Our next door neighbor (if that's the correct term) has decided to sell I think! Well the place is on the market but at $10 million in the current climate it does look like something of a fishing trip to me. But who knows maybe some aspirational parent still in the grips of Olympic fever will snap it up in order to get his or her offspring into the Olympic team.

The property consists of an Olympic dressage arena that seats 300 people with attached clubhouse and gym. Grounds include a 1501 sq ft original farm house, 10 barns with 39 stalls including a veterinarian barn all fully fenced. Home site approval on the top of the knoll
with spectacular views of Ashland and the valley. Large pond, well with two holding tanks, and 33 acres of TID rights.

Having written yesterday about the amount and quality of Peruvian products coming into the US I was inspired to take a look at the Michell web site.
The Michell Group of companies is quite impressive and there are fully three generations of the Michell family working in the family business. It is well worth taking a trip to their web site and looking at the various brands they have developed.



So go take a look and I will see you back here later.

Meanwhile its time to do some more spit testing on the (hopefully) perganant female....

For some time now I have been receiving marketing e-mails from a company in Peru that is producing alpaca garments for men, women and children. When I first got into this business some years ago now we were as an industry always sceptical about the quality and style of garments coming out of Peru and other South American countries.

However, that has changed and both the quality and style have greatly improved.





One company in particular is now targeting small retailers around the globe and offering comprehensive support in terms of own label branding and even custom marketing services.
They are far ahead of our own North American Fiber Cooperative and it does make me wonder how we will ever catch up.

Following on from a piece I wrote this week about Keep the Fleece I wanted to talk some more about Peruvian alpaca fleece.
Exports of alpaca fiber from Peru have nearly doubled to more than $43 million in the last four years, as models strut catwalks from Beijing to New York wearing alpaca garments of ever shape and size.

New York-based designer Rachel Comey loves the feel of alpaca and its more exotic cousins the vicuna and guanaco, known collectively as camelids.

Vicuna is the costliest, trimmed once every two years from the rarest of the three breeds, which roams the plateaued border region between Bolivia and Peru. A yard of the fabric sells for at least $3,000, while a basic stole starts at $950.

A similar PEruvian stole made of alpaca — which is farm-raised and makes up 99 percent of camelid exports — sells for about $47, while llama fleece is rarely commercially sold.

Peruvian producers are repositioning alpaca as a sexier luxury thread, spun into casual clothes and evening wear to appeal to young professionals with the disposable income for luxury goods. Laird Borelli, a senior features editor at Style.com. says that demand is in part assisted by the popularity of alpaca with environmentally conscious designers who want the softness of fur without the guilt.

“If you have a fabric that can get as close to fur as that, it’s an amazing thing,”

said New York designer Daryl Kerrigan, who has used alpaca to make coats.

Lima, Peru-based designer Jose Miguel Valdivia said

".......designers and textile producers are finding ways to re-create Incan precision on a larger scale and now use the fleece to weave softer fabrics that remind some of the world’s finest furs."

Peru’s government is also boosting efforts to promote the fibers, sending local designers to Europe to lobby the movers and shakers in the world of fashion.

Andean breeders in still-poor parts of rural Peru are seeing an income boost, providing a steady supply of top-grade fleece.

Breeders and textile companies are trying to improve their techniques for separating coarser fibers, shorn from alpacas’ necks and hoof-areas, from longer, more delicate flank hair. They’re looking for a scientific way to boost fleece quality, too.

Some years ago Michell & CIA S.A. — the world’s largest alpaca fleece producer — opened a breeding center in Peru’s southern Puno province to isolate traits responsible for finer fleece. Now its scientists breed alpaca and teach their methods to small farmers.

The idea is simple: The finer the fleece, the lighter, more sought-after and expensive it is.

And as an alpaca breeder here in North America all we have to add to that is the more weight of fine fleece per animal the better.

I have started to notice in the very few alpaca shows I see that there is a trend towards smaller more delicate looking alpacas...or maybe its just my imagination. Personally, I prefer the larger boned alpacas that have a good strong frame.

Why do I prefer the larger framed alapacs? Well its just a gut feel I have that the females can carry cria more easily and then birth more easily. Plus breeding can involve quite a bit of coercion from the male and I feel a larger alpaca is more able to take that.

Still I have no evidence to back any of this up its simply a personal preference.



Let me know what your thoughts are.

Every October when folks in this part of the world are busy with AlpacaMania across the other side of the country in Ohio almost a 1000 alpaca breeders from all points on the compass go to Magical Farms in Litchfield Ohio. Where for the last 9 years the Forstner family have winded and dined alpaca buyers before inviting them to participate in the alpaca auction.

Here in their own words is a small extract of what you might expect.

Yes, every year Magical produce alpacas of the highest quality, and this year they have dug deep into their breeding program to bring you the very best!

Yes, we back our animals with industry leading guarantees, financing, and our commitment to superior customer service.

Yes, the Forstners are building a 45 foot pirate ship in the barn for this year's theme...

Quite who will play the part of Captain Jack Sparrow and who will be Elizabeth Swan is yet to be decided......all very odd to my English way of thinking...but when in Rome do as the Romans do...maybe that will be next years theme....

A magazine called Wild Fibers has started a Non Profit called Keep the Fleece.

They are producing a calendar that will be distributed in the fiber circles (all fibers are welcome including alpaca).

It will be one of the main fiber events in the US and will have a large kick off this fall in New York.

With their calendar comes the opportunity to have events listed. This is a great opportunity especially with 2009 being designated the International Year of Natural Fibers. Here is an extract frome the Newsletter:


How It Began by Linda Cortright
Editor and Publisher
Wild Fibers Magazine

Last year, Fernando Alvarez president of Jacques Cartier Clothier and I had a meeting at the UN in Rome to discuss the IYNF. It was clear at that time that the goal of this global celebration was to educate and increase awareness about the natural fiber industry. The ultimate objective is to create new relationships that could evolve into long-term sustainable enterprises. There is little question that certain sectors of the natural fiber world need to realize an increase in market share in order to ultimately withstand the continued growth of synthetics.

I applaud the UN's efforts but believe that many of us involved in the natural fiber community share an interest at a more personal, grass roots level. Whether we are actively involved in raising fiber animals or simply have a passion for fleece and fibers that rivals the average person's need for food and shelter - our connection with the fiber community is truly of a 'high touch' nature. And though we are not exactly the audience the UN has envisioned, I believe our commitment to natural fibers is every bit as strong (if not more so) than the urban-based corporations who buy and sell natural fibers on a daily basis.

What Is Keep the Fleece?

As a result of the meeting in Rome, I conceived Keep the Fleece as a simple international fiber contest promoting the use of natural fibers within the handcrafter community. With only a few dozen flyers and a barebones Web site it soon became clear to me that the contest concept was in fact "not so simple" and definitely "not enough".

As many of you know, I have spent the past five years traveling to some fairly remote places on this planet in search of people who are engaged in all levels of fiber production, from animal to artisan. I have shared many of my adventures in Wild Fibers Magazine but I have not always been able to tell the whole story.

Meanwhile back on the farm we will be spit testing Minne again to make sure she is holding her pregnancy - hopefully sometime tomorrow morning. the farm where she is going are just about to have a new barn installed so I am sure she will be very comfortable in Bills capable hands.

If you think you are able and willing to help then follow this link and complete the survey.

Keep the Fleece Survey

The temperature is unreasonably high at the moment and touching 110 degrees.
The alpacas seek out shade whenever it gets this hot and if at all possible will stand in the spray from the irrigation system to cool down.... which sounds like innocent fun but the irrigation water is full of microbes and tiny vegetable matter so this is not good stuff to be washing into your nice alpaca fleeces.....

Patches of the various pastures are drying out now and when that happens the grass almost dies before that pasture comes around for its next irrigation cycle. Bottom line it is essential to get every part of the pasture soaked when you do run an irrigation cycle.

Once the ground starts to dry out then the dreaded star thistles rear their spiky heads and appear to flourish on fresh air...the only way to get rid of them is to dig them out....it takes time but in the long run it saves a great deal of time and money. We have tried herbicides in the past but they are not very selective and the slightest wind will cause mayhem.

AUGUST 17—CAT NIGHTS COMMENCE
Following on from yesterdays amazingly interesting piece of news about Grain Moons did you know the term “Cat Nights” harks back to a rather obscure Irish legend concerning witches and the belief that a witch could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time, she couldn't’t regain her human form. This bit of folklore also led to the idea that a cat has nine lives. Since August is a “yowly” time for cats, this may have prompted the speculation about witches on the prowl....

Anyway the good news is I did pass my motorcycle test so now it wont be costing me $10 in gas every time I have to go down into town to buy something....unless it winter in which case I will travelling in something warmer and less economical.

Interestingly of the 12 people who took their test yesterday i would say 9 or 10 were doing it to save on their gas expenditure especially those who commuted to and from work each day.

AUGUST 16 = FULL STURGEON MOON
Did you know some Native American tribes knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full Moon. Others called it the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon...

I am out all day today taking my motorcycvle test so the alpaca farm is in hybernation until this evening.

Apparently National Alpaca Farm Day is almost upon us and I know this because AOBA just sent me an email to remind me.......

You need a break from all the media frenzy for the election and back to school sales. You need to close your office door and make your plans for National Alpaca Farm Days! Let your creative side come out and have fun with your ideas!
Won’t it be a lot more fun to share your love of alpacas with interested people? Wouldn’t it be relaxing to share your knowledge, show your favorite juveniles to folks that think you’re the smartest person they’ve ever met! It’s always satisfying to demonstrate your knowledge of livestock and then tell them before you became an alpaca breeder you didn’t know how to give an injection on an animal, what EPD meant or how much hay cost!!!

All of which makes me wonder if registration is well down this year....only two weeks to go and they are still beating the marketing drum...

But what really pleased me was that EPDs were mentioned as something alpaca farmers should know about!

Well I can't argue with that - in fact I couldn't agree more. So if you don't know what EPDs are or what they will mean for your alpacas then take yourself off to www.epdlibrary.org and do some armchair research into alpaca EPDs....you will feel much better for it.

One of the most useful companies in the alpaca industry is the appropriately named useful alpaca items

Useful alpaca items are now carrying a great product which I saw on one of my clients farms only recently.

The Grazer introduces alpaca's to a natural way of eating hay.

The Grazer allows the alpaca to eat in a slower, healthier manner - just 20 pounds of hay and your alpacas will be "entertained" for hours. The end panels support the springs that pull a plate up from the bottom. As the alpacas feed, the amount of hay lessens and the bottom plate is pulled upwards, providing your alpacas with endless hours of trouble free feeding.



This product is a great tool: it minimizes wasted hay, lessen dust inhalation and so quite possibly reduces the risk of chocking in my opinion The Grazer can be mounted at ground level for a secure hold and can also be mounted to a stall, piping or metal barn.

Mounting brackets are included. The Grazer can hold up to 20 pounds of hay.

Weight: 69 lbs Manufactured from 12 gauge steel

Assembled Dimension: 27.75 L x 27.75 H x 12” W

Price a reasonable $159.50

When I first saw this product on the internet it was selling for about $390.00 and you will find several companies still selling at this high price. Dont believe me well check it out for yourself.

Or these people who will lease it to you for $50 per week!! Which is a massive $2,500 per annum. Check it out.

No sign of the cougar around the alpacas but I know they have huge territories so he could be anywhere and might return at any time.
The only vulnerability appears to be the wooden posts at the corners where the 8 foot tall no climb fence is supported so today I will make these a little bit more daunting and install some cheap and cheerful solar powered lights which will hopefully act as an additional deterrent.

I really must stop staying up until the early hours to watch the Olympics it is totally exhausting the next day.... but only myself to blame. Good news for Phelps not so good for the US ladies gymnastics team. But there is no shame in silver.

We will be breeding Minne the female alpaca with Conman again today for the third time so lets hope she is having none of it and spits him off in great style.

Yesterday Mac did an excellent job of weeding the vegetable garden under my expert guidance...however it turns out I had let him loose in an area freshly planted with seeds..whoops! I am now banned from the vegetable garden...until winter.

Time to mow the lawns and get the irrigation running so better go enjoy your day and thanks for visiting my alpaca farming blog.

Each year we fibre test every alpaca on the farm. What happens is that just before Alan Godsiff our New Zealand shearer makes his first cut along the alpacas back he takes a "sample" from the midsection of the alpaca.



As Angus McColl puts it:

The integrity of sampling, the careful and proper selection of a sample, is the most critical factor involved in measurement of fiber diameter in individual animals. The samples must be taken at the middle of the side in the blanket location. The sample should be uniformly cut at the skin level, which is the base of the staple, and should be no smaller than a two-inch square in size. The sample should be kept in the staple configuration, which is its natural growth state. It should not be brushed out, cleaned up, or folded. Flat bladed shears or clippers are recommended as the safest tools to use in the taking of samples.

This sample of alpaca fibre is then sent to Angus McColl at Yocom McColl fibre laboratory who sends you back the following report ( and an invoice ). To be accurate this is the report you receive if you are members of the Ideal Alpaca Community - the IAC report is more comprehensive than the standard Yocom McColl report.





Histograms are quite useful when it comes to looking at an alpacas fibre and making breeding decisions. To take this information to the next level is the work of the IAC and its quest to produce EPDs or Estimated Progeny Differences to give them their full title, for alpacas.
The work has been underway for some time now to calcu;ate EPDs and you can read more about what EPDs are the Mulberry Alpacas Library

Last night I put the female alpacas and the cria into the barn paddock which has 8 foot high no climb fences and two hot wires one at 4 feet and one at 7 feet.
Of course the no climb aspect relates to horses not cougars!
I also left the the radio on in the barn all night tuned to National Public Radio - all that talking will hopefully scare off the cougar from my property and if not - well at least all the alpacas will be good Democrats by next month.

The alpacas were peaceful as far as I know and one neighbor reported that her dogs barked all night long which is something we don't normally hear. So she was convinced that something was stalking about.

There was a cougar (mountain lion) in the area about 5 years ago and the local cougar hunter was brought in to kill it and did so the very first night...maybe that is what we will have to do again this time.

Being English we don't have any firearms on the farm either to scare off a cougar with noise or to actually try and kill it. Right now I am sort of wishing we did have something...far be it for me to encourage gun fire and have high velocity bullets flying all over the place I would certainly feel safer than I do right now with just my trust Leatherman by my side....

The weather has been very clear today and we have been spared the smoke of the forest fires in California but the forecast says that smoke from California will be blowing our way very soon.... and will be here in force by the weekend...

Sadly the firefighting helicopter that crashed last week contained several people from this area and included some of my sons school friends - very tragic and our thoughts go out to the eleven families who lost loved ones.