New baby at Broome Farm (June
2004)
On
May 8th and a couple of weeks earlier than expected Marnie gave birth
to a beautiful baby girl who we have called Blossom.
Both mum and baby
are doing well and have been out in the orchard enjoying the fine weather.
Blossom will stay
with her mum for 6 to 8 months until she is ready to be weaned.
This month we are
expecting a visit from a specialist alpaca shearer when he is passing through
the area. The alpacas will be
sheared laying on their sides on a table with their feet fastened and someone
supporting their head and neck – having sheared up one side the animal is then
turned over for the shearer to complete the process which in all takes about 15
minutes per animal.
The fleece is
sorted into three grades: the best quality from the ‘blanket’ area across
the back, a second quality from the neck and then the rough stuff from the belly
and legs.
This year will be
the first shearing for last years babies, Perry and Cyder – the first fleece
is the softest and is marketed as ‘baby alpaca’.
Once they have
finished shearing the fleece the shearer also trims the animals’ feet and
checks to see if their teeth need grinding down – they only have teeth on the
lower jaw which can grow too long to meet the hard pad on the upper jaw properly
and so inhibit grazing.
After such an experience last year they appeared to have ‘shrunk in the wash’ and seemed very self conscious of all the strange looks they were getting!
Cindy
Smith