylight
Wuthering Heights Alpacas, Finland G134 JUANITA Phenotypic colour: Solid light fawn Genotypic colour: e¹e¹ a¹a¹ (a ”hidden black”) As I personally have a strong affection for browns, I prefer animals that look and produce brown/darker pigments. With this female I have received both dark and lighter progeny. Before I could not tell what caused it or how to work with her. When I received the results and gained more awareness, I was able to understand that all I had to do in order to get darker progeny off her, was to pair her with an EE (aa) male. The important part is to make sure, that the male most preferably has two large ”E”s, so that the cria will definitely receive one functional MC1R copy. This is enough to allow at least a part of the eumelanin (black pigment) to pass through to the physical phenotype (two active MC1R copies is stronger than one). Juanita is genetically black with her ASIP genotype, but just cannot express it due to the two non-functional MC1R copies. With a right pair, she will definitely always produce darker colours and never a fawn if this is what I wanted. On the contrary – if I wanted to go for fawn, I only need to pair her with a male with two small ”e”s to make sure nothing could be produced other than fawn or potentially beige/white, depending on the ASIP copies of the partner. Simple. The sire of the black cria (who I named Touché Noire) is presented on the next page, Inca Othello.
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
33
BREEDING Case study: A brown black
Wuthering Heights Alpacas, Finland
Case study: Non-grey greys
Photo: Johanna Sjövall
INCA OTHELLO Phenotypic colour: Solid medium brown with dark points Genotypic colour: EE a¹a² Genetically this male is black – and he could just as well be! But he is brown – which is why he was originally selected. (More specifically, I selected him from my preferred colour category.) I would like to note, that his genotype wasn't known as we purchased him with my friend Nana Hjelt (Finland), so it was a bonus for us to see how useful his genotype was for our coloured breeding programme. He has two active MC1R copies (EE) and two black ASIP copies, which matched perfectly with my female, Juanita, to provide a 100% chance of a cria with darker pigment. The chances for the phenotype of the cria were somewhere between medium/dark brown bay black - black. And a black we got, Touchè!
Tinkan Alpakat, Finland KARINIEMEN CENNI Phenotypic colour: Dark silver grey fleece, white in the head Genotypic colour: EE a¹a² Grey/Non-grey status: Non-grey² Through her whole life this older female was always thought to be a classic grey. But she is a mixed tuxedo and possibly a roan or greying and this similar patterning has been inherited to most in her family line (some only with tuxedo and no roan/greying, some with both), and none of them are classic grey (three of them have been tested, that have this same pattern). Many thanks to Janika Ahti/Tinkan Alpakat from Finland for kindly allowing me to show Cenni´s case in this article. Please see another similar case to this below, where breeders could get misled. Many thanks to Capital Alpaca/Kim for allowing me to show this case in the article. This animal is again a roan with a white spot and the fleece is medium rose grey according to the colour chart.
Modern grey – both body and fleece, Capital Alpacas, UK 34 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
Case study: What a grey surprise! WINSAULA TOUCH OF FROST Phenotypic colour: Solid white Genotypic colour: ee Aa² Grey/Non-grey Status: Classic grey Despite the pearl white appearance, this male is a classic grey with a hidden black gene (a²). He has been doing really well at shows during the last two showing seasons, gaining a Suri Champion White Male at South of England Spring Show 2022 and came second at BAS National Halter Show 2023 in a Suri intermediate male white class. No one is able tell from his outer appearance, that this male is genetically a classic grey and I was able to witness that myself as I was allowed to have a closer inspection on him at the National Show this spring – and yes, he is indeed as white as snow! Thanks to the owner Paula Winsor for kindly allowing me to present him in this article. Knowing this does not take him to a grey class as far as shows, but from a breeding perspective, this obviously does change a thing or two and for his breeder it is very valuable information.
Winsaula Alpacas, UK
Seeing his two non-functional MC1R:s (two small e:s) it is easy to understand why phenotypically he is so light. He is simply unable to express the level of eumelanin (black pigment) he has in his DNA. However, it seems as he has no yellow/red pigment (pheomelanin), as the MC1R does not have any effect on the pheomelanin being expressed, in other words, does not block it from showing even when the MC1R in non-active. His sample was not ”calling” from the e¹ mutation, so we cannot say if he is either e¹ e¹, e² e², or e¹ e². To work the grey pattern to be visible on the offspring, the breeder would need to work with a right type female that will allow the cria to have a darker base colour. Therefore selecting a female with two large E:s to give a 100% chance for the cria to have one copy of a functioning MC1R, that will allow eumelanin to pass through to the phenotype. Of course the breeder also needs to have a look at ASIP genotype on the female. If the female had two non-functional ASIP copies (aa) this would give the best chances to a darker progeny, where the grey pattern would more likely become visible. Whether the cria will
inherit the grey pattern is completely dependent on the parent(s) passing it or not. Note to grey breeders: No homozygous greys have ever been found, as two copies of the grey allele is lethal and the embryo will die within the first weeks of pregnancy. This is the explanation to why breeding grey to grey generally has a lower stick rate. When breeding with any classic greys there is a 50% chance of getting the grey allele from the grey parent. Out of 152 white alpacas tested for the grey research project at Curtin University, Australia, 9,2% were identified as classic greys and out of 89 fawns 13,4% were genetically classic greys. There was even one black out of 61 tested, that was identified carrying the grey allele! Greys can be both ”hidden”, like in the case above, but also ”cryptic”, when some outer expressions are visibly seen but they might get unnoticed, or misinterpreted, as they are not quite like the general classic greys. An example of a cryptic grey is pictured below. This female, Inca Janeiro, belongs to Kim Murray from Capital Alpacas, UK, who kindly allowed me to share this case in my article. There are no white fibres anywhere in her fleece, just the white marking on her face. She could easily be identified as a multicolour and be discounted for that. However, she is a classic grey and with a genetically non-grey male she went on to produce the gorgeous rose grey progeny in the picture. Congratulations.
An example of a cryptic grey, Inca Janeiro, Capital Alpacas, UK
Capital Texugo
Worth noticing
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
35
BREEDING Case study: Black roulette
Now, black breeders, let’s do a fun test: Which male do you think would most likely give you black progeny? Just by looking at the pictures and knowing the phenotypic colour.
INCA NO STRINGS Phenotypic colour: Solid Bay Black
BECK BROW JIMMY CHOOS Phenotypic colour: Solid True Black
Inca Alpaca, UK
Even though both males would work in a black breeding programme, one would give you black crias with a 50% larger likelihood than the other one. Many would think that as Inca No Strings is a bay black and Jimmy Choos is true black, Jimmy Choos would have the higher likelihood of producing black progeny. However, Inca No Strings is testing out as EE aa (more specifically EE a¹a³) and Beck Brow Jimmy Choos is Ee aa (more specifically Ee² a²a²). Please take a look at the Neogen Colour Chance Table opposite for possible outcomes with different partners and the difference in the likelihood of getting the desirable black result: Inca No Strings with EE aa has 50% more likelihood of producing a black cria, than Beck Brow Jimmy Choos with a Ee aa female. This is how we can simplify it to make it easier to work with. Overtime, breeders can work their herd towards any preferred genotype + phenotype combination, which can become really rewarding and for
36 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
black breeders especially it solves the issue with the odd fawn crias being born in a black breeding program. Many thanks to Tim Hey from Inca Alpaca, UK, for generously allowing me to present these two stud males in this article! Males like Jimmy Choos that would carry the genetics and traits that are desirable for the breeding program are still just as useful, but in order to also retain the desired colour outcome, the breeder would want to pair him with only EE aa females. Having the stud males tested is a very good start, especially if you are offering stud services, but because of the mathematics it is just as important to know the genotypes of the females to make this puzzle work. In other words the data will only really offer you tools to work with, when you have it complete from both parents. As you are able to see from the Colour Chance table, some pairs only have one single possible outcome, whilst some may have six different possibilities, depending on the genotype of both parties.
Base Colours EE AA
Ee AA
EE Aa
Ee Aa EE AA 25% Ee AA 25% EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 25%
ee AA
ee Aa
® EE AA Neogen Chance Tables for Alpaca Tests 2023 EE AA 50% Ee AA 50%
EE AA 50% EE Aa 50%
Ee AA
EE AA 50% Ee EE AA AA 50%
EE AA 25% Ee Ee AA AA 50% ee AA 25%
EE AA 25% Ee AA 25% EE EE Aa Aa 25% Ee Aa 25%
EE AA
EE AA 100%
EE AA 50% Ee AA 50%
EE AA 50% EE Aa 50%
EE Aa
EE AA 50% EE Aa 50%
Ee AA
EE AA 50% Ee AA 50%
Ee Aa EE Aa
EE AA 25% Ee AA 25% EE AA Aa 25% 50% Ee Aa 25% EE 50%
EE AA 100%
Base Colours
ee AA Ee Aa
Ee AA 100% EE AA 25% Ee AA 25% EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 25%
ee Aa
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50%
ee AA
Ee AA 100%
EE aa
EE Aa 100%
ee Aa Ee aa
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50% EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50%
EE aa
EE Aa 100%
ee aa
Ee Aa 100%
EE AA 50% Ee Aa 50% EE AA 25% Ee AA 50% ee AA 25% EE AA 12.5% Ee AA 25% ee AA 12.5% EE AA Aa 12.5% 50% Ee Aa 25% 50% ee Aa 12.5%
EE AA 25% EE aa 50% Aa 50% EE AA 25% Ee AA 25% EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 25% EE AA 12.5% EE Aa 25% EE aa 12.5% EE AA 25% Ee AA 12.5% EE aa 50% Ee Aa 25% EE Aa 50% Ee aa 12.5%
EE Ee AA 12.5% 50% Ee ee AA 25% 50% ee AA 12.5% EE Aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee AA 25% ee Aa 12.5% ee AA 25% ee Aa 25% Ee Aa 25%
EE Ee AA 12.5% 50% EE Ee Aa 25% 50% EE aa 12.5% Ee AA 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee AA 25% aa 12.5% Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 25%
Ee AA 50% ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50% EE Aa 50%
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50% EE aa 50% EE Aa 50%
Ee AA 25% ee AA 25% ee Aa 25% EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 25% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 25%
Ee AA 25% Ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% Ee aa 25% EE Aa 25% EE aa 25%
Ee Aa 50% EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50%
EE aa 50% EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% EE Aa 25% EE aa 25%
Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50%
Ee aa
EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50%
EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 25%
ee aa
Ee Aa 100%
Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50%
EE AA 12.5% Ee AA 25% ee AA 12.5% EE Ee Aa Aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% EE AA 25% ee Aa 12.5% Ee AA 25% EE AA Aa 12.5% 25% EE Ee Aa 25% EE aa 12.5% EE AA 12.5% Ee AA 12.5% Ee AA 25% Ee Aa 25% ee AA 12.5% Ee aa 12.5% EE Aa 12.5% EE Ee AA Aa 6.25% 25% Ee ee AA Aa 12.5% 12.5% ee AA 6.25% EE AA 12.5% EE Aa 12.5% EE Aa 25% Ee Aa 25% EE aa 12.5% ee Aa 12.5% Ee AA 12.5% EE aa 6.25% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 12.5% Ee aa 12.5% ee aa 6.25% EE AA 6.25% Ee AA 25% Ee AA 12.5% ee AA 25% ee AA 6.25% Ee Aa 25% EE Aa 12.5% ee Aa 25% Ee Aa 25% Ee ee AA Aa 12.5% Ee 25% EE Aa aa 6.25% Ee aa 12.5% ee AA 12.5% aa 6.25% ee Aa 25% Ee AA 25% ee aa 12.5% ee AA 25% EE Ee Aa 25% EE aa 25% ee Aa Ee Aa 25% Ee AA 12.5% Ee aa 25% Ee Aa 25% EE Ee Aa aa 12.5% EE AA aa 12.5% ee Ee ee Aa 25% Ee 25% ee aa 12.5% ee Aa 12.5% EE Aa 25% ee aa 12.5% EE aa 25% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% EE Aa 12.5% ee aa 25% EE aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 12.5% ee aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee aa 25%
EE aa
Ee aa
ee aa
Ee AA 100%
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50%
EE Aa 100%
EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50%
Ee Aa 100%
Ee AA 50% ee ee AA AA 50%
Ee AA 25% ee AA 25% Ee ee Aa Aa 25% ee Aa 25%
Ee Aa 50% EE EE Aa aa 50%
EE Aa 25% Ee Ee Aa aa 50% ee Aa 25%
Ee Aa 50% ee ee Aa aa 50%
Ee AA 100%
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50%
EE Aa 100%
Ee AA 25% Ee Aa 50% aa 25% Ee AA ee AA 25% Ee Aa 25% ee Aa 25% Ee AA 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 12.5% Ee AA 25% ee AA 12.5% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee aa 12.5%
Ee AA 50% Ee Aa 50% Ee AA 50% ee AA 50% Ee AA 25% ee AA 25% Ee AA Aa 25% 50% ee Aa 25% Ee 50%
ee AA 100% Ee AA 25% ee AA 25% Ee Aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee AA 50% ee Aa 50% ee AA 100% Ee Aa 100%
Ee ee AA 12.5% 50% Ee ee Aa 25% 50% Ee aa 12.5% ee AA 12.5% ee Aa 25% ee AA 25% aa 12.5% ee Aa 50% ee aa 25% ee AA 50% ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% ee AA 25% ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 25% ee aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee aa 25%
ee AA 50% ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 100% ee Aa 100%
Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% ee Aa 50% ee aa 50%
Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50%
Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee aa 25%
ee Aa 100%
ee Aa 50% ee aa 50%
EE Aa 50% EE aa 50% Ee Aa 50% EE Aa 50% EE Aa 25% EE aa 25% Ee Aa 25% EE 50% Ee aa 25% EE 50%
Ee Aa 100% EE Aa 25% EE aa 25% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% Ee Aa 100% EE aa 100% Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% EE aa 50% Ee aa 50% EE aa 100% Ee aa 100%
EE Aa 50% Ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% EE Aa 25% aa 25% EE Aa Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 25% EE Aa 12.5% EE aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 12.5% EE 25% ee aa 12.5% EE 25%
EE Ee Aa 12.5% 50% EE aa 12.5% ee Aa 50% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 12.5% Ee Aa 25% ee aa 12.5% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee aa 25% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50% EE aa 50% Ee aa 50% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% EE aa 25% ee aa 25% Ee aa 50% ee aa 25% EE aa 50% Ee aa 50% Ee aa 50% ee aa 50%
Parent 1 Classic grey Classic grey 50% Classic Non-grey 25% Parent grey Lethal 25% 2 NonClassic grey 50% grey Non-grey 50%
Ee Aa 50% Ee aa 50% Ee Aa 50% ee Aa 50%
Non-grey 100%
Parent 1 Classic grey
Ee Aa 100%
Non-grey Classic grey 50% Non-grey 50%
Classic grey 50% Classic Non-grey 25% Parent grey Lethal 25% 2 NonClassic grey 50% grey Non-grey 50%
Non-grey Classic grey 50% Non-grey 50% Non-grey 100%
Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% Ee 50% ee aa 25% Ee 50%
ee Aa 100% Ee Aa 25% Ee aa 25% ee Aa 25% ee aa 25% ee Aa 50% ee aa 50% ee Aa 100% Ee aa 100% ee Aa 50% ee aa 50% Ee aa 50% ee aa 50% Ee aa 100% ee aa 100%
EE aa 50% Ee aa 50%
EE aa 25% Ee aa 50% ee aa 25%
Ee aa 50% ee aa 50%
Ee aa 100%
Ee aa 50% ee aa 50%
ee aa 100%
Note: • The colours of the alleles illustrate the possible real life colours in each MC1R & ASIP genotype • Where A = All non-black ASIP / Agouti phenotypes, i.e. white, fawn, bay or B&T • The Chance Table is not capable of identifying / taking into account the different MC1R & ASIP Note: mutations • The colours the alleles illustrate the possible Please contactofCarita Saarinen at Futuregen for real life colours in& each MC1Rplanning: & ASIP genotype further assistance individual • Where A = All non-black ASIP / Agouti phenotypes, Futuregen i.e. white, fawn, bay or B&T Carita Saarinen 38, is not capable of identifying •Westerlundintie The Chance Table 29700 Ahlainen,Finland / taking into account the different MC1R & ASIP mutations + 358 451398 374 www.futuregen.fi Please contact Carita Saarinen at Futuregen for further assistance & individual planning: Futuregen Carita Saarinen Westerlundintie 38, 29700 Ahlainen,Finland + 358 451398 374
>> Continued on next page
www.futuregen.fi
Grey / Non-grey status
Three known MC1R & ASIP mutations MC1R & ASIP Genotype
Book your Alpaca DNA Colour tests Online at www.futuregen.fi
Contact for further information: Carita Saarinen, +358 45 1398 374, info@futuregen.fi
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Discover the genetic makeup e¹e¹ AA
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Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
37
BREEDING Understanding the terminology Short descriptions What are the MC1R and ASIP codes?*
Phenotypic alleles*
Aᵇ = Bay allele / a phenotypic allele. Often brown with dark points, like bay horses. aᵗ = Black and tan allele / a phenotypic allele or potentially a pattern (vicuña) on a black animal, that is yet to be separated in the DNA. Black and tan animals have a similar colouring/pattern to a doberman dog, so it is basically a reverse version from bay.
The MC1R & ASIP codes you find on the report are the two main genes, that control the base colour. The animal inherits one ASIP and one MC1R allele from each parent. The MC1R & ASIP genotype plus the possible pattern defines how the fleece colour will look and how the colours are distributed over the body. Any base colour can co-exist with any pattern, more than one pattern, or none of the patterns. The patterns are controlled by several genes. The patterns are for instance: roan (modern grey), tuxedo (white spotting), classic grey, vicuña, appaloosa.
This means that it is known, that there is a certain genetic pattern or a gene that is being passed on/inherited and that produces a certain outcome, but it is yet to be identified/separated from the DNA. In other words it is known it exists, but not where exactly so that we could look it out with a test. In this case we can call this a ”phenotypic allele”.
ASIP / Agouti (agouti signaling protein)*
What is a ”wild type” in genetics?*
A = Wild type. White to fawn. Only pheomelanin is being produced. a = Non-functional ASIP. Allows 𝛼-MSH to pass eumelanin. ASIP is responsible for the kind and amount pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment) being produced and the allowance of eumelanin (black pigment) to be expressed on the animal. When ASIP is being active/functional, the result will be a capital ”A” and when it is not, the result will show a small ”a”.
𝛼-MSH (𝛼-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone)*
Responsible for the kind and amount of eumelanin potentially being produced. When ASIP is not being functional and you get a small ”a” in the results, 𝛼-MSH is able to affect the pigment and eumelanin will be passed in the melanocyte. This means that eumelanin is recessive to pheomelanin.
MC1R (melanocortin-1 receptor)*
E = Wild type/active. Allows eumelanin to be expressed. Two copies is generally more intense than one copy. e = Non-functional MC1R. Blocks the production of eumelanin (black/brown) partially or completely. MC1R translates the information from ASIP/𝛼-MSH to the melanocyte and whichever level or depth of pigment the animal carries in it’s DNA, will then be expressed in the phenotype you see. The MC1R only affects eumelanin, not pheomelanin, so the animal may still look fawn even if both copies of the MC1R were non-functional. • Both ASIP and 𝛼-MSH communicate through MC1R. • Depending on which one has found the MC1R, either pheomelanin or eumelanin is being produced. • As there are multiple MC1Rs in the melanocyte (cell that produces colour), both eumelanin and pheomelanin can be produced in the same melanocyte. • It depends on the genes that the animal carries, whether it can produce either or both pigments.
What is a ”Phenotypic allele”?*
Wild type” refers to something that is original. All the mutations are then compared to the original ”wild type”. In horses the most common and the most original colour is bay and in alpacas the most original colouring is fawn with a vicuña pattern.
What does a "non-functional” gene mean?*
If a mutation in a gene leads to that gene not producing the protein (or RNA) that it should for normal function, then it’s called “non-functional” or ”not active”. If it produces something that does more than its normal function, It’s called “gain of function”. In reality “lost of function”, “non-functional”, or ”not active” doesn’t always mean no function at all. When the non-functional versions don’t do anything (or not much), the other copy of the gene remains functional, and sometimes one copy is enough for normal function, sometimes it’s not.
What does ”Homozygous” and ”Heterozygous” mean?*
Homozygous = Similar Heterozygous = Dissimilar/different
For example, EE is homozygous, Ee is heterozygous. Some genotypes are homozygous lethal, like for instance the two grey alleles. There are no live homozygote greys, as they die early in the gestation. This article was first published in the German magazine AlpakaPost in the summer 2023 (issue no 34).
*References: Dr. Kylie Munyard, Curtin University
38 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
TOFT A
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EST. 1997 Let us inspire you with the complete alpaca experience.
Celebrating over 25 years of alpaca breeding. Pets, studs, breeding stock, livery and workshops. Pedigree stock from elite award winning genetics Reorganisation sale in progress 2023-24 www.toftalpacastud.com Rob & Shirley Bettinson Toft Manor Lodge, Dunchurch, Warwickshire, CV22 6NR | shirley@toftalpacastud.com | 07970 626245
Alpaca & Llama handler training with...
Is your relationship with your animals all you had hoped for? How can Camelidynamics techniques help me on my alpaca journey? Camelidynamics is an approach to and collection of methods that represent the most positive, least intrusive techniques for training and managing alpacas. This two day handling course will change the relationship you have with your animals forever. Understand why camelids behave the way they do and learn kind and efficient methods that are science-based, for safe handling and husbandry that’s fun. Tell your vet that we have courses for them too. For those interested in finding out how this approach can inform and support your human/alpaca interactions in the therapeutic arena, we are now offering courses for owners and professionals. Working with Alpacas in Animal Assisted Activity or Therapy.
For more details and to book your places go to
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SENIORCONSULTANT
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
39
AROUND THE WORLD
ALPACA AS A MEAT ALTERNATIVE Chris Williams of Ambersun Alpacas talks about Fleurieu Prime Alpaca and its Australian success.
C
hris Williams has bred alpacas in Australia for over thirty years. He was first introduced to the alpaca in 1990 and was attracted to the livestock because of the diverse opportunities they offered to create business locally, nationally and internationally, using the alpaca as the nucleus for all the business. Chris had extensive experience in the livestock industry, having been a livestock agent in regional South Australia for much of his life, predominantly working with sheep and cattle. Trading under the herd name of Ambersun Alpacas, his initial investment in alpacas was $300,000 which purchased 12 females and a male, in 1992. At this point in time, female alpacas were selling in Australia for $20,000 to $25,000 each, and the price tag attached to the breeding males was even higher. Over the following years he bred, bought and sold, and traded in alpacas until he had achieved his goal herd size of around 1.000 alpacas. This was always his aim – to secure a large herd so he could participate in all aspects of the alpaca industry on a commercial scale. Ambersun Alpacas continues to be one of the largest alpaca herds in the world outside of South America (the homeland of the alpaca). The transition from a small herd of alpacas to farming alpacas on a commercial scale meant an adjustment in mind-set on how to refine the herd in line with breeding goals.
“We’re doing just fine!”
The principal goal for the Ambersun herd is the production of ultrafine fleeced alpacas, with sound frame and temperament. Ambersun has been successful in reaching this goal, with alpacas now in the herd as low as 11 microns, and a herd average of 18.5 microns. The catch phrase in Ambersun’s marketing is “We’re doing just fine!” Every member of the herd is fleece tested annually, allowing for refinement of the herd based on objective fleece statistics. Each alpaca fleece is primarily assessed for average micron and consistency. As the herd grew in size, Chris discovered that he was accumulating a larger than required number of alpacas that did not always fit the requirements of his breeding programme or fleece standards.
Selling options for alpacas not meeting the breeding programme Lesser quality, wethered alpaca males have been sought after by sheep, goat and even chicken breeders because alpacas are intolerant of foxes’ predatory attacks on these livestock. But because alpacas live a long life (of 20 years) and they can provide a ‘guardian’ service for most of their life, repeated business is less likely to occur. But they are so effective in that responsibility, the demand remains strong. As a lifestyle purchase, there has also been a consistent demand from people wanting alpacas in limited numbers as pets, a living garden ornament or grass eaters on small acreage properties. Hand spinners and weavers may
Chris Williams choose to purchase their own alpacas, often favouring a myriad of natural colours, for a ready supply of fleece to accommodate their interest or hobby. Increasingly, wineries and other tourist venues such as Airbnbs have run alpacas in small numbers to provide clients with an interactive experience with the livestock and a tourism drawcard. If these markets should become saturated, and as the alpacas age and possibly have less appeal to fill these established markets, what becomes of the future of these surplus animals? From a commercial perspective, it is not economically sustainable to continue to feed alpacas that serve little financial contribution to the farm. It raised the question of what to do with the surplus of male and female alpacas, those born with any genetic imperfection, of poor fleece quality or those that were not able to breed or couldn’t raise a cria and a number of other issues.
Evaluating the place of meat in alpaca farming The development of the meat industry was the next consideration for Chris Williams. Regular trips to South America helped Chris to appreciate the virtues and potential of alpaca meat. The alpaca, domesticated in South America over 6,000 years ago, has provided the local population with a protein-rich and healthy meat alternative. This is particularly so for the farmers located high in the Andes, where alpaca meat is a food staple because other more traditional meat livestock cannot cope with the high altitude and subzero temperatures. High protein diets are essential to these farmers who are often forced to cope with extremely cold temperatures high up in the mountains. To these farmers, the alpaca provides not only a source of meat, but also clothing and leather. Their culture, their livelihood and their survival has been very much based on their connection with the alpaca. In 2013, Chris was approached to introduce alpaca meat in Australia by the ABC Landline national television documentary. Following four days of filming on all aspects of Ambersun’s involvement in the alpaca industry, the ABC produced a feature on alpaca farming, which also highlighted alpaca as a meat alternative. The segment ‘Meat Paccas’ is still available for viewing on YouTube. >> Continued on next page Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
41
AROUND THE WORLD
C Camelid Connections C MAGAZINE
42 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
For more on this topic read the Australian magazine Camelid Connections issue 24 June
IN THIS ISSUE ● Alpacas in the UK ● Alpaca Castration FR E N EE O ! W
● Vicuna Habitat
IT’S
SU BS
● Camelid Tourism
C RIB
● Sydney Royal Alpaca Show
Issue 24 - June 2023
CL IC K
<< This promotion launched into the spotlight the meat business Fleurieu Prime Alpaca. It also created a priority for research and development of the complete range of meat products. Alpaca is an extremely nutritious meat source. It is high in protein, low in saturated fats and cholesterol, and an excellent source of iron. It is mild (not gamey) in flavor, and chefs describe the taste and texture as somewhere between pork and milk fed veal, with a slight mineral background flavor and a buttery consistency. The prime meat cuts were self-evident, following butchering standards of other meat producing livestock. Meat cuts unique to alpaca needed to be considered, and there was the need to develop a range of products or markets that would utilize every part of the alpaca carcass. Waste minimisation was a priority. The Fleurieu Alpaca product range consists of a range of prime cuts, the traditional barbeque lines, and a range of smallgoods. The prime cuts – fillet, backstrap and rump are recommended as fast cook cuts, and the shanks and neck rosettes as the slow cook options. The prime cuts, especially backstrap and fillet, lend themselves delightfully to being consumed raw as an alpaca tartare, sashimi, or carpaccio. Because the alpaca meat is so lean, its flavors are distinctive and not masked by a fatty aftertaste. It noticeably leaves the consumer with a very clean palate. For barbeque, there are rosemary and garlic sausages (breadcrumbs as a binder), leek and garlic sausages with no preservatives or additives, and for those seeking a more spicy and seasoned alternative, the new and very popular reaper jalapeño sausage. Alpaca burgers are also popular. These are lightly seasoned with a cumin and herb mix. Salt and pepper schnitzels are a crowd favourite. The ‘smallgoods’ lines took longer to develop, but sourcing the best smallgoods artisans was a priority. The alpaca meat is sent to butchers located on the outskirts of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, to utilize the expertise and handcrafting of German based methods to produce the hugely popular smallgoods range: smoked rump, traditional-style pastrami, herb pastrami, garlic mettwurst, chili mettwurst, chorizo, bier sticks, pepperoni sticks and jerky. The processing of these goods takes more time as the meat is left to cure, but the longer shelf-life of the product allows for greater time and options for distribution. There is also strong demand for the offal - hearts, livers, and kidneys, and of course, dog bones. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in South Australia has also requested access to alpaca organs to support medical research. Offering such a range of products allows for the productive use of every cut of meat, and there is almost no waste. It also allows for the use of meat from all aged alpacas, male or female.
11
At present, Fleurieu Prime Alpaca is processing up to eight alpacas per week to supply an ever-increasing demand. This means that Chris needs to produce or source over 400 alpacas per year. One challenge is that the alpaca is slow growing, with an alpaca not reaching full maturity and size until they are at least three years of age. Processing of alpaca is restricted to only a few abattoirs that need to be specifically licensed and accredited.
Marketing and selling alpaca meat in Australia There are a number of distribution points for the meat. The alpaca meat is presented every weekend in South Australia at The Willunga Farmers Market on a Saturday and the Adelaide Farmers Market on a Sunday. It has also been featured at many other culinary festivals. A range of samples is regularly made available for the public to try and experience. The markets provide a great opportunity to promote the meat to the public. Convincing some to sample the meat is sometimes a challenge, but many of those who have stepped forward to savour have become regular customers. Many chefs have been introduced to the meat through the markets, eventuating in the meat being offered through restaurants around Adelaide, and also freighted interstate. Alpaca meat has featured on the menu of some of Adelaide’s highest profile restaurants. ‘The Cube’, one of South Australia’s most prominent tourist attractions in McLaren Vale, offered alpaca carpaccio on its $200 degustation menu. The ‘Five Regions’ restaurant at the iconic Adelaide Oval have incorporated alpaca rump on their menu as an alpaca tartare. The prestigious ‘Adelaide Club’ has also been a regular client. There are many other restaurants. Having alpaca on these restaurant menus has been extremely important to the promotion of the meat, providing the consumer the opportunity to try the meat and to recognize its versality. The next challenge for Chris Williams is to develop commercial markets in Australia for the alpaca pelts and leather.
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CHRISTMAS GIFTS
THE TARTAN ALPACA
Luxury, unique products made from pure Cornish alpaca.
44 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
A
t Dark Sky Alpacas we specialise in Suri and are always questing to create luxury products which showcase the unique attributes of these special alpacas. Known for their lustre and the natural drape exhibited from suri yarn, this year the whole herd have contributed to the Dark Sky Alpacas Tartan range – scarves, shawls, throws and fabric woven into our unique registered tartan. We decided on a tartan to celebrate Tom’s Scottish roots and our location in Celtic Cornwall and worked with Lochcarron Tartan designers to come up with a pattern using only the natural colours of our alpacas – we sent them a photo of the alpacas in the field to illustrate the colour palette they had to work from. From half a dozen potential designs, we selected our favourite and submitted it to the Scottish Register of Tartans in which it is now certified, no. 13424. The team at Bristol Weaving Mill teamed up with Phil Allen at Two Rivers Mill to translate that design on to the loom. Phil did an incredible job as always of spinning the fleece, making a 2/16 worsted yarn with a blend of 72% Suri: 28% Huacaya so that it was strong and fine enough to be woven. We were really excited to visit Bristol Weaving Mill and see the first run of our tartan being made. It’s been a real education to understand the amount of work and care that goes into making such beautiful and unique products and our thanks go to the whole team there. Once we saw our tartan and the resulting products, we knew that they called for some special packaging and marketing so we’ve sourced wooden presentation boxes for the smaller scarves and shawls and the throws come in one of our lovely Dark Sky boxes – so all three would make lovely gifts for Christmas or any special occasion. We were delighted to donate a scarf to an auction it the US in aid of the Quecha Benefit Foundation and very humbled by the reception and the brilliant sum it raised for them. Back at home, visitors to our holiday cottage, Little Inka, have already been snapping them up and we have a limited stock but please do get in touch if you’d like to purchase any of the range or have a bespoke item made from the fabric. When we reflect on everything that has gone into creating the tartan, it’s easy to focus on the time, effort and expense of the endeavour – all of which are substantial. However, you then quickly reflect on everything that has gone into creating such beautiful fabric – we raised and nurtured each alpaca, we watched their fleece being sheared by Colin Ottery, we patiently skirted the fleece before giving it to Phil to spin at his mill in Dorset (now Northern Ireland); the team at Lochcarron of Scotland creatively designed the tartan before the loom pattern was programmed by Juliette at Bristol Weaving Mill, followed by the preparation of the warp and the threading of the weft through the loom; and the meticulous fixing and finishing work before finally sourcing the boxes and creating the website – these are the products of very special animals combined with the skill and care of a team of talented people across the South West of England (plus a few Scots!) – we know exactly what they are and where they come from, and that’s really satisfying and special. ‘Proper’ and truly unique Cornish farm to fashion.
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
45
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
TWEED AND TEDDIES
paper-plane www.teesdale-alpacas.co.uk
T
eesdale Alpacas (aka Doug and Samantha) started, like so many alpaca farms with a few ‘pet’ boys about 16 years ago and fairly quickly our herd grew to over 60. While not tending to show much since we started trekking, farm visits and events including weddings eight years ago we are still active in the welfare aspects of alpacas here in the UK. We have always wanted to ‘walk the talk’ and after using our own fibre we had the chance to purchase a significant amount of UK spun fibre from a high-quality local herd. We took the opportunity (now having the volume) to do something a little different. We looked about for ideas for quality traditional heritage/heirloom products and then spent a lot of time researching companies with the right match. Out of this effort was born our range of hats and caps, cloth and teddy bears among other things. We named our clothing side of the business myAmelia after our 19th century carding machine ‘Amelia’ made by Frank Firth & Co in Cleckheaton. Here at Teesdale Alpacas/myAmelia we have always been keen to utilise the ‘Best of British’ in the creation of our products whether it is our hat and cap makers in Yorkshire, our traditional tweed weaver in the Scottish borders for our pure alpaca cloth, or the local tailors in our home town of Barnard Castle for our waistcoats and headbands.
46 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
Travelling for Teddy Bears
We had to travel a little further for our beautiful Teddy Bears; down to historic Ironbridge in Shropshire the home of Merrythought. Merrythought have been making Teddy bears since 1930 and we thought they were a perfect fit with the quality and heritage ideals we desired to showcase our fabulous alpaca. We worked with Merrythought to produce a very limited edition of teddies, just for us, using three of our alpaca tweed cloths; only 33 grey, 33 fawn and 34 brown to make up a total 100 bears. Our bears are jointed and stand about ten inches tall with discrete branding (our own and Merrythoughts). All of our bears are sold direct from ourselves and all are hand numbered, microchipped and come in a presentation box with adoption certificate and also a little alpaca tweed scarf to keep them cosy. We are offering some of our bears to readers at a special price until the end of the year (2023) Normally £175 plus postage and packing you can have a superb teddy bear representing the very best combination of British alpaca and British craftsmanship for £150 (postage and packing including insurance is £15 to the UK – overseas postage is available and we have found our bears do like travelling and already have loving homes in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong and Europe).
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
A PERSONALISED RUG
Watery Lane Alpacas pride themselves on the personal approach.
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hy not use your animals fibre to create a piece of art to treasure for years to come and tell a story in your home while celebrating the beauty of your animals. Watery Lane Alpacas and Studio are based on the Berkshire/Hampshire border – home to 25 alpacas and a small herd of mixed breed sheep. Having always had an interest in textiles, owner Sophie now creates unique and custom rugs on her large 50 year old floor loom for customers all over the UK using a variety of fleeces from all kinds of animals. The process of weaving bespoke rugs with alpaca fibre is a meticulous and artistic challenge – each rug is a labour of love, a reflection of the weaver's skill and the customer's unique vision. Here at Watery Lane Alpacas & Studio, each and every piece they make begins with a conversation. Customers share their ideas, colour preferences, and desired size. This collaborative approach ensures that each rug is tailored to the client's individual style and needs and makes sure we memorialise their animals exactly how they imagine. The rugs, runners and cushions are made as ethically and sustainably as possible – using only natural materials and packaging when processing, creating and shipping the products. The production process is optimised
to minimise waste, with remnants often repurposed for smaller items like cushions or coasters. Any leftover materials are recycled or disposed of responsibly, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Watery Lane are passionate about fibre, and making sure that the main crop from these fibre producing animals has a purpose, whatever the quality. Everything is handmade using traditional methods, spinning wheels and a large floor loom that is full of character. The rugs are built to stand the test of time and great care is taken in the weaving process to ensure that each rug is durable and capable of withstanding everyday use. The natural resilience of alpaca fibre makes the rugs not only eco-friendly but also very long-lasting. They say that the rugs are hard wearing, irresistibly soft and so warm and comforting – they really suit any space with lots of designs and patterns to choose from. Delivery is possible to anywhere in the UK.
For a quote: ✉ waterylanefarmltd@gmail.com SQUARE-FACEBOOK Watery Lane Alpacas & Studio
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
47
Alpacas for sale
A list of BAS members who are breeders and advertising their alpacas for sale
SOUTH EAST
ALPACA ANNIE Breeding quality, friendly alpacas on the Romney Marsh, we pride ourselves on the relationship we have with our animals and our high welfare standards. Many of the herd have been halter trained and are great walking companions. We can help you find anything from a fleecy friend to a show winning fleece. For new keepers we have well bonded starter herds available with a full support package including – training with our head herdsperson, home visits, shearing, ongoing phone/ face-to-face support and a ‘Home for Life’ guarantee as standard. So please come on down and meet the herd! TEL: 01303 870527 EMAIL: office@alpacaannie.com WEB: www.alpacaannie.com
LIGHTFOOT ALPACAS
MORALEE FARM ALPACAS
Lightfoot Alpacas are situated in Hawkhurst in the Weald of Kent. We have been breeding alpacas since 1997 and have over 250 Huacaya. Lightfoot is a closed herd, we believe that the bio security and health of our animals is paramount to their breeding and care. We have a range of colours and ages, mainly Huacaya and some Suris. Our animals are known for being friendly as we spend time with them and know them individually.
Moralee is a family-run alpaca farm in West Sussex. We care for a herd of high-quality Huacaya alpaca with award-winning genetics.
We provide after sales advice and back up services when we sell our animals. Whether you are looking to improve or expand your herd or just thinking of alpacas as pets, why not contact us to arrange a visit. TEL: 07802 263589 WEB: www.alpacabreeder.co.uk EMAIL: graham@alpacabreeder.co.uk
Our mission is centred on breeding for improvement – focussing on white and light-coloured alpacas with fine fleece in a gentle and caring environment. All our alpaca are kept in small groups, so are used to human contact and receive lots of attention. Our services include: the sale of Females for Breeding, Drive-by Stud services and Male-Field Pets. TEL: 07809 731164 EMAIL: claire@moralee.farm WEB: www.moralee.farm
SOUTH WEST
ADVERTISE HERE
Your booking will include an online listing in the Alpacas for Sale section on the BAS website. TEL: 01732 448748 EMAIL: wendy@talk-media.uk
DARK SKY ALPACAS
Located in rugged and beautiful North Cornwall, we focus on Suri and have a herd of elite alpacas with some of the best and varied Suri genetics in the country. Alongside our own animals we have invested in top quality alpacas from specialists in the UK and New Zealand. Our farm has been ‘custom made’ for alpacas, with biosecurity and welfare of paramount importance, and we love and care for the herd ourselves. We offer full stud services and in particular Suri starter herds, quality breeding stock and luxury alpaca products. WENDY: 07712 136949TOM: 07825 105530 EMAIL: tomandwendy@darkskyalpacas.com WEB: www.darkskyalpacas.com
WINSAULA SURI ALPACAS
We specialise in breeding the rare and majestic Suri Alpaca, which account for approximately 7% of the overall UK Alpaca population. A multiple UK award winning ‘Best Small Breeder’ we are home to multiple Champions and Supreme champions in all Alpaca colours, but primarily specialising in top quality black and the very rare grey Suri. We have animals to suit all budgets from groups of pet boys, to elite pregnant female starter herds with Cria at foot, and champion stud males. We also offer stud services from champion fawns and browns to multiple supreme champion grey studs and Champion black studs imported from New Zealand, bringing the top black genetics into the UK if you are looking to introduce new genetics into your herd. TEL: Paula 07540 124768 Mark: 07748 844990 EMAIL: prwinsor@icloud.com / mwinsor@me.com
SOUTHERN ENGLAND
PENNYBRIDGE ALPACAS
SCOTFIELD ALPACAS
The PennyBridge Herd and Stud. One of the first alpaca farms set up in the South of England, still producing show winners from champion stock. Good quality starter herds, proven and potential stud males, fancy grazers and sheep guards available.
We are a family run farm in Warfield, Berkshire, breeding high quality Huacaya and Suri alpacas from show winning sires. We would like to welcome you to Scotlands Farm to see our wonderful herd of both white and coloured animals.
‘Home of The Alpaca Experience’.
We are happy to discuss your requirements, be it for pet males, stock guards, or breeding females to suit your budget but with no obligation to purchase. We have over ten years of experience with these adorable animals. Give us a call and let us see if we can help you.
Full range of alpacas for sale, attractive pets to top show quality breeding girls and stud boys. Large choice of stunning stud males available to service your girls. Also offering natural alpaca fabrics made in the UK from the fleece of our own herd.
TEL:
TEL: 01386 853841 or 07711 044106 EMAIL: snowshillalpacas@btinternet.com WEB: www.snowshillalpacas.com
Situated in North Hampshire, close to the Surrey and Berkshire borders with good access to ports and airports, less than five minutes drive from both J5 and 6 of the M3. TEL: 01256 764824 or 07801 132757 EMAIL: joy@pennybridgealpacas.co.uk WEB: www.pennybridgealpacas.co.uk
SNOWSHILL ALPACAS
Sue Hipkin 07770 455533 Lisa Hipkin 07770 455534 WEB: www.scotfieldalpacas.co.uk
Established in 2002 and situated on the North Cotswold hills close to the picturesque village of Snowshill, the current herd numbers over 300. We breed both Huacaya and Suri alpacas (approximately 80% are Huacaya). Although our breeding programme is biased towards the darker colours, we do also have superb quality whites and beige alpacas.
NORTH WEST
WHITE PEAK ALPACAS Here at White Peak Alpacas, we have been breeding alpacas for over 30 years. Originally located in the Peak District, we are now located in Cheshire. We offer a wide variety of pedigree alpacas. We are happy to
KING GARTH ALPACAS
King Garth Alpacas
Located on the Solway Firth, in Cumbria, King Garth Alpacas is a family-owned herd where we aim to breed beautiful, happy, healthy and friendly alpacas with top show winning genetics. We have alpacas to suit everyone and all budgets; from pet boys to starter herds, elite females and stud males. We offer full support and advice before and after sales.
discuss your requirements, just get in touch!
Please feel welcome to get in touch and chat about your alpaca needs.
PHONE: 01565 872 012
We also offer stud services, alpaca experiences, luxury alpaca products.
EMAIL: adrian@whitepeakalpacafarm.co.uk WEB: www.whitepeakalpacafarm.co.uk
48 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
TEL: 07762 286050 WEB: www.kinggarthalpacas.co.uk
POTTERY ALPACAS
Pottery Alpacas are a family run farm located in Blackburn, Lancashire, we focus on breeding high quality animals from elite bloodlines. We have a wide range of alpacas for sale, with everything from Pet Quality males and females to Stud males and show quality stock. We offer first class support and advice with every purchase and are more than happy to discuss your requirements with no obligation. We are here to help you every step of the way on your alpaca journey! Herd Reduction Sale MARK: 07540 115329 AMANDA: 07882 456084 EMAIL: mark@potteryalpacas.com WEB: www.potteryalpacas.com
WEST MIDLANDS
WYNNES OF DINMORE
The Specialist Country Store in Herefordshire. Breeders of Huacaya Alpacas, Pygmy goats, Poultry, Zwartble and Ouessant sheep. Point of lay Hybrid hens available ALL YEAR – Seasonal selection of bantams, ducks and quail. Extensive range of supplies, equipment, bedding and poultry housing. Specialist feed merchant: Alpaca; Pygmy goat; Pot-bellied pig; Poultry pellets with wormer; Organic Range, Hay, Straw, Dog Food (Skinners, Dr John, Vet Spec, Hypoallergenic) Visitors welcome: Tuesday-Friday 9am-4.30pm Saturday 9am-12.30pm Hope under Dinmore, Leominster, Herefordshire. HR6 0PX. TEL: 01568 797314 EMAIL: info@wynnes.co.uk WEB: www.wynnes.co.uk
EAST MIDLANDS
TOFT ALPACAS
JANDJ ALPACAS
Based in North East Warwickshire we offer over 120 pedigree alpacas in all colours, ages and price ranges. We run a number of prizewinning stud males and offer on farm and mobile mating services. We are confident that our prize winning herd will live up to all your alpaca expectations. Shirley and I have been qualified BAS judges for a great number of years and have judged throughout the UK and Europe.
The family run JandJ Alpaca herd was established in 2005 with four breeding females, today we have over 90 beautiful animals. We are located in Lincolnshire on the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leiceistershire border just off the A1.
We run regular alpaca husbandry workshops every month throughout the year. We have been breeding alpacas for 25 years and are dedicated to sharing our extensive experience to guide you towards realising your own alpaca aspiration whatever that maybe. Please ring to book.
With years of experience our aim is to help you choose the best alpacas to start you journey, whether it be breeding females, stud males or pet boys.
TEL: Shirley 07970 626245 / Rob 07973 123008 EMAIL: shirley@toftalpacastud.com / rob@toftalpacastud.com WEB: www.toftalpacastud.com
Stud services also available from top coloured genetics. TEL: Martin or Clare 01636 626990 EMAIL: sales@jandjalpacas.co.uk WEB: www.visitalpacas.co.uk
CENTRAL ENGLAND
Herts AlpAcAs
FAERIE TALE ALPACAS
15 years of selective breeding and dedication has successfully proven our genetics both in and outside the show ring, winning multiple Herts Alpacas championships and of course one of the British Alpaca Futurity’s major Best Breeder awards.
Faerie–Tale Alpacas is a small family run farm based in Kenilworth in Warwickshire J15 of M40. We focus on breeding sound, healthy, friendly, elite alpacas with gorgeous fleeces and top class genetics at very reasonable prices.
We offer a range of courses including: ‘Introduction to alpacas’, ‘Birthing’, ‘Husbandry’, and a day long ‘Advanced’ course. Alpacas for sale in all colours, at prices to suit all pockets, but more importantly from elite herd sires and proven bloodlines.
We know each alpaca and have most colours available from blue black to dazzling white. Whether you are new to alpacas or wish to expand your herd we have an alpaca to suit you! Prices to suit all budgets and with full after sales support given.
Our farm in Hertfordshire offers: feed, supplies, coats, halters etc. Importantly we deliver total customer care. See website for customer reviews and details of our award-winning herd sires.
We offer: • Quality breeding stock • Starter herds • Stud services • 2 hour alpaca experiences • Alpacas for weddings and events • Luxury range of hand knitted alpaca garments and accessories using our own fleeces
tel: 01763 271301 or 07802 433155 emAil: beckwith904@aol.com Web: www.hertsalpacas.co.uk
TEL: 07950 671672 FACEBOOK: Faerie Tale Alpacas EMAIL: info@faerietalealpacas.co.uk WEB: www.faerietalealpacas.co.uk
Fibre Processors and Retailers
BAS Members get free membership to My Society and can benefit from a number of exclusive offers.
RETAILERS/WHOLESALERS IN BRITISH ALPACA PRODUCTS
M.R.HARNESS M.R.Harness was founded in 1995 after existing part time for a number of years. Mary herself is a qualified engineer and is well placed to assess materials and their useage. Company policy is to test as many of the webbing designs as possible before release, as each item is unique to the animal it is designed for. This has led M.R.Harness to become the supplier of choice for headcollars, leads, coats and harness for all the various smallholding animals, but specialising in alpacas and llamas, and working ponies.
The Professional Solution
20% OFF
TEL: 01299 896827 EMAIL: mary@mrharness.co.uk
HOMESTEAD FARM SUPPLIES Everything you need for your alpacas delivered to your door! We are a one-stop-shop for alpaca supplies, including headcollars and leads, vitamins and nutritional supplements, healthcare and welfare supplies, colostrum, coats for cria and adults and microchipping equipment. We also have a good selection for your other animals, including dogs, chickens and horses, as well as a range of farmhouse items and gifts, including our famous home cheese-making kits. We are alpaca owners ourselves and we are always happy to help with your questions and enquiries. Order direct from our website or by phone. You can expect fast, friendly service and advice. TEL: 01295 713188 EMAIL: homesteadfarms@btinternet.com WEB: www.homesteadfarmsupplies.co.uk
Discounted Prices on Microchips*
2 FREE worm counts worth £40 for NEW BAS members then 25% OFF Worm Counts after that*
Terms and conditions apply
Terms and conditions apply
Safe4disinfectant Terms and conditions apply
Wildwood Animal Health www.wildwoodanimalhealth.co.uk
Free bag of Camelibra NG2 (worth £28 & free delivery) Terms and conditions apply
Checkout these and many other offers on the BAS website by clicking on Join the BAS link
www.bas-uk.com
All items are hand crafted ‘in house’, in England, so you can be assured of good workmanship and quality products that last. So please come and try the ‘Choice of Champions’.
BAS Member's exclusive
FIBRE BUYERS AND PROCESSORS
CLASSIC CARDER Classic Carder produce a full range of British, handmade
ANIMAL HEALTH
JG ANIMAL HEALTH High specification organic chealated nutritional supplements suitable for all camelids.
drum carders for fibre preparation. Featuring our unique
• Premier Camelid Drench
interchangeable drum system which allows quick and easy
• Premier Mineral Supplement
drum change for carding different fibres.
• Premier Mineral Bucket
TEL: 01746 714130 EMAIL: paulbrittain@mac.com WEB: www.classiccarder.co.uk
• A, D3 & E Paste TEL: 07866 607466 EMAIL: jganimalhealth@aol.com WEB: www.jganimalhealth.co.uk
Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
49
FIBRE
USING ALPACA IN FELTING
Di Conroy, fibre artist, says the fibre has very special properties to bring life to a project.
C Camelid Connectio C ns MAGAZINE
A
t Wild Woolly we love all sorts of fibres. We supply all sorts of needle felting tools, kits and of course wools with a focus on Australia made where possible. Alpaca is one of our speciality fibres and often used in our workshops. We educate participants on all the possibilities that different fibres can bring to a project. Alpaca fibre is one of those fibres, blended or used alone, that takes your needle felted creation to the next level. Alpaca fibre has a lot of great qualities, popular in needle felting mostly for the wide variety of natural colours. With a huge array of colours available, once blended you can make any natural colour that you need. As a lot of people love to needle felt animals, it is handy to have Alpaca fibre in your stash. This allows you to blend alpaca with other fibres to create the colour you need for the particular animal you are making. Alpaca works well to finish off projects as well. To add that finer bit of detail that brings your project to life. Needle felting with a special fibre like alpaca takes your creation from a store bought toy to a real life replica. By adding alpaca fibre to a horse’s tail/mane, a dog’s coat or to bird feathers brings your project to life. As Alpaca is a soft fibre it is not used to begin projects. Needle felted 3D projects start with a coarser, core wool which is easy to sculpt. Once you have achieved the shape you are after with the core wool it is time to add the colour. Most often this will be merino or corriedale wools which are used alone or blended with other fibres to create different looks. Alpaca is often blended into these wools at this point of the project to create texture, colour or a softer feel. However, I find the best value is at the end when all the detail is being added. Alpaca used for tails is fantastic, and can soften facial features to get a lot more expression in your piece. Overall, I love working with alpaca, blending it with other fibres to see how to best needle felt it. Mainly, I am a needle felter but have used alpaca in wet felting as well. There are so many beautiful wet felted items made with alpaca it is a versatile and popular fibre for both needle and wet felting. 50 Alpaca AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
Find this article in the Australian magazine Camelid Connections Issue 25 September 2023
IN THIS ISSUE ● Llama & Alpaca
in The Andes
● Lustre In Suri Fleece ● Members Giveaway! ● 2023 Australian
Alpaca Show
● Camelid Tourism
About the author
Issue 25 - September
2023
BS SU
NO E RIB E! C FRE IT’S
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K IC CL 1 1
Di was born in Sydney, Australia many moons ago. Di comes from a family of artists, her father a talented artist, her mother a seamstress, and her grandmother a wedding dress maker. Growing up Di was surrounded by people making various things with all kinds of mediums. Di first started selling her art at the Byron Bay markets in1986. Moving to London in the late 80s Di continued her love of fabric, and fibre, and selling items at local markets. After moving to Tokyo, Japan in 1990 Di soon established herself with a business in vintage Japanese fabrics. Di’s classes were waitlisted for many years, where she taught her art of creating wall art, quilts, and handbags from vintage kimonos, yukatas and obis. While living in Tokyo for 16 years Di studied needle felting as a hobby with some of Japanese finest teachers. Felted fibres became a passion and continued when she moved to Singapore where her felted art began to take form. Now living in Brisbane, Australia Di runs Wild Woolly where she does commission work for clients. Di’s inspiration comes from her love of animals, the details in Japanese fabric and art, the lushness of Singapore, and her tropical Queensland garden. Di spends most days in her studio/workshop with her sister Annette, who is also a talented artist and the silent partner that keeps Wild Woolly humming again. They brainstorm and bounce ideas off each other, while their dogs Birdie and Holly sleep under the tables. paper-plane wildwoolly.au SQUARE-FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/wildwoollyau INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/wildwoollyau
Supreme Champion alpaca breeders with 29 years experience Inca Primero – Supreme Champion Male
We are proud to offer: Detailed guidance and support for new owners. Business planning for breeding herds. Elite pedigree breeding and pet stock for sale and export to the EU, Middle East and India. Help obtaining planning permission for a dwelling using alpaca breeding as justification – we did it and have helped others.
www.incaalpaca.co.uk Please call Tim to talk more about alpaca ownership: +44 (0) 7875 532827
incaalpaca.co.uk