New Zealand Alpaca December 2013 by NZ Alpaca

December 2013

magaz in Ial e ic

of f

SUMMER 2012

A selection of 100% alpaca creations totally handcrafted from chosen alpaca right through to finished garment from Karisma cottage industry team. Each garment features a koru emblem representing the culture of New Zealand.

magazi ne Ial ic of

of f

Decemb er 2013

SUMMER 2012

magazin ial e ic

of f

Inside this issue…

New Zealand's TRI-UMPH of Alpaca Events

Stoneleigh Valentino – Two Times AANZ National Supreme Champion

History of National Show Champions

A Beginner's Guide to Showing Alpacas – From a Beginner's Perspective

Showing – The Alpaca Perspective

How to Give Alpaca Advertising the X-Factor

Towards an Alpaca Fibre Industry: Is it Making Sense

Let's Talk Quality

Histograms and Textiles, is there a Connection?

Alpaca Show at Westerlee

Woolly Wonders

Norwegian Alpaca Business Under the Polar Circle

Fibre Sub Committee Update

The Mystery of Judging Revealed: What the Judges Saw

Advertising Breeder Profile: Barbara Lomax

New Member Profile: Debra, Graham and Dominique Law

2013 National Show Results

2013 SI Colourbration Results

Sarah Busby

Dr Chris Strack COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Anne Rogers Photography

Kit Johnson

Dominique Law

Maree Churchill

Gemma McGrath

Paul Vallely

Caroline Newcombe

Certified Sorters Systems Anya Walkington Matt Fearer

Jan Øivind Moskaug

Showing and Judging Committee Barbara Lomax

Dominique Law

New Zealand Alpaca is printed on paper derived from resources which are managed to ensure their renewability for generations to come.

Editor Robyn Anderson magazine@alpaca.org.nz

Website www.alpaca.org.nz AANZ – All Enquiries Toni Soppet – AANZ Office Manager PO Box 6348, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8442 Phone (03) 341 5242. Mobile 021 368 994 tonisoppet@alpaca.org.nz or aanz@clear.net.nz

Advertising AANZ Office advertising@alpaca.org.nz Phone (03) 341 5242 Deadlines New Zealand Alpaca is produced three times per year. Deadlines for all advertising & articles for the next issue is 25th February, 2014.

AANZ Council Kit Johnson – President 68 Moodys Road RD 2, Kaiapoi 7692 Phone (03) 327 3020 president@alpaca.org.nz

Advert Sizes When producing artwork for advertising please use the measurements below.

Keenan Scott – Vice President 26 Donald Bruce Road Waiheke Island Phone (09) 372 5293 vicepresident@alpaca.org.nz

Business Card ¼ Page ½ Page Portrait ½ Page Landscape Full Page Double Page Spread

88mm × 55mm 88mm × 130mm 90mm × 264mm 180mm × 130mm 210mm × 297mm 420mm × 297mm

Advertising Rates All prices GST exclusive. All adverts full colour. Press Ready Artwork Supplied Business Card ¼ Page ½ Page Full Page Double Page Spread Special Positions Right Hand* Back Cover (full page) Inside Cover (full page) Inside Back Cover (full page) Specific Position* * Subject to availability

$55 $110 $220 $400 $700 +10% +25% +20% +15% +10%

Graphic Design Advert design service available @ $60 per hour, 95% of adverts will take an hour or less to complete. We will contact you with an estimate prior to commencing work if composing your advert will take longer than an hour. Please direct any design enquiries to aanz@clear.net.nz Discounts A discount is available for advertising in three consecutive issues. The full rate is paid for the first two adverts and a 30% discount is given on the third advert. This is equivalent to 10% per issue. Please don’t send payment with advertising material – an account will be sent on receipt of your advertisement. 2

Martyn Ellwood-Wade – Secretary secretary@alpaca.org.nz Wayne Allison – Treasurer treasurer@alpaca.org.nz Frank Walkington – Southern Region Rep. southernrep@alpaca.org.nz Heather Goffin – Central Region Rep. centralrep@alpaca.org.nz Mary-Ann Pruden – Northern Region Rep. northernrep1@alpaca.org.nz Willem Alblas – Northern Region Rep. northernrep2@alpaca.org.nz Liability Whilst all efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of information this Association accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in advertisements or text. Views expressed by advertisements and contributors are not necessarily endorsed by this association. Copyright All material appearing in NZ Alpaca is copyright. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without the written permission of AANZ.

“You have to be out there to be seen. Make a name for yourself and success will follow, but you have to work at it”

Message from the President It was two years in the making and now it is all over. I am referring of course to the World Alpaca Conference, International Fleece Show and the National Show.

Central Television spent most of the day filming and interviewing many exhibitors and of course Campbell Live filmed for over three hours.

All I can say is well done New Zealand and congratulations to everyone who helped to make this event such a success. There was that small, dedicated working group who put it all together (Brenda Gainsford, Molly Gardner,

The resulting 13 minute coverage on prime time television was fantastic and probably a first for our organization. Did everyone notice the big increase in visitor numbers the next day. Well done Brenda and her team.

Mary-Ann Pruden and Willem Alblas) and a long list of helpers who ensured that everything came together in those last few important weeks.

I have just returned from the AAA National Show in Australia and the number of people who came up to me and commented on the quality and professionalism of the WAC was quite extraordinary. They really were impressed. Apart from the auction animals, there were other private sales and overall, everyone has gone away with a far more positive feel about our industry and its future.

Then there were devoted members like Miriam Dixon who spent months felting all the conference bags. Special thanks must also go to the Northern Region and all the helpers who chipped in to ensure that everything was in order for this very special occasion. For me one of the highlights was the Trade Site display. The displays were striking, professional in their design and presented a wide range of products and services. An important factor in the success of the trade stands was that they were integrated with the National Show and WAC thereby ensuring a sense of purpose and involvement with the whole event. Congratulations to everyone involved, you really brought the whole event to life.

Let us keep up the good work by supporting the remaining shows, organizing field days and involving your local alpaca community. You have to be out there to be seen. Make a name for yourself and success will follow, but you have to work at it.

Kit Johnson President, AANZ

No show is complete without exhibitors and once again our members did not let us down with record breed and fleece entries. Members were smartly attired and cheerful with good camaraderie all round. Thank you once again for making the effort and especially those who had to travel long distances. The international fleece display was exceptional and whilst the international competition was tough, NZ did not disappoint. Well done to Surico Alpaca in winning both supreme suri breed and fleece. That was an exceptional effort. Also Stoneleigh Alpaca stud are to be congratulated for producing a stud male who has now won the national title twice – Stoneleigh Valentino. No international event could be staged without Sponsorship. My special thanks must go to NZ Summerhill for taking out the platinum sponsorship, the gold, silver and bronze sponsors and all other parties who donated product and services. Well done – your efforts have ensured that the AANZ had the funds to meet our initial costs and in turn ensured entry fees were not artificially high. 3

New Zealand's

TRI-UMPH of alpaca events

by Sarah Busby

I apologise for the play on words but I make no apology for the fabulous series of three Alpaca events that have recently taken place in Hamilton on the North Island (NZ). The International Fleece Show, The New Zealand National Alpaca Show and the World Alpaca Conference were a tremendous success.

All three were very well supported by exhibitors and delegates from across New Zealand, Australia and by international visitors alike. Visitors came from as far afield as Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Germany and The Netherlands. Claudelands Exhibition Centre housed all the events under one roof and was an excellent choice of venue. Things kicked off well before delegates and exhibitors arrived as judging began for the International Fleece show 4 days earlier. 381 fleeces had been stacked up in the house of Brenda Gainsford (organizer) and Mary-Ann Pruden (fleece show convenor) in preparation for the show. 381 boxes had to be put together and a huge team of highly motivated and very competent volunteers transformed a large shed at the event centre into a fleece show in the space of a few hours. Paul Vallely came across from Australia to carry out fleece testing and he too had a small team of volunteers aside him preparing the samples. Each of the fleeces had 4 staples or locks selected at random from representative regions across the fleeces that were then tested by Paul and fibre measurements were recorded on the score-sheets. You can probably see from these photos just what an undertaking it all was. Lyn Dickson from Australia judged the Huacaya fleeces 4

(270) and she had the toughest job of all, standing on cold concrete for 3 days assessing fleece after fleece and applying her professionalism to each and every fleece. My job of Judging the Suri fleeces (111) paled into relative insignificance beside her task. As with every fleece show our Supremes rose to the top and Blackgate Lodge Zora (R. Cuthill, Aust) was Supreme Huacaya Fleece. Surico Nova won Supreme Suri Fleece (Brooke, Sue & Hermione Richards, NZ). When we walked in to the pavilion that housed the National Show there was a wonderful array of trade sites interspersed with pens of beautifully prepared alpacas. The skills and talents on display were breathtaking. The trade stands displayed elegant garments, gifts, pottery featuring alpacas and my personal favourite, a 3D model of an alpaca constructed from lazer carved layers of cardboard. It was simply unique. The organisers had done a great job attracting local public during the weekend of the National show and the trade stands would have done a great job of showcasing everything that is good about alpaca fibre. The national TV news program, Campbell Live, featured the event on TV3 and two news reporters walked around with alpacas under the

guidance of Shirley Grant (Platinum sponsor, NZ Summerhill alpacas). The leopard appaloosa alpacas that they were leading were far more skilled in the ring than the reporters!

the laughter and constant chattering between people seated under the grapevine covered pergolas was any measure, the evening was a wonderful success.

The New Zealand National alpaca show attracted 480 alpacas, showing continued for two and a half days. Judges Angela Preuss (Aust) and Paul Garland (NZ) worked tirelessly identifying and describing all the salient features of their ribbon winning alpacas throughout the show. As with the fleeces, broad ribbons were awarded and eventually supremes rose to the top. Surico Demoiselle (Brooke, Sue & Hermione Richards) was chosen as Supreme Suri and Stoneleigh Valentino won Supreme Huacaya (Liz & Chris Strack).

Having stood on our feet in the show ring for three days or sat upon the seats in the gallery watching the breed judging, it was then time to turn on our brains again for the World Alpaca Conference (WAC).

Bringing the ring show to a close was a cocktail event followed by the alpaca auction. The parade prior to the auction was entertaining with owners trying to out-do their neighbours by holding their banners and name tags higher than each other. Lively bidding took place and at one point the auctioneer was worried that Russell Nelson was making an attempt to take over his role and that of ‘spotters’ too. Maybe the cocktail hour had been a good idea! This summary has already got to the end of the National show and I have not yet mentioned the catering. At the end of each day there were dinners, each getting bigger and better than the previous. I have to say that the first evening event, the barbeque put any BBQ that I have ever had at my own home to shame. It was quite sumptuous. Three of the dinners took place on-site at Claudelands and the final evening dinner was held off site at a local vineyard. New Zealand is world famous for it’s wines so what better way to showcase these skills to the International visitors. Vilagrad winery played hosts to a very large and often noisy contingent of delegates. Ivan Milicich left Croatia in 1893 and after many years working as a gum-digger in Northland he bought land and planted grapes. Vilagrad family winery is still run by his family. Prof. Changsheng Dong, President of Shanxi Agricultural University, China, began the evening with a speech outlining the research on alpacas already carried out by their veterinary scientists. The suitability of some parts of China to raise alpacas was evident from his lecture. The Vilagrad winery provided a fabulous carvery style meal. If

Juan Carlos Marin from Chile presented the plenary session and described the molecular approach he uses to study evolutionary relationships of organisms. He has looked at DNA evidence to reconstruct the evolutionary history of South American Camelids. In particular he is attempting to elucidate the various proportions of genes from Vicuna, Guanaco, Llama and Alpaca that lie within the genetic makeup of alpacas as we know them today. The conference was run in three streams for delegates, Fibre, Health, Breeding. There was also a separate conference for vets. Some of the vet lectures were shared with normal delegates and some times they had more specialized lectures of their own. Prof. Andrew Dart (Professor of Equine Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney) gave an excellent talk about the treatment options for a sick neonate. Andrew has developed a procedure for rapid intervention when sick or compromised neonates present at his clinic. Trying to resuscitate the compromised animal offers a poorer prognosis because the natural instinct of alpacas is to hide signs of weakness and disease and these patients usually present in far worse condition than other domesticated species. By intervening early, providing fluid, nutrition and antibiotic cover through nasogastric tubes and I.V. injection severely sick cria can be given the chance of a good outcome. Time is of the essence when treating cria. Alpaca genetics was well described in the research reports from Kylie Munyard (Curtin University, Australia) Kylie’s group first proposed a model for inheritance of colour in alpacas, then tested this model using molecular genetics techniques. This research showed that alpacas with the same colour in different intensities had the same genotype at key colour genes. They hypothesised that secondary genes were responsible for intensity or dilution of colour. Her talk led us 5

carefully through the genetic minefield that we all know alpaca colour breeding to be. Kylie also presented a lecture on the genetic basis of fibre micron blowout. Belinda Appleton (Melbourne Uni Australia) lectured on the complex genetic issues surrounding blue-eyed white alpacas. She also talked about the importance of genetic research in our future understanding of how to maximize our advances. Belinda’s work was supported by lectures by Dr John Hickford, (Lincoln Uni NZ). John analysed the progeny testing database that was developed in Austraia (but is used by New Zealand breeders too). Entitled The Across Herd Genetic Evaluation AGE project, John delivered a compelling talk on the importance of being part of the AGE project. Across New Zealand livestock industries have advanced in measurable and impressive amounts due entirely to the use of similar progeny testing schemes. If any body was in doubt about the value of the AGE project before listening to John, they would have become converts by attending his talk. Details on the AGE project are available on the AANZ website as well as the AAA website. Dr Jane Vaughan gave an entertaining and extremely informative lecture on nutrition, the problems of rye-grass staggers and parasite control. Dr Chris Cebra (Oregon State Uni USA) talked about energy metabolism in alpacas and those of us who attended probably came away with at least one take-home message, that being that alpacas are herbivores on the outside – carnivores on the inside. His description of the balanced state of alpaca metabolism demonstrated that their metabolic system is just one step away from being in a diabetic state. He talked about an anti-diabetic factor present in alpaca milk that prevents cria from being diabetic despite the higher sugar intake that milk provides. The absence of this anti-diabetic factor in dry powdered replacement milk formula could account for some energy imbalances that bottle raised cria can experience. Fascinating stuff. Fighting teeth may be vestigial remains of a previous evolutionary carnivorous state, even more interesting!

TOP: Premier Fancy Huacaya and Finest Huacaya Fleece – Ambersun Dukkah MIDDLE: Premier Fancy Suri Fleece trophy presentation for Premier Fancy Suri Breed and Fleece winner – Far North Zappa LEFT: Premier Fancy Huacaya Fleece trophy presentation – Appaloosa Faux Pas

The fibre stream hosted speakers skilled at the top end of the alpaca business model. We are breeding fibre producers and all of us are aware of the exquisite attributes of alpaca fleece. Andy Nailard (NZ) extolled the importance of working together to produce and sustain a fibre industry. ‘Sustainable’ is a word that applies to our industry as much as it does to the energy industry or forestry industries etc. Understanding the luxurious nature of our fibre (Chris Stewart), how to spin it (Peter Chatterton, NZ) understanding the marketplace and how alpaca might fit in (Paul Vallely), the importance of producing a quality product (Caroline Newcombe) tied together the fibre story in a very holistic fashion. The successes of the Rumplestiltskin project was uplifting (Phillipa Gardner NZ). In between the excellent lectures we had tea and coffee breaks where there was time to build new relationships with visitors from afar, and of course to continue friendships with folk whose company we enjoy. The task of putting on such an event was an enormous one. Our association is run almost exclusively by volunteers and the working party that brought this event from concept through to fruition should be heartily thanked. Brenda and her team put so much into it. A special mention should go to Miriam Dixon worked tirelessly to hand-craft each of the black felted alpaca shoulder bags which every delegate received. They were decorated with typical NZ emblems, and they housed the paperwork that was an important part of the conference. These bags summed up the entire event. Founded through a common interest in all things alpaca. Created from raw alpaca fibre, crafted with skill and dedication, produced to a superb standard and enjoyed by all. The same could be said of the three events that took place. People were brought together through a shared interest in alpacas. Speakers, delegates, exhibitors at the show, caterers, volunteers, alpacas all played their part, all worked hard, all were professional and together they crafted or created an amazing event. I am so glad I was part of the TRI-umph.

MIDDLE: Supreme Champion Huacaya – Stoneleigh Valentino RIGHT: Supreme Champion Suri – Surico Demoiselle

On Farm Quarantine Facility Setting the Suri Standard

Ch o i c e Quality

Affordability All Colours

www.surilana.com.au Â

Ian and Angela Preuss Strathbogie, Victoria, Australia, 3666 PH: +61 3 57905394 Mobile: 0407931789 Email: suris@surilana.com.au

Stoneleigh Valentino Two Times AANZ National Supreme Champion by Dr Chris Strack

Valentino is a white male huacaya alpaca we are thrilled to have taking up space in our back paddock. Valentino is the product of a mating between one of our girls, Benleigh Sierra Royale and an outside male, Snowmass Uncontended Royalty (Imp.USA). My wife Liz had made the mating decision and, (as is often the case), I was informed of this mating some considerable time after the event. Anyway, a number of months rolled past and lo and behold this cute little white boy ‘pops out’. Young alpacas on our farm get a little ‘pep talk’ from me early on in their career; reminding them that they need to buck up their ideas, stick to the plan and generally get their act sorted out, lest they fall victim to the ravages of ‘climate change’ becoming wethered. Valentino appears to have listened and taken heed of this advice. Now at over three and a half years of age, he has grown into magnificent stud male and we are extremely proud to have bred him. Valentino won Champion Junior Male at his first National Show in 2010, and has continued to win his age group championship at all subsequent New Zealand National Shows.

This is the first time that the same alpaca has won the AANZ Supreme National Championship in breed twice. Valentino is only the second alpaca to win two National Supremes in Australasia in breed. The quality of animals presented at the AANZ National show is improving each year. To have won National Supreme Champion twice with Valentino is not only thrilling but also humbling, when one considers the magnificent animals that have been presented by other breeders at these shows. We have been fortunate in being able to access some wonderful males over the years to help us advance our breeding programme. The availability and interchange of genetics between breeders within New Zealand is, in our opinion, integral to the advancement of the New Zealand Alpaca Industry as a whole. Our goal has always been to be able to breed our own stud males. In Valentino we feel we have achieved this goal. He already has progeny on the ground and we look forward to see what he produces in the coming years!

Show Results for Stoneleigh Valentino include: • 2010 National Junior Male Champion Huacaya in the AANZ National Show. • 2011 National Supreme Champion Huacaya. The 2011 National had the largest entry of animals and fleeces in the history of the AANZ, up to that date (with 467 animals). Valentino was also the Champion Intermediate Male, as well as the Champion White Huacaya at this show. This show was judged by two international judges; Peter Kennedy and Lyn Dickson. • 2012 Champion Adult Male and Champion White Huacaya at the AANZ National Show. • 2013 National Supreme Champion Huacaya. The 2013 National had the largest entry of animals and fleeces in the history of the AANZ (with 471 animals). Valentino was also the Champion Senior Male, as well as the Champion White Huacaya at this show. This show was judged by two international judges; Paul Garland, and Angela Preuss.

History of

National Show Champions by Kit Johnson

National Show Supreme Champions Supreme Champion Huacaya 2004 Cedar House Perez - L & S Riddle 2005 Valley of Peace Royal Virtuoso - G & R Graham 2006 Homestead Farm Apollo - R & C Nelson 2007 Silverstream Flashdance - K & S Johnson 2008 Silverstream Faberge - K & S Johnson 2009 Silverstream Déjà vu - K & S Johnson 2010 Oak Ridge Oliver - M Bennet & D Wallace 2011 Stoneleigh Valentino - C & S Strack 2012 Banksia Park SKJ Khandy Man - E & G Lister 2013 Stoneleigh Valentino - C & L Strack Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece 2004 Valley of Peace Amora - G & R Graham 2005 Sierra Vista Belmont - G & D Marks 2006 Homestead Farm Apollo - R & C Nelson 2007 Homestead Farm Apollo - R & C Nelson 2008 Silverstream Flashdance - K & S Johnson 2009 Stoneleigh Flamboyance - C & L Strack 2010 Homestead Farm Absolute - R & C Nelson 2011 Homestead Farm Absolute - R & C Nelson 2012 Homestead Farm Sophie Ella - R & C Nelson 2013 Blackgate Lodge Zora - ? Cuthill Supreme Champion Suri 2004 Hadstock NZ Imperial - R & C Nelson 2005 Surico Yulia - B, S & H Richards 2006 Valley of Peace Star Lander - G & R Graham 2007 Surico Ballerina - B, S & H Richards 2008 Valley of Peace Enterprise - G & R Graham 2009 Surico Mantavani - B, S & H Richards 2010 Surico Onedin - B, S & H Richards 2011 Surico Tangier - B, S & H Richards 2012 Surico Walkinshaw - B, S & H Richards 2013 Surico Nova - B, S & H Richards Supreme Champion Suri Fleece 2004 Hadstock NZ Double Shot - R & C Nelson 2005 Hadstock NZ Imperial - R & C Nelson 2006 Thistledown Brownie McGee - S, P & M Gardner 2007 Clay Hill Momo - R Reich 2008 Gotland Vanessa - L & H Olsson 2009 Valley of Peace Winona - G & R Graham 2010 Gotland Demetri - L & H Olsson 2011 Surico Maxwell Smart - B, S & H Richards 2012 Surico Trilogy - B, S & H Richards 2013 Surico Demoiselle - B, S & H Richards 12

Some Interesting Credentials from our National Show Champions I am the first to admit that I enjoy showing my animals and fleeces and to me there is no greater thrill than winning the big one. For some, they have achieved their goals, for others the dream lives on. Just winning a ribbon at National Show level is not easy as many of you can testify when often only three ribbons are given out in most classes. Whatever way you look at it, ribbons offer encouragement, hope and a sense of achievement. Even minor ribbons at National level should be something to be proud of and something to inspire you to greater success at the next National Show. With the 2013 National Show now behind us, I took the liberty of checking past National Show results and came up with some interesting information that I thought would be of interest to our readers. The information supplied is based purely on supreme champion wins and does not include other broad ribbon results. • Supreme Champion Suri titles – 7 B,S & H Richards • Supreme Champion Huacaya titles – 3 K & S Johnson • Supreme Champion Suri fleece titles – 3 B,S & H Richards • Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece titles – 5 R & C Nelson B,S & H Richards have won Supreme Champion Suri breed and fleece in the same year, three times in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Stoneleigh Valentino owned by Chris & Liz Strack is the only alpaca to ever win the Supreme Champion title twice for breed in 2011 and 2013. Valentino is also the only alpaca to win age group champion at every National Show entered ie Junior, Intermediate, Adult and Senior Male Champion. Russell and Caroline Nelson have the distinction of having won the supreme champion huacaya fleece twice in consecutive years. Homestead Farm Apollo in 2006 and 2007 and Homestead Farm Absolute in 2010 and 2011. Homestead Farm Apollo is the only huacaya to win both the Supreme Champion Breed and Fleece title in the same year – 2006. Homestead Farm Apollo and Silverstream Flashdance are the only huacayas to win the Supreme Champion Huacaya title

and then have the fleece from that year win the Supreme Champion Huacaya fleece the following year. Hadstock NZ Imperial is the only suri to have won the Supreme Champion Suri title and then have the fleece from that year win the Supreme Champion Suri fleece the following year. ILR Alpine Fiber’s Brutus is the only sire to produce three National Supreme Huacaya Champions. Silverstream Flashdance 2007, Silverstream Faberge 2008 and Silverstream Déjà vu 2009. Brutus is owned by N Cooper and L Blake & K & S Johnson. Surilana Parsifal and Surilana Brilliante have both sired two National Supreme Suri champions – 2005 & 2010 and 2007 & 2009. Both sires are owned by B, S & H Richards. Pucara Juliana is the only dam to produce two National Supreme Champions. Silverstream Faberge 2008 and Silverstream Déjà vu in 2009. Juliana is owned by K & S Johnson. Silverstream Déjà vu is the only female to win Supreme Champion Huacaya in 2009. Déjà vu is owned by K & S Johnson. There have only been two females win the National Supreme Champion Suri title. Surico Yulia 2005 and Surico Ballerina in 2007. Both animals are owned by B, S & H Richards.

Colour – Breed There have been 6 white, 2 light fawn and 1 mid fawn Supreme Champion Huacayas.

MartinA Lifestyle Alpacas

*Farm Tours *Hand Knitted garments *Machine knitted garments *Knitting, felting & spinning groups. *Alpaca Box shop.

*Alpacas for sale, pets and breeding *Grey stud service mobile or on farm

Dyeing & Carding

There have been 9 white and 1 medium fawn Supreme Champion Suris.

Colour – Fleece There have been 9 solid white and 1 solid light fawn Supreme Champion Huacaya fleeces. There have been 8 solid white, 1 medium fawn and 1 brown Supreme Champion Suri fleeces.

Age Group - Breed There have been 1 junior female, 4 intermediate males, 1 adult male, 2 senior males, 1 mature female and 1 mature male win the Supreme Champion Huacaya title. There have been 1 junior female, 1 junior male, 1 intermediate female, 6 intermediate males and 1 senior female win the supreme Champion Suri title.

*We have a Pat Green Picker and carding machine and can offer a quick turn around service. *We can dye a whole fleece before carding and can blend. *Hold workshops for Dyeing. Agents for Unicorn products.

Age Group – Fleece There have been 1 junior female, 1 junior male, 1 intermediate female, 3 intermediate male, 1 adult male, 1 senior female, 1 senior male and 1 mature male fleeces win the Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece title. There have been 1 junior female, 6 junior male, 1 intermediate female, 2 intermediate male fleeces win the Supreme Champion Suri fleece title. It is my sincere hope and wish that the above results and records will inspire alpaca breeders to show their animals and fleeces at our National Shows. Records are there to be broken and with the huge genetic gains that alpaca breeders are making, it will not be long before many new records will be set.

354 Paparata Road Bombay Ph 09 236 0171 Bob 0275419329 Joyce0211518664

Email alpaca@martina.co.nz www.martina.co.nz

All the very best for the remaining show season! 13

A beginner’s guide to showing alpacas – from a beginner’s perspective by Dominique Law

Upon entering the show, you will need information about each alpaca entered, such as: • Name, type and sex of alpaca • Age of alpaca on show day • Colour of alpaca (if not 100% you can always get your animal colour checked on the day, just talk to the steward) • IAR number • Date of birth • Date of last shearing (if shorn) so that the judge can ascertain the length of fleece grown over a period of time Also be aware that all A&P shows require a current TB certificate, so make sure you arrange this to be done in plenty time before the cut off date to enter the show. That way you will avoid any last minute stress—unlike us.

If you’re anything like me, the idea of showing your alpacas can seem daunting and, let’s face it, a bit silly. But I’m here to tell you showing is not only survivable, it can also be fun and rewarding. Showing off your quirky animals is not only a great way to meet other enthusiasts, but a chance to compare your alpacas with others from around your area—or even country wide if it is a big show—providing a perfect opportunity to fine tune your breeding programme. If you are new to the world of alpacas, welcome. I too am a newbie, and what I have learnt from my short time in this world, is that everyone is more than happy to share their wisdom. So don’t be afraid to ask—all questions great and small. It is a good idea to peruse the AANZ website, particularly the Members’ section regarding Showing Regulations and Breed Standards. On the home page you will also find the show calendar—so keep an eye out for your local show. 14

On confirmation of your entry you will receive any information you need regarding that particular show. You will also have the contact details of the chief steward in case you have any queries. To ensure both you and your alpacas have an enjoyable experience, preparation is very important. At the show you will be expected to lead your alpacas around the ring to show off their conformation, as well as have them stand still so the judge or judges can examine teeth, testicles (males only!), and quality of fleece. So leading up to the event make sure to practise not only leading them around, but also standing still while a helper checks your alpaca. Most alpacas are nervous when more than one person is in their personal space, so they need training to get them accustomed to this. Little and often works best. Make sure your halter fits correctly—if it’s too loose it tends to slip too far down the nose, restricting their breathing, causing them to panic and misbehave. You want to make sure it feels nice and snug at the top of the halter, where it fits behind their ears. This is a good time for you to check that their IAR ear tag is still intact, and if not you will need to contact the AANZ office to order a replacement, as this is required for the show. Once your animals are comfortable being handled, it makes it easier for you in the future to do any health checks, or just simply handle your animals. Alpacas are shown in clean pasture condition. This means there is no fussing about with shampoo at the crack of

dawn—such a relief. All you have to do is make sure you keep them paddocked in the cleanest paddock available. Sometimes easier said than done, I know. If weather conditions are horrible, you can always keep them in the barn the night before the show. But make sure, if you are only showing one, that you keep at least one friend with them. It is important that you arrive at the show with plenty of time to settle your alpacas before their class (at least an hour). Your entry form may stipulate arrival times, of either the day before, or the morning of, so make sure you time yourself to fit in appropriately.

Handy hints SURI: You can help them look the best they can by using a dog-grooming mitt just before going into the ring. Carefully follow the fall of the fleece. This will help remove bits of debris, so that your animal won’t look as if they are wearing their entire yard while in the show ring. HUACAYA: With the help of a ‘wand’ you can statically remove dust and debris from their fleece. Ask around at the show for advice on how to use it, and where to get one from. With both breeds, be careful not to pick at their coats, as this can cause damage to the fleece structure.

What to bring: • Buckets for water and feed • Hay • Pellets and chaff (lucerne goes down well) and or fibre fresh—it is very important not to make sudden changes to their diet, so if your animals are not used to supplementary feeding, you will need to introduce these slowly, well in advance of the show. • It is a good idea to bring some willow for them to snack on, as they will be off grass for the duration of the show.

• Basic first aid equipped with scissors, handwipes and anything else that falls into the ‘just in case’ category. • Pen and highlighter for marking catalogues • Snacks—hydrate and refuel yourself as you could be in for a long day. • Any signage you may have for promoting your farm You will be expected to wear black pants or a skirt and a white shirt or top for the bigger shows, with the other shows being more casual. Make sure you have comfortable, enclosed, shoes, as you will be on your feet for long periods of time. It is a good idea to bring along with you a folding chair.

What to do in the show ring: The ring steward (in the white coat) will tell you where to walk your alpaca in the ring and where to stand. It is a good idea to watch any earlier classes so you can get familiar with the process. You want to present your alpaca to the judge, so pay attention to where they are standing at all times. This is where your training comes into play. Be confident when handling your alpaca, and remember to smile. After the judge has reached a decision, if unplaced, wait for the steward to guide you to exit the ring. If you are lucky enough to place, the judge will give commentary on how they reached the decision while you parade around the ring. Make sure you listen, as it is a great insight into the qualities of your alpaca. First and second place getters will need to be available for the championship class, so remain close to the ring. If your alpaca wins a championship (congratulations!), you need to be available for the supreme champs. If you have more alpacas coming into the ring than you can handle, (which sometimes happens as classes change to suit the day) just ask the stewards, as there are usually other breeders who are more than happy to help out.

• Pooper-scooper and bucket for removing waste from their pen.

Just remember that we are all here for the same reasons, to meet like-minded people, to expand our knowledge, and to show off our bizarre animals—hopefully gaining ribbons in the process. And remember, no tantrums if you don’t place!

• Armbands for showing

A healthy dose of humour goes a long way.

• Halters and lead ropes—enough for all your animals

….selective breeding = distinctive suri alpacas …...growing lustrous fibre to produce distinctive products.

…... visit our website…...we will have alpacas , scarves, wraps, shawls and other alpaca products to suit your requirements.

www.bellaveenalpacas.co.nz

Fleece Statistics

Forestglen Seth

1st Fleece: 15.6 m, 2.9 sd, 19.1 cv, 100% cf

is an outstanding dark fawn huacaya male, with an exceptional fleece.

2nd Fleece: 16.8 m, 2.9 sd, 17.2 cv, 100% cf

He is widely regarded as the best fawn male ever

3rd Fleece: 17.07 m, 3.1 sd, 18.2 cv, 99.7% cf

seen in New Zealand. As

4th Fleece: 18.18 m, 3.36 sd, 18.5 cv, 99.8% cf

the Supreme Champion

a reflection of his fleece quality, he was awarded Huacaya Fleece at the first International Fleece

5th Fleece: 19.6 m, 3.6 sd, 17.9 cv, 97% cf

Show, held in Sydney, Australia, in March 2008.

SIRE OF CHAMPIONS

Forestglen Seth is now producing stunning offspring, many of which have already gone on to be show champions. We are now able to offer a limited selection of offspring for sale - call us for details.

Alan and Lyn Skilling 12 Maratoto Road RD4, Paeroa 3674 Ph: 07 862 4646 Email: info@qtazalpacas.com 17 39 Website: www.qtazalpacas.com

SHOWING The Alpaca Perspective by Maree Churchill - El dos Cadena Alpacas

um said I had to go along to an alpaca show on Saturday to be judged. Recently at my first ever show I was a bit naughty in the ring. “Don’t worry” said Mum, “this show is only for one day and it is a special show celebrating each colour”. “But I am not a coloured alpaca” I thought, but Mum told me I was, “You're a white colour and you only get judged with other alpacas in your colour at this show”. So the evening before, I trotted happily into the float, and away we went. I was sleepy by the time we got to the covered pavilion pens at the Canterbury Park so settled in quickly with my buddies, into a nice soft bed of straw with yummy lucerne to eat for tea.

A telephone call one evening, asking if I would like to write an article about a recent Colourbration show, and soon I found myself at the computer typing down the same old refrain. Then I stopped myself and thought, perhaps the readers would like a completely different angle as most AANZ members as we know are a well educated and intelligent bunch and know all about shows. So here is a light hearted account from an alpaca’s point of view for a change.

Next morning, was chilly and foggy outside, but I was warm in my bed. When Mum came early to feed us, we were all told to behave ourselves today as it is going to be a busy, hectic day. Then with our entries all checked and the fog lifting, it was time to start. A group of Black and a couple of Grey Suri, trotted quickly past our pen, “Where you off too so early?” I queried, “Not sure” they sniffed, looking down at me, “We always have time to eat our breakfast first, I think the humans made a mistake” “Oh no” I hummed back, “You blacks have to go first today”. I don’t think they believed me cause after all I am only a weanling. Shortly Mum returned, and put our leads on. I remembered from the last show that she gets a bit cross if we roll in the bedding, so I was good and my fleece was clean. “You have to wait your turn now as your colour is last today for the suri’s” she said to me. “Your friends are in the ring before you”. She lead us out down a little short patch to a nice patch of green grass, which I really really wanted to roll around in but was told I couldn’t. I will remember that patch for later on. Mum gave my lead to a very nice lady who stroked my neck and told me how cute I was. I had stand for a while to watch my buddies get judged. I was very proud when my older brown friend was brought forward and, got a lovely blue ribbon, but the judges must have forgotten they had already given her one as they gave her another big silver one as well.

My golden half sister also got a ribbon, but she was only given one. Mum told me she was pleased, as the competition in that colour was very good, and the judges do not have to give out the nice red and blue ones if they think the fleeces are not quite up to their standard. The show is progressing smoothly and everyone is on time. I am getting very nervous now as it is almost my turn. I say goodbye to the nice lady, as Mum quickly leads me away to a holding area, near the show ring. I think I shall be good today as lots of people are watching. Then a number is called. “That’s you” said Mum as she led me to stand behind a much bigger white Suri. I thought that was strange as I have a name, perhaps she forgot it today. Then before I knew it, my number was called again, and I had to walk slowly around the white picket fence ring, I wanted to trot and play but this time I behaved myself, and just did one little skip for fun. There were two judges staring at me muttering to themselves. Then they approached the bigger suri beside me, and weirdly decided to do a dental exam on the spot, and then pulled some fleece out. Ouch. I sneaked a peek. Her fleece is very lustrous and looks like she has got much more than me. Then it’s my turn. “Oh she is a very little dot” the judge lady says to Mum. “Yes she is just 6 months old”. The lady pulls my fleece out so expertly I do not feel it, and strangely puts it on her arm, perhaps she is cold and needs my fleece to help warm her up. These humans seem to like covering themselves up in alpaca. The judge man opens up my fleece, and strokes my neck. I like this and talk back to him for more patting, but I do not think he understands me as he stops. Then he lifts up my tail, so embarrassing. “Yep a girl” he says. Well I could have told him that! Then I had to wait and wait, the man puts a red ribbon on someone else, but I get a blue and Mum is happy. I like blue, it matches my halter. Good, it is all over I think, time to eat and roll, but no, I had to go around and around and around while the judge lady says some words. I think she is talking about me, cause she mentions I need to grow a bit taller, and grow my fleece out more but says I that am very fine. Mum thinks this is good, and she gives me a little kiss on my nose. We go out of the ring, and past some Black Huacaya, “Good luck” I call to them, “Oh we are always last we will not be judged until much later” they reply. Well I have news for them, but I keep this to myself, won’t they get a surprise soon. Out of the show area, there are some big pens filled with alpacas of all colours and types. The sun is out and the air is fresh. Mum takes me to a big pen marked Girls, “That’s you” she tells me and puts me and my friends in the pen. It is nice to have fresh air and green grass to nibble, I like being outside and make new friends. One even looks like my other mother who weirdly I have not seen for a while, so I try to have a drink. She definitely is NOT my other mother. I spend the few hours in the pen, which is nice cause I can roll and play, but later it gets crowded with Huacaya, and I start to get sleepy and want my soft bedding in the pen. Where is my Mum? She returns at lunch break. We girls all return into the big pens inside the pavilion. Tied to the pen is my ribbon, which I

decide to nibble on but I only have one, so I chew on my big brother’s next door, he has two ribbons, so he can have the silver one, I’ll chew on the other. I don’t think my Mum was too pleased when she found this later. Finally I can eat my alpaca nuts and go to sleep. Gee it is tiring at shows. “Get used to it” the others say, “this is only the start of the show season”. For the rest of the afternoon, us Suri’s watch from the pens as line after line of Huacaya are marched past, with their handlers, getting ready for the ring. There seems to be an awful lot of them, especially in my colour. I like the brown ones, because they remind me of my friends. Some return shortly after, with no ribbons, but a selected few proudly walk past, heads high with bright coloured red, blue, yellow and green and the really good ones, have the big maroon or silver ribbons. “Congratulations” I call out to them, but they don’t talk back to me as I am only a baby. Then one lovely roan grey girl walks by. She stops and we chat for a while, rubbing our noses together. The big ribbon matches the roan grey’s fleece, and her Mum is holding a shiny cup. A bit too small for alpacas to drink from I think. Just as I am starting to miss my other friends at home, its time to go. I really want to go home quickly so jump right up and over the ramp. Before I know it, we were off, over bumpy roads for the long drive back. South Island Colourbration was fun and I liked it, but I am ever so pleased to be in my paddock running around and stretching my legs, being what I do best, just being an alpaca. Alpaca name withheld to protect its identity!

Reclass, Processing a Alpaca, Black and C and Specialty Fibres richard@wooltech

WOOL TECHNOLOGIES CASH PAID FOR ALPACA

Reclass, Processing and Marketing Alpaca, Black and Coloured Wool and Specialty Fibres richard@wooltechnologies.co.nz

NORTH ISLAND CASH Philippa Wright PAID FOR FIBRE PhilippaALPACA Wright Wool Merchants 8 Coughlan Road, Waipukurau NORTH ISLAND Ph: 06 858Philippa 9434 orWright 027 242 2033 philippa@wrightwool.co.nz Philippa Wright Wool Merchants 8 Coughlan Road, Waipukurau Ph: 06 858 9434 or 027 242 2033 philippa@wrightwool.co.nz

SO L Sherlin S Lawford Road, RD Ph: 03 349 7524 o lerid

SOUTH ISLAND Lindsay Riddle Sherlin Suri Alpaca Stud Lawford Road, RD5, Christchurch Ph: 03 349 7524 or 0274 331 094 leriddle@xtra.co.nz

Waters Edge Alpacas Introducing: EP Cambridge Invictus Winner of Supreme Champion Huacaya at AAA National Show 2012

Toni, Greg & Lisa Charteris. Karaka, South of Auckland. phone: 09 292 7895 Email: toni@tcs.net.nz www.watersedgealpacas.co.nz 20

OUR OUR BA

How to give Alpaca Advertising the X-Factor by Gemma McGrath

If you are selling alpacas, how is your advertising plan working? Are you reaching your target market to its full potential? To ensure your advertising is reaching the right people, you need to know who your clients are.

He owns 18 acres close to a small town, just 45 minutes from the city. His wife of 37 years is really keen on alpacas because they are so cute, and she used to spin and knit years ago. Pete is not entirely convinced but is increasingly warming to the idea. Their three children are all married with children and live close by. Photo Photo courtesy courtesy ofShe of Lynn Lynn Edens, Our Our Back Back 4040 Meet another potential customer, Jenny: isEdens, 35, works from home writing blogs. She recently inherited an estate from a deceased relative, including an old farm house and some land… and so on…

The TheIntroduction Introductionof ofOur OurBack Back40 40Yarns Yarns at atthe the2013 2013Vogue VogueLive LiveKnitting KnittingShow Show

The method is simple: you identify who your clients are by asking a series of questions, and from there develop The developing of buyer personas is a useful, easy tool that several personas. helps define the ideal profiles of potential buyers. Marketing experts recommend identifying at least three personas, which The process helps to see if there are any patterns, so you can can then be used to provide clarity and direction for reaching tailor your advertising to suit. It can give you the competitive your advertising targets withKnitting effectiveness andadvertises success. The edge and ultimate increase your alpaca experience. selling potential. you The TheVogue Vogue Live Live KnittingShow Show advertises itself itself asas “the “the ultimate knitting knitting experience. ” Featuring ” Once Featuring more types of buyer personas you can identify, the more have defined your buyer personas, you can make more a adesign designcontest, contest,many manyeducational educationalevents eventsand anda arobust robustmarketplace marketplacewhere whereone onecan canpurchase purchase potential you have for increasing sales. thoughtful decisions in advertising with confidence, and be anything anythingrelated relatedtotoknitting, knitting,the theJanuary January18-20 18-20show show offered offered an an opportunity opportunity for for everyone everyone withany any one step closer to reaching your target markets. with So what are personas exactly? They are fictitious, short interest interestininpremium premiumyarn yarntotocome cometogether togetherinina aforum forumdesigned designedfor fornetworking networkingand andretail retailsuccess. success. descriptions of your archetypical customers. Who buys alpacas? What kinds of people are interested? Are there Why not try it yourself? What buyer personas can any typical buyers? you come up with for your business? their their own own brand brand and and seek seek outout thethe best best yarns yarns year year round. round. Our Our Back Back 40’s 40’s Lynn Lynn Edens Edens was was there there at at String String Yarn Yarn Think about people that have bought alpacas from you. Make a list of all the people who you know of that have Every Every yarn yarn is is specially specially selected selected byby Morse Morse toto ensure ensure that that Shop Shop NYC’s NYC’s Marketplace Marketplace booth booth toto introduce introduce a very a very spespeWhat was their age, gender, profession, education, interests, bought alpacas, off you, or people you know. The more her her customers customers receive receive the the highest highest quality quality and and the the most most cial cial yarn yarn made made from from Huacaya Huacaya alpaca alpaca fiber, fiber, Ne Ne Plus Plus Ultra Ultra financial positions, spending habits and marital status? Even data you can muster is relative to how meaningful and sophisticated, sophisticated, saturated saturated colors. colors. Morse’s Morse’s business business strategy strategy (say: (say: Nay Nay Plews Plews Ultra). their values can beUltra). insightful. helpful your results will be.

She She unveiled: unveiled:

Let’s imagine this buyer persona: Roger is 47 years old. He • An • An ultra ultra royal royal grade grade eight-ply cable worsted worsted made made has been working since he eight-ply was 17 incable the advertising business with with 18 18 micron micron (or (or lower) lower) fiber. fiber. in downtown Auckland. He is in his second marriage and has •A •A three-ply three-ply sport sport weight weight measures measures between 18 four children; two of them (agedthat 8that and 14) livebetween with him18 and and and 20 microns. microns. his wife. He20is weary of city life and in addition to his innercity apartment, bought alocated 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom String String is is aheyarn a has yarn boutique boutique located inin New New York York City. City. homestead on a 25 acre lifestyle block. He dreams ofthe moving It It was was rated rated byby Zagat’s Zagat’s 2009 2009 Shopping Shopping Guide Guide asas the #1#1 permanently to live on the lifestyle block, 40km from the city Knitting Knitting store store inin New New York York City City and and featured featured inin major major very soon. He only has 5 sheep and a couple of steer on publications publications from from Vogue Vogue Knitting Knitting toto Interweave Interweave Knits Knits the property. The property is currently under-utilised withtoato Better Homes Homes and and Gardens. Gardens. Owner Owner Linda Linda Morse Morse notes, notes, lotBetter more land available for more stock. He has no farming “Fifty “Fifty percent percent ofof the the sales sales inin our our store store areare 100% 100% cash-and experience himself, but his cousin used to live on acashfarm hismere.” wife grew upisinis acommitted rural area. mere.” String String committed toto providing providing thethe best best fashionfashion-

forward forward knitting knitting projects projects that that marry marry traditional traditional knitting Here is another imaginary potential buyer: Pete isknitting 59 and techniques with with a tailored, a tailored, modern modern sensibility. sensibility. They have have is techniques looking at semi-retirement. His body is gettingThey tired and wearing out after being an agricultural contractor all his life.

is is toto “get “get a customer a customer and and keep keep them them forever.” forever.” You may want to put this into a spreadsheet, so you can InIn addition, addition, Morse Morse is is thethe author author ofof Luxury Luxury add to it over time. You may not be able to answer all Knitting: Knitting: The The Ultimate Ultimate Guide Guide to to Exquisite Exquisite Yarns: Yarns: questions for everyone, just fill in what you can. It may Cashmere*Merino*Silk. Cashmere*Merino*Silk. AtAt thewith the time time she she wrote wrote it,it, she she help to join forces with others similar businesses and compare results. says, says, she she "rated "rated thethe best best yarns yarns available, available, many many ofof which which are are now now unavailable." She She wishes she she could could have in-inHere areunavailable." some questions towishes start you off: have cluded cluded Ne Ne Plus Plus Ultra. Ultra. Who are your clients? What do they look like? What do Morse notes, “Many “Many yarns from from Italy Italy areare commercommertheyMorse like to notes, do? What are yarns their interests? How much money do they earn?Really, How much unrestricted spending cially cially manufactured. manufactured. Really, yarns yarns areare a by-product a by-product ofof do they have? Do they have savings? Do they own their thethe fashion fashion industry. industry. If If I buy I buy yarns yarns outout ofof certain certain mills, mills, houses, lifestyle blocks etc? What dosome they like Iown know I know what what I’m I’m getting. getting. Some Some areare good, good, some are are bad. bad. to spend their money on? Do they have any farming/ With With alpaca, alpaca, that’s that’s not not the the case case – it – it is is not not yet yet standardstandardlivestock experience? Where do they live? How old ized.” ized.” ByBy joining joining forces with with Edens, Edens, she she knows knows exactly exactly are they? What is forces their marital status? Do they have what what she she will will get get and and that that it children? it will will bebe thethe quality quality herher store’s store’s children? How old are their reputation reputation was was built built on.on.

OUR OUR BACK BACK 40.indd 40.indd2 2

6/27/13 6/27/1310:28 10:28 AMAM

Towards an Alpaca Fibre Industry: Is it making sense? by Paul Vallely - Australian Alpaca Fibre Testing

At last year's AANZ conference at Rotorua, I spoke of the Australian initiative titled Premium Alpaca which had the visionary objective of creating a viable alpaca fibre industry. After 4 years running Premium Alpaca (PA), I am now handing the reins over to alpaca breeders, who are obviously, the people best placed to run the scheme.

hile PA has been successful in its attempt to provide a model for a fleece industry, it has also revealed some glowing problems that require addressing before the alpaca community can truly progress towards a viable and sustainable alpaca fleece industry. I should add, that when I refer to the development of an alpaca fleece industry, I am not trying to reduce alpaca ownership into purely a profit/loss operation. What I am trying to do is offer a sense of purpose and achievement to growing alpaca fibre, rather than simply winning ribbons. I am trying to give recognition to the true value and worth to the fleeces your alpacas are producing. Firstly, by way of introduction, and an attempt to rationalise the direction I have taken in trying to develop an alpaca fibre industry, allow me to give a brief tour of my agricultural background. My businesses have their core within the Australian merino industry. I own and manage a 2500 head superfine and ultrafine wool growing business that services direct and indirect agreements for 'best spinners' type wool for the Italian suiting market and other premium fashion markets. The operation has relied on genetic improvements towards highly heritable traits that are the price drivers for our key markets. It also relies on stringent standards for shearing and fleece preparation. In addition, I own a wool testing business whose client base is mainly medium to large scale wool growers throughout eastern Australia. Over the past 7 years, we have expanded the testing service to cover alpaca fibre. This service we have called Australian Alpaca Fibre Testing or AAFT. When AAFT commenced operations, we carried out a needs analysis for alpaca fibre testing. We looked at the cost of harvesting compared to price paid. To be honest, with the obvious loss

situation for most alpaca fleeces, I could not understand why the alpaca community bothered to test their fleeces, or for that matter, why bother with the fleece at all. I decided to keep AAFT operating, but also try to give growing alpaca fleece a true sense of purpose. For this reason, I created the Premium Alpaca scheme. The scheme initiated a model of collecting and grading fleeces on a nationwide basis, using objective measurement, then aggregating local consignments into commercial volume consignments for exporting, local processing or processing trials. Further, the scheme linked together the critical principles of genetic improvement, fleece production, harvesting, marketing and market feedback. I will now cover the main problems that PA has exposed since its inception, with regard to pursuing a fibre industry. Firstly, I want to consider individual breeding programs and the errors of single trait selection for fibre diameter. By highlighting the key price drivers for fibre, Premium Alpaca has focused breeders attention to the fact that fibre diameter has a major influence on price achieved. Consequently, I am now witnessing a significant number of breeders who appear intent on jamming their microns down as much as possible without due regard to the ramifications this has upon other traits, particularly fleece weight and body weight. In saying this, I am reminded of the 'micron madness' days of the wool industry about 10 years ago when the same problem emerged, but was subsequently dealt with. By all means, use reduction or control of fibre diameter as a selection criteria, but remember to monitor alpacas that exhibit relatively low fleece weights, fibre density and body score to ensure you select genetically fine alpacas rather than alpacas that are fine due to physiological defects such as

improper follicle efficacy. Effective breeding programs are a delicate balancing act that must take account of the complex interrelationship of traits. In our own superfine operation, we index fleece weight with fibre diameter to rank the sheep based on their ability to grow acceptable fleece weights relative to their fibre diameter, with an extra emphasis on low SD. If a sheep is capable of exhibiting all three traits to an acceptable level, then it is deemed that its overall phenotype package regarding fibre production is complete. Given the high heritability of these traits, we also are able to assume the ewes carry the right genotype package for producing progeny capable of improving fleece quality. One critical point that Premium Alpaca has tried to resolve is the issue of fleece harvesting. Feedback from buyers and processors have highlighted the negative reputation that alpaca fibre suffers throughout the textile sector. This reputation is due to high variation of fleece types within consignments, contamination from coarse and coloured fibres and contamination from foreign articles. Premium Alpaca has confronted these problems through: 1 One day fleece preparation workshops to accredit breeders who wish to contribute fleeces 2 Stringent fleece grading based on 'demand driven' criteria 3 Developing/improving the 'Saddle First' shearing technique 4 Providing feedback to breeders to highlight any problems with consignments 5 Skilling breeders so they may address genetic improvement aimed at reducing the incidence of coarse fibres and reducing variation over the fleece area. While some breeders have benefited from the training delivered by PA, it is obvious to me that most alpaca breeders throughout the world have not benefited from skilling aimed at increasing the worth and value of their fleeces such as harvesting and skirting techniques and breeding programs. I suggest national associations consider this aspect as part of an overall fleece strategy. I also suggest individual breeders strive to develop skilling in this important area. By the way, preparing a fleece for the market is different to preparing a fleece for a competition. It is my belief, that at the moment, we do not have a true marketable product. This can only be the case once we address the problems associated with alpaca fleece harvesting. The point of treating alpaca fibre as a marketable product leads me to my next point. I believe, to a large degree, you are underselling your fleeces. Obviously, this has a lot to do with the standard of consignments as described above. With the fibre market, it is a case of the better the input, the better the output, the better the price. To give an impression of price potential, I have chosen current South African mohair prices. In particular, I am comparing 26 micron kid fibre with 23 alpaca fibre, which are comparable

blends with textile processing. 26 micron kid is making about $25 AUD, whereas 23 micron alpaca rarely makes above $10 per kilo. Further, 38 micron mohair, which has comparable processing performance as 25m alpaca, currently sells at about $AU12. 25m alpaca sells up to about $AU6 to $8 per kilo. By the way, I have tried to use 'greasy price' rates as alpaca is normally sold by growers on this basis.

It is my belief, that at the moment, we do not have a true marketable product. This can only be the case once we address the problems associated with alpaca fleece harvesting.

Any increase in price, however, does not come on a silver platter. There are two key problems that need to be addressed in order to achieve substantial price increases. Firstly, as mentioned above, the standard of fleece preparation needs to improve. Secondly, the alpaca community needs to extend its reach beyond traditional markets in order to cultivate increased competition, and thereby create upward pressure on prices. This strategy also achieves 'price discovery' as we work through entirely new product opportunities.

Markets that indicate substantial opportunity include blends with luxury fibres for the top end fashion trade and natural colour consignments for the European eco friendly markets. I suspect suri is getting much closer to finding its position in the luxury range of fibres. With this aim in mind, the alpaca community, when developing new markets, should focus on long term gain rather than immediate short term gain. Markets are developed by donating or discounting (well prepared) bales to get the fibre into manufacturers doors. You then tell them to get their calculators out once they have tested alpaca and has proven its worth. As it is, alpaca fibre needs to make in excess of about $AU15 to $20 per kilo just to cover shearing costs. At the moment, almost all alpaca makes under this amount. I will now cover the biggest hurdle I encountered in progressing a fibre production system. The most significant problem with developing a fibre industry is the lack of national strategies aimed at providing an absolute framework within which alpaca fibre production might be developed. Evidence of the lack of such strategies include: â&#x20AC;˘ Show and fleece Judging standards are yet to be reconciled with the realities of the commercial fibre markets. â&#x20AC;˘ Lack of coherent and 'demand driven' guidelines for alpaca breeding objectives so as to meet potential fibre opportunities 23

â&#x20AC;˘ Lack of training programs aimed at skilling breeders in the areas of fleece production, genetics and fleece harvesting, with such training legitimised by effective and permanent interface with the processing/manufacturing/sales sector. â&#x20AC;˘ There is no broad attempt to achieve price maximisation for alpaca fibre. In addition, I have witnessed genuine attempts to develop the fibre sector, however, these attempts are often void of tangible outcomes, lack understanding of true market demands and forces, and are generally created in isolation. A true fibre strategy at the national or even international level would initially gain a thorough understanding of its current and potential markets and related dynamics, then proceed with establishing a pathway to link genetic improvement, husbandry practices, judges standards, fleece harvesting, consigning and lastly, marketing and market feedback - all under the common purpose of demand driven fibre production.

There is one more observation I would like to bring to the fore. To help me, I will draw on the executive summary of the Australian wool industry's strategic plan of 2006 referred to as Future Woolscapes - towards 2030. The Executive summary included a type of 'reality check'. The first point was as follows: 1. Industry politics and disharmony are a real threat to the industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a united vision for the Australian wool industry is needed On this matter, I will simply say that I have observed, at times, a lack of cohesion and common purpose in how the alpaca community has pursued many worthwhile initiatives. I would like to think your community can rise to the challenges of developing a viable and sustainable alpaca fleece production system - and thereby provide an immense sense of purpose and achievement that should rightly be associated with producing a very special fibre.

FMG0372

Once this is accomplished and implemented at the individual and industry level, I suggest this will deliver a much needed legitimacy for the alpaca fibre sector, and thereby, substantially boost the sense of purpose, fulfilment and overall experience of owning alpacas - even if the returns from fleeces are not important. The point is, the fleece your alpacas are growing is more valuable and more worthy than it is currently being given credit for.

FMG

Out here you don't switch off come 5pm.

On a lifestyle block your pump won’t break when it’s most convenient and that tree won’t fall with three days notice. But with 108 years of experience insuring rural New Zealand we can help you manage the unique risks that life on the land brings.

FMG0372

Ask around about us, or for some advice call 0800 366 466.

That’s what works out here.

FMG0372_Switch off_A5.indd 1

24/06/13 3:10 PM

GREENWOOD GREYLORD SIRE – Hope Downs El Goro DAM – Greenwood Mischa IAR No – 339474 DOB – 23/02/2005

GREENWOOD GREYLORD New Grey Genetics from Australia SIRE: Hope Downs El Goro DAM: Greenwood Mischa IAR No: 339474 DOB: 23/02/2005

New Grey Genetics from Australia

Greylord will be based in the Auckland area until early Greylord will be based in the Auckland area until early February. This is a rare opportunity to access one of Australia's foremost grey herd sires. February. This is a rare opportunity to access one of Australia’s He has absolutely NO SPOTS. foremost grey herd sires. He has absolutely no spots. Kit & Sheryl Johnson Silverstream Alpaca Stud (03) 327 3020 Silverstream Alpaca Stud info@alpacastud.co.nz Kit & Sheryl Johnson Phone: (03) 327 3020 | Email: info@alpaca-stud.co.nz

October 10th/11th/12th 2014 RDA Centre, Christchurch Amanda VandenBosch – Breed Judge Peter Kennedy – Fleece Judge

Join us for New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious Alpaca Show • National Breed Show • National Fleece Show • Champagne Showing Celebration • Trade Sites • Grand Gala Dinner & Auction • Photo Competition • Public activites and more…

email. alpaca2014@alpaca.org.nz web. www.alpacaexpo.co.nz 27

Let’s Talk

Quality

PARTONE

puts it this way:

by Caroline Newcombe The Alpaca Company

Quality has much in common with sex.

Philip B. Crosby, one of our great quality gurus, “The problem of quality management is not what people don't know about it. The problem is what they think they do know.

Everyone is for it (under certain conditions of, course).

Caroline has an extensive background in quality, risk and safety management, primarily in health related industries (animal and human). Caroline has a graduate diploma in Quality Systems from Massey University and has recently completed her Master’s degree in Quality Systems. In her ‘spare’ time Caroline, along with husband Simon, manages Sunstone Alpaca Stud just outside of Tauranga. She is also a director of The Alpaca Company, a company specialising in unique New Zealand made alpaca related giftware and superfine alpaca knitwear.

Everyone feels they understand it (even though they wouldn't want to explain it). Everyone thinks execution is only a matter of following natural inclinations (after all, we do get along somehow). And, of course, most people feel that all problems in these areas are caused by other people (if only they would take time to do things right).”

I’ve given quite a few talks and presentations on quality over the years, and, without fail, I always get a couple of people come up to me at the end and say something along the lines of “thanks for that, it was great, obviously it’s all common sense, but it’s a nice reminder.” Now, I’m not knocking this, I used to say exactly the same thing when I’d been to presentations on marketing. It wasn’t until I really thought about what had been presented and how I could (in fact, should) incorporate the concepts into our businesses that I started to realise that ‘execution is most definitely not only a matter of following natural inclinations’. Quality, like marketing, is a complex and ever evolving subject matter. Luckily, however, once you understand some of the basic principles of quality you can, if you wish to, immediately make a difference to how you approach your alpaca business. This is the first of a three part set of articles. The articles outline some quality concepts that can be considered along with a few tools and techniques that can be adapted and applied. And, yes, a lot of it is common sense but, knowing it is common sense and applying that common sense to our businesses are often very different things.

So What is Quality? “Quality, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder” – Jon Choppin. “Quality is fitness for use.” – Joseph M. Juran “Quality means conformance to requirements.” – Philip B. Crosby 28

“Quality means best for certain conditions a) the actual use and b) the selling price.” – Armand Feigenbaum.

Reduce Waste

Minimise Variability Planning for Quality

“Quality is a degree of excellence.” – Merriam-Webster dictionary “Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy given needs.” – American Society for Quality

Customer Satisfaction

Compliance

I could go on; I have 12 pages of short descriptions and definitions that I’ve collected over the years.

Component 1 - Reduce Waste

So why is quality so difficult to define?

In a quality sense waste refers to any activity that doesn’t add value or is unproductive. Adding value equates to undertaking activities (this can be related to producing goods or providing a service) that a customer will pay for.

Quality is a perceptual, conditional and somewhat subjective attribute. Perceptual Attaining awareness or understanding by organising and interpreting sensory information

Goal – Reduce Expenditure – Increase Profit

To reduce waste you need to understand and critically examine your business processes. One way to do this is to develop a simple process map (or a set of simple process maps) that describe(s) how you undertake the key processes in your business.

Conditional What you are used to

Subjective Emphasis on moods, attitudes and opinions rather than facts

A process map can be developed for any aspect of your business. The more detailed your process map the more likely you will find opportunities to reduce waste in the process. Once you have identified all the key steps in your process(es) you need to decide: • which steps add value to the process – colour these green

In fact, quality is, what the customer thinks it is!!

• which steps are necessary but don’t add value – colour these orange

The fact that quality means different things to different people is important especially when we are planning on improving the quality of the products and services we offer our customers.

• which steps do not add value – colour these red Examples:

Planning for Quality

e.g. carding and spinning the fibre

While it is true that quality is what the customer thinks it is there is another dimension we need to consider.

e.g. managing paperwork

e.g. paying someone to remove excess vegetable matter from your fleece before processing

Quality discussions often focus wholly on what you need to do to please the customer. In general, this is very easy. Offer your customer a product with every conceivable attribute available and charge him half the price it cost you to make it in the first place. Easy – yes? The down side - don’t expect to stay in business very long. A product that delights the customer but bankrupts the company is not, in my view, a quality product. Quality is a two-way process. The goal of quality is not only to achieve maximum customer satisfaction but to achieve it at the lowest overall cost to your company.

Once you have completed the colour coding your aim is to minimise the steps colour coded orange and (ideally) eliminate the steps colour coded red.

Component 2 – Minimising Variability Goal – Increase Profits – Happy Customers

The trick is to manage this balance.

Variation is a law of nature that states that no two people or things are exactly alike. Variation is the difference between the ideal and the actual. Increased variation generally means increased waste.

As stated earlier, there are many ways of describing and defining quality management. Similarly, there are many ‘models’ for managing quality. Most models however, include the following four components; reduce waste, minimise variability, customer satisfaction and compliance.

To understand variation and how it relates to quality we need to understand that quality does not automatically equate with how much bigger, brighter, finer, more expensive etc. a product is. Quality equates to how well a product (or service) meets a defined standard i.e. how close it is to a defined ‘ideal’. 29

As a basic example, if your customer wants a white fleece, staple length 85mm +/- 10mm for a specific purpose then they have defined their standard. If you offer them a fleece that meets this defined standard and you agree on a price that satisfies both parties then the offered product can be considered a quality product. Conversely, if you offer them a fleece where the fibre length varies +/- 20mm from their defined standard they have 3 choices: 1. they redefine their required standard and accept what you are offering (probably at a reduced cost) 2. they reject it (you get no money) 3. they accept it on the proviso that they will sort it and only pay for the fleece that meets their requirement minus their time for the sorting (this will result in some of the fibre being wasted and you getting very little money for the remainder) See the diagram below. Ideal 85mm

Let’s take this example one step further. Your customer was very pleased with the product you sold them and now wants to place an order for a minimum of 100 fleeces a year and is willing to pay you extremely well. The staple length requirement remains the same at 85mm +/- 10mm. To meet this requirement you need to plan to shear your animals when their fleece length is as close to 85mm as possible. Even if you plan this well, there will be some variability in the length but, if you try to be as close to the ideal as possible you have a greater chance of a higher proportion of the fleece being within the allowable tolerance. Getting within the box (see the diagram) means you meet the standard but if you are only just within the limits then you are increasing the risk of falling out of the box due to normal variability. If you are well within the limits i.e. closer to the centre on a consistent basis you minimise the risk of falling outside the allowable limits and therefore minimise the risk of waste (and you losing money). If you understand the standard you need to achieve you can plan to meet it. If you don’t know what you are trying to achieve (i.e. what your customer wants) how will you know if you have achieved it or not?

Waste

Acceptable 75mm

95mm

Waste

In the next article I will examine the components customer satisfaction and compliance and how these can impact on the quality of the products and services you offer.

New Zealand’s Alpaca Fibre Pool Fibre collection, sorting, scouring and sales of all microns, colors and quantities of Huacaya fibre. We consolidate all growers together and get economies of scale for sorting, testing, scouring and sale in bale quantity, for end use in various industries.

Mailing Address PO Box 28684 Remuera Auckland 1541

Processing 1 Pigeon Rock Road Cornish Point Cromwell RD 2 Central Otago 9384

We can provide discounted fibre testing rates. You are paid as the fibre is sold, less the direct costs. We have processed 14,000 kg of fibre as of June 2012. We can arrange pickup or you can ship to our Cromwell location. Contact Sam Gonzalez at (029) 770 0005 or (03) 445 1609 or email sam@belex.co.nz For more information visit:

www.pacificalpacas.com

CUESTA

FOR TRUE BLACK ALPACA Breeding For:

FINE FLEECE SPECIALISTS

colour & handle fineness & low SD temperament

MEE TING ALL YOUR PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS

Mesa Natural Fibre Mill is able to process from a few kilos through to larger quantities.

♦ Champion Stud Services ♦ Exports ♦ ♦ Full Sales & Support Service ♦ Training for New Owners ♦

Washing | Dehairing | Carding (roving, batts, bumps) Spinning (balls, cones, skeins) Felting

♦ Boutique Weaving Mill ♦

Quantities of carded or spun Alpaca for sale

Jenny & Martyn Ellwood-Wade, 306 Jones Road, Hunua www.cuesta.co.nz ♦ cuesta@ellwood.co.nz 09 292 4334 ♦ 021 044 0033

Peter & Tessa McKay 18 Tait Road Maraekakaho RD1 Hastings 4171 New Zealand

p. 06 874 9093 e. info@mesamill.co.nz w. www.mesamill.com MESA 6846

Histograms and textiles Is there a connection? by Certified Sorters Systems

Average. When is average acceptable? The food was average. The performance was average. Certainly not in those situations. Attendance was average. Nope not then either. Average, it's not good, it's not bad, it just is. What about in building a business? Average certainly won't help a business survive much less thrive in today's economy.

or a very long time Average has been the accepted bench mark for fibre. AFD - Average Fibre Diameter. Sorting systems have been based on this concept forever. When Certified Sorted Systems started it also used AFD as the bench mark. After there was sufficient data based on completed production runs, an analysis occurred. There was an improvement in quality of the product, in the yield of the product (which increases profit margin) but was that the epitome of what we could achieve? If you are going to go through the hard work and effort, do you settle for good enough? Or do you strive to see just how far you can go? CSS committed to see just how far we could go. We realized that AFD - averaging the fibres really didn't apply to textile. There were too many variables. So the sorting system made an adjustment in how we identify a grade. We looked at the relationship of the secondary fibres (the true wool fibres that do all the work) and the primary fibres (on the animal perform a service of protection, but in textile do not have the spinning capabilities of the secondary fibres). Coincidentally that same year we saw a quote from: The Myths of Fleece and AAFL. Excerpt from Fleece article by Michael Jack AAA Ltd. Central Coast & Hunter NWS Region Fleece Liaison Officer (Australia) “Firstly, it appears that the myth of using a mid-side sample as a guide to the commercial value of alpaca fleece is still considered by some breeders to be a good guide to the value of their fleece. Let us be quite clear about this; the mid-side sample is useful as a breeding guide, provided samples are always taken from the same place and used in comparisons between animals. However, the mid-side sample is of no use whatsoever as a guide to the commercial value of a fleece.” We weren't the only ones to come to this conclusion. When you look at a histogram graph where do the bulk of the fibres fall? Is it in a 3 micron range? Why a 3 micron range you ask? Texas

A & M and CanCam the Canadian Cooperative did a study that followed a group of alpacas from shearing, to sorting and all the way to a throw. They tested 3 micron range and 6 micron range. The conclusion was that a 3 micron range results in a higher quality product. I have one of those throws. Let's look at a histogram graph, specifically let’s look at the grade 3 range 23-25 microns. Animals in the alpaca world get the gate in the show ring as being not fine enough even though this is the most versatile grade in the textile world. The results for this histogram are 23.3 microns so the low side of a grade 3, 4.0 Standard Deviation (below the bench mark of 5.0) 17.2% Coefficient of Variation (well below the industry bench mark of 20%) Fibres greater than 30 micron 4.2%. Overall this histogram is showing a pretty nice fleece if compared to industry bench marks. Here is how we look at it for textile purposes.

The bulk of the fibres in this 2 inch sample fall between 21 and 26 microns, that is a 5 micron difference, not the goal of 3 microns, but not yet the 6 micron range. If we only look at the fibres that comprise over 10.5% of the sample the range is really 24-26 microns which is actually grade 4. HMM Then here is the big problem, look at the tail of this graph, there are measurable fibres at 36,37,38,40,41,44,45,47,48,49,50 microns and look waaaay out there at 82 microns.

Let's look at another one The results for this histogram are 23.44 microns so again on the low side of grade 3, 4.81% Standard Deviation ( below the bench mark of 5.0 ) 20.5 %Coefficient of Variation ( just peaking above the bench mark of 20 % ) This test differs from the first because it was conducted at a different lab. Natural Fibre Centre uses a mini core hopper to cut the snippets to test therefore the snippets come from not just the butt end but the entire length of the staple. This test reports a comfort factor of 92.4 or an over 30 micron result of 8.6%

Here is how we would look at this for textile purposes The bulk of the fibres in this 2 inch sample fall between 21 and 24 microns, so technically it is really more of a grade 2 than a three - it really straddles into both areas. Let's look at the “tail” It begins at 28 microns. This test shows you the number of snippets in that micron. It then drops off slowly all the way thru to 40 microns then we see fibres measuring 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52 and 56 microns. In commercial spinning the centrifugal force causes the finer fibres to become the core of

the yarn with the coarser fibres wrapping the outside layer of the yarn. So what do you suppose will happen in both these situations? Yes, the coarser fibres will stick out from the yarn, increasing the prickle factor and shedding. By changing how we look at fibre, by looking at fibre from a textile perspective and changing how we came to a grade, we were able to substantially improve the quality of the product, not just short term, but with higher durability / wearability. And the most exciting thing was an increase in yield by 17% to 22%. Higher profit margins mean more money to the farms. In the textile world, our competition are manmade fibres. They not only are less expensive, but the processors prefer to run them. Manmade fibres are extremely uniform, there is no “tail” They run cleaner, they run much faster, so from a manufacturing stand point, they are better. In order for Natural Fibres to compete we must close the gap on our “tail”. Initially we do this through a higher standard of sorting but ultimately it must occur through a better way to make breeding decisions. What we have been doing is not good enough, it is Average. And therefore not sustainable. A histogram will give you information. If we are to excel in textile fibre we need a process and a plan. Certified Sorters Systems (CSS) is a venture in the USA born from the passion to see all the alpaca fibre produced in the USA to be used and processed to it’s best potential – and value. CSS trains certified sorters and classers of alpaca fibre with the emphasis on a high and uniform standard. You can read their story on www.fibersorting.com (note the spelling).

Australian Alpaca A S S O C

A T

I O N

Australian Alpaca Excellence Conference 2014

THE SMART FUTURE Practical workshops & consultations Latest expert presentations & industry developments Essential trade stands & suppliers South Australian stud tours 34

Alpaca Show at

Westerlee by Anya Walkington

Our whirlwind trip to the UK and Europe this year coincided with a show in the North of Holland at Westerlee. Our three hour drive from Amsterdam to Winchoten on a warm spring day took us through picturesque Dutch country side. Windmill in Winchoten, near Westerlee

On the morning of April 21st, we arrived at the International Westerlee Alpaca Show which was a hive of activity with over fifty stall holders setting up their stands of mostly handcrafted woollen products and exhibitors airing their slightly damp alpaca in the crisp breeze. We also had a trade site located ring side and had the opportunity to promote the World Alpaca Conference. Convenor, Margriet Moed did a fantastic job organising the show for the third time, hosted on her farm which is well equipped with large sheds, ideal for housing alpaca, stall holders and the show ring. The show started punctually at 9am and followed a colour schedule, not dissimilar to our colour shows here in New Zealand. Matthew and Cathy Lloyd (BAS qualified judges) judged the show â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this being their first dual judging appointment. Cathy did comment on this, and hoped theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still be talking by the end of the day!

The finale, after judging of the progeny classes, was the presentation of the trophies to the two supreme champions and what a finale that was! A magnum of champagne was cracked open in celebration and shared with the winners and exhibitors with the show ring a buzz. The supreme champions and runners up were in the ring for everyone to look at, and everyone did exactly that. We left the show after having looked at many of the champions and were impressed with the quality of the animals. The exhibitors we met were very knowledgeable about their breeding programmes and enthusiastic about the future of the alpaca industry. We did our best to encourage breeders to head down under for the WAC and hope to see a few familiar faces in September.

Black Suri were judged first, followed by grey, brown, fawn, light fawn and white. Supreme Suri champion was awarded to a junior white male, High Meadow Farm Gerrit, bred and owned by Anita Hulls. Six of the sixteen Suri entries were sired by New Zealand and Australian bred sires. The Huacaya section had over 150 entries with all colour classes well supported by breeders from Holland and Belgium. Grey animals were judged first, followed by almost 20 black exhibits, with a good mix of Australasian genetics on display in all the colours. Fawn was by far the largest colour group with the Supreme Champion being awarded to New Zealand bred Waratah Flats Earl Grey. The atmosphere was festive with over two thousand spectators streaming through the halls. Television cameras were taking in the event with exhibitors being interviewed as well as the public. Lunch break allowed the judges a well deserving rest, during which time a stud auction was run and was well supported by breeders. The studs were paraded by their owners while the MC promoted each male with a mating going to the highest bidder.

Supreme Champion WF Earl Grey owned by Theo & Jet van Kessel with judges Matthew and Cathy Lloyd

WOOLLY WONDERS by Matt Fearer

“These unsuspecting alpacas just may hold the key to unlocking a host of cellular secrets”

Photos courtesy of Tom Kates

TEAM ALPACA: Multiple members of Hidde Ploegh’s lab are involved in the alpaca project, including, from left to right: postdoc Jessica Ingram, with Raindance; Ploegh, with Milo; postdoc Marco Cavallari, with Sanchez; and postdoc Juanjo Cragnolini, with Bryson. Once this group of alpacas receives a pre-determined number of vaccinations, they will be returned to the local farms they came from originally to resume their normal lives—none the worse for wear. In due course, more alpacas will arrive as research participants.

he kids are up to their old tricks on this dazzling late winter afternoon. Bryson and Sanchez move in lock step, one rarely out of touch with the other. Milo, the certified bad boy of the bunch, sends a swift but playful hind-leg kick toward one of his handlers, who’s having none of it, and Raindance, the reluctant alpha, seems a tad puzzled when the others fall in behind during his slow stroll across the yard. And as they go about the fairly mellow business of being alpacas, they’re all blissfully unaware that they are participants in a set of grand experiments with the potential to forever alter the landscape of biomedical research. Among the drivers of these experiments is Whitehead Institute Member Hidde Ploegh, who has begun to leverage one remarkable aspect of the alpaca immune system. It turns out that alpacas are capable of generating two kinds of antibodies: the traditional two-chain (heavy and light chains) antibodies found in mammals and vertebrates, and smaller, single-chain antibodies (heavy chain only). First reported in 1993 by Belgian scientist Raymond Hamers, and further 36

exploited by colleague Serge Muyldermans, these unique antibodies are produced by all members of the camelid family, including llamas, Bactrian camels, dromedaries, and, of course, alpacas. This surprising discovery fueled a number of intriguing strategies for novel antibody engineering and therapeutic development, most of which rely on the use of a tiny, highaffinity domain of the antibody known as VHH. Although studied for nearly two decades, these single-domain or VHH antibodies hadn’t really captured Ploegh’s imagination until roughly three years ago as he sat in a lecture hall in Belgium for a talk by Jan Steyaert, an expert on camelid VHH production. Suddenly, it all started to click. Ploegh realized that their small size—roughly 1/10th that of normal antibodies—and thermal stability made VHHs ideal for targeting antigens that reside inside cells of interest. Perhaps equally relevant, he recognized that VHHs would be amenable to modification via “sortagging,” a highly specific protein labeling technique developed in his lab, to track their activity within cells and to

identify which antigen a single VHH binds. Ploegh figured that he might be able to immunize camelids with selected cellular material, have them generate VHHs in response, and use the VHH antibodies to probe the inner workings of cells with heretofore unachievable precision. “I felt that a huge advantage of the single-domain antibodies is that they could easily be produced in bacteria, shared as plasmids, and used to create fusions with other proteins to endow them with new functions,” says Ploegh. He returned to Cambridge energized and in search of camelids, and in a bit of geographic good fortune, found some about an hour away. At the Cummings School for Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts, Professor Chuck Shoemaker had been using alpacas to generate VHHs for his research in developing therapeutic antitoxins. “He just rang me up,” recalls Shoemaker. “Hidde reached out to me to discuss development of an alpaca model. Initially, he wondered if he could just get some immunized alpaca genetic material he could use to identify binding agents.” Although the proposed research strategy was quite different from his own—“He’s intracellular, I’m extracellular,” Shoemaker jokes—he was happy to help Ploegh get started. These alpacas represent an extraordinary, multi-faceted resource. “We use them to identify and bind neutralizing toxins and viruses for therapeutic applications,” Shoemaker notes. “But it doesn’t have to be limited to that. And it shouldn’t. We have the unique ability to have alpacas here, grazing within a few hundred yards of the office. It’s a perfect situation to exploit this powerful tool.”

With help from Shoemaker and the Tufts Veterinary staff, Ploegh and his lab validated the concept by immunizing an alpaca with mouse spleen cells and harvesting VHH antibodies from a simple blood draw several weeks later. As hoped, the lab identified a VHH reagent specific for a subpopulation of mouse B cells. Ploegh described this proof-ofprinciple experiment in a special grant application that outlined his broader vision for a VHH antibody platform. Ultimately, he intends to develop large libraries of VHH antibodies that can bind and disrupt intracellular proteins in a variety of model organisms—from yeast to Drosophila, C.elegans to planarians— and that can be shared with the entire life sciences research community.

“I felt that a huge advantage of the singledomain antibodies is that they could easily be produced in bacteria, shared as plasmids, and used to create fusions with other proteins to endow them with new functions,

—says Ploegh

“In selective ways, this approach allows one to perturb protein function without mutating the protein,” Ploegh says. “You don’t change the makeup of the cells. You’d like to be able to take a wild-type cell, introduce small, single-domain antibodies, and ask: what are the consequences in terms of function? You’d like to see a phenotype. That’s the idea.” And, it would seem to be a very good idea. So good, in fact that the aforementioned grant application earned him a 2012 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Pioneer Award, intended to accelerate the pursuit of potentially groundbreaking research. The award, which provides Ploegh up to five years of funding for the VHH project, is meant to support individual scientists of “exceptional creativity who propose pioneering—and possibly transforming approaches—to major challenges in biomedical and behavioral research.” As the project ramps up, Ploegh lab postdoctoral scientists Marco Cavallari, Juanjo Cragnolini, and Jessica Ingram are finding that the VHHs—and the alpacas—are performing as advertised. “We’ve been able to immunize the alpacas with complex mixtures and then here in the lab determine what the antibodies are binding to,” says Cragnolini. “This really does allow us to engineer the smaller antibodies we need. It works so beautifully, it’s pretty unbelievable.” Ingram has been working to help colleagues at MIT develop antibodies to yeast nuclear pore proteins, which could further enhance our understanding of one of the most closely studied organisms on the planet. She marvels at the efficiency of the approach. 37

cancer cells in a living organism, offering potential diagnostic applications. In addition, Ingram is helping one external collaborator generate VHHs with which to study malaria surface proteins for possible therapeutic interventions. For his part, Ploegh remains convinced of the enormous benefits to science associated with large-scale development of VHH antibody libraries, despite the fact that his Pioneer Award from NIH is meant to fund “high risk, high reward” research. “I think that, if properly developed, this approach may be an interesting complement to genetic techniques such as RNAi,” Ploegh asserts. “But time will tell—that's why it's a high risk, potentially high gain situation.” Meanwhile, back in North Grafton, where strict protocols protect the animals from harm, it would seem the only real risks facing the alpacas are the inconvenience of the occasional photoshoot and perhaps a little fawning from visitors enthralled with these fascinating creatures. Fortunately, they’re willing to tolerate the attention in their distinguished, if unwitting, service to science. “We can have usable reagents within six months of the first alpaca immunization,” Ingram says. “We can conduct important experiments right away.” Although the Ploegh lab is primarily employing VHHs to answer fundamental scientific questions, Ingram acknowledges their value in other endeavors, such as Shoemaker’s pursuits. To that end, she notes that Cragnolini is experimenting with VHHbased approaches to vaccine development for influenza A. The lab is also attaching radioisotopes to VHHs to illuminate

Whitehead Institute is a world-renowned non-profit research institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. Wholly independent in its governance, finances, and research programs, Whitehead shares a close affiliation with Massachusetts Institute of Technology through its faculty, who hold joint MIT appointments. (http://wi.mit.edu)

Alpacas in the paddock... ...a lifestyle choice!

Long established breeders of top class white and fawn Huacaya with high value commercial fleeces. A number of quality females now available.

Barbara and Doug Lomax 15 William Stephen Road, Te Anau, New Zealand Ph: 03 249 9099 | Email: honeyfields@xtra.co.nz

www.honeyfields.co.nz

Norwegian alpaca business under the Polar Circle by Jan Ă&#x2DC;ivind Moskaug - President

Alpacas are a relatively new addition to the Norwegian agricultural industry. The first animals came to Norway approximately 10 years ago. Since then alpacas have been imported from Chile, England, Sweden, Australia, France and New Zealand, in addition to active breeding of the steadily increasing herd.

he exact number of animals at present is not known, but estimated to be around 500 and owned by the approximately 100 members of The Norwegian Alpaca Society. Several serious breeders have invested in price winning males and we have now several good genetic linages. This manifests itself in the exhibitions arranged every April, yearly since 2010. Each year we have hired internationally renowned judges for these exhibitions and the unanimous feedback from them is that we have overall very high quality animals. Traditional farming in Norway involves sheep, including several old Norwegian breeds, cattle, pigs, goats and poultry (and now of course some salmon). Norway has a great number of small farms in scarcely populated areas of the country and many of these farms are well suited for breeding of alpacas. Small farms have traditionally been growing grass on small lots to feed a few cattle and sheep, but with higher demands for efficiency, higher competition from farmers in the EU and lower prices, many farms are about to be abandoned or have already had to shut down. The Norwegian Alpaca Society is therefore actively promoting particularly small farms to take up alpaca breeding with the arguments that animals are robust and very little demanding in terms of expensive infrastructure and not very labor intensive. Norway has also a rich tradition in knitwear. Although the textile industry in Norway has been reduced dramatically inverse proportionally to the increase in Asia, knitwear is still very popular items, and we have several industrial yarn mills still running. The alpaca breeders are however still not able to supply the industrial mills with sufficient alpaca fiber to accommodate the big commercial mills. Therefore, due to among other factors the blooming alpaca business, several family drive mills have popped up during the last 5 years. These mills are sufficiently efficient to turn the alpaca fibers we produce into yarn. 40

Several breeders are also using alpacas in what we call â&#x20AC;&#x153;animal assisted therapyâ&#x20AC;?. The Norwegian health authorities are promoting and support farmers economically to host people with various kinds of psychological challenges, handicaps and drug problems. Farmers who have used their farms for such purposes previously and added alpacas to their collection, praise alpacas as very suited for these kind of activities. Norwegian agriculture is heavily subsidized from the government. This is due to the undisputable fact that farming under the Polar Circle is a lot more difficult than further south in Europe. Without subsidies most farms would undoubtedly have to shut down. Alpaca breeding and alpaca wool production has just been entered in to subsidizing system, but unfortunately the support is not nearly enough, taken the initial investments in production animals into account. The Norwegian Alpaca Society is actively working to rectify this situation. The society is also working hard to get veterinarians interested in camelids. It has to be said, that right now, the breeders know a lot more about alpacas that almost any

regular veterinarian. We have tried to get more camelid medicine in to the curriculum at Vet school, without too much success so far. Hopefully, this will changes automatically when they realize how interesting these animals are and when there are enough animals to make them also economically interesting for vets. Greetings to our New Zealand alpaca friends form The Norwegian Alpaca society.

Lallybroch Alpacas Our NZ made alpaca ornaments. The ornaments come as kits that you assemble into lifelike, beautifully conformed, alpaca models. Kits are available in two sizes 11 cm tall and 33 cm tall These kits are fun to build and you end up with a delightful ornament, which you can paint if you wish, although the natural colour is also really attractive

For retail purchases: Large alpaca kit: $48.00 Small alpaca kit:$20.00 Please email us at: kits@lallybroch.co.nz If you have an alpaca shop we welcome your inquires for wholesale pricing and quantities

Fibre Sub Committee

Update

The existing fibre subcommittee is made up of 4 members, 2 from South Island Robyn Anderson and Maree Churchill and 2 from North Island, Ros Scott and Jenny Phillips. A great deal of great work has been done by previous fibre sub-committees, but for some reason out of all the sub committees, this appears to be the most difficult one to achieve outcomes. We do however feel that fibre is starting to get the recognition it deserves as a truly intrinsically valuable commodity. We have had two meetings, and at the first one adopted a gap analysis approach this considered: What is the current state – that is understanding where we are; Future state, what is our vision? (Our being the members); How do we get there – road map, actions and responsibilities. Our intention is to establish a over-arching plan that can be picked up by subsequent committee members, but along-side that identify some key actions that can provide members with shortmedium term benefits. Within this framework we identified key areas of focus: Understanding the market • Other fibre industries • Alpaca fibre industry worldwide • What are other breed associations doing to support their members • Why Alpaca vs other fibre • What are the opportunities and potential markets Growing the fibre • Number of animals/breeders locally and worldwide • Research around impacts of diet/health on fibre • Show winning fibre vs commercial value Harvesting the fibre • Code of Harvest – Best Practice • Who are our shearers? • Classing & Sorting • Education for consistency Processing the fibre • Fibre pools • Understanding the different processes • Who are our processors? • Fibre testing • Fibre Collection days Designing products and service • Value Add process • Handcraft vs Commercial • 100% alpaca and blending Marketing and promoting • Consideration regarding “brand” - what does this mean – NZ made, how is this being used? • What do other fibre industries do regarding marketing and promotion • Working with our show convenors to consistently promote alpaca fibre at our shows 42

Selling and distribution • Should the AANZ be helping facilitate the sale of fibre by helping to identify potential for value add markets or should this be left to commercial ventures

One thing became clear at our meetings is that a lot of work has already been done therefore rather than re-inventing the wheel the fibre committee will be focused on pulling this information together into a form that members can use as a starting point. In the interim, between meetings, the August Alpaca Magazine was published – in fact it arrived on our doorsteps the day of the meeting, and provided plenty more food for thought around our original framework. Julie Mansell raised the issue of commercial fleece v supreme fleece as these are often not the same, how do people decide how to breed? We discussed whether there should be a commercial fleece award at all shows – but where are the criteria for this, as Julie says we need an industry standard system of classing fleece. There is the additional issue of how do you judge a commercial fleece given the potential different uses, fine baby clothing, outer garments, colours, machine knitted, hand knitted or woven? Should there be different commercial classes – would this encourage more people to enter fleeces in shows? Would the results mean more to many of the smaller breeders around the country? Classing is the main issue to come out of this edition of the alpaca magazine, and the article by Cameron Holt and Graeme Dickson showed what can be achieved in terms providing standards for fleece preparation – a key issue raised by Jenny Ellwood- Wade in the same journal. In Australia, courses are now run for either home classers or professional classers which will enable people to reliably pool their alpaca fibre with others – there are individuals who do this in NZ and we have 2 companies who do this – at a cost, but how much better and more professional would it be if there was a country wide programme? The subcommittee also discussed the feasibility of some New Zealanders being sponsored to attend the courses at Dookie College or bringing the lecturers over here, but that only works if we have a set of standards here. Our initial thoughts were to run this past National Committee, but really it is the members who need to think about this. Do people want to continue to work on their own or in small groups and not maximise their return as growers of alpaca fibre, or do they want to see alpaca fibre recognised by the public as a luxury, soft, durable and versatile fibre which comes in a variety of natural colours, can by dyed and/or combined with other luxury fibres (such as silk). The fibre sub-committee currently has more questions than answers at the moment and a lot of work to do, but we are all committed to working on this and getting some traction. We can’t do it alone however, and will always welcome your feedback and input. If there is anything that you are wanting raised please feel free to contact any of us directly or email the group at fibre@alpaca.co.nz.

Cherry lane alpacas

ALPACA SHEARING

Because alpacas are our passion

Experienced friendly service Quality assured Over 20 years shearing experience

We love alpacas, and we enjoy sharing our passion for alpacas with others. We have: -breeding stock -lifestyle pets -alpaca fleece -prize winning alpacas -for sale or to view

Phone Mike Morgan Home: 03 319 8778 | Cell: 021 251 7742

Give us a call, email us or stop in for tea or coffee today. We would be happy to show you around our farm and introduce you to our alpacas and alpaca farming.

6 Sunnex road, RD2, Rotorua

AUSTRALIAN ALPACA FIBRE TESTING Dedicated to the specific needs of Alpaca breeders

AAFT

Australian Alpaca Fibre Testing PO Box 246, Crookwell, NSW 2583, Australia Phone: 61 2 4834 2132 Email: info@aaft.com.au Website: www.aaft.com.au

The Mystery of Judging Revealed

What the Judges Saw by the Showing and Judging Committee

Conformation Why is it important for the judge to take into consideration what your alpaca looks like? Which of the conformational traits are the most important and why? How does the alpacas conformation affect its function as a breeding animal?

Fleece Which fleece traits are the most important and why? What do the judges mean when they use terminology like ‘handle’ or ‘low micron primary fibre’ when describing your alpaca in the ring. What are the judges doing with the fleece samples they take during the show, are they just for micron assessment? The one day course will be thorough, covering alpaca selection, trait recognition in conformation and fleece, terminology used to describe traits, the weighting of importance placed on conformational or fleece traits.

Breeding alpaca is very much the same as breeding any livestock which you wish to improve. You make careful selections, recognising the positive and negative traits of each alpaca and how each chosen breeding will be complementary to those alpaca and your breeding goals.

ime and time again the handlers who attend the judges training clinics have given feedback on how much they enjoy being part of the weekend. They gain a much better understanding of what judges do out in the ring, what they are selecting for and the importance of the traits being selected. This learning has a really positive effect on each and everyone of their breeding programmes. It helps many to hone in on exactly what they want or need and take those breeding programmes forward. The Showing and Judging sub-committee have taken this on board and are running 2 workshops, one in the North Island and one in the South Island. You can come and learn about traits that judges are selecting for in the ring whilst learning valuable information on trait selection for your breeding programmes. You will learn how to recognize these traits yourself and why they are important to your breeding programme. 44

You will be given the opportunity of assessing alpaca, discussing what you see and then weighing up the different traits against one another and how decisions are made in the ring. This course will be a very hands on occasion with lots of opportunity to ask all the questions you always wanted to ask the judge! If you are considering becoming an apprentice judge at the next intake, this course would give you a great insight into what judging is all about. However any alpaca breeder wishing to improve their understanding of alpaca and enhance their breeding programme would gain a great deal from attending this course.

The course dates are: North Island 18th May 2014 Contact Sue Richards on alpacas@surico.co.nz South Island 8th June 2014 Contact Molly Gardner on thistledown@clear.net.nz The cost will be $50 per person or $90 per couple. Venues are yet to be finalised. If you are interested in attending one of these great weekend courses please get in touch and register your interest with the above contacts as space will be limited so maximum learning is achieved! We look forward to seeing you there!

Worsted spinner

Design Spun Ltd – Napier Commission yarn spinners experienced in the processing of alpaca fibre for application in a variety of end uses. Also converting wool , mohair, possum The mill is a worsted and fancy yarn spinner with specialist equipment installed some years ago specifically to improve the handling of alpaca. Yarn is available finished on cone , hank or ball and dyed to customers shades if required. Minimum batch sizes apply for spinning and dyeing. For further info please contact Peter Chatterton on 068433174 or peter@designspun.co.nz Location – 5 Husheer Place, Onekawa, Napier , Hawkes Bay 4110

Also visit www.skeinz.co.nz for online yarns NZ1092313-Nexus Investments:NZ1076557-Nexus Investments

Alpaca training equipment animals for sale

Search or Advertise Alpacas for Sale Alpaca Stud Services Alpaca Breeders Alpaca Auctions

www.AlpacaSeller.co.nz

Online Alpaca Advertising at Affordable Prices

Vicky Tribe alpaca gear: halters, leads, books, DVDs and CDs. Shop online at www.willowfarm.co.nz alpacas for sale: top quality, easily managed animals available now training clinics: how to choose and fit a halter, leading, learn the ‘toolkit’ – wand, catch-rope and herding tape, trimming toenails and other maintenance, managing difficult behavioural traits

Ask about hosting a CamelidynamicsTM Clinic. Register your interest when a course is in your area by emailing or phoning.

Contact Vicky Tribe, Gear Girl: email kvnexus@xtra.co.nz website www.willowfarm.co.nz 45

ADVERTISING BREEDER

PROFILE Barbara Lomax Trading as Honeyfields Alpacas

Advertising Breeder Profile: Our featured breeders were drawn from the pool of advertisers from the previous magazine. If you would like a chance to have your profile featured in the Alpaca magazine, make sure you advertise in the next issue of New Zealand Alpaca.

by Barbara Lomax

Tell us about yourself and where you live

How did you get started with alpacas

Some say my husband Doug and I have the perfect lifestyle and I have to say I agree!! We live in one of the most beautiful spots in New Zealand and the scenery from the farm is just amazing. We are only 2kms from Fiordland National Park and Lake Te Anau is just down the road.

I feel now as if I have been an alpaca breeder all my life and I simply can't imagine my life without alpacas in it. Having always previously lived in an urban environment and having never had an animal larger than a cat, Doug and I purchased our first lifestyle block close to Te Anau in 2002 and soon after purchased our first 2 alpacas (a pregnant female and a non breeding female) after visiting Cate and Murray Basingthwaite of Highcroft Alpacas at their Wanaka farm. Many readers will remember Murray and Cate who are now no longer in New Zealand but travelling about on their boat in the Northern Hemisphere.

Doug is a commercial beekeeper with beehive sites located in a variety of locations ranging from the southern side of Lake Wakitipu to Te Anau, and it is very true when he says that on the days he is out working the beehives his outdoor 'lunchroom' would have to be one of the most spectacular in the world. Doug has a purpose built honey extraction plant certified by MPI for EU export and most of our honey is sold for ex-port. He is very busy during the beekeeping season from early August through the summer until late May, but still finds time to help out when I need an extra pair of hands. I am involved on a full time basis with the farm and am also very busy during the summer, not only with running the farm, birthings (23 cria expected this summer), matings etc, but also because I run alpaca farm tours and have an 'on farm shop' from which I sell alpaca products and honey - more about that further on in this article.

I still remember the day when those first 2 girls arrived - they were offloaded into the paddock and I just stared in amazement. We had seen them fully fleeced when we bought them, but they were shorn the week before delivery - need I say more! Within days we had decided that the two of them looked pretty lonely on our block and within a few weeks we had purchased 3 more. That first summer we had 2 cria, one male and one female, and we still own both of them.

How many alpacas have you got now and what are they? After that first summer, we purchased a few more pregnant females to add to our growing herd and, along with the natural increase from cria born every summer, it seemed like no time before it became obvious that we needed more land. We sold that block and in 2007 purchased one twice the size just a kilometre down the road. These days, including our stud boys we now run a fluctuating number of alpacas from as few as 60 odd to as many as 100, depending on sales, births, and agistees. We farm white and fawn huacayas and this summer are expecting 23 cria. We have several females on farm who are permanently agisted for local people, plus we usually have as many as an extra 20 or more temporary female agistees in the summer who are 'on farm' for mating services.

Do you breed alpacas with any goals in mind? I most certainly do!! It is my view that whilst it is all very well to breed alpacas to sell, at the end of the day we need to be breeding towards a fleece industry. After the first year or so of just getting to grips with farming alpacas it became obvious to me that good planning and mating strategies were important and I have been following specific breeding plans since that time with the production of alpacas with good commercial fleeces being the over riding goal To that end I breed for density, long staple length (including neck fibre), soft handle, low SD's and uniformity. In particular I also focus on reducing the gap in micron between primary and secondary fibre to less than 10 micron and to reducing micron blowout in the first 5 fleeces on each animal to less than 5 micron. Every breeding decision matters and sometimes the result is not what was planned but overall our strategies seem to be working.

So what about the farm tours and the farm shop Te Anau is a tourist town, quiet in the winter but very busy in the summer. It is the gateway to Milford Sound, and Fiordland National Park and is the hub of a number of famous walking tracks such as the Milford, the Kepler and the Routeburn Tracks. Honeyfields Alpaca Farm Tours have been operating for about 3 years now and is just getting busier and busier. I offer 2 tour times a day and take a maximum of 12 persons in a tour. There is nothing I like better than talking about alpacas and

as we all know alpacas showcase themselves very well. Most tours are an absolute pleasure and I love doing it. My herd is very used to visitors and are very people friendly and it is great to see people enjoying interaction with alpacas - more often than not it is something they have not experienced before. The 'on farm' shop is open after each tour and also between midday and 4pm every day and is visited by locals as well as tourists. We produce our own yarn from our alpacas and add to our own fibre from selected herds. We hand skirt each fleece and when enough fibre is accumulated (about 150kgs at a time) we send our fleece off to Canterbury Wool Scourers in Timaru and then on to the Bruce Woollen Mill at Milton in Otago. We sell the yarn we produce in our shop and also add further value with our range of baby clothing, scarves and hats, also sold in the shop. We sell other alpaca products as well and, additionally we sell our own Honeyfields honey - the only retail outlet from which it is available.

What other alpaca related things do you do? For a number of years I was on the AANZ Southern Region committee, the last 3 of those years as President. My on farm commitments at the moment preclude me from active involvement in AANZ committees, however I am a committed and loyal member of AANZ and when (if) life gets quieter will become more involved again. I exhibit at as many shows as I can, and if distance means I cannot get animals there, I show fleeces. I enjoy showing and consider that shows are our 'shop window' for future alpaca breeders. I also go to as many workshops as possible and have never missed an AANZ Conference. I also have a surprising number of alpaca breeders visit the farm when on holiday in Fiordland. One of the most rewarding things I have done with alpacas is the annual visit we make to a rest home in Christchurch where my mother lived - so much pleasure to give for so little effort!!

Where to from here? Age is creeping on and with all our family including grandchildren and one great grandchild in Christchurch it is our intention to return to Canterbury sometime in the next couple of years. We will still have a few acres and will continue breeding alpacas but with a reduced but elite herd. It will be sad to leave 'paradise' and the perfect lifestyle, but hopefully another alpaca breeder will seize the opportunity to take up our established alpaca farm and tourism business and the perfect lifestyle will live on in new hands. In the meantime and until that time, we will make the most of what we have whilst we still have it. 47

NEW MEMBER

PROFILE Debra, Graham and Dominique Law – Ananta Alpacas

New Member Profile: Each issue AANZ profiles a new member, taken from a draw from the ranks of those who have joined the Association since the last magazine. This issue we feature Debra, Graham and Dominique Law of Ananta Alpacas. Dominique also wrote the article featured on page 14 – A beginners guide to showing alpacas.

by Dominique Law

They say a journey begins with your first step. Well, ours began with a ferry ride across to Waiheke Island to meet up with internet search winner, Keenan Scott. What was going through our minds at this point? What madness had driven us into the world of alpacas? Well, quite honestly, we just wanted something funny looking to cross-graze with our seven horses on our fourteen acre lifestyle block in Karaka. Unbeknownst to us we were about to become fully immersed alpaca breeders.

Our objective on this beautiful, sunny winter’s day, was to purchase 5 pet boys—the sillier looking the better—and definitely no females! For the last 12 years we have bred sporthorses, and despite our very best intentions, we collect animals. Any visit to our property will prove this as you get mauled by not one, not two, but three poodles, ranging in size from small to large. After our lengthy visit, and vineyard lunch, we returned home, excited about our new children who were to arrive in 3 days’ time. All was well in our household—or so I thought. Ignoring our strict rule—NO FEMALES—my mother had other plans. She had fallen in love, we all had. Many discussions followed. My parents (Debra and Graham) and I joined forces to make this crazy, spontaneous dream a reality. The result: 10.5 alpacas in total to date with our first eagerly anticipated cria due in March. We have 8 girls (5 Suri and 3 Huacaya) 2 boys (one of each), a half share in a suri stud male and a farm full of alpaca-proof horses—it took them over a fortnight to accept the new arrivals. But this is not nearly enough immersion into everything alpaca. So under Keenan’s wing (and despite Mum initially agreeing to alpacas on the condition that we don’t ever show them), we arrived with 3 of our monsters at the Nationals at Claudlands. Way to throw ourselves into the deep end. Quite a change from three-day eventing!

Now with our very own name, Ananta Alpacas (meaning ‘the infinite’, or ‘endless’ in Sanskrit), a newly converted horse truck and a healthy dose of humour, we have embarked on our journey into the world of showing, collecting ribbons, and being welcomed into this eclectic community. We have been overwhelmed by everyone’s support, guidance and wisdom, and we look forward to meeting other enthusiasts the next time we’re out and about. But for now, I’m off to feed my adorable little monsters and try to steal a hug. I suspect they only tolerate me, but I can’t get enough of my cuddly teddy bears.

JOIN

ALPACA ASSOCIATION NZ • International Alpaca Registry • Alpaca Conferences and Workshops • Annual Alpaca Expo • 3 Magazines each year • AANZ Website members section • Receive an alpaca info folder and much more… Phone: 03 341 5242 Email: aanz@clear.net.nz

GREENACRES

FIBRE PROCESSING Formerly Tai-Tapu Wool Carders & Spinners Available for your alpaca requirements - washing & carding, blending with wool and spinning. We can not spin straight alpaca, it has to be blended 80/20 alpaca-wool mix. Pricing available on our website: www.greenacresfibres.co.nz

SHOW RESULTS EXPO RESULTS

SURI COLOUR CHAMPIONS

SURI SECTION

Champion White SURICO CORDELIA - FAIRHAVEN

Champion Junior Female Suri SURICO CORDELIA - FAIRHAVEN

Champion Light Fawn SURICO DEMOISELLE - SURICO

Reserve Champion Junior Female Suri SHERLIN KELAH - SHERLIN

Champion Mid/Dark Fawn GOTLAND ROYAL FLUSH - GOTLAND

Champion Junior Male Suri GOTLAND ROYAL FLUSH - GOTLAND

Champion Brown SHERLIN CARUSSO - SHERLIN

Reserve Champion Junior Male Suri SONRIC ISADUDE - SONRIC

Champion Grey/Roan WILD PALETTE ADMIRAL HALSEY - WILD PALETTE

Champion Intermediate Female Suri SURICO DEMOISELLE - SURICO

Champion Black CANCHONES MARLBOROUGH ET - THISTLEDOWN

Reserve Champion Intermediate Female Suri SURICO ARMADA - SURICO

Champion Intermediate Male Suri PAQOCHA MAESTRO - PAQOCHA

Champion Female Suri Fancy WILD PALETTE CHA CHA - WILD PALETTE

Reserve Champion Intermediate Male Suri NGAHERE IL CYD - NGAHERE

Reserve Champion Female Suri Fancy WILD PALETTE AMAZING GRACE - WILD PALETTE

Champion Adult Female Suri RIVERDALE KATIE - RIVERDALE

Champion Male Suri Fancy FAR NORTH ZAPPA - FAR NORTH

Reserve Champion Adult Female Suri BROMFIELD PARK BEDAZZLE - WAIKARA PARK

Premier Fancy Suri FAR NORTH ZAPPA - FAR NORTH

Champion Adult Male Suri ELYSION RAIN LOVER - THIEF OF HEARTS

HUACAYA SECTION

Reserve Champion Adult Male Suri CANCHONES MARLBOROUGH ET - THISTLEDOWN

Champion Junior Female Huacaya BRENOR PANIA - BRENOR

Champion Senior Female Suri SURICO MAGRITTE - SURICO

Reserve Champion Junior Female Huacaya NEVALEA GORJIS - NEVALEA

Reserve Champion Senior Female Suri SURICO COURCHEVEL - SURICO

Champion Junior Male Huacaya OAK RIDGE TIBERIUS - OAK RIDGE

Champion Senior Male Suri HADSTOCK N.Z. CRACKA - RIVERDALE

Reserve Champion Junior Male Huacaya STONELEIGH PHOENIX - STONELEIGH

Reserve Champion Senior Male Suri RIVERDALE IPOD - RIVERDALE

Champion Intermediate Female Huacaya HONEYFIELDS CELEBRATION - GILT EDGE

Champion Mature Female Suri HADSTOCK N.Z. SILKEN SANTOLINA - TE KOWHAI

Reserve Champion Intermediate Female Huacaya SILVERSTREAM LADYSHIP - SILVERSTREAM

Champion Mature Male Suri SURILANA MOSS ON THE ROCKS ET - WILD PALETTE

Champion Intermediate Male Huacaya HOMESTEAD FARM AUGUSTUS - THIEF OF HEARTS

SUPREME CHAMPION SURI SURICO DEMOISELLE - SURICO

Reserve Champion Intermediate Male Huacaya GILT EDGE AVENGER - GILT EDGE

Champion Adult Female Huacaya STONELEIGH SIERRA MISS - STONELEIGH Reserve Champion Adult Female Huacaya STONELEIGH FLAMBELLINI - STONELEIGH Champion Adult Male Huacaya SHAMARRA TOBAGO - SHAMARRA Reserve Champion Adult Male Huacaya STONELEIGH GALLIANO - STONELEIGH Champion Senior Female Huacaya KARISMAC GIFT - KARISMAC Reserve Champion Senior Female Huacaya SILVERSTREAM JAPANJI - SILVERSTREAM Champion Senior Male Huacaya STONELEIGH VALENTINO - STONELEIGH Reserve Champion Senior Male Huacaya AQUAVIVA CADBURY - STARLIGHT Champion Mature Female Huacaya SILVERSTREAM GRACELANDS - SILVERSTREAM Reserve Champion Mature Female Huacaya STONELEIGH FLAMBELLA - STONELEIGH Champion Mature Male Huacaya HONEYFIELDS MCKERROW - TERRA NOVA Reserve Champion Mature Male Huacaya SILVERSTREAM GODSEND ET - SILVERSTREAM SUPREME CHAMPION HUACAYA STONELEIGH VALENTINO - STONELEIGH

Huacaya Colour Champions Champion White STONELEIGH VALENTINO - STONELEIGH

INTERNATIONAL FLEECE SHOW RESULTS SURI SECTION - Judge: Sarah Busby Champion Junior Female Suri Fleece HADSTOCK N.Z. SILKEN FUSHIA - Anne & Neil Godfrey Reserve Champion Junior Female Suri Fleece GOTLAND LIMOUGE - Lars & Heather Olsson Champion Junior Male Suri Fleece SURICO TRILOGY - Hermione, Brooke & Sue Richards Reserve Champion Junior Male Suri Fleece BUMBLE HILL MUNDIAL (AUS) - Julienne & Frank Gelber (Aus) Champion Intermediate Female Suri Fleece SURICO ROSSE - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards Reserve Champion Intermediate Female Suri Fleece RIVERDALE KATIE - Grant & Julie Mansell Champion Intermediate Male Suri Fleece SURICO NOVA - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards Reserve Champion Intermediate Male Suri Fleece GOTLAND DOMINO - Lars & Heather Olsson Champion Adult Female Suri Fleece THISTLEDOWN VORTEX ET - Stephanie, Phillipa & Molly Gardner Reserve Champion Adult Female Suri Fleece OSTERLEN ALPACKAS SILKEN SUCCESS - Ann Marie & Paul Gerber-Santesson (Swe) Champion Adult Male Suri Fleece BUMBLE HILL RAJAH (AUS) - Julienne & Frank Gelber (Aus)

Champion Light Fawn BRENOR POINT BLANC - BRENOR

Reserve Champion Adult Male Suri Fleece BUMBLE HILL MAGUS ET (AUS) - Julienne & Frank Gelber (Aus)

Champion Mid/Dark Fawn HONEYFIELDS CELEBRATION - GILT EDGE

Champion Senior Female Suri Fleece SURICO MAYA - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards

Champion Brown AQUAVIVA CADBURY - STARLIGHT

Reserve Champion Senior Female Suri Fleece CANCHONES PROVIDENCE ET - Stephanie, Phillipa & Molly Gardner

Champion Grey/Roan SHERLIN THE WATCHMAN - SHERLIN Champion Black SUNSETESTATE TANZANIA - SUNSETESTATE

Champion Senior Male Suri Fleece SURICO MAXWELL SMART - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards

Reserve Champion Senior Male Suri Fleece GOTLAND STARDUST - Lars & Heather Olsson Champion Female Huacaya Fancy AMBERSUN FRECKLE FACE - NZSUMMERHILL

Champion Mature Female Suri Fleece LA ROCHE GOLD PACN - Anne & Neil Godfrey

Reserve Champion Female Huacaya Fancy KARISMAC PRITI - KARISMAC

Reserve Champion Mature Female Suri Fleece KANDIAH TUSCAN LASS - Pav & Mark Stacey

Champion Male Huacaya Fancy AMBERSUN DUKKAH - NZSUMMERHILL

Champion Mature Male Suri Fleece TE KOWHAI SOLAR ECLIPSE - Stuart & Ann Weir

Reserve Champion Male Huacaya Fancy KOOINDA BAYLEY - KOOINDA

Reserve Champion Mature Male Suri Fleece AVIANA FARMS AZEEM (AUS) - Kelene & Richard Pfeiffer (Aus)

Premier Fancy Huacaya AMBERSUN DUKKAH - NZSUMMERHILL

SUPREME CHAMPION SURI FLEECE SURICO NOVA - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards 51

Champion White Suri Fleece Champion Adult Female Huacaya Fleece SURICO NOVA - Hermione, Brook & Sue Richards CLASSIC COUNTESS ZARA ET (AUS) - Susan Haese Champion Light Fawn Suri Fleece BUMBLE HILL RAJAH (AUS) - Julienne & Frank Gelber (Aus)

Reserve Champion Adult Female Huacaya Fleece BLACKGATE LODGE DUCHESS (AUS) - Blackgate Lodge (Aus)

Champion Mid/Dark Fawn Suri Fleece SURICO PICARDY - Anne & Neil Godfrey

Champion Adult Male Huacaya Fleece FUTURA HUMDINGER - Trish & Neil Watson

Champion Brown Suri Fleece BROMFIELD PARK ALONSO - Brendon Taylor

Reserve Champion Adult Male Huacaya Fleece STONELEIGH VALENTINO - Chris & Liz Strack

Champion Grey Suri Fleece Champion Senior Female Huacaya Fleece EXCELLENZ GRIGIO ROSAS - Loraine Sepers & BLACKGATE LODGE ZORA (AUS) - Blackgate Lodge (Aus) Ward Van Damme Reserve Champion Senior Female Huacaya Fleece Champion Black Suri Fleece SILVERSTREAM IDOL - Kit & Sheryl Johnson THISTLEDOWN VORTEX ET - Stephanie, Phillipa & Molly Gardner Champion Male Suri Fancy Fleece FAR NORTH ZAPPA - Brook & Sue Richards Reserve Champion Male Suri Fancy Fleece TASC GODFATHER (AUS) - Susan Haese Premier Fancy Suri Fleece FAR NORTH ZAPPA - Brook & Sue Richards

HUACAYA SECTION - Judge: Lyn Dickson Champion Junior Female Huacaya Fleece ATAAHUA NZ TURKISH DELIGHT - Jackee & Jeff Peters Reserve Champion Junior Female Huacaya Fleece BUMBLE HILL SERAPHA (AUS) - Julienne & Frank Gelber (Aus) Champion Junior Male Huacaya Fleece SHERLIN THE WATCHMAN - Sheryl & Lindsay Riddle Reserve Champion Junior Male Huacaya Fleece THIEF OF HEARTS NORTHERN LIGHTS - Eric & Gaye Lister Champion Intermediate Female Huacaya Fleece SILVERSTREAM KAINITE - G & D Mcivor Reserve Champion Intermediate Female Huacaya Fleece YARINGA CLASSIC CZARINA ET (AUS) - Susan Haese Champion Intermediate Male Huacaya Fleece FOWBERRY PRODIGY - Spindler, Ruch (Germany) Reserve Champion Intermediate Male Huacaya Fleece EP CAMBRIDGE INVICTUS - Toni & Greg Charteri

Champion Senior Male Huacaya Fleece FOWBERRY PRODIGY - Spindler, Ruch (Germany)

Reserve Champion Senior Male Huacaya Fleece OAK RIDGE OLIVER - Martin Bennett & Debbie Wallace Champion Mature Female Huacaya Fleece BLACKGATE LODGE BRONTE (AUS) - Blackgate Lodge (Aus) Reserve Champion Mature Female Huacaya Fleece ANTIGUA VOM OBERBERG - Spindler Champion Mature Male Huacaya Fleece FORESTGLEN BRAVO ET - Barbara Lomax

Reserve Champion Mature Male Huacaya Fleece HILLSIDE GARDENS ADOBE ET - Sarah & Peter Busby SUPREME CHAMPION HUACAYA FLEECE BLACKGATE LODGE ZORA (AUS) - Blackgate Lodge (Aus) Champion White Huacaya Fleece BLACKGATE LODGE ZORA (AUS) - Blackgate Lodge (Aus) Champion Light Fawn Huacaya Fleece THIEF OF HEARTS NORTHERN LIGHTS - Eric & Gaye Lister Champion Mid/Dark Fawn Huacaya Fleece ATAAHUA NZ TURKISH DELIGHT - Jackee & Jeff Peters Champion Brown Huacaya Fleece MARTINA BOURBON - Bob & Joyce Martin Champion Grey Huacaya Fleece SHERLIN THE WATCHMAN - Sheryl & Lindsay Riddle Champion Black Huacaya Fleece YARINGA CLASSIC CZARINA ET (AUS) - Susan Haese Champion Female Huacaya Fancy Fleece SILVERHILL ILARIA - Donna & Kerry Tannion Reserve Champion Female Huacaya Fancy Fleece APPALOOSA MOVIE STAR (AUS) - Arcadian Alpacas (Aus) Champion Male Huacaya Fancy Fleece APPALOOSA FAUX PAS (AUS) - Arcadian Alpacas (Aus) Reserve Champion Male Huacaya Fancy Fleece AMBERSUN DUKKAH - Shirley & Dallas Grant Premier Fancy Huacaya Fleece APPALOOSA FAUX PAS (AUS) - Arcadian Alpacas (Aus) Finest Huacaya Fleece AMBERSUN DUKKAH - Shirley & Dallas Grant

SOUTH ISLAND COLOURBRATION 167 Entries Co-Judges: Diane Marks & Molly Gardner

Light Fawn Suri Show Champion Female Light Fawn Suri FAIRHAVEN JAZMYN SUPREME CHAMPION LIGHT FAWN SURI FAIRHAVEN JAZMYN

Fancy Suri Show

White Suri Show

Best Male Fancy Suri SACRED COAST TRITON

Champion Female White Suri SHERLIN KELAH

Premier Fancy Suri SACRED COAST TRITON

Reserve Champion Female White Suri BELLAVEEN LITTLE GEM

Black Suri Show

Champion Male White Suri FAIRHAVEN HOUSTON

Champion Female Black Suri SHERLIN JESS Champion Male Black Suri AWATERE ZAMBEZI

Reserve Champion Male White Suri SACRED COAST HERCULES SUPREME CHAMPION WHITE SURI FAIRHAVEN HOUSTON

Reserve Champion Male Black Suri SHERLIN KNIGHT SHADE

Fancy Huacaya Show

SUPREME CHAMPION BLACK SURI SHERLIN JESS

Best Female Fancy Huacaya AMBERSUN PAISLEY

Grey Suri Show

Reserve Best Female Fancy Huacaya AMBERSUN FRECKLE FACE

Champion Female Grey Suri SHERLIN CHAKA SARITA Champion Male Grey Suri MADDISON PARK HOTCHPOTCH SUPREME CHAMPION GREY SURI SHERLIN CHAKA SARITA

Brown Suri Show Champion Female Brown Suri BROMFIELD PARK BEDAZZLE Reserve Champion Female Brown Suri FAIRHAVEN JAMILLE

Best Male Fancy Huacaya KOOINDA BAYLEY Reserve Best Male Fancy Huacaya AMBERSUM DUKKAH Premier Fancy Huacaya KOOINDA BAYLEY

Black Huacaya Show Champion Female Black Huacaya SHERLIN CHELSEA Reserve Champion Female Black Huacaya ARDARA FARM MISS GERALDINE

Champion Male Brown Suri BROMFIELD PARK ALONSO

Champion Male Black Huacaya BELISE PACO RABANNE

Reserve Champion Male Brown Suri EL DOS CADENA KAHLUA

Reserve Champion Male Black Huacaya WARRAMUNGA DOWNS ENYO

SUPREME CHAMPION BROWN SURI BROMFIELD PARK ALONSO

SUPREME CHAMPION BLACK HUACAYA BELISE PACO RABANNE

Medium/Dark Fawn Suri Show

Grey Huacaya Show

Champion Female Med/Dark Fawn Suri AWATERE LONE STAR

Champion Female Grey Huacaya ANGIES CREEK EVIE

Reserve Champion Female Med/Dark Fawn Suri ARDARA FARM MISS KIMBERLEY

Reserve Champion Female Grey Huacaya WARATAH FLATS HEATHER

Champion Male Med/Dark Fawn Suri FAIRHAVEN JARRAH

Champion Male Grey Huacaya SHERLIN THE WATCHMAN

Reserve Champion Male Med/Dark Fawn Suri BROMFIELD PARK QUANTUM

Reserve Champion Male Grey Huacaya HONEYFIELDS MADHU

SUPREME CHAMPION MED/DARK FAWN SURI FAIRHAVEN JARRAH

SUPREME CHAMPION GREY HUACAYA SHERLIN THE WATCHMAN 53

Brown Huacaya Show

Light Fawn Huacaya Show

Champion Female Brown Huacaya OAK RIDGE TUSCAN SUN

Champion Female Light Fawn Huacaya STONELEIGH FLAMBELLINI

Reserve Champion Female Brown Huacaya OAK RIDGE NOTORIOUS

Reserve Champion Light Fawn Huacaya OAK RIDGE AYLA

Champion Male Brown Huacaya WAIKARA PARK POG MO THOIN

Champion Male Light Fawn Huacaya OAK RIDGE TIBERIUS

Reserve Champion Male Brown Huacaya OAK RIDGE CARBON COPY

Reserve Champion Male Light Fawn Huacaya SILVER-STONE ICE BREAKER

SUPREME CHAMPION BROWN HUACAYA OAK RIDGE TUSCAN SUN

SUPREME CHAMPION LIGHT FAWN HUACAYA STONELEIGH FLAMBELLINI

Medium/Dark Fawn Huacaya Show

White Huacaya Show

Champion Female Med/Dark Fawn Huacaya HEMICCOYO JULIET

Champion Female White Huacaya SILVERSTREAM DEJA VU

Reserve Champion Female Med/Dark Fawn Huacaya SILVERSTREAM MOCHACHINO

Reserve Champion Female White Huacaya HONEYFIELDS SERENDIPITY

Champion Male Med/Dark Fawn Huacaya SHAMARRA LONE STAR

Champion Male White Huacaya SHAMARRA TOBAGO

Reserve Champion Male Med/Dark Fawn Huacaya SHAMARRA TALISMAN

Reserve Champion Male White Huacaya STONELEIGH VALENTINO

SUPREME CHAMPION MED/DARK FAWN HUACAYA SHAMARRA LONE STAR

SUPREME CHAMPION WHITE HUACAYA SHAMARRA TOBAGO

VALENZA ALPACAS LTD BLACK HUACAYA FULL HERD SALE Quality animals at bargain prices – all must go info@theblackalpaca.co.nz www.theblackalpaca.co.nz 027 2411 805

M t u s

MUXLOW ALPACAS is a New Zealand boutique white and light fawn alpaca breeder where the best genetics, quality and consistency come together. We aim to continue with uncompromising attention to health and welfare to breed a further succession of premier supreme animals.

You will ďŹ nd us at 57 Speedy Road, RD4, Pukekohe, New Zealand. email: muxlowalpacas@ix.net.nz website: www.muxlowalpacas.co.nz Telephone: +64 (0)9 236 4227 mobile: +64 (0)21 641 572 55

WELCOME

NEW MEMBERS

OF THE AANZ On behalf of the membership of the Alpaca Association of NZ, National Council and the Editorial team, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members of our association.

Justin & Natasha Insley Auckland Vivian Liang Auckland John Hyndman & Daphne Durning Kaiapoi Emma & Ken Thompson Kaiapoi Maria & Martin Utting Auckland Scott Johnstone Rolleston Kieran & Nicola Talbot Papakura Graham, Debra & Dominique Law Karaka Leaine & Bob Jones Napier Anthony Rogers & Claire Boulton Morrinsville Karen Caldwell Australia Wendy Lyons Australia Theo de Veth Holland Erika Kotsiakos Australia Elrica Ng Auckland

JENNY DURNO “Just look for the good in everything; that’s me.” by Lyn Skilling - QTAZ ALPACAS Over the past few years it has been my absolute pleasure to become good friends with an amazing lady called Jenny Durno. We shared a passion, a passion for breeding alpaca. It was great to finally have another alpaca breeder in our area and we got on well. Last May we joined forces and promoted our two herds for National Alpaca Day. Jenny’s enthusiasm was infectious. We advertised in local papers, had an advert on the local radio station and posted fliers through our rural mail service. The day was a resounding success. Thorburn Alpacas and QTAZ Alpacas were swamped with visitors. Although pretty exhausted, we were both pleased with our efforts. Jenny had flare. She always knew just the right thing to say or write and this skill got her the job of Media Liaison person for the Alpaca Association of NZ. She researched and wrote many articles for the AANZ magazine. Every article was informative and entertaining to say the least. Her sense of humour was witty and clever. The Winter 2012 NZ Alpaca magazine contained no less than nine articles penned by Jenny! Jenny enjoyed going to shows and loved to chat to other breeders about breeding goals, fleece stats, processing tips – the list goes on. It was always a great day out for Jenny, Robert and of course their adored dog Ripper. I remember one year at the Morrinsville Show when Jenny and Robert were both presenting their alpacas in the show ring. Ripper was tied to a chair on the sideline. Laughter erupted as Ripper decided that she wanted to be a part of the action too and proceeded to walk into the ring, dragging the plastic chair behind her. Jenny has fought a brave battle over the past few years but with Robert at her side and Ruth, her daughter, just a phone call away, she coped very well and was always positive. I have admired her courage and strength. It was Jenny’s wish that people were better educated about ovarian cancer. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and it is not uncommon to have no symptoms until the later stages of the disease, making it hard to diagnose. The Gift of Knowledge website offers education, support and awareness. Please go to www.giftofknowledge.co.nz. National Council have asked me to organise a trophy. The Jenny Durno Memorial Trophy will be presented to the Huacaya alpaca that has the most beautiful handling fleece in the breed ring at the Franklin Show each year. Thank you Jenny, for being an inspiring, clever and caring friend. We will all remember you with fond memories and much love.

• • • •

Patagonia Celtic Rising Sun ET FINE FAWN GENETICS

Photos courtesy of Robert Gane-Canchones

At 6yrs of age, Rising Sun has it all:

Show Successes:

• • • •

Fineness (<20µ) Comfort Factor (98.3%) Density (69.8 follicles per mm2) Staple length (120mm)

Supreme Fawn - Victoria Colourbration 2009 & 2010 Champion Senior Male - Sydney Royal 2009 Reserve Champion Intermediate Male - Progeny AAA 2011 Shamarra Roaring Meg ET (Rising Sun daughter) Supreme Brown Champion at Victoria Colourbration 2012

Akaroa, New Zealand

www.shamarra-alpacas.co.nz Frank & Anya Walkington | 03 304 5141 | info@shamarra-alpacas.co.nz