Alpaca Issue 88

Alpaca British Alpaca Society bi-monthly magazine

ISSUE 88: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

British Alpaca Society The fibre breed

www.bas-uk.com

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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

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CONTENTS

Geronimo

DEFRA insists on slaughter.

32 Making difficult decisions

Euthanasia of animals is something that all alpaca keepers will need to consider at some point.

34 Show reports

BAS CHIEF EXECUTIVE Dr Duncan Pullar Tel: 07496 578781 Email: ceo@bas-uk.com EDITORIAL Editor: Liz Mason alpaca.ed@kelsey.co.uk ADVERTISEMENT SALES Wendy King Talk Media Sales Tel: 01732 448748 Email: Wendy.King@talkmediasales.co.uk GRAPHIC DESIGN Jo Legg 07306 482166 jo.legg@flair-design.co.uk

42 ‘Bright Future’ 12

Fibre processing

Interview: Phil Allen from Two Rivers Mill.

KELSEY MEDIA The Granary, Downs Court Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL 01959 541444 MANAGEMENT Chief Executive: Steve Wright Chief Operating Officer: Phil Weeden Managing Director: Kevin McCormick Publisher: Jamie McGrorty Retail Director: Steve Brown Renewals and Projects Manager: Andy Cotton Senior Subscription Marketing Manager: Nick McIntosh Subscription Marketing Director: Gill Lambert Subscription Marketing Manager: Kate Chamberlain Print Production Manager: Georgina Harris Print Production Controller: Kelly Orriss DISTRIBUTION Distribution in Great Britain: Marketforce (UK) 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9AP Tel: 020 3148 5000 PRINTING Precision Colour Print Kelsey Media 2021 © 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.

Kelsey Media takes your personal data very seriously. 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.

16 Grassland management 18 Hedges – A wildlife lifeline 22 Our princess Rebecca Block faces heartbreak in this second part of her story.

In the first of two articles looking at Australia’s growing fibre industry James Wheeler, from Kobler, explains how his alpaca fibre brokerage, is helping to meet ‘exceptional demand’ for Australian fibre.

44 Post-Brexit export first

After months of meticulous planning, five precious elite stud males were loaded at Inca Alpaca in Dorset ready for their journey to new homes in Europe, writes Kevin Hamstra, Alpaca Logistics Europe.

24 Alpacas bring smiles

Alpacas have helped to lift spirits at a Norfolk care home after a difficult year for residents.

26 Nutrition and fleece quality

JG Animal Health takes a look at the role of vitamins and minerals on fleece growth and quality.

30 Treasure’s leg fracture

Olivia Franks, from Hampden Veterinary Hospital, shares Treasure’s story to highlight the potential for surgery and encourage owners to plan ahead in case of a similar emergency.

46 A letter from Colorado

Sharon and Marc Milligan, Red Granite Ranch, keep about 400 alpacas in Northern Colorado where ongoing drought across the western United States is making life difficult for many farmers and ranchers.

www.kelsey.co.uk Cover photo: Albert and Otis from Woodbine Farm in Lutton, travelled to Westminster Square to support Geronimo. Photo from online casino PlayOjo who organised the protest.

50 BAS Board blog

Alpaca #88

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FROM THE EDITOR

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T: 01959 541444 E: alpaca.ed@kelsey.co.uk @BritishAlpacaMagazine

elcome to Autumn. With cria safely delivered and hay in the barn for winter many alpaca owners will welcome a return to a more relaxed routine.

In this issue our contributors take a look at autumn management to keep alpacas healthy. Alison Johnson, Bowbridge Alpacas, covers grass management and explains how she created good grassland for her alpacas from derelict land and Vicki Agar, Spring Farm Alpacas, looks at the benefits of hedges for alpacas and the environment. With autumn being the best time to plant hedges Vicki includes her guide to the most suitable plants for alpaca owners.

Jonathan Guy, from JG Animal Health also shares his experience in an article looking at the effect of nutrition, particularly trace elements and vitamins on fleece quality.

Top quality fleeces are on display in our round-up of fleece show reports. Show organisers have been busy co-ordinating the events and sharing the results. As well as providing owners with invaluable independent assessments from an expert judge their reports demonstrate that fleece shows are also enjoyable events for everyone involved.

Staying with fleece we include the first of two articles looking at the work taking place by Australian breeders to develop the country’s fleece industry. In this first › Liz Mason article James Wheeler, from Kobler, explains how he

started a fleece brokerage under the alpacafibre.com.au brand.

Closer to home Phil Allen from Two Rivers Mill in Dorset highlights the benefits of adding value to fleece by processing. If you haven’t considered turning your fleece into yarn, or a creative end product, perhaps now is the time to give it a try?

Alpaca health is the subject of several articles. Vet Ami Sawran looks at what is probably the most difficult decision that any animal owner will have to make – the decision to end a life to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.

Ami covers the subject of euthanasia sensitively and I hope you agree that her article provides essential information to help you make the best decision you can for your alpaca.

We hear about a leg fracture case study from vet Olivia Franks and owner Rebecca Block concludes the story of her Princess. She shares her story in the hope that the sad loss of her much-loved cria will help other owners plan ahead and decide what they would do in similar circumstances.

Finally, we include Geronimo’s story which ended in such distressing scenes at Helen Macdonald’s Gloucestershire farm – our sympathies are with Helen who fought so hard to save his life.

Thank you to all our contributors – and I hope you find something to help you in your alpaca journey in this issue of the magazine.

CEO NOTES...

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Duncan Pullar

hatever your position on the Geronimo case it is clear that alpaca owners are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. Many BAS members were approached for comment by the press and many took the chance to explain what was happening.

I had a very busy time fielding press enquiries from TV, radio and written press. In what is a complex situation one of the more frustrating things was the desire of reporters to oversimplify. In terms of frustration this was

closely followed by TV and radio panellists, with only the merest hint of understanding, giving their “certain” views on what was the correct course of action for those involved.

On to happier things, the National Alpaca Farms Open Day will have happened by the time this magazine has gone to press. At the time of writing 100 farms had decided to be part of the programme and were beavering away getting ready for visitors. The build up has been good and hopefully attendance will be good too.

Become a BAS member www.bas-uk.com

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Alpaca #88

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Alpaca #88

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GERONIMO

GERONIMO

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DEFRA insists on slaughter

nvironment Secretary George Eustice had ruled out any hope of a reprieve for Geronimo saying “every farmer had to get used to their share of tragedy and loss”.

Government TB control rules have caused misery for thousands of farmers. DEFRA figures show more than 28,000 cattle were slaughtered in England in the last year and 205 camelids, who tested positive to either a skin or blood test were killed in 2020.

Describing TB as “one of the greatest threats to UK animal health” DEFRA said: "Decisive action was necessary to protect animal and human health and the international reputation of the UK cattle industry.”

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “The tests used on Geronimo were developed for

use on alpacas and are highly specific – the chances of a false positive are significantly less than 1% and we have tested him twice. Not just for the benefit of our farming industry but to avoid more TB cases in humans, our disease control measures must be applied.”

Writing in the Mail on Sunday Mr Eustice said: “I have looked at this case several times over the last three years, and gone through all of the evidence with the chief vet and other experts in detail. Sadly, Geronimo has tested positive twice using a highly specific and reliable test.”

Mr Eustice added that the 'Enferplex' test “is the test that was requested by the British Alpaca Society at the time. When it comes to positive test results, it is over 99% accurate with a 'false positive' in only 0.34% of cases.

> Geronimo on 6 March 2020

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“However, it is not a very sensitive test. That is to say, in around 30% of cases it won't detect an infection even when one is present. Two consecutive positive test results is a very strong indicator of the presence of the disease.”

DEFRA said that allowing a retest after two consecutive positive test results would not invalidate the previous results or change the advice of expert vets that Geronimo is infected.

DEFRA also maintained that there is “no scientific basis” for the argument that TB skin testing causes false positive blood test results. It said the tuberculin injection essentially amplifies the antibodies already present in the animal because of infection, but does not trigger the production of new antibodies.

Actiphage blood tests are also not validated which means their results are difficult to interpret.

Official complaint

AS has called for a full public investigation into Geronimo’s removal saying the behaviour of APHA officers was “disgusting, repulsive and cruel” and in total disregard for his welfare.

In a letter of complaint sent to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, DEFRA secretary George Eustice, and official government vets BAS wrote: We write to complain about the disgraceful and abhorrent conduct of APHA officers and vets who attended Helen Macdonald’s premises to seize her alpaca.

As those responsible for animal welfare APHA had a duty of care to Geronimo to ensure he was handled and euthanised with a minimum of distress, neither of which they achieved.

The lack of knowledge as to the correct way to handle alpacas was startling and totally inexcusable, dragging him kicking and screaming on to a trailer then tying him up with a poorly fitted cattle halter; he was screaming his distress call as he was brutally loaded which is evidence of how terrified he was – in front of the world’s media.

Alpacas are semi obligate nasal breathers and as such should have headcollars correctly sized and fitted so as not to obstruct their breathing, it is very evident from the footage that this didn’t happen – Geronimo was seen gasping for air.

It is also well documented that alpacas sit down when being transported, yet Geronimo was tied up like a horse.

There is no excuse for these actions, the correct information is in the public domain, yet whoever

led this repulsive exercise yesterday simply hadn’t bothered to find out the proper techniques. Whoever led yesterday’s operation must be formally suspended immediately for such gross misconduct and animal abuse.

If Geronimo arrived at his final destination still alive and not strangled or suffocated, how can we be sure he was humanely euthanised? If basic handling was so appalling how can anyone be sure he was euthanised correctly and in a calm and dignified matter?

Given APHA officers knew that they were going to be filmed and images shared globally, we beg the question how much worse would the handling have been had they not been filmed?

Their behaviour was disgusting, repulsive and cruel and in total disregard for Geronimo’s welfare and we would demand a full and formal public investigation to be initiated immediately.

The actions of DEFRA representatives seizing Geronimo was unacceptable for officers who are charged with animal welfare.

If this is the level of ‘professionalism’ shown by government officials in difficult circumstances, then something is very very wrong. The handling of Geronimo yesterday was abhorrent, brutal and is not deemed acceptable behaviour by such officers.

The letter, was signed by Sue Loach BAS Chair on behalf of the BAS Board and sent to: Stephen Cane – DEFRA, Christine Middlemiss – DEFRA chief vet, Ricardo De la Rua-Domenech – APHA, Boris Johnson, George Eustice, APHA, British Veterinary Association (BVA), Royal College Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), members of the British Press.

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‘Unsafe’ test conviction

eronimo’s positive TB test results are “unsafe and make no sense”, according to former BAS board member and welfare expert Doug Steen.

But government agency vets are not interested in research to discover more about the effect of priming (tuberculin injections) on the accuracy of blood test results. They have also bullied and intimidated Enferplex blood test developers Sure Farm who advised “caution in interpretation of the results”.

Doug, from Teesdale Alpacas in Durham, has met the government agency (APHA) vets responsible for advising environment secretary George Eustice, many times in his role as a member of the bTB Camelid industry group.

In 2016 shortly after the Enferplex blood test was introduced the BAS raised concerns over priming with APHA. Doug said: “We went as a Society to APHA to say that we don’t know enough about priming and asked could they carry out research on a group of alpacas? They turned us down although we (the BAS) would have paid.

“They are just not interested in doing the research. The government have a (TB test) process that they agreed with us and they are not inclined to change it because that involves their time and they don’t want to spend any money.”

Doug added that the BAS paid for the equipment for the Enferplex blood test used by APHA because the BAS wanted the test introduced. “They said ‘we don’t have the money to spend and we’re not particularly bothered so we’re not going to do it’, so we said we will pay for it so that it could be used.

“They were pushed into it – the equipment that is sitting in the laboratory was paid for by us.”

And “the same people” who were at that time reluctant to do any early research “are still sat at the table and are not being very co-operative in Helen’s case”.

In a situation, like Geronimo’s, where there is no real reason why an animal should have a positive result there should be an opportunity for further tests and more research. “The process as it stands doesn’t allow for a lot of leeway when you have a result that doesn’t make sense.

“He came from a farm that hasn’t had a case of TB for 20 years and he came in with a group of alpacas none of which have subsequently developed the disease.

“The government has tried to say he may have got the disease in New Zealand but that doesn’t hold any water – it is so unlikely. In addition his new farm has badger proof fencing and also no other animals with disease and so the chance of him , and him alone, catching this infection is just not feasible -setting aside the issue with priming it is an unsafe result.”

Stress may also have had an effect on the results as this is another area that has not been investigated. “There can be no doubt that Geronimo will have been under a significant amount of stress. He was held in quarantine in New Zealand, flown over with a group of animals and held in quarantine again on another farm.

“These are all unknowns and even Sure Farm, who developed the Enferplex test, made the comment that the second result should be interpreted with caution.

“Instead, the government have reacted fairly typically and tried to lay the blame on New Zealand and they tried to suggest that if SureFarm are not prepared to stand by the test results than they will dump them. That to me smacks of bullying and intimidation.

“The test was not applied as it should have been and there was not enough time between priming.”

“DEFRA had a good opportunity to run another test but “instead they chose to play hard ball and I don’t think in a month of Sundays they expected Helen to have spent the money and time she has done and fight it.”

Doug has raised his concerns over TB testing with his local MP who has written to George Eustice. Meanwhile Doug says he understands the reluctance of others to voluntarily test animals given the lack of reasonable fair treatment in this case; even though this case has some very specific issues that does set it apart from normal voluntary blood testing (not involving ‘priming).

More stories on the next page >>

> Albert and Otis from Woodbine Farm in Lutton, travelled to Westminster Square to support Geronimo. Photo from online casino PlayOjo who organised the protest.

Alpaca #88

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GERONIMO

TB tests explained

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What is TB?

uberculosis is an infectious respiratory disease found in mammals, including humans, cattle, camelids (alpacas and llamas), pigs, sheep and goats. It is caused by the bacteria M. bovis.

TB is “not considered a major problem of camelids worldwide”, according to the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, but they do “occasionally become infected”. TB cases due to M. bovis have been confirmed in New Zealand, the US, Holland, Ireland and Great Britain.

The disease can be spread by infected animals (cattle or other camelids) and infected wildlife including badgers and deer.

In most cases camelids are infected through

contact with cattle, badgers or through infected faeces in the environment. But there have been cases of transmission between camelid herds.

Do I have to test my alpacas?

Beef and dairy cattle must be tested regularly (anything from every six months to every four years depending on the risk in the region) using the TB skin test but testing in alpacas is voluntary. APHA vets can however require compulsory testing of alpacas – when they show a positive result to a TB test or are contacts to infected animals (cattle or other camelids). The environment secretary will enforce the slaughter of alpacas that test positive.

Statutory compensation is payable for any slaughtered alpacas – £1,500 for a stud male or

breeding female over 18 months old and £750 for non- breeding animals or animals younger than 18 months.

A TB test scenario for camelids was agreed by BAS, DEFRA and APHA, and camelid vets in 2015.

This covered three voluntary testing scenarios or protocols for herd surveillance, pre-movement and pre-export and a fourth compulsory (or statutory) protocol for herd breakdowns which is administered

by APHA. A copy is on the BAS website.

What TB tests are available for alpacas?

Under agreed protocols for private voluntary testing owners can choose one of two blood tests – Enferplex or combined DPPVet-TB-IDEXX. Owners must first have permission to test from APHA. DEFRA say both blood tests “achieve a diagnostic specificity close to 100%”. But the Enferplex test was chosen by a camelid TB forum as the industry’s preferred blood test following a BAS funded study in 2011/12.

Skin testing or primed Enferplex is required by DEFRA for compulsory testing (after TB is suspected at post -mortem, or for spread tracings from herds with confirmed TB, or for a contiguous herd that shares a land border with a herd confirmed to have TB).

How accurate are these tests?

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives (the proportion of disease free animals correctly identified as disease free). A test with a specificity of 99% means it will, on average, correctly identify 99 out of 100 animals tested that do not have TB. But 1% will incorrectly test positive – so called false positive results. Similar diseases can cause cross reactions so this is important. For example in the case of TB there is cross reactivity with Microti.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives. The DPPVet -TB IDEXX test and Enferplex tests have a sensitivity of 70% This means they correctly identify 70% of animals that have TB but fail to detect 30% with disease – so called false negatives.

Both blood tests offer more accurate results than the TB skin test which according to camelid vets proved “ineffective” in camelids later confirmed by post mortem to have TB. The TB skin test has excellent specificity – more than 99% (which means fewer than 1% will incorrectly test positive (false positives), but its limitation is its low sensitivity – estimated to be only 10%-15% in camelids which means it will fail to detect 85%-90% with disease (false negatives).

SureFarm vets, who developed the Enferplex test, recognised this low sensitivity as “a serious issue in endemic areas of TB, where it is recognised that the sensitivity of the test can fall considerably.

“Why camelids are particularly poor in

responding to the test is not understood. A final important factor in the use of the test in camelids is the difficulty in administering the PPD (tuberculin) and reading the test, particularly in thin skinned younger animals.”

DEFRA scientists reassessed the sensitivity and specificity of the blood tests available under the voluntary test scheme in 2018. They used 100 serum samples from camelids with visible lesions from herds with confirmed M. bovis infection, plus 305 TB free camelid serum samples from herds with no history of TB. A paper concluded that the results provided “continued confidence of the usefulness of all three tests and confirmed that there are no statistically significant differences in the diagnostic accuracies (sensitivity and specificity)” of any of the blood tests available to camelid owners.

What is priming?

Priming involves an injection into the skin with bovine tuberculin (a protein obtained from M. bovis cultures) to boost antibody levels in the blood and increase the sensitivity of blood tests. The priming agent is the same protein as used in the skin test.

Vets say, in theory, antibodies cannot be made

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from the injection of tuberculin alone – it is the retained memory cells, from a previous encounter with M. bovis before the injection, that stimulate antibody production.

The main concern over boosting, raised when the TB test protocols were introduced, was that there was “no data to suggest what effect, if any, priming has on a TB negative alpaca”.

This slight uncertainty” meant that, although a skin test was required for compulsory testing, priming was voluntary for private surveillance tests.

Sources: TB hub, Camelid Industry Presentation on TB Testing 2015, DEFRA TB test protocols and briefing notes to official vets.

DEFRA has however insisted that priming or “the injection of tuberculin does not induce a false positive antibody response in animals that have not been exposed to the TB bacterium in the first place Refuting what it described as “misleading claims” in national newspapers about the effect of priming a DEFRA blog said: Claim: Geronimo only tested positive because he was previously primed with injections of bovine TB bacteria.

This is not correct... We routinely use the ‘primed’ Enferplex and other antibody tests

Confidence undermined

eronimo’s treatment by officials who removed him from Helen Macdonald’s farm was an “act of cruelty”, say BAS. An official complaint from BAS has been sent to the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the chief vet Christine Middlemiss, DEFRA secretary George Eustice, prime minister Boris Johnson and the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

BAS said: “We cannot and will not condone any act of cruelty, it is especially appalling when it is carried out by those responsible for animal welfare.”

APHA officers who seized Geronimo “completely failed in their duty of care” towards him. “There was clearly no knowledge as to the best way to transport an alpaca or how to fit a halter on a semi obligate nasal breather and as such we believe APHA have been negligent in allowing unnecessary suffering to Geronimo.”

Following “the exceedingly difficult circumstances” surrounding Geronimo’s removal BAS called for a thorough post mortem and requested an independent qualified observer to ensure confidence in the results.

“Post-mortem examination is vital to improve learning in this case and BAS implore AHPA to carry out a thorough post-mortem examination to maximise learning. Given the lack of trust between Ms Macdonald and APHA BAS request an independent qualified observer for all post-mortem work to ensure confidence in any results.”

However, in a letter to Helen Macdonald’s solicitors shared on social media a government solicitor said “APHA was not in a position to accommodate Ms Macdonald’s request” for an independent vet to observe the post mortem examination “for health and safety, Covid-19 and site security reasons”.

“The post mortem proceeded in accordance with standard operating procedures for suspected TB clinical cases and TB positive animals, which do not allow for the obtaining of samples for private testing,” the letter said.

Repeated requests

in alpacas and llama herds that are not under movement restrictions, but may be at risk of TB because they happen to be co-located or contiguous with an infected cattle herd. Even in those at-risk herds we find very low proportions of positive results, approximately 1% to 3%, on the ‘primed’ antibody tests, which have been carried out in over 1,500 alpacas and llamas since 2019.

Claim: There is no evidence for the accuracy of the Enferplex when used without tuberculin priming.

The accuracy of the Enferplex and the other approved antibody tests for TB in camelids, including alpacas and llamas, were first estimated as part of a peer-reviewed study published in 2012 and were re-evaluated and updated by APHA in March 2018, based on the latest available data gathered. This included approximately 25% of our TB-free control group that had been subject to tuberculin ‘priming’ 10-30 days before the blood samples were taken for antibody testing.

The specificity figures quoted by the Environment Secretary therefore does include data from tuberculin primed camelids. It is the test that was requested by British Alpaca Society at the time.

Source: DEFRA in the media

BAS repeatedly called on DEFRA and APHA to allow further TB tests on

Geronimo to better understand his TB status. But these requests were denied.

The Society also called for urgent talks with DEFRA secretary George Eustice saying there was “no science” to explain the effects of multiple priming” on Enferplex blood test results.

“The unique circumstances that have developed relating to Geronimo clearly show the testing system is not working as well as it should, and it is a matter of concern that DEFRA do not appear to want to learn from what is going on.

“DEFRA will not allow further testing on Geronimo. There is no science to explain the effects of multiple priming on the outcomes of the Enferplex test in alpacas and no research has been carried out.”

BAS said it “recognised the need for an effective TB testing scheme in alpacas that has the confidence and support of its members for the benefit of their alpacas and their bovine neighbours.

“The recent events relating to Geronimo have done nothing to advance that position and have considerably undermined confidence in the current regime.

“Four years on from the tests Geronimo is healthy, as are the alpacas which have been sharing his paddock, and the alpacas that travelled from New Zealand with Geronimo on the same or contiguous crates.”

Vaccination plan needed

DEFRA aims to introduce a TB cattle vaccine in 2025 and field trials are underway. BAS wants alpacas to be included in the research and BAS CEO Duncan Pullar said the Society would “happily work with a group representing the alpaca world and government to develop a vaccination plan”.

“This is surely the way forward to get effective control of this insidious disease. This approach needs to be developed quickly because confidence in TB testing is low which does not help control measures.”

More stories on the next page >>

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GERONIMO

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eronimo’s final moments were captured on camera in distressing scenes as he was forcibly removed from Helen Macdonald’s farm

by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officials.

Speaking to reporters Helen said she was “absolutely devastated to report that DEFRA have taken Geronimo away by force”. Helen was not told where he was being taken. But she knew he was alone in the trailer, “absolutely terrified” after being taken from his herd where he had lived for four years.

Helen said: “This morning Geronimo has been manhandled out of my farm. It needs to be said these are barbaric actions of unscientific and abusive people in government and taxpayers are paying for this.”

Helen was not present when Geronimo was removed because she was “not going to put her hands on a healthy animal and allow the government to murder him.

“It is against my code of conduct as a RVN (Royal Veterinary Nurse). And we have known for four years that the science is flawed, and what they did to him was to deliberately manipulate a test to suit their agenda.”

After APHA officials, escorted by police, entered the farm Geronimo was rounded up, caught and forcibly led to a trailer. He was pictured standing inside the trailer tied tight to the inside wall before he was taken to an undisclosed destination for slaughter.

The campaign to save Geronimo’s life, after he twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB), was backed by celebrities, including the prime minister’s father Stanley Johnson. Alpaca owners marched on Downing Street and more than 140,000 people signed a petition to save Geronimo.

A group of senior vets also raised “grave reservations” over the safety of Geronimo’s positive TB test result. But DEFRA secretary George Eustice refused to overturn his decision to slaughter Geronimo which was upheld in the High Court in July.

DEFRA said a court warrant was used “to enter premises for the purposes of removing the bTB-positive alpaca known as ‘Geronimo’. The infected animal was moved from the premises and euthanised by staff from APHA as a necessary measure to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB).”

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “This is a terribly sad situation and our sympathies remain with all those affected by this devastating disease.”

In her statement Helen said she had tried in the last two weeks of Geronimo’s life “to engage

10 Alpaca #88

‘Barbaric actions’ constructively and persistently with George Eustice, Lord Benyon, George Eustice’s special advisors, senior DEFRA civil servants and multiple MPs and government scientists, proposing a different way forward that would enable the Government to address their stated priorities in tackling bovine TB, and also save Geronimo’s life.“ But the government had refused to engage in good faith. “Now we know that they were not only ignoring our consistent pleas for constructive dialogue, but had no intention of engaging with us. In fact, all the time, they were simply planning to murder Geronimo.

“This is yet another appalling demonstration of bad faith and duplicity by the secretary of state and everyone at DEFRA.” Demanding an independent vet to witness Geronimo’s post mortem Helen said if she did not get one “I will know that they will be ‘fudging’ the post mortem results to create a suspicion of confirmed disease so they can say that he caught TB in New Zealand six years ago.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. He did not ever catch disease in New Zealand. He has never been exposed to TB – this is blatant abuse,” she added.

“I am demanding an independent witness and if government do not engage with me now I will know that they fabricated his post mortem.”

Geronimo twice tested positive for TB in 2017 shortly after he was imported as a stud male from New Zealand. But Helen has always maintained that DEFRA’s actions alone created “a suspicion of disease” in an otherwise healthy alpaca.

“DEFRA had prior knowledge that giving multiple injections of tuberculin before the camelid Enferplex blood test (known as priming) produced false positive test results in healthy camelids.

“This happened to Geronimo in 2017 and DEFRA failed to declare this,” her online petition said.

Support from vets

In an open letter, published in the Veterinary Times, senior vets from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) supported Helen’s case. “We could learn a great deal from Geronimo were he to be compassionately studied, but very little from his death,” their letter said.

The vets included Professor Ranald Munroe, former head of pathology at DEFRA's Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Iain McGill, director of the Prion interest group.

The letter said: “It is our professional opinion that the diagnosis in Geronimo’s case is unsafe, and may well represent a false positive, due to the fact that Geronimo had been repeatedly ‘antibody boosted’ (or primed) five times in his lifetime – with four injections of bovine tuberculin

and one of avian tuberculin in the run-up to the final Enferplex blood test, which confirmed the ‘positive’ diagnosis of ‘suspicion of disease.

The vets said “one of the developers of the Enferplex test, veterinary surgeon Alastair Hayton, stated that Geronimo’s Enferplex results were ‘not suggestive of a progressive disease state’.

Their letter also quoted a DEFRA TB scientist who said “the negative impact of the administration of tuberculin on the specificity of antibody tests in TB-free animals (i.e. the likelihood of false positive results) is a potential concern when antibody tests are used outside TB breakdown situations”.

Unvalidated test

In 2020 199 camelids were killed following a ‘positive’ diagnosis by skin or blood tests involving prior administration of tuberculin. Of 56 submitted for post mortem, only four had post mortem evidence of TB. Successful culture of TB was only achieved in seven of the 35 animals where this was attempted.

“Notwithstanding that bTB cases sometimes have no visible lesions, and that bTB may sometimes be hard to culture, these data indicate a very low specificity,” the vets said.

“DEFRA officials have claimed that the specificity of Enferplex in alpacas is more than 99%. This may be true for the validated Enferplex test used as a stand-alone test without antibody boosting (priming).

“However, the specificity of Enferplex for alpacas that have been multiple primed with tuberculin is simply unknown and the test is unvalidated when used in this way,” the letter said. > Geronimo the day before going to AQES

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11

FIBRE PROCESSING Liz Mason interviews Phil Allen from Two Rivers Mill

Photos: Matt Austin

What's your advice to anyone who is thinking about having their fleece processed for the first time?

It's definitely worth doing ! Get in contact with a mill as soon as possible and find out what they want in terms of fleece quality and preparation. Most mills have similar requirements for the fleece they process but there can be subtle differences which may make one mill more suitable than another. They can also advise you on what is possible to make with your fleece and yarns.

Will processing add value to fleece?

Definitely. It will turn the fleece into a more usable and valuable form and if you are thinking of selling it on or even making products then there will be a substantial uplift in value – x10 or more !

What do you need in terms of fleece quality to make high quality yarn?

We use the worsted process which involves combing the fibres so we need a good average staple length of at least 3 ½” (9cm). We’re also looking for good handle, lack of guard hair, good fibre strength and cleanliness.

Coarse hairs significantly reduce yarn quality so by working hard at the shearing stage to avoid contamination of the blanket fleece by coarse hairs from leg, neck, belly and sweepings breeders can make a big difference to the final yarn quality. Breeding out guard hairs also provides a big long-term improvement in quality.

Fibre fineness is an important factor in yarn quality. We find that fleeces with average fibre diameter in the 18 – 24 micron range (with a standard deviation of

12 Alpaca #88

fibre diameter less than 5.5 microns) make the best yarns overall when working with pure alpaca, giving good yields and an acceptably low proportion of coarse fibres.

Can you do anything at the Mill with poorer quality fleece?

Not at our mill – if it falls outside our specification range it is too difficult to process and won’t make a good worsted yarn so it is uneconomic for us to work with. There is a huge volume of poor quality low value fleece around which is not suitable for making yarn, mostly from animals more than six years old when the fleece tends to become shorter and coarser or from animals not bred specifically for their fleece quality.

Are particular fleece colours easier to work with and would you advise blending alpaca with other natural fibres such as silk or mohair?

We find that in general, lighter coloured fleeces come in with better quality than darker fleeces and fleeces with very dark pigments tend to be more ‘slippery’ through the process but we find excellent fleeces in all colours.

Blends with other natural fibres – for example, lustre wools, mohair and silk - work well when they combine desirable properties to achieve specific improved outcomes for the yarn. There is additional cost involved but there can also be significant benefits to handle, softness, lustre, colour, wear resistance and strength depending on the blend. The very creative blends can be very popular with craft knitters.

Continued on next page >>

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13

Can you process both Huacaya and Suri fleece? Should these be blended or made into separate yarns?

We can process either type of fibre on its own or blended together. Each fibre produces a yarn with different properties which are appropriate for different uses – huacaya is more lofty compared with suri which tends to make yarns with more drape. We tend to spin suri to a light 4-ply weight or finer to avoid the drape of the yarns feeling too heavy in garments. A 30/70 blend of huacaya/suri is a good combination of the loft of huacaya and the coolness and drape of suri.

> Phil Allen

What makes your job difficult? Is it fleece quality or poor presentation for instance?

Many things – natural fibres, complex machines and the factory environment – work together to make processing difficult.

Poor fleece presentation means we have to spend more time sorting out the fleece that will work well enough in the process. Even a small amount of skirting or sorting done before sending the fleeces can make a bit difference to the amount of work we have to do.

Poor fleece doesn’t make good yarn and our website gives lots of guidance about what we consider good fleece for yarn.

Each batch of fibre is different and the machines need to be adjusted to get the best results. There is a range of fibre properties which suit our process and machines and if the fibre is too short or long, coarse or fine then we have more problems.

The environment in the factory is also important and long spells of warm dry weather can make it difficult to maintain the high humidity conditions essential for fibre control.

You use the worsted process – what is this and how does it differ from any other processing method?

The main differences with other processing methods are the multiple stages of fibre blending to improve evenness and the unique combing stage which aligns the fibres and removes all sorts of faults and impurities to make a smooth, clean and compact yarn. It means that we can spin finer yarns and be more confident that the yarns have the strength and uniformity needed to make high quality machine-knit and woven products.

What do owners need to do to have the best chance of making and selling a good end product?

Think carefully about the product and the market before starting then choose the manufacturing partners that will help you achieve your aim. There will be a lot of time and money invested in all the stages of production – growing the fleece, spinning the yarn, designing and manufacturing the product then advertising and selling for the best price possible – and doing it all again when you are successful!

Ideally you would start with the product and work backwards along the production process to the fleece specification – which hopefully your animals will provide. Sometimes it is necessary to source additional fibre to make up the quality of fleece you need and maybe the quantity if you are more ambitious!

Can you tell us about any projects that you've worked on that have impressed you?

We are fortunate to have been involved with a lot of creative people and very skilled knitters and weavers who have made fabulous garments from the yarns we have made from small runs of fine yarns for one-off cloth designs to 100kg runs of machine-knitting yarn for a long-established high end knitwear brand – each project brings its own challenges and rewards. We are just one of the stages involved in the whole manufacturing process and we very much enjoy seeing the results of other people’s imagination and skills.

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

I don’t claim to be an expert in grass management, but this article outlines some of the lessons we have learnt on our alpaca journey, writes Alison Johnson, Bowbridge Alpacas, Scotland.

M

anagement of grass is very important for the health of your alpacas, and affects your feed costs, your ability to breed successfully, the growth of your cria, the worm burden of your herd and their general well-being. If you manage your grassland well you will also not need to plough up and reseed it – a costly and long-term process.

If you can imagine a derelict field, that was our land when we bought it. It had clay soil, was south-facing (with beautiful views) and had lain unplanted and unloved for several years.

Taking advice from local farmers we had the field ploughed and then laid field drainage. We have just over 17 acres and 20 channels were dug out by a digger.

We lined them with gravel and drainage pipes were laid and then more gravel was filled round and on top of them – hard work as we did it all ourselves.

Field-drainage is very important, so you don’t get areas of standing water, especially if you live in an area prone to liver fluke, a particularly devastating worm for alpaca health and which has an amazing life cycle involving water-living tiny snails. We then had the field harrowed and sown with specialist alpaca grass 17 different types of seed, with a lot of clover.

I have read that alpacas are light on grassland, and they are to an extent, but areas around their feed troughs can become very muddy during wet winter weather. We laid loose hard core around these areas, which makes life easier and the alpacas less prone to foot-rot, but poo-picking is more challenging on hard core, so nothing is straightforward.

Poo-picking is very important for alpaca health, to help control worm burdens.

The advice is to poo-pick daily or every other day. This is possible if you have a very

16 Alpaca #88

small herd and can do it by hand with a bucket and scooper, but with a larger herd the weather can have a huge effect on your ability to poo-pick.

Alpacas are supposed to all poo in the same place. This is true up to a point, and you can spot their favourite spots by the luxurious grass growth in these areas, but although there may be large spaces without much poo, these piles do seem to be spread all over the fields. If you have large paddocks and need to use a poo vacuum and/or sweeper (we have both), and if the ground is wet, the wheels of your buggy or tractor (and we have both) can churn up the ground and churn in the poo.

The message is poo-pick whenever you can when the ground is dry, and hopefully the poo will never build up too much, but in wet periods this can be very difficult.

Resting paddocks

When we started (with seven alpacas) we fenced five small paddocks. At this moment we have 57 alpacas and over the years we have fenced more land and we now also have two very large paddocks. Our next plan is to divide them into smaller paddocks, as this allows us to manage the grass better.

What we do is move the alpacas from one of the paddocks and thoroughly poo-pick it. We then top the grass and let it “rest” for as long as possible, and for at least six to eight weeks. This breaks the worm life-cycle and allows the grass to recover, consolidate its root system and grow. We would top it again as soon as the grass in that paddock in general reaches the height of the lush poo-pile grass. This process also depends on the alpacas having access to shelter in all the paddocks, so there can be a difference between the ideal and the real world.

Alpacas prefer fairly short grass, around two to four inches (five to ten centimetres). We have around 45 to 55 alpacas on our land, depending on the time of year, and they are unable to keep up with the spring and summer grass, so we top it regularly.

Topping is cutting the grass before weeds and grass have seeded. It is a very good way of controlling weeds (except for the poisonous yellow ragwort which needs to be dug out before topping; growing the ragwort is very bitter, so is left alone, but dry it is just as poisonous and may be eaten).

Topping improves the quality of the grass and reduces weeds. If you have a smaller amount of land, but need to cut the grass, if you cut some lines like a St Andrew’s cross, for example, in the paddock, the alpacas will be able to eat around that and will be able to move on from it.

You may also wish to make hay from your fields; the size of your fields may make this economically worthwhile if you can do it yourself, or, more likely, find a farmer who is willing to do it for you. However, when we got hay made from our paddocks, the farmer, understandably, chose to come to us, a small customer, at a less than ideal time weather-wise and the resulting hay wasn’t of the best quality.

We have decided, therefore, to just top the grass and buy in good-quality hay. If we don’t count the time my husband spends on his tractor topping (and he loves it), it proved more economical to buy hay in anyway. Topping should ideally be done once a month in the growing season.

You can also get your soil assessed for chemical make-up and advice on what to do/add to improve it; our local seed merchants helped us with this and some agricultural colleges or agents may also be able to offer advice. You need to

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decide if you are happy to use artificial chemicals on your land to improve it. There is no point adding fertiliser unless the grass is actively growing as it will not be taken up, and will be washed away into the watercourse with the next heavy rain.

You can store and dry your alpaca poo and apply it, dried and ground up, after around three years.

Lots of more detailed advice is available in specialised literature and online, but this article will give you a starting point on what to think about in managing your pasture. Writing this has helped clarify my thinking and understanding of grassland management and I hope it will be useful for you too.

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Alpaca #88

17

HEDGES - A WILDLIFE LIFELINE Even if you are not farming alpacas specifically with a wish to help wildlife, hedges provide wildlife with a lifeline, writes Vicki Agar, Spring Farm Alpacas.

A

lpacas are browsers as well as grazers so will benefit from the additional diversity in their diet which hedges provide.

Also, hedges are important wildlife corridors as well as providing food and habitat for many birds plus priority mammal species included in the UK’s biodiversity action plan.

Hedges aid pollination, help with pest control, conserve soil and reduce flood risk. And all this in addition to capturing carbon which is a hot topic at the moment as we try to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming.

Hedging plants can be selected for your soil type, locality and individual aims, but I would suggest using native shrubs as we did.

Spring Farm has been in Countryside Stewardship (CSS) which morphed into Higher Level Stewardship and Entry Level Stewardship. We have farmed within these schemes for the last 21 years. Under capital works within our CSS agreement, we were part funded for the cost of putting in the hedges, the first hedge of which we did entirely ourselves – not necessarily recommended! In total we have planted five hedges. The financing which benefited us is likely to remain under future Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS).

An overall observation is that quite a few hedging plants are rather prickly,

18 Alpaca #88

with Blackthorn (if you don’t mind missing out on large crops of sloes) being one hedging plant we would happily do without. Blackthorn has extremely long spines which can puncture alpaca feet after hedge cutting, and is present in all of our hedges that existed before we bought the farm. We hand rake the hedge cuttings as the worst of two evils so as to avoid foot problems in our alpacas. I suggest protecting new hedges by fencing them off when planted as there will still be great browsing opportunities for your alpacas as they establish.

Types of hedging plants

The hedging plants we have used are: • Cratageous monogyna, (Hawthorn) – relatively prickly, but not such that we consider it a big risk to our alpaca’s feet.

• Hazel Corylus avellana – alpacas love browsing this.

• Common Dogwood, Cornus sanguinea.

• Field Maple, Acer campestre.

• Dog Rose, Rosa canina – also prickly • Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus – Can cause gastritis which is an inflammation of the stomach.

• Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus.

• Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa – a great hedging plant, but we would not include it anywhere that alpacas are likely to graze next to; it becomes too risky and may be stood on by alpacas after hedge cutting.

• Holly, Ilex aquifolium – leaves and berries have a mild toxicity to horses and presumably therefore alpacas, we have a few dotted around our hedges • Beech. Fagus sylvatica – slow growing, but we have included these too.

We also purchased bamboo canes and spiral rabbit guards for each 'whip', plus dipped the root system of each plant in root dip mycorrhizae.

A tip would be that you are wasting your money if you buy larger individual plants as they will be readily caught up by smaller, cheaper 'whips'.

How to plant a hedge

For our first two hedges, we laid down a semipermeable membrane along the length of the hedge line. We made a cut in it for the hedging plants to be planted through. Then we pierced the soil with a spade and rocked the spade back and forth creating an opening before slotting the root system into the hole and firming it in.

The membrane is optional, but can prevent a hedge getting overwhelmed before becoming established. Otherwise, herbicides could be used, but we preferred the non-chemical option. Each individual plant had a bamboo cane inserted beside it and a spiral rabbit guard placed around both.

Alternatively dig a hole. Place your first hedging plant in the first hole and backfill with the earth from the second and so on. This is a labour saving way of only having to move the earth once. Tread the earth in firmly as you go. Plant your hedging plants twelve to fifteen inches apart in staggered rows.

> Planting a second hedge

> Planting a new hedge

> Coppicing hornbeam trees

> Typical hedge in Springtime

Alpaca #88

19

> Laneway from coppice re-growth

< Alpacas cannot be introduced into a field without fencing off your new hedge as they will browse it and enjoy doing so to your dismay! The distance that you place your fence from the hedge can vary depending on whether you are going to be getting someone in to cut your hedges for you. It might be worth a phone call for advice from your local farmer.

For our second and subsequent hedges, we did not use a membrane, but mulched with alpaca poo wherever possible and the growth of the hedge was infinitely more rapid!

Hedge management

After planting your hedge, suggested management strategies can vary. Hedges are dynamic and constantly changing, therefore ongoing management is important. Hedges can be both under-managed and over-managed. Cutting the tips off the hedge rather than cutting the hedge back too far, is beneficial and allows the hedge to thicken out. Berries and seeds grow on last year’s growth so cutting your hedges in the spring is preferable to cutting in the autumn.

All hedges will ultimately need rejuvenating whether by laying or coppicing. Cutting a hedge every three years and cutting it back to 10cm above where the last cut was made will mean that it will only have grown a metre in 30 years. Our CSS agreement specifies that we only cut our hedges a maximum of every other year.

Hedge laying is a great way of rejuvenating a hedge and especially, for example, one which has become full of gaps at the bottom. It is a specialist job and involves cutting the stem deeply enough to bend it over at a slant to the ground. This encourages new shoots to fill out the hedge helping it to become stock proof again if that is required. The fencing on either side of the hedge will protect a hedge from becoming too heavily browsed which can

20 Alpaca #88

> Coppicing hornbeam trees

cause birds nests to become visible and therefore vulnerable to predation.

Allowing some of the hedging plants to grow on to form trees along the length of the hedge can provide extra natural shade for alpacas within the fields on either side.

Coppicing is an ancient form of woodland management in approximately a seven-year cycle. Groups of trees or hedging plants are cut back to ground level or “stools” thereby increasing the longevity of the trees involved. We cut a laneway of old hornbeams back some 15 or so years ago. We were concerned at the time since we were told that they had probably been left to grow for about 70 years, that it might kill them so we cut them at about 4 feet high rather than to ground level. They all survived and have now grown to form a green tunnel like walkway which provides us shade on our alpaca walks. It is now one of the prettiest places on the farm.

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21

OUR PRINCESS

Rebecca Block faces heartbreak in this second part of her story.

She shares her story in the hope that the loss of her stunning cria Princess might help other owners plan ahead and prepare for the unthinkable. The first part of Rebecca’s story of her Princess was published in our July issue.

A

s we continued with the antibiotic injections after the vet’s second visit on New Year’s Eve, I realised how very thin and emaciated Princess had become – even in her face I could see the weight just slipping off. I knew in my heart that Princess was growing weaker as the days’ past.

She continued to be as calm and stoic as ever but I knew the light was gradually fading from her. It was not something a casual observer might notice, but I knew she just wasn’t right.

I phoned the vet again with urgency and pushed to have blood tests and a biopsy taken to find out what was going on. It was exactly two weeks after the vet’s first visit and I was told that we should wait another week to bring her to the surgery in order to allow for the paperwork for an Enferplex blood test (for TB).

Richard and I both felt that under the circumstances this was such an unlikely explanation that it was hardly worth doing, but I reluctantly agreed in order to rule it out from the start.

All my herd had been agisted in an area of the country with very low TB risk and all had tested negative before travelling to live with us on the Isle of Wight two months before Princess was born. I knew we just needed to get on with the tests as soon as possible, so we booked her in first thing the following Monday.

Meanwhile, we brought Princess and her mother Beatrice into the stables as the weather had turned cold and although Princess was adorned in a smart red coat we wanted to keep her warm and dry and close at hand.

Beatrice hated being away from the others and did her best to break out at any given opportunity. They were not alone as we had four newcomers in quarantine

22 Alpaca #88

in the next stalls, but she did not consider them part of the herd or suitable company.

Princess and I rode together in the back of Erika, my blue Land Rover Defender, on the morning of her biopsy. She didn’t seem to mind being whisked away from mummy first thing and insisted on standing all the way of our ten minute journey, eagerly looking out at all the new sights and sounds. It was her first outing from the farm and she wasn’t going to miss any of it. Once home we settled her back in with Beatrice and she finally got to have breakfast.

The vet had taken bloods and a slice through the lump that had left quite a few stitches. With the fleece now removed we could see the extent of the hard mass we had felt. We kept them both in for the next two nights to allow the wound to heal a little. By this time they had been stabled for almost a week, the weather had turned a little milder and Beatrice really did not want to be contained any longer. We figured that the best thing for them both was to be settled among the herd, nibbling what little grass we had in the fields and munching on hay with the others. I phoned the vet daily to find out any progress on the test results. These came in dribs and drabs – bloods normal; vitamin levels normal; possible cell change indicated by the aspirate taken from the lymph node; nothing conclusive yet.

Sad days

Friday morning I set my alarm extra early to check on them, something had pricked my attention the night before on our final check before bed, maybe it was instinct. In the half light I could see from the bedroom some of the girls were

outside the shelter but there was no sign of the little red coat.

As I got to the back door I could see all the herd outside the shelter, standing, staring inwards, alarmed. I ran over and found her under the hay trough exactly where I had seen her last – she had gone in the night.

I was completely numb and I could not think straight – I couldn’t think at all.

Reluctantly we phoned the vet and it was agreed that a post mortem (PM) should be done that day, but they would hold any samples and only send them for analysis if nothing conclusive came from the earlier tests.

I knew that we needed answers and I knew that a PM was a recognisable way to get them, but I couldn’t bear the thought of it and just wanted to get it over with. At the same time I was worried that once we let her go away from the farm we wouldn’t be able to control what then happened.

Richard and I discussed what we might do with her and suggested the pet crematorium – we wanted Princess to be treated with the dignity and respect that she deserved. After the PM the vet called to talk it through with us and then suggested they would contact the fallen livestock person on the island to collect Princess.

I wanted to bring her home to the farm but reluctantly again we agreed, not really even knowing what that meant. My head was in such a fog that nothing was making any sense. Inevitably as it turned out, the answer had been there all along, waiting at the laboratory in the results from the biopsy, but we didn’t get those in time to be spared the PM and what then followed. All I could think about the next day was trying to recover her beautiful fleece – it seemed such a crime to let it go to waste. It was the most beautiful fleece I had ever seen and by far the best I had bred. I wanted to have a part of her that I could keep and remember her by and something I would always treasure.

I remembered a shearer that we’d met who is based locally and contacted him but he did not want to do it. My heart sank, everything in my world had turned upside down. Richard managed to contact the person who had collected Princess and left a message, we asked them to hold her while we tried to find someone to recover the fleece.

The next day Richard had a brainwave and suggested we should ask Paige, the young lady who helps us out with husbandry from time to time and has sheep and horses of her own. It seemed so obvious after the event that she would be the person to ask about all of this. She boldly agreed to have a go but to my great sadness it was too late – against our wishes she had already been taken to the mainland.

Richard tried for nearly two weeks to make contact to find out what had happened to her but we never got a response. We had lost her and had nothing left, not even her ashes to bring back home to the farm.

It was exactly six months to the day that she was born, that we lost our beloved Princess to a rare and aggressive lymphoma and we have been truly saddened by the loss of such a special one in our herd. Over the three and a half weeks from first noticing the lump to her sudden death, we had cared for Princess and naturally became even closer than before. As a relatively new breeder I was aware of, and had tried to anticipate many potential hazards along the way but nothing had prepared me for this.

I know that breeding and keeping animals comes with potential risks and losses and having grown up on a farm with a herd of pedigree cattle and having had horses, I am no stranger to this. This time was definitely one of the toughest I have ever faced. Hindsight isn’t always a wonderful thing, it can be a cruel reminder of the things that you wish you could go back and do differently, but cannot.

It may not be at the forefront of all our minds, particularly when setting out as a new owner or breeder, to think about what would happen in the event of the unthinkable. But I would recommend giving it a little forethought, preferably on a bright sunny day when all is well with your herd. Think about who you might need to contact, who do you already know who might be able to help you navigate such tricky waters? Do you have their contact details? Have you thought about what you want to happen for your animals?

There will be times that no matter what you do, you cannot alter the outcome, but you can influence what happens subsequently and how that impacts the situation. Happy breeding and bonne chance!

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23

ALPACAS BRING SMILES Alpacas have helped to lift spirits at a Norfolk care home after a difficult year for residents.

T

he alpacas, owned by Tom Boggan of Wymondham Alpacas, visited Oaklands Care Home, near Diss where they were met with smiles all round from residents and staff.

Becky Kingsland, administrator at the Kingsley Healthcare Home said: “The residents absolutely loved it. They were all so happy and smiling and talked about it for ages afterwards. The alpacas had such a positive impact.”

Tom began offering visits and on farm experiences in January last year and has gradually turned his passion for alpacas into a successful small business.

He now has nine alpacas and the outing to Oaklands Care Home, which came after Covid-19 restrictions eased, was only his fifth care home visit. He is helped with the care home visits by partner Jess Leeder as second handler.

“It works amazingly well – especially after the year we’ve had,” Tom said.

“We see the residents’ faces light up which is especially good after they’ve had to sit staring at the same four walls for months during lockdown.”

Tom started Wymondham Alpacas with three pet boys – Carlos, Diego and Bruno. Two more, Clifton and Galahad, joined the team as experienced trekkers and are particularly good as therapy alpacas. Tom said: “They are absolutely amazing – temperamentally they are as good as gold.”

Wymondham Alpacas are based at Centre Paws, a venue for dogs and their

24 Alpaca #88

owners, where Tom manages the Blackberry Tearoom. The alpacas arrived after Tom asked the owners if he could rent a field next to the centre’s café.

“I went on an alpaca walk for my birthday about four years ago and decided I wanted to keep alpacas and grow vegetables. I asked a local farmer if I could rent some land but he said no. But I got a fulltime job at the centre and kept on pestering the owners until they gave in and let me use a field next to the café.”

The alpacas are now a popular attraction with visitors also booking alpaca experiences. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who come to see the alpacas,” Tom said.

Award shortlist

The summer holidays have been “extremely busy” and alpaca experiences at the centre, which include a walk and talk about alpaca care, have been fully booked. Wymondham Alpacas was also shortlisted for a Muddy Stillettos award for Norfolk’s favourite family attraction.

Although he didn’t win Tom was delighted to have been recognised as a finalist alongside some of the county’s bigger visitor attractions.

“It isn’t a full-time business as I fit the visits and experiences around my work and I don’t like to take the boys out for longer than about 30 minutes at a time.

It is really about turning my passion into something that is more than a hobby.”

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NUTRITION AND FLEECE QUALITY Jonathan Guy, JG Animal Health, takes a look at the role of vitamins and minerals on fleece growth and quality. Achieving the right balance of vitamins and minerals in the diet will not make a great fleece from poor breeding, but could make a fantastic fleece from good breeding.

A

lpacas are naturally browsing animals in their native environment. They often choose coarse woody material and herbage, being selective in the elements and minerals, that each plant contains and consider the tastiest bits of forage.

However, when they are brought into a domestic paddock, where they will consume up to 1kg of grass every day, they become grazers. In this environment, in an effort to provide essential minerals and vitamins, a supplementary feed is generally given.

The density of the fleece will severely reduce the amount of skin absorption of vitamin D3, while the colour can impact on trace element requirements – often darker fleeced animals will have a higher requirement for certain elements over white and fawn.

There are 92 naturally occurring elements found in soils, however only 27 of these are classified as essential minerals, which are required for maintenance and growth, reproduction and health. These elements are divided into two groups dependent on their concentration in the body, namely the major, or macro elements and the micro, or trace elements. Without mineral elements,

26 Alpaca #88

About the author

Jonathan Guy founded JG Animal Health, a company specialising in mineral and vitamin nutritional supplements in 2004. After more than 25 years working within the supplement industry, and having looked at the available products on the market he wanted to launch a range of supplements specifically designed to meet the needs of the livestock industry. the nutrients of protein, carbohydrate and fat, which provide the animal with energy for growth, would be worthless. The reason for this is that mineral elements: • contribute to the oxygenation of blood, • maintain health and immunity, • repair cells and tissue • promote development of digestion micro-organisms.

Nutritional needs

Generally, fibre traits are highly heritable, however what mostly influences the value is weight (up to 4kg), fibre diameter and length of staple. The term wool

(or fibre) is usually restricted to describing the fibrous protein derived from the specialised skin cells called follicles. The maximum number of follicles that can develop is determined genetically, but the actual percentage of the wool-bearing follicles depends on nutrition.

The nutritional needs vary according to the different production stages.

Secondary follicles (that determine fine wool production) develop during the third trimester of pregnancy. In this trimester the foetus’s nutritional needs also increase while the pregnant females stomach capacity is at its lowest.

Wool is a protein fibre, composed of more than 20 amino acids. These amino acids form protein polymers containing small amounts of fat, calcium and sodium therefore nutrition plays an important role in fibre growth in alpacas.

Soil and pasture

The main reason for different trace element deficiencies throughout the world is variable geology and soils, weather and climate. When the soil cannot supply sufficient trace elements to the plants that animals are eating, a deficiency will occur. This is more likely to show up where the ration is mainly grazed grass or conserved forage.

Re-seeding can reduce trace element intake by reducing the diversity of plants and herbs present. Rapidly growing, lush pasture following fertiliser application will also have lower trace element (TE) content. The TE content of plants can vary widely even in the same soil. Soil derived from acid rocks such as granite and light sandy soils contain less TE’s than clay soils, however poorly drained soils showing soil compaction are far more likely to lead to the risk of induced copper deficiency due to the antagonist molybdenum. It should also be noted that excessive liming will reduce herbage cobalt levels but increase the amount of molybdenum present.

Animals may adjust to a suboptimal mineral intake by reducing the concentration of mineral in tissues. Thus, the tensile strength of wool fibres may be reduced in order to conserve minerals for more essential functions like growth, fertility and lactation.

Carbohydrates, fat, and excess protein in the diet all contribute towards fulfilling the energy requirements. With restricted energy consumption, wool growth slows, fibre diameter is reduced, and weak spots (breaks) develop in the wool fibre.

Understanding nutrient requirements Although wool growth is determined by feed intake, understanding the true nutrient requirements of wool production is far more complex. Microbial protein synthesis in the stomach and its availability for digestion and absorption in the intestine is more closely related to the intake of digestible energy by the animal than to the protein content of the diet.

Although wool growth increased with increasing digestible organic matter intake, its affect is consistent with its probable effect on microbial protein synthesis. Thus, it would appear that the apparent response in wool growth to an increase in organic matter or energy intake is to the increased supply of microbial amino acids reaching the lower gastro intestinal tract.

The wool fibre is primarily protein, this wool protein contains a high proportion of the high-sulphur amino acids cysteine, (10% in wool) and it has been shown that variation in the availability of the sulphur containing amino acids to the follicle can affect both fibre growth rate and fibre composition (Corbett, 1979).

Clean wool is composed of complex protein keratin which contains about 20 amino acids in many polypeptides and has a sulphur content varying from 2.7% to 5.4% of the fibre weight. Most of the Sulphur is present as cysteine and methionine.

Infusion of 2.0g cysteine or 2.46g methionine per day increased wool production by 35% to 130% and the S content by 24% to 35% (Reis and Schinckel, 1963).

Copper plays a very important role in maintaining quality of wool fibre. A deficiency of copper, either in the ration or induced by high levels of iron and molybdenum in the diet, caused by low activity of the copper containing enzyme tyrosinase, results in de-pigmentation of the wool, a lack of crimp and low mechanical strength.

Continued on next page >>

Premier Camelid Drench,Premier Mineral Supplement Premier Mineral Bucket & Premier Vitamin A,D3,E paste + used by Premier Breeders and Premier Judges Contact Jonathan Guy T : 01886 880482 M : 07866 607466 E : jganimalhealth@aol.com W : www.jganimalhealth.co.uk Alpaca #88

27

< Copper is one of many enzyme systems in the body that have a vital role in the development of the proteins – collagen and keratin – essential in bone, skin and wool growth and resulting in the loss of crimp and pigment.

Zinc deficiency on the other hand results in a marked reduction in wool growth, over and above that associated with the reduced feed intake induced by the deficiency. Some fibres are shed, and the fibres that are produced lack crimp and are brittle.

Vitamin deficiency slows fibre growth

> A well nourished Suri fleece ©Art Of Fibre

Vitamins play an important role in wool production. Fat soluble vitamins namely Vitamin A, D and E are required in alpacas. Vitamins A and D3 probably have direct effects on follicle function, as both have specific receptors in various parts of the follicle. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting.

The levels of B group vitamins are essential to help ensure adequate utilization and absorption of

> Forage mineral report by Albion Laboratory Services: "Over the last 12 months we collated grass samples throughout the UK. Most major elements are in the green column, while the trace elements are more varied. However the antagonists of Iron, Aluminium and Molybdenum are all likely to influence the availability of many of those elements, Forage Mineral Report in particular Copper," says Jonathan.

SAMPLE TYPE

Grass FARMERUK Grass Average '20-'21

SAMPLE REF

85960 FIELD ID J G Animal Health POST CODE McCarroll DATE

DISTRIBUTOR DISTRIBUTOR'S REF

380 Samples UK

11 21/06/20 September 2014 - 18/08/21

Dry Matter 18.9% MINERAL ELEMENT (DM BASIS)

ASSAY

VERY LOW

LOW

MEAN

VERY HIGH

HIGH

Calcium

Ca

%

0.61

0.3

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.9

Phosphorus

P

%

0.43

0.2

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.55

Magnesium

Mg

%

0.19

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.4

Potassium

K

%

3.17

0.5

1.5

2

2.5

5

Sodium

Na

%

0.17

0.1

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.4

Chloride

Cl

%

1.20

0.3

0.6

1

1.4

2

S

%

0.29

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.4

meq/kg

365

50

100

200

300

500

152

50

75

100

125

200

Sulphur Cation-Anion Balance

Mn

mg/kg

Copper

Cu

mg/kg

8.4

5

8

10

12

15

Zinc

Zn

mg/kg

31.8

25

40

60

80

130

Cobalt

Co

mg/kg

0.24

0.1

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.4

Iodine

I

mg/kg

0.34

0.25

0.5

1

1.5

2

Selenium

Se

mg/kg

0.19

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Boron

B

mg/kg

6.2

1

2

6

10

Iron

Fe

mg/kg

340

50

100

150

200

350

Aluminium

Al

mg/kg

161

25

50

100

150

300

Molybdenum

Mo

mg/kg

2.81

0.1

0.35

0.8

1.25

2

Lead

Pb

mg/kg

0.89

1

2

2.5

3

10

Manganese

Relative Copper Antagonism Soil Contamination Index

28 Alpaca #88

4

amino acids, carbohydrates and fats.

A deficiency of a vitamin may reduce or completely inhibit wool fibre growth, by reducing the feed intake of the animal thereby impairing the supply of substrate to the follicle, by inhibiting the activity of enzymes involved in protein or energy metabolism and reducing the production of nucleic acids required in the follicle for cell division.

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is essential for carbohydrate absorption and energy production.

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is required for amino acid metabolism in general and in the transsulphuration reaction in which methionine is converted to cysteine. Biotin (vitamin H) may be involved in follicle function because it is required for nucleic acid synthesis which affects DNA of the cells.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is essential for the conversion of glycine and histidine to other amino acids, purines and thymidine, there by contributing to cell division and protein synthesis. Vitamin BI2 is a cofactor in methionine synthesis, for a range of molecules, it is also essential for the activity of methyl malonyl coenzyme A (CoA) isomerase, a key enzyme in the production of glucose from propionate.

The only direct demonstration of a vitamin deficiency affecting wool growth occurred in pre-ruminant lambs supplied with diets deficient in Folic acid (Chapman and Black, 1981). The wool lacked crimp and in several cases fibre growth ceased completely, despite the fact that the animals were gaining weight. Provision of folic acid alleviated the condition, supporting the notion that this vitamin is essential for wool growth.

While microbial synthesis of the B group vitamins in the rumen means that adults are unlikely to suffer deficiencies of these vitamins, their effect on rumen function may reduce microbial supply.

The right balance

Getting the balance right will not make a great fleece from poor breeding, but could make a fantastic fleece from good breeding As we see, mineral and vitamin supplementation is all about harmony and balance, while a deficiency may manifest itself as an issue, an excess, particularly of copper, can cause serious issues of toxicity and can be fatal, so care must be taken!

The levels of minerals can vary hugely in British pasture. As a business we are able to advise and supply a wide range of supplements for either individual or herd performance as well as being able to analyse all forage to identify what might be happening on your farm. Should you be on a private water supply this should also be checked for mineral inbalance.

Contact Jonathan Guy:  jg@jganimalhealth.co.uk

Redens Alpacas Invest in the future

Waiting for the cria to arrive...

TREASURE’S LEG FRACTURE Olivia Franks, from The Farm Vets at Hampden Veterinary Hospital, shares Treasure’s story to highlight the potential for surgery and encourage owners to plan ahead with their vet in case of a similar emergency.

T

reasure, a Huacaya alpaca from Latton Alpacas in Buckinghamshire was born in 2019. In October the same year, she sadly suffered an accident and appeared to have broken one of the bones in her left front leg. We examined her at our site at Aylesbury and x-rayed to confirm that she had indeed sustained a complete fracture of her cannon bone.

A bandage was applied to stabilise the fracture and antibiotic therapy was started while we searched for a surgeon who was able to, and available to, operate on her leg as these types of surgeries on alpacas are not often performed in general practice.

The fracture was open, which means that the skin was broken and the muscles and bones potentially exposed to bacteria. These kinds of fractures are vulnerable to infection which can interfere with fracture healing. The prognosis for recovery was poor but Treasure’s owners wanted to give her every possible chance so we proceeded to surgery approximately a week after the injury was sustained.

In a team effort that involved vets from our farm, equine and small animal departments, as well as a visiting specialist orthopaedic surgeon, Bruce Bladon from Donnington Grove Equine Vets, the fracture in Treasure’s leg was surgically repaired using two metal plates to stabilize it, and she was started on powerful antibiotic therapy due to the infection that was present.

Infection takes hold

Her leg was to be kept bandaged for several weeks. Repeat x-rays a week after the surgery

About the author

showed that the bones were healing moderately well, but the infection had taken hold and the wounds were discharging pus. The wounds began to break down over the next few weeks due to infection, despite antibiotic therapy and the diligent nursing care provided by Treasure’s owner, with regular bandage changes and topical ointments such as honey, which can have antibiotic properties if used appropriately. However, Treasure was using the leg well which gave us hope for an eventual recovery.

Eventually, it was decided that Bruce and his team would remove the plates from Treasure’s leg, as one of the wounds was still open and the plates may have been preventing it from healing.

Due to the severe infection, the plates had to be removed one by one several weeks apart, to reduce the risk of the leg fracturing. By now there was severe osteomyelitis (infection in the bone) present, and the prognosis was guarded. However, we continued management with antibiotics, honey, and nursing care, and repeat radiographs every month.

By the spring, we were happy with the progress made in the bone, but she still had infected wounds discharging pus from the leg. We were able to leave the wounds uncovered and turn her out into a small field, taking appropriate precautions to prevent fly strike.

X-rays reveal recovery

We reviewed Treasure in August, when repeat x-rays showed that she had developed two ‘sequestra’ in the leg, which are pieces of dead bone that can develop in cases of bone infection,

Oli Franks is a farm vet based in Buckinghamshire who enjoys all aspects of farm work, with particular interests in sustainable agriculture and camelid medicine. She enjoys the variety that camelid work offers, managing at both the individual and the herd level. Oli can be contacted at The Farm Vets at Hampden Veterinary Hospital farm@hampdenvets.co.uk

30 Alpaca #88

and may have been causing the discharging tracts.

We were faced with the decision to wait for them to heal on their own, which can take months or years, or operate to remove them, with the potential associated risks of re-fracture. We waited a few months and the discharge from the wounds eventually stopped and they healed over.

Follow-up x-rays this spring showed that the sequestra had indeed healed, and the bone itself had healed too.

Treasure’s owner and I wanted to share this case to highlight the potential for surgical management

of limb fractures in camelids, and to encourage owners to plan with their vet for where they might be able to refer cases to promptly, if such an emergency should occur.

Fractures in alpacas can be managed surgically and time is of the essence. The delay before we were able to arrange a surgery may have contributed to the severity of the infection that developed in this case. However, despite her long road to recovery, Treasure has grown into a beautiful hembra (female) and her owners are hoping to breed from her this coming year.

Alpaca #88

31

MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS Euthanasia of animals, whether they are commercial livestock or pets, is something that all alpaca keepers will need to consider at some point writes Ami Sawran, Westpoint Farm Vets. On one hand, it is upsetting to let go of a companion, however on the other, it can be a welcome relief from suffering, injury, or protracted illness.

T

he important thing about euthanasia, is that the process should convey as little stress as possible to the alpaca, and the best way to achieve this is through all parties involved being prepared for this eventuality.

In this article, we will take an overview of decision making from a veterinary perspective, outline potential methods of euthanasia, and the processes that an animal undergoes in this situation. Some may find the description of the processes distressing; I believe in the importance of being as well informed as possible, but no offence will be taken if this page is skipped!

Making the decision

If a vet attends a particularly sick or injured animal, it is likely that they will offer several possible treatment options. One of these may be referral to a hospital for further diagnostics, monitoring or treatment, and there may be several options for intensive home care. There is also the option of euthanasia.

This should not come as a shock to owners of sick or injured alpacas – it is offered not because the vet doesn’t want to try to solve the problem, but because it is a valid method of preventing further suffering of an animal.

One should not feel bad about considering euthanasia if recovery from an illness or injury is going to be protracted or involves serious compromise of their freedom to express normal behaviour (for example, being confined or restrained for a long period), or simply if the animal’s temperament does not lend itself to increased handling and administration of medications.

I have encountered the viewpoint that an animal should be able to withstand temporary discomfort and stress if it means that it may recover. An important thing to remember is that animals do not understand the concept of feeling better in the future – they understand the ‘here and now’ and being unable to express their normal behaviour is stressful, no matter how much we try to accommodate them.

There are few blanket rules on this – each animal is an individual and the circumstances surrounding their situation should be considered. Many factors come into the decision that you will make for your animal(s); cost and feasibility of treatment, ability to nurse at home, and importantly, their prognosis for recovery.

Methods of euthanasia

Euthanasia is commonly performed in one of two ways –there is no ‘better’

CASTRATION CLINIC H orrified by painful castration case histories on social media, experienced breeders at Alpaca Evolution are preparing to host another castration clinic on October 14.

Castration ensures a happy group of well-adjusted males, avoids physical injuries brought about through fighting and costly vet bills, writes Shirley Isseyegh.

When do you castrate alpacas?

• It is suggested that 18 months and upwards is the ideal age.

• Early spring or autumn means there is little or no risk of flystrike – at the right time of the year, and in the correct way, healing is a matter of days so plan ahead as much as you can.

32 Alpaca #88

• Consider before selling uncastrated males especially if the buyers have little or no experience.

Why did we decide to run the clinic?

With a large commercial herd such as Alpaca Evolution castration decisions are taken every year and quite often it is a very difficult call to make, especially as breeding programmes evolve. We are lucky enough though to have both the facilities and

staff, including a wonderful vet, which means we have no concerns over our castration process. In planning for our autumn castrations we are again hosting a clinic to offer other breeders the same benefits.

Biosecurity and Covid-19 secure measures will be in place to ensure safe and hygienic facilities and you will be kept updated to ensure you know exactly what to expect before arrival, while you are on farm and once you return home.

To book your boys, whether you have a few or a trailer load, please contact Shirley. The cost will be £50+ VAT per alpaca and includes complimentary catering while you wait:  shirley@alpacaevolution.com

method – only the one that sits right with you with minimal stress to your alpaca.

Shot – Fallen stock collectors and some vets may be equipped with captive bolt guns that can allow for swift dispatch with a concussive blow to the brain tissue. Though this might sound quite severe, it is an extremely quick process that, when administered correctly, renders the animal insensible in seconds.

This means that they are unaware of their surroundings and circumstances and are unable to breathe rhythmically to support life – they pass quickly after a well-placed captive bolt shot. It should be noted that ‘free bullet’ shots are also possible methods of euthanasia, however this is less commonly performed, often if the animal cannot be caught or restrained.

Lethal injection – Most veterinary surgeons are likely to perform an intravenous lethal injection when they are tending to your alpaca. This requires access to a vein – usually in the neck, which may be clipped to aid visualisation. It will typically require somebody to help steady or restrain the alpaca. The medication used goes to work immediately on effectively anaesthetising the brain, again, rendering the alpaca insensible. This means that the alpaca is almost instantly unconscious. The second effect of anaesthetising the brain is that it stops sending signals to the lungs to expand, thus breathing slows to a stop. This can take time, but rest assured that the alpaca will not know what is happening by this point.

What to expect during an euthanasia appointment

It is up to you whether you wish to remain present for euthanasia – this is a personal choice, though someone may need to assist the vet depending on the situation. This section will explain the processes that a euthanised animal may undergo, so it’s up to you as to whether you read on.

You should be aware that there is the possibility that you will see blood as the needle advances (the vet will need to see this to confirm they are in the right position). Once an injection has been administered, the animal tends to fall. If it is already cushed or lying, the neck may contract and move the head backwards. This can look quite dramatic, but the brain is anaesthetised, so the alpaca is no longer in control of, or crucially, aware of its actions. Various muscles may twitch – this can give the illusion that the alpaca is consciously moving or stretching. This is not the case; this is simply muscles firing randomly in the absence of proper instructions from the brain, and a lack of oxygen since breathing is no longer regular.

The alpaca may also produce faeces and urine, as muscles begin to relax, and there is a possibility that fluid could escape from the nose or mouth.

There are two common sequels of euthanasia that some may find particularly unnerving, the first is vocalisation – again, this is not a conscious effort – this is the effect of air leaving the body and moving over the vocal cords. The second is agonal gasping. A reflex response to a lack of oxygen action in an unconscious animal is to open the mouth and ‘gasp’ – again, this is not something the animal is aware of, but it can give you a surprise if you’re not expecting it.

Thankfully these effects will lessen with time, and your vet should monitor until reflex responses have ceased. The vet will be monitoring a few things at once; they will look for changes in breathing pattern, which will stop being rhythmic and regular. The heartbeat will also become irregular, and eventually stop – the vet should confirm absence of a heartbeat before they leave. One of the last reflexes to disappear is the ‘corneal reflex’, where the animal blinks when their eye is touched – therefore your vet may gently poke the eye several times after administering an injection – there is method to this seemingly odd behaviour. Once this reflex is absent and there is no heartbeat, we can confirm the alpaca has passed.

I hope that the above description can help to give credence to the offer of euthanasia in the case of very sick or injured alpacas, and that by knowing why certain things are happening during euthanasia, you are reassured that though they look peculiar, they are quite normal. If you have concerns or queries regarding euthanasia, please do not be afraid to discuss them with your vet.

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33

EAST OF ENGLAND FLEECE SHOW The Eastern Alpaca Group’s (EAG) took over the Essex Young Farmer’s headquarters again for their sixth annual fleece show, writes Kath Shearer. > Julia Corrigan-Stuart judging

For the full show results see EAG website:  www.easternalpacagroupuk.org

34 Alpaca #88

T

his year there were an incredible 126 fleeces entered and judge Julia Corrigan-Stuart arrived on the Friday afternoon with enthusiasm and a smile to appraise them all in turn.

She was supported over the three days by show volunteers Viv Hamilton, Nigel Wood, Kath and Rowan Shearer and Maddie Ashworth. Sam Taylor and EAG chair, Simon Illet, provided invaluable technical support during the set up and take down, and Shirley Isseyegh kept social media followers up to date throughout.

A special mention must go to show organiser Harley Laver who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the run up to the show and led the team over the course of the three days.

After colour checking and weighing had been completed, judging commenced with the black Suri fleeces. All the Suri fleeces were appraised on Friday afternoon and champion and reserve champion sashes were awarded.

After a well earned overnight rest the judge and team gathered together for an early start on Saturday morning. White Huacaya fleeces came to the judging table first, moving through to fawn. Judging continued following another early start on the Sunday, and after the final black Huacaya fleece had been appraised the exciting task of awarding the special prizes began.

The show is run under BAS show rules with rosettes awarded for places one to six and sashes given to reserve and champion fleeces in each colour category. Supreme champions and judge’s choices are selected for Huacaya and Suri fleeces.

Each year the best skirted fleece is given a special award, along with best EAG member fleece, Best British Bred Huacaya and Suri fleeces and Best Newcomer. It was particularly encouraging to see that eight certificates were awarded to fleeces that were highly commended for skirting.

Two very special awards were much anticipated this year including a new Silver Senior rosette awarded to the oldest alpaca (72 months plus) to achieve a high scoring fleece.

EAG was also very excited to present the much coveted Spirit of the Industry Award for the first time since it was kindly donated to the show by Alpaca Evolution in 2020. The trophy and rosette were awarded to the fleece that exemplified the qualities that will most benefit the British fibre industry as it strives to maximise the potential of British alpaca fibre. Only fleeces of alpacas three years and over were considered and the judge looked for a demonstration of superiority in commercial traits. In particular, fineness, uniformity of all traits, staple length and weight. The trophy will be held by the winner for one year.

Congratulations to all of the exhibitors this year and a huge thank you to all the sponsors who supported the show.

The next event in the EAG show calendar will be the newly named East of England Alpaca Show. Our judge this year is Mrs Mary-Jo Smith. Entries to this popular halter show are now full and we look forward to seeing you all at Beechwood Equestrian Centre near Chelmsford on 10 October 2021.

CHAMPIONSHIPS • Supreme Champion Huacaya (Sponsored by Pemberley Alpacas): Hilly Ridge Harmony – Joanne Bridge • Best of British Huacaya (Sponsored by BellaRuba Alpacas): Hilly Ridge Harmony – Joanne Bridge • Judge’s Choice Huacaya: Churchfield Dream Girl – Harley Laver • Supreme Champion Suri (Sponsored by Spring Farm Alpacas): Faraway Blonde Bombshell – Nikki Hayton • Best of British Suri (Sponsored by Parkside Suri Alpacas): Winsaula Veronica’s Pillow Talk – Mark and Paula Winsor • Judge’s Choice Suri: Park Side Gainsford End – Mr and Mrs Viv Hamilton SPECIAL AWARDS • Spirit of the Industry Award (Sponsored by Alpaca Evolution): Snowshill Persephone – Snowshill, Roger Mount and Mrs Mary Mount • Silver Senior Award (Sponsored by Park Side Suri Alpacas): Hillend Grace – Castlings, Rebecca Block • Best Fleece from an EAG Member: Hilly Ridge Harmony – Hilly Ridge, Joanne Bridge • Best Newcomer (Sponsored by Free Range Fibre): Gorefield Argento Vivo – Krystal Humphrey and Steven Haselg • Best Skirted Fleece (Sponsored by East Anglia Alpaca Mill): Cold Comfort Mary – Chris and May Herrmannsen

A

> Supreme Champions

> Best skirted fleece

> Best newcomer fleece

> Silver Senior Award

‘SPIRIT OF THE INDUSTRY’

lpaca Evolution made the decision in 2020 to donate a perpetual trophy called ‘Spirit of the Industry’ to the Eastern Alpaca group (EAG) for presentation at its annual fleece show, writes Shirley Isseyegh.

Nick Harrington-Smith came across the concept while judging the American Owners Association (AOA) national fleece show several years ago, and it struck a chord with us all at Alpaca Evolution given our own breeding objectives. An award of this type is a first in the UK and was graciously accepted by EAG. The thinking behind this was to make available a special award to a single fleece, which may or may not have won a major award at the show. The criteria we set was that it should be a fleece that epitomised those qualities most sought after in the processing of fibre – but also recognising other values that are important if we are to capitalise on the qualities of alpaca fibre, while making ownership more commercially attractive to mainstream livestock farmers. It is incontrovertible that if British alpaca owners are to do this we need to have genetic lines that produce high quality processable fibre for a significant

number of years; and because we advocate this to all our clients we felt it high time that such an award was available.

The criteria we suggested to make an assessment for this award were that any such fleece should demonstrate superiority in commercial traits, but more especially taking into account age. Fineness, uniformity throughout all traits, weight and length all being of prime importance.

It was thought that the award should be restricted to an alpaca fleece that had been shorn after the fourth birthday, in the end the third birthday was decided on in the hope it would encourage fleece entries from older alpacas.

Most importantly though this was to be an award that was entirely at the judge’s discretion.

Regrettably in 2020 when Nick judged the show the award could not be granted but it is gratifying to know that in 2021 it was awarded to Snowshill Persephone, a 10 year old fawn female scoring 74.5 points, an admirable score.

Owners Roger and Mary Mount have been such stalwart supporters of all British fleece shows and should rightfully be very proud.

Alpaca #88

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CORNISH FLEECE SHOW

The second Cornish Fleece Show once again sold out within days and it was great to have returning owners and new entrants from across the country, writes Sandra Muriel, Cornwall Camelid Association (CCA) chair and Wendy Scott, CCA secretary.

J

udge Roger Clarke commended the high standard of entries. “Kicking off the 2021 summer show scene, I enjoyed the privilege of judging the second Cornish Fleece Show. Hosted

by Dark Sky Alpacas, the entire event was a credit to the Cornwall Camelid Association and testament to all their hard work and planning.

36 Alpaca #88

“As expected, the standard of entries was very high and it was a genuine pleasure to appraise such stunning fleeces.”

With more than 80 entries, it was tight scoring for the top sash, won by the Champion White Fleece Beck Brow Stars Align scoring 86.5 points only pipping the Reserve Champion White Fleece Ashwood Nellie by one point. The light, fawn and brown champions all scored over 80 points with the Black Champion Fleece Ashwood Night of the Realm, scoring a commendable 79 points.

Of the 74 Huacaya entries, 10 fleeces scored more than 80 points – only 18 fleeces scored less than 70 points. The largest class was the junior white fleeces, attracting 13 entries including the overall Supreme.

The high quality of the entries was evident when the fleece which came seventh, and not awarded any rosette, scored 78.5 points.

In the Suri section, Beck Brow Falco (owned by Sheriff Alpacas) scored 83.5 points and the Supreme Suri sash. Although there were only six Suri fleeces entered, all scored in the upper 70 points.

It was good to see several entries from owners new to fleece showing and we hope that they enjoyed receiving their fleeces back with their score cards and hopefully a rosette. Roger took time to make constructive comments on as many entries as possible, explaining where some extra points were gained or lost.

The CCA awarded a cup each to CCA members with the highest scoring Huacaya and Suri fleeces.

The highest scoring Huacaya fleece by a CCA member was awarded to Crewenna Cherie, a 48 months plus light fleece scoring 79.5 points, and the highest scoring suri fleece entered by a CCA member was awarded to Popham Surimandara, a 12-24 months light fleece scoring 79.5 points.

The team of CCA member stewards including, Ros (Sampford Manor Alpacas), Nigel (Carpalla Alpacas), Abha (Powwow Alpacas), Lin (Linberry Alpacas) and Sandra (Crewenna Alpacas), worked tirelessly in shifts during the day. They kept the flow of entries carefully placed on the tables ready for judging and ensured all were repacked with the correct score

cards and samples.

Last year’s successful partnership of Tom on computer recording the scores and Wendy (Dark Sky Alpacas) scribing kept this years’ show rolling – even with 20 more entries the show finished mid afternoon. We also had Barry (Linberry Alpacas) enrolled as transport manager to guarantee the safe transport of the fleeces to and from the collection point to the venue.

After the judging, the show was open to members to come and view the entries, collect their fleeces and benefit from a summary and general question and answer session with Roger. It was great to be able to reconnect in person and it was an event enjoyed by all.

Many thanks to Roger and all the helpers and we look forward to next year.

The results: HUACAYA Champion Grey: Beck Brow Come As You Are Reserve Champion Grey: Heatherland Nicholas Champion Black: Ashwood Night of the Realm Reserve Champion Black: Sheriff Bullseye Champion Brown: Beck Brow Just the Ticket Reserve Champion Brown: Powwow Lea Champion Fawn: Beck Brow She Rocks Reserve Champion Fawn: Dark Sky Toranaga Champion Light: Beck Brow Standing Ovation Reserve Champion Light: Apple Vale Liberty Champion White: Beck Brow Stars Align Reserve Champion White: Ashwood Nellie Supreme Huacaya Fleece: Beck Brow Stars Align Best of British: Beck Brow Stars Align Judge’s Choice: Beck Brow Just the Ticket SURI Champion Grey: Winsaula Malahide Champion Fawn: Winsaula Carriages at Dawn Reserve Champion: Thistledown Patagonia of Dark Sky Champion Light: Beck Brow Falco Reserve Champion: Popham Surimandara Champion White: Surico Lorient of Dark Sky Supreme Suri: Beck Brow Falco Best of British: Popham Surimandara Judge’s Choice: Winsaula Carriagea at Dawn

Mid-Cornwall’s premier alpaca herd Our breeding aim is to maximise fibre production and improve fibre quality generation upon generation, with a view to providing the ultimate fibre for yarn production.

Higher Carpalla Farm Foxhole St Austell 01726 338580 07974 796792 nigel@nigelretallack.co.uk www.carpallaalpacas.co.uk

alpacas cornwall of

The CREWENNA HERD

Where genetics matter!

Having reached our goal, our journey is just starting …

A PACAS Nigel and Margaret Retallack

BAS NATIONAL CHAMPION OF CHAMPION BLACK FLEECE 2020 – SILVERSTREAM NIGHT FEVER OF CREWENNA BAS NATIONAL CHAMPION AND RESERVE CHAMPION BLACK FLEECE 2018 – CREWENNA BVLGARI

Mobile apps from AlpacaSeller for Android and iPhone Are you connected to the market place?

Tel 01730 823256 l chris@alpacaseller.com l www.alpacaller.com

BAS NATIONAL BLACK MALE CHAMPION 2017 – CREWENNA AMADEUS CARN TREMAYNE FARM, PRAZE-AN-BEEBLE, CORNWALL TR14 9PG MOB: +44 (0)7870 612559 www.alpacasofcornwall.co.uk Alpaca #88

37

ROYAL THREE COUNTIES FLEECE SHOW

This year’s show, organised by the West Shires Alpaca Group, was held and judged at Great Witley Village Hall, writes Roger Mount.

Rosettes were kindly donated by the Royal Three Counties Showground Committee. > Faraway Blonde Bombshell – Supreme Champion Suri Fleece

> Snowshill Protus – Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece

W

e had another record entry of 163 fleeces. Mary-Jo Smith kindly agreed to judge the Suri fleeces on Friday, so as to allow the full weekend for judging the Huacaya fleeces. We had very welcome assistance from Julia Corrigan-Stuart and Barbara Hetherington as well as volunteers from the West Shires membership. In case anyone should wonder, Julia and Barbara were doing a comparative study of different fleece scoring systems alongside the current BAS approved system.

As it happened, we had a wider than usual spectrum of fleece quality – ranging from poor to superb. Mary-Jo certainly had her work cut out! At some moments she felt that she had gone back in time! Twenty-six fleeces scored less than 50 points and so could not be awarded any placing. We would recommend that those new to fleece showing, go on a fleece skirting course to get a better idea as to how to present a fleece and what quality of fleece is worthwhile entering. Some fleeces may have been over-skirted – so lacked weight - and a few others had neck and tail fleece left in.

Having said the above, the vast majority of fleeces were very good and the scoring was extremely close in most of the classes (only four points separated first from ninth in a fawn class).

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The top awards for Huacaya went to: Snowshill Protus (White 85pts) – Supreme Champion, Best of British and Judge’s Choice. Acton Hill El Capitan (Light 81.5pts) – Reserve Supreme Champion.

And for Suri: Faraway Blonde Bombshell (Light 85.5pts) – Supreme Champion. Pure Drake (White 84.5pts) – Reserve Supreme Champion and Best of British. Snowshill Gabriel II (Light 77.5pts) – Judge’s Choice. Other Champions, Reserves and placings are available to view via the BAS website.

Our special thanks go to our judge – Mary-Jo, the volunteers for giving up their entire weekend (and more) and, of course, to our generous sponsors listed below: • Classical MileEnd Alpacas – Supreme Champions • UK Alpaca Ltd – Reserve Supreme Champions • Ashwood Alpacas – Champion and Reserve Whites • JG Animal Health – Champion and Reserve Lights • Latton Alpacas Ltd – Champion and Reserve Fawns • Colin the Alpaca Shearer – Champion and Reserve Browns • Pure Alpacas – Champion and Reserve Greys • Abberley Alpacas – Champion and Reserve Blacks • Snowshill Alpacas – Best of British and Judge’s Choice awards

2022 SHOWS

T

BAS National 2022

BAS at World Alpaca Expo

he BAS National Show is to go ahead in 2022 with 700 alpacas expected to gather over three days at the Telford International Centre in Shropshire from 25-27 March.

The show will be bigger than previous years, with places for more alpacas as judging will take place Friday afternoon as well as Saturday and Sunday. The two BAS judges for the event will be Tim Hey and Mary-Jo Smith.

The National Show Committee has reluctantly decided that there will be no international judges due to the continued risk that international travel may be disrupted due to Covid-19.

Exhibitors and sponsors with fees in the show account will retain their places and sponsorships for the halter show with entries for unfilled places opening on 1 December for one week. The Champion of Champions Fleece Show will be open to all 2021 fleece show champions and reserves.

The National Show Committee is looking for more help with stewarding or setting up the event.

To volunteer contact BAS CEO Duncan Pullar:  ceo@bas-uk.com

B

AS is planning to fly the flag for UK alpacas at the World Alpaca Expo and Conference which takes place in Austria in February 2022.

The event is set to take place in the Messe Center Graz from 10-13 February and BAS plans to participate to promote UK alpacas. The organisers say more than 600 alpacas are expected at the show where international judges Robin Nasemann (Germany) and Dr Ritu Huayta (Peru) will judge the halter classes.

The event will also include a fleece show, trade show and a showcase for alpaca fashion. Visitors can attend lectures by alpaca breeding experts with subjects including breeding values and colour genetics.

As an additional highlight, the ‘Alpaka – Nations Ball’ will take place on Saturday offering visitors “drink specialties and culinary highlights from all over the world”. The best musical entertainment is also guaranteed, say the event organisers.

For more information and to book tickets:  www.alpaka-expo.at

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39

ALL IRELAND FLEECE SHOW

Bright, lustrous fleeces abounded at Moonhall Farm as 105 fleeces were entered for judging in our inaugural Sunny South-East Alpaca Group (SSEAG) All Ireland Fleece Show, writes Susan Murphy. > Committee of SSEAG are left to right; Sharon Moore, Adrian Murphy, Paula Lunn and Catriona MacIntyre

> Supreme champion Suri and Huacaya fleece owners Paula and John Lunn, from Ashford Alpacas, with judge Roger Clarke

T

he keen interest was very encouraging, if not unaffected by the fact that our judge was the internationally renowned Roger Clarke. We were also lucky to have a media savvy team from Hilltop Alpacas keeping our event front and centre of all things alpaca on social media so the event was extremely well advertised.

The show took place over two days with the majority of the competition taking place on the first day. An initial briefing on day one was helpful in ensuring everyone knew their job. The day progressed seamlessly after that with only a fifteen minute break mid-morning to quench our thirst. After a short lunch, the committee and assistants were into a flow of unpacking fleeces, laying them out, writing notes and tallying scores, extra comments, repacking, data input and compilation of all the results.

Suri fleeces were judged on the second day. We were very pleased with the interest in this section of the show as Suri numbers are relatively modest in Ireland as yet.

The most rewarding aspect of the weekend was the knowledge we gleaned on fleece appraisal in all its forms. From fineness and handle, to staple length, density to impurity levels, guard hair to lustre/brightness, character and style, the integral essence of fleece assessment became that bit clearer.

Sharon Moore from Hummingbird Alpacas had the arduous task of producing all the paperwork for the event and compiling all the data afterwards to produce a results sheet. We are indebted to her for being both

40 Alpaca #88

our Alpaca Mother and our coordinator!

Roger Clarke said on Facebook: “The entire event was a credit to all of your hard work and planning.”

We are now looking forward to the All-Ireland Fleece Show 2022, when we hope to streamline the show and put into practice all we have learned from this year’s event. It's an exciting time for the SSEAG! RESULTS Supreme Champion Huacaya was awarded to Ashford Daz (Ashford Alpacas), Reserve Champion Huacaya and Judge’s Choice was Apple Vale Fortune (Tinryland Alpacas).

Supreme Champion Suri was Popham Suri Jacquetta (Ashford Alpacas), Judge’s Choice was the Suri Champion White/light Ashford Sun Daisy (Ashford Alpacas) and finally Champion Pet/Unregistered was Artwork Crackerjack (CD Alpacas).

Other winners were: Champion Grey: Curraghduff Farm with Prince of the Glann Champion Black: Edenderry Alpacas with Miss Saigon Champion Brown: Moonhall Alpacas with Moonhall Bosco Champion Fawn: K2 Alpacas with K2 Hidden Classic Champion White: Ashford Alpacas with Ashford Daz Champion Light: Briar Ridge Alpacas with Briar Ridge Esmerelda Suri Champion Colour: Kazimo Alpacas with Ace Titania Suri Supreme Champion Reserve: Ashford Alpacas with Ashford Suri Daisy.

Mid Wales Alpaca Shearing

Get in touch to book yourself a date

Shearing, toes, teeth, fighting teeth, pregnancy scanning, vaccinations and worming, body scoring and animal weighing available.

Over 20 years’ experience in fleece testing and analysis – and we still love working with fibre

C19/M2 R209/G

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Please note our new addresses.

ART OF FIBRE UK CLAUDIA BUTCHER

PO Box 9603, Poole.

BH15 9JA E: claudia@artoffibre.com T: 44 (0)783 6206521

Call Tom on 07594 469029 or Email: Midwalesalpacashearing@aol.com

ART OF FIBRE EUROPE PAUL VALLELY

90% MU R60/G6

Moyaliffe House, Ballycahill, Co. Tipperary. E41 HX59 Republic of Ireland E: info@artoffibre.com T: 353 (0)85 2581669

40% MU R178/G1

10 % MU R237/G

www.artoffibre.com

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 #88

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‘BRIGHT FUTURE’

In the first of two articles looking at Australia’s growing fibre industry James Wheeler, from Kobler, explains how his alpaca fibre brokerage, is helping to meet ‘exceptional demand’ for Australian fibre.

L

ike many people entering the alpaca industry, our journey started into the wonderful world of alpacas with infatuation after being introduced to a beautiful pair of inquisitive alpacas.

It was late 2006, and I was still living in the UK and frequently travelling to Australia to spend time with my parents Sarah and Perry Wheeler, who many people know as Prados alpacas. There is a distinct memory of being newly arrived in South Australia after 36 hours of travel, exiting the car, looking across a small paddock with a flourishing vegetable garden fenced off down one side and the heads and long necks of two newly sheared alpacas just peering out of a shelter at me. I was instantly sold on alpacas and the lifestyle.

Within 18 months, Kobler had been formed, with its first alpacas and a desire to produce fibre for the larger commercial market. Little did we fully appreciate the challenges lying ahead.

One of the early impediments was the availability of shearers, which is not uncommon for many even now. This led to the decision to take control of shearing and learn to shear. While many owners/breeders may fear shearing, this was not something we could relate to and relished in the anticipation of seeing the year's fibre production. It wasn't long before we started shearing for friends and anyone who brought their alpacas to us.

By the 2011 shearing season, we took our shearing services on the road and haven't looked back since. Today this sees us shearing for 700-800 alpaca owners across most of Australia; it has been an absolute delight to meet so many passionate alpaca owners. We also receive many enquiries to shear internationally

42 Alpaca #88

and look forward to taking up these opportunities as soon as various movement restrictions ease.

One of the most striking things we learnt as we journeyed around shearing was the level of despondency around the alpacas’ beautiful fibre once sheared. Many owners considered it a bi-product, simply sending it to a landfill or burning it as there was the belief that there was little value in the fibre and/or it was too hard to sell.

We found this very disheartening as while we loved the animals and thoroughly enjoyed the shows - the fleece was the key driver for our entry into the alpaca industry.

Bulk fibre collections

By 2013, with an increasingly large mob of alpacas, we had purchased a far larger farm on the outskirts of Victor Harbor, South Australia and decided it was time to scale up what we were doing with fleece. Working with several bulk fibre buyers, we started collecting unwanted fibre and building low-value lots. While these days we can press large numbers of bales in a day, I still clearly remember the pride we felt and sense of achievement the first time a bale came out of the old ajax double bin press.

This early fleece processing operation was of enormous value to the evolution of what we are doing today with the alpacafibre.com.au brand. One of the significant advancements during this period was the development by the Australian Alpaca Association of the Code of Practice Industry Standard for the Preparation of Australian Alpaca.

This publication laid out a very clear and systemised means to supply fleece to the market. With this information in hand, the formation of the lot building (wool industry also refers to this as rehandle) brokerage was formed. As was the brand alpacafibre.com.au under which all fibre is sold under.

One of the founding goals of the brokerage was to help build a sustainable industry based upon the sales of all fibre. The brokerage was modelled on a first available sale where suppliers fleece is held until sold, and then the money is paid to the grower.

Regular exports

A prize winning, working alpaca farm in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Chiltern Hills

Up until 2018, we had only been supplying fibre to the domestic market. This changed with a chance conversation on Facebook, and we acquired our first export customer in North America. Since successfully completing this export which wasn't without its hurdles, raw fleece has been exported to regular customers throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America. While there is the assumption that little alpaca fibre is processed in Australia, approximately two-thirds of the fleece we sell remains in Australia.

Bright future

From the conception of the alpacafibre.com.au brand, the importance of traceability of fibre has been at its heart. The fibre in every bale is traceable back to the farm, and customers can be supplied with a regional breakdown of their fibre. This level of traceability is of increasing importance to many customers.

As the brokerage evolves, so have options available to growers. While 2020 may not be fondly remembered by many, it saw us introduce fleece advances paid to growers to secure fibre before the alpacas were even sheared. While the model has yet to be finalised for the 2021 shearing season, a cash on delivery payment system will be implemented for some of our highest demand lines, including medium (24-28 micron) white Huacaya.

The demand for Australian alpaca is exceptionally high, both at home and abroad. We see a bright future for the brokerage and the entire industry and are excited to see where this takes all of us.

This article was first published in World Of Alpacas magazine.

Photo: Charlotte Bull

FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS QUALITY ANIMALS FOR SALE STUD SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED VISITS WEDDINGS

James Wheeler owns Kobler and operates the alpacafibre.com.au brokerage across two properties on the Fleurieu Peninsula South Australia managing over 1000 alpacas along with partner Susan Haese (Yaringa Alpacas) and his parents Sarah and Perry Wheeler (Prados Alpacas)

CRAFTING ALPACA PRODUCTS LOCATION THE CHILTERNS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HP16 OEB SOUTH OF ENGLAND PHONE 07783 417618 MAIL info@lattonalpacas.co.uk WEB www.lattonalpacas.co.uk

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POST-BREXIT EXPORT FIRST After months of meticulous planning, five precious elite stud males were loaded at Inca Alpaca in Dorset ready for their journey to new homes in Europe, writes Kevin Hamstra, Alpaca Logistics Europe.

T

he young boys were set to travel to buyers in Finland and Germany. Following Brexit, the UK is considered a ‘third country’ instead of an EU member state. This means all live animals travelling from the UK must be inspected by an official veterinarian at a Border Control Point (BCP) as soon as they enter the EU. As EU veterinary inspection posts at any of the ports in mainland Europe were not ready to process alpacas no successful exports of alpacas from the UK to mainland Europe had taken place this year – until now.

This group of alpacas had a 12 month quarantine period ahead of them after arrival in Finland and were set to become working studs by summer 2022 so their journey to Finland was time critical.

Waiting for the Rotterdam BCP to open was not a satisfactory option. Calais BCP does not accept alpacas, and is not expecting to add alpacas to their certification anytime soon. Special permission was obtained from the government agency APHA and DAERA (Deprtment of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Ireland,) to use the newly built Border Control Post (BCP) in Rosslare, Ireland.

Here we were able to have the alpacas inspected and all paperwork signed off to continue their journey through Europe.

DAERA was very helpful and considerate. The alpacas were unloaded into very clean and spacious stables to get some rest and stretch their legs whilst all paperwork was processed.

The official vet performing the border inspection was impressed by how well the alpacas were traveling, how calm they were and gave credit for the thorough preparation of exporter and transporter.

After the stopover in Rosslare, the alpacas were back on the next ferry to the

44 Alpaca #88

French port of Cherbourg. They crossed the Irish sea and sailed along the Dorset coastline the next morning within 35 miles of the farm where they were loaded exactly 24 hours before!

The boys were happy to be back on land and enjoyed the sunshine at the quarantine station in Holland later that night, where they relaxed for 46 hours before travelling on a ferry from Travemunde to Helsinki. A smooth 32 hour crossing later, the alpacas arrived in Finland at six o’clock Sunday morning to meet their very enthusiastic buyers!

The alpacas travelled really well and arrived in great condition, despite being on the road for nearly a week! I’m proud to have played a part in this as a transporter, but like the Irish vet I must give credit to Tim Hey at Inca Alpaca and the legion of customs and transport agents – it really was a team effort, and everything ran like clockwork.

Note: The Irish route is an option for time-critical exports but costly. The BCP in Hoek van Holland (Rotterdam NL) is likely the first route to open, with a ferry link to Harwich. I’m expecting the first alpacas to be able to pass through by the end of the year. To discuss your export requirements contact me at AlpacaLogistics.EU.

Alpaca #88

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A LETTER FROM COLORADO Sharon and Marc Milligan, Red Granite Ranch, keep about 400 alpacas in Northern Colorado where ongoing drought across the western United States is making life difficult for many farmers and ranchers.

> Preparing for shearing

R

ed Granite Ranch is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, writes Sharon Milligan. The ranch sits on 400 acres of non-irrigated prairie grassland about 32 miles from Ft. Collins, Colorado and 34 miles from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Alpaca ranching in Colorado has many benefits as compared to other areas of the US. We are at an elevation of about 7500ft so the weather is normally very good for raising alpacas. We can and do get large amounts of snow but it rarely stays on the ground for long periods of time.

From November to April northern Colorado routinely suffers with high winds of 40-60 mph. The alpacas love the snow but hate the wind. Our dry climate means we have few issues with parasites requiring frequent worming medications.

As our land is not irrigated we are dependent on what mother nature gives us in the form of snow and rain for moisture and grass growth. For the past

several years the western US has been in a significant drought and we have to purchase all our hay for our alpacas and horses at significant cost - this makes profitability difficult.

Building the herd

We started the ranch in 2005 with the intent to raise a small herd of buffalo.

In 2006 while attending the National Western Stock Show, in Denver, Colorado we came into contact with alpacas for the first time. Our plans changed drastically and the research into alpacas, their care, habits and profitability began. We knew right away that we wanted to be a “seed stock” operation that consistently produced strong, healthy alpacas with excellent fleece characteristics.

We bought our first eleven alpacas, nine females and two males, in 2009.

From that group we have three females that still play a part in our breeding programme. We realized then that we needed to add proven genetics to our herd that would advance our alpacas and their fleece and in 2010 we made a very strategic purchase of three males and one bred female. These purchases, along with a group of bred and open females in 2011, are truly the basis for our breeding programme. MR Sizlin Rose and Red Granites Val D Lsere are two of the many noteworthy Champions produced from these purchases.

We have about 25 multi champion herdsires, in almost every colour available for outside breeding and we are constantly evaluating our breeding goals to make sure we are heading in the right direction.

Adding value

Selling the fleece produced by these wonderful animals has been a slow work in progress. We decided several years ago that we wanted to produce one or two products from our fleece and market them as Colorado Proud Products. We currently turn our grade three and four fleece into socks and our grade one and two into yarn. We do not have a farm store but sell those products online and at several festivals, markets and stock shows. What and how to deal with the fleece our animals produce is a constant project.

Agrotourism is a very popular way of subsidizing a farming operation.

We know several farms that are making substantial contributions to their bottom line by opening their farms up to tourists. This is a project we are working towards. We already support senior citizen group visits and children day camps for summer visits. We plan on hosting camping on the ranch in the near future. We provide our animals to people who want pictures with them as well as taking them to public educational events concerning alpacas and other livestock.

We absolutely cherish the friendships we have made through alpaca ranching. We are naturally competitive people so the Alpaca Owners Show system has given us a true avenue to see how our alpacas and programme “stack up” to other alpaca breeders’ programmes.

As a result we have been awarded: • 2010 Futurity Small Breeder of the Year • 2012 Futurity Medium Breeder of the Year • 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 Futurity Reserve Large Breeder of the Year • 2021 Futurity Large Breeder of the Year • 2020 AOA James G. King Industry Recognition Award Our Herdsires have won equally impressive awards: MR Sizlin Rose: • 2016 Futurity Herdsire of the Year, Dark-Coloured Offspring • 2017 Futurity Reserve Herdsire of the Year, Dark-Coloured Offspring Red Granites Val D Lsere: • 2016, 2017, 2018 AOA National Dark Male Supreme Champion • 2021 Futurity Herdsire of the Year, Dark-Coloured Offspring • 2021 Futurity Reserve Herdsire of the Year, Light-Coloured Offspring • 2021 Futurity Herdsire of the Year, Large Breeder Division

The Pennybridge Herd and Alpaca Stud

‘Love The Alpacas’

©

• Starter Herds • Champion Stud Services • Fancy Grazers • Sheep Guards • The Alpaca Experience www.pennybridgealpacas.co.uk joy@pennybridgealpacas.co.uk 01256 764824 Based in North Hampshire near the Surrey/Berkshire Borders.

Less than 5 mins from M3 J5. Close to Ports & Airports.

Here at Mulberry Alpacas we have:

Alpaca socks Lovely knitted items Penrose alpaca duvets and pillows Alpaca yarn and fleece Cuddly toys And a herd of friendly Alpacas So, come and visit soon!

Mulberry Grange, Red Hall Lane Higher Penley, Wrexham LL13 ONA

ONLINE SHOP OPEN NOW!

Tel: 07713 639 447 or 01978 710224 Email: mulberryalpacas@btconnect.com We’re 4 miles north of Ellesmere Open Saturdays 10.00 until 16.00 and by appointment TELPHONE ORDERS WELCOME

www.mulberryalpacas.co.uk Alpaca #88

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Alpacas for sale

A list of BAS members who are breeders and advertising their alpacas for sale

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

ALPACA EVOLUTION We are committed to the success of the British Alpaca industry and realising the potential and possibilities this offers. We are passionate about the Alpaca, and continuing to progress the quality of our herd of 700 plus alpacas, both Huacaya and Suri, without compromising our high standards in ensuring excellent herd welfare. Offering unrivalled experience and support to our clients, and helping them achieve success is core to our business ethos.

We offer a full range of alpacas for sale, stud males, breeding females and pets as well as learning opportunities for all levels of experience. We welcome visitors by appointment. Located in Buckinghamshire.

TEL: Nick 07979 651742 & Alexandra 07795 843790 EMAIL: enquiries@alpacaevolution.com WEB: www.alpacaevolution.com

ADVERTISE HERE

Your booking will include an online listing in the Alpacas for Sale section on the BAS website.

TEL: 01732 448748 EMAIL: Wendy.King@talkmediasales.co.uk

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

SCOTFIELD ALPACAS

SNOWSHILL ALPACAS

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.

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 85% are Huacaya). Although our breeding programme is biased towards the darker colours, we do also have superb quality whites and beige alpacas.

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

Sue Hipkin 07770 455533 Lisa Hipkin 07770 455534 WEB: www.scotfieldalpacas.co.uk

SOUTH EAST

LIGHTFOOT 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.

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

Your booking will include an online listing in the Alpacas for Sale section on the BAS website.

TEL: 01732 448748 EMAIL: Wendy.King@talkmediasales.co.uk

48 Alpaca #88

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, stud services, fancy grazers and sheep guards available. Please phone to book a viewing with no obligation to purchase. ‘Home of The Alpaca Experience’ – visit our website for further info.

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

SOUTH WEST

URCUCHILLAY ALPACAS For over 10 years we have bred multiple-champion alpacas, selecting the best genetics while working to very high ethical standards. Our reputation and many awards are testament to our passion, commitment, knowledge and experience.

We have BAS registered and halter trained alpacas for sale in a range of colours, ages and quality, champion studs in a range of colours with a variety of sought-after genetics from New Zealand, Australia, America and the UK. We offer alpaca walks, experiences, events and parties as well as a shop. Visits are welcome by appointment.

TEL: 01458 860052 or 07570 511299 EMAIL: carla@urcuchillay.co.uk or carla@fibreofthegods.co.uk WEB: www.urcuchillay.co.uk or www.fibreofthegods.co.uk

CENTRAL ENGLAND

ALPACA ANNIE

FAERIE TALE ALPACAS

Breeding quality, friendly alpacas on the Romney Marsh, we pride ourselves on the relationship we have with our animals and our high welfare standards.

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.

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.

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.

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

WEST MIDLANDS

ADVERTISE HERE

PENNYBRIDGE ALPACAS

TOFT ALPACAS We offer over 150 pedigree alpacas in all colours, ages and price ranges and are confident that our prize-winning herd will live up to all your alpaca expectations. We will be delighted to share our extensive experience to guide you towards your alpaca aspiration, whatever that might be. Through the TOFT studio we run an extensive programme of practical husbandry and textile, crochet and knitting workshops throughout the year. The TOFT studio retails exclusive luxury yarn from throughout the world. Come and see for yourself – the complete alpaca experience.

TEL: 01788 810626 or 07970 626245 EMAIL: shirley@toft-alpacas.co.uk WEB: www.toftalpacastud.com

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: 07950 671672 FACEBOOK: Faerie Tale Alpacas EMAIL: info@faerietalealpacas.co.uk WEB: www.faerietalealpacas.co.uk

NORTH WEST

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!

TEL: 01254 419069 (Blackburn) MARK: 07540 115329 AMANDA: 07882 456084 EMAIL: mark@potteryalpacas.com WEB: www.potteryalpacas.com

Fibre Processors and Retailers RETAILERS/WHOLESALERS IN BRITISH ALPACA PRODUCTS

ANIMAL HEALTH

JG ANIMAL HEALTH High specification organic chealated nutritional supplements suitable for all camelids.

• Premier Camelid Drench • Premier Mineral Supplement • Premier Mineral Bucket • A, D3 & E Paste TEL: 07866 607466 EMAIL: jganimalhealth@aol.com WEB: www.jganimalhealth.co.uk

PROCESSORS OF FIBRE – MINI MILLS AND OTHER

CLASSIC CARDER Classic Carder produce a full range of British, handmade drum carders for fibre preparation. Featuring our unique interchangeable drum system which allows quick and easy drum change for carding different fibres.

TEL: 01746 714130

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

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.

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’.

TEL: 01299 896827 EMAIL: mary@mrharness.co.uk

EMAIL: paulbrittain@mac.com

BAS Members exclusive BAS Members get free membership to My Society and can benefit from a number of exclusive offers. Here are a few:

Medisave

The Professional Solution

25% OFF Terms and conditions apply

Discounted Prices on Microchips*

Terms and conditions apply

10% OFF

AGRI Shelter®

WEB: www.classiccarder.co.uk Terms and conditions apply

2 FREE worm counts worth £40 for NEW BAS members then 25% OFF Worm Counts after that*

British Alpaca Society The fibre breed

Become a BAS member Single membership £74 per annum Joint membership £95 per annum Herd registration fee £25

www.bas-uk.com

5% OFF

ALL products Safe4disinfectant www.medisave.co.uk

www.ellipsefabrications.co.uk Terms and conditions apply

Wildwood Animal Health www.wildwoodanimalhealth.co.uk

Free bag of Camelibra NG2

Terms and conditions apply

Terms and conditions apply

(worth £28 & free delivery)

Checkout these and many other offers on The My Society page on the BAS website by going to the moving carousel on the home page and clicking on the My Society link www.bas-uk.com The British Alpaca Society cannot be held responsible for any issues regarding products, offers or services offered under the My Society scheme. All offers can be withdrawn or changed without notice. The British Alpaca Society does not endorse or recommend any of the companies listed under the My Society Scheme. * Full terms and conditions of the My Society offers can be seen on the BAS website.

www.bas-uk.com Alpaca #88

49

BAS BOARD BLOG Birthing and haymaking can each be a waiting game, says BAS Board member Judith Newman, from Angersleigh Alpacas in Somerset.

H

i everyone, I hope that all is well with you and your alpacas and that those of you who breed have some beautiful healthy cria on the ground. We were expecting nine cria this year – two were delivered in July with seven left to go. Both are lovely fawn females – one of which was birthed by the dam while we were still in bed in the morning and a lovely surprise when I looked out of the window at six in the morning. The other was a breech delivery undertaken by our vet with both dam and cria in good shape afterwards. The cria was up and feeding within the hour and mum passed the placenta soon after.

It was rather stressful at the time but a great relief to have them both healthy and bonded to each other.

I find that waiting for cria to be born can be both exciting and frustrating at the same time. On July 12 we had one girl three weeks overdue, one two weeks overdue and two more that were due a few days previously.

My family often ask me if it’s a problem when they are very overdue and ask “can’t the vet do something about it?” Every year I tell them the cria will come when its ready and you cannot interfere with nature.

There is of course an exception when you have a female at any stage of her pregnancy that is behaving out of character, looking very uncomfortable, maybe rolling and showing signs of labour that then stop.

Unless you are sufficiently competent and have the experience to investigate what is going on you must get a vet to check to make sure there isn’t a problem such as torsion or an incorrectly positioned cria that can’t be

50 Alpaca #88

birthed naturally. I am fine dealing with the more straightforward issues but a breech baby was beyond my capability and we would have lost her if the vet hadn’t been called.

Birthing update

We now have eight beautiful cria with one still left to make its appearance.

The statistics so far are: 50:50 boy/girl ratio, average gestation 354 days, maidens 351 days and others 359 days. We are still waiting on one experienced female currently on 352 days. We experienced our first breech birth, our first total womb prolapse and our first cria needing plasma due to insufficient colostrum in the first 24 hours.

We have also had two late evening births but fortunately all was well with two good strong cria delivered safely. It has been expensive and stressful and there have been times when we have asked ourselves why we put ourselves through it? But we see the beautiful mums and cria in the field with the cria racing around the paddocks in the evenings and its obvious why – they give us enormous pleasure and we love them!

Hay making

Hay making is another waiting game. The earliest we have made hay is May and the latest is September. The early hay is definitely the best although the September hay was good and all our animals munched on it quite happily.

This year all our hay was safely gathered in July and our barn is full of lovely sweet smelling hay.

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From our acclaimed ‘Camelibra’; designed to provide the correct nutritional balance to maintain healthy digestion from natural forage/fibre based diets, our unique ‘Hembra & Cria’ to maximise the growth and fibre development of the newborn from birth to post weaning and ‘Fibregest’; our high quality soluble fibre feed, we have the perfect answer for optimum nutrition whatever your situation.

In addition, no minimum order quantities, nationwide sales support and full nutritional backup all come as standard too. www.gwfnutrition.com

For further information, stockist details and to order, please visit gwfnutrition.com or call: +44 (0)1225 708482

Supreme Champion alpaca breeders with 27 years experience Inca No Strings – Next Generation Black Herd Sire

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 and Middle East?

Help obtaining planning permission for a dwelling using alpaca breeding as justification – we did it and have helped others.

Inca Lewesdon – Next Generation Black Herd Sire

Inca Memphis – Next Generation Black Herd Sire

www.incaalpaca.co.uk Please call Tim and Tracey to talk more about alpaca ownership: +44 (0) 7875 532827

incaalpaca.co.uk