Remember I told you that way back in March / April Ronnie saw information on an auction in the local Farmers Weekly.
As you know we deliberated, hesitated, decided, and then fell in love, and have been busy preparing to receive the latest additions to our family.
So, with no further ado I'd like to introduce you all to the two (and a half) newest members of our family...
Can you see them - lying in the far corner of the paddock by the gate? |
They are alpacas :)
Mianda and Kris - our alpacas. Aren't they beautiful :) |
We are now one of only approximately 400 alpaca breeders in South Africa.
They are incredible animals. Elegant, inquisitive, gentle and agile. They are also very eco-friendly - they don't rip the grass out by the roots when they graze, and their padded feet don't dig into the soil. Plus, they wont cause us to run out of water - at roughly 5trs of water each per day they don't drink as much as cows and sheep - and we are supplying them from our rain water tanks too :) Finally, mucking out their paddock is a breeze - they use a communal midden - and always use the same spot :)
RMan in action - 1/2 a wheelbarrow load after ony 5½ days. The empty midden can be seen on the lower right corner |
Yummy compost in the making... :) |
C'mon Kris, let me see your eyes... |
Even crouching down and trying to take a pic wasn't successful LOL But, it's not all bad - his Beatle fringe helps to keep the flies out of his eyes... |
This is where Miranda spends all her time - in the corner where she first entered the paddock. |
Where are all my buddies...? |
Both Miranda and Kris chomped at the contents of the feeding trough as soon as we filled it |
A hastily errected pergola at her favourite spot - to provide some shade when it is required |
This is Miranda's paddock - the first paddock we made - unti we found out that male and female apaca's need to be kept separate. |
This is the view of the second paddock - Kris' future home. The first paddock is in the background behind the stables |
RMan and I are very chuffed - and very thrilled with the new members of our family. They bring a smile to our faces every time we look at them :)
Now all I have to do is find a spinning wheel, so that I can spin their wool when they are sheared in November...
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To give you more info on alpaca's I am quoting from http://www.alpacas.co.nz/Alpaca%20Information.htm hereunder:
Easily farmed on a small block, with stocking rates of about 5 to the acre.
Low impact stock. With soft, padded feet, the alpaca has an extremely low impact on fragile landforms.
Low level carriers of internal parasites.
Stimulated ovulators, thus they can be mated at any time of the year.
Accustomed to using a communal dung site.Parasite infestation is therefore low.Alpaca dung is a rich fertilizer perfect for growing fruits and vegetables. Alpaca droppings are almost odourless, and are low in nitrogen.Grazers and chew their cud. They have a split upper lip which prevents them from damaging the vegetation's roots
Consistently trouble free when birthing. The birth of a new cria usually occurs during daylight hours, on a fine day.
Long-lived -- approximately 20 years.
Naturally docile and are typically "mustered" by calling them. Dogs are not required.
Modified ruminant with a three-compartment stomach. They convert grass and hay to energy very efficiently, eating less than other farm animals.
Small and easy to handle.
Intelligent, which makes them pleasant to be around and easy to train.
Adaptable to varied habitat, successfully being raised around the world from 15,000 feet to sea level.
Not slaughtered outside of their native South America, thus allowing us to profit from them without killing them.Not susceptible to footrot.Not subject to lice infestationsNot prone to blowfly strike.Not in need of tail docking.
There's a couple in this county who raise Alpacas. I see the Alpacas sometimes when I go up across the state line because I drive by their place. Everything I have ever heard about them has been positive. I think the folks that raise them use their wool to earn a little extra income. They seem perfect for your set up there.
ReplyDeleteAre there no predators you have to worry about there? Alpacas would be easy prey for a pack of small predators or a big one. I don't know much about the animals in your area.
Harry - Apparently there are too okay on our area, but we have never seen them. Given the number of dogs in the vicinity, I don't know if they are a threat...
DeleteBut the paddock is right outside our bedroom window, so if there was a middle of the night fracas, I reckon RMan would be able to get there pretty speedily. Apparently alpacas made a serious noise if they are under threat.
Ruddy predictive text - I wrote "two rooikat in our area..."
DeleteThat Kris has a most adorable face. I could kiss it. If I were so inclined to going around kissing alpacas!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new additions. They are lovely! Can't wait to see the young one.
Kris - Thanks.
DeleteYeah - dunno if I'd want to kiss Kris' face - riled alpaca's spit (mainly at other alpaca's - and that spit sometimes includes stomach acid...
Kris' coat is in a better condition, because Miranda has been breeding for the past 5 years - takes it's toll on the condition of her coat, as most of the goodness she eats rather goes to the cria than to improving her fur.
Oh.
ReplyDeleteMy.
Gosh.
How adorable!!!! What an exciting time for you. I just sat here and told 2nd Man that someday, we just might just have to have a couple ourselves. We have wanted to have some farm animals once we are at that point in farm development and everything I've read about cows, pigs, etc was just countered by what you wrote. They sound like easy going animals to have. Awesome information, can't wait to follow along. Welcome Miranda and Kris (and baby to be)!
L.
DeleteO.
L.
They are, aren't they :)
There are currently over 53 000 alpaca's in the USA - google and see if you can find a breeder near you, and why not pay them a visit - to whet your appetite... :)
Oh, they would have me at hello, I have NO DOUBT, ha. I AM going to google them though and see if there are some around here. For reference of course, ha.
Delete1st Man - I think you mean Hmmmmlo - their humming is magical :)
DeleteI figured, from your clues, that it was llamas or alpacas! Yay. Looks like they've got a good home there now. You'll be having a heard and selling fleece before you know it. Good job, you two. Looking forward to many more updates. :-D
ReplyDeletedoggone auto-correct -- 'HERD' not heard, you blinking computer!
DeleteKris - Clever girl :)
DeleteHa... Dino also guessed Alpaca's and we've been waiting with baited breath!! So amazing Dani, I've been passionate about these adorable creatures ever since I came across them and have always wanted some! I spent a day, a couple of years ago, with some ladies who taught me how to spin on a spinning wheel... I LOVED it, such fun and not easy to master initially but you get the hang of it after a few hours. More reasons to move to Rietkuil... Alpaca's, spinning and knitting! Congratulation on your new family members, they are too beautiful!! xxx
ReplyDeleteClever Dino :) Was it the "fringe" that gave it away...?
DeleteThey, seriousy, are the most amazing creatures - I can't find the words to express exactly what I want to say, so will have to leave it at that.
Yeah, Rae, I'm trying EVERYTHING I can to get you guys to move LOL And now I aslo NEED you to teach me how to spin, if I ever find a spindle...
How is it going, or not, with the sale of your farm?
How cute are they! Do they spit? or is that a yak. are you keeping them for wool?
ReplyDeleteSol - Welcome and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
ReplyDeleteYeah - they do spit, but only at each other" as far as I know.
Their wool is incredible - warmer even than lambs wool or cashmere, and they are an excellent investment :)
Alpacas! What an excellent choice, well done! I'm so excited for you. I would love to have some alpacas. I really enjoyed having a llama and still miss him. Also glad to read you're going to learn to spin. :)
ReplyDeleteLeigh - LOL
DeleteWhy do you not have your Llama anymore? Yeah, spinning, still need to find the spindle...
Just came by to see how the Alpacas were working out. I hope they are still doing well and cruising along trouble free!
ReplyDeleteHarry - They're doing great - thanks for asking :)
DeleteAm snowed under with work at the mo' - so can't post an update until I have a gap...
I LOVE ALPACAS! My most favorite fact about them is about their birthing situation - always during a window of time in the middle of the day. I like that. The more I get to know about alpacas, the more I adore them. I have always thought that when I get my land, I will have three females for fiber and fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you guys!! They are beautiful!
Lindsey - Thank you.
DeleteYeah, we have been told that they normally birth in the morning, and mostly in Spring - so that the baby cria has chance to gain a coat before winter... :)
Seriously, they are the cutest animals :)
So exciting!! I have alpacas on my list and have tagged a 'yet to fully fenced' paddock for them. Last year we went to a local alpaca breeding farm on National Alpaca Day (yes, you read that right). It was fascinating to learn all about them and since then they've been on my medium term plan. Can't wait! A lot of people in our area have them and I get so excited whenever we drive past a paddock with alpacas. So I'm thrilled for you Dani
ReplyDeleteEB - A National Apaca Day - brilliant :)
DeleteThank you - yeah, they have given us so much enjoyment already - they are the first thing that RMan looks at in the morning, and the last thing he peers at at night before he goes to bed... (I can go to bed with cream slathered all over my face now, he doesn't see a thing LOLOLOL)