Southern Alpacas News

Greys are hard to breed for, and our new stud booklet gives you some hints on maximising your chances. Pictured is new roan grey stud Finchdene Fantastic. Elizabeth Paul's seminar will also be helpful for breeding this elusive colour - avoiding its fatal gene and the likelihood of a blue-eyed white cria.

Grey on grey reduces the chance of live birth success, due to a fatal gene, creating higher foetal re-absorption, and higher incidence of re-mate. However grey with solid black, solid brown or solid fawn, gives the same birthing chance of grey cria as grey on grey matings.

If you have a grey female, you can use a solid coloured male, without any white on it, and have a 50% chance of getting a grey cria. And a grey male across a solid coloured female - not white - and with no white on it, will also give a 50% chance of a grey cria.

Our popular neo-natal birthing courses continue. We have 2 one day workshops scheduled in Christchurch on Saturday 10 September (fully booked) and Sunday 11 September, which has a few spaces left. Contact us to book your place. We aim to have some more northern ones in summer.

Across herd Genetic Evaluation, or AGE. Nic is one of the trainers, and the next Christchurch workshop is 27th August, in Rangiora. Come along and find out how to fill in those AGE forms, to benefit your herd.

Colour Genetics is the topic for our workshop in October on Sunday 9th. Specialist genetic researcher Elizabeth Paul from Australia is presenting a day seminar in our Alpaca Gallery. Bookings essential, with priority given to our clients.

Jardines are the newest alpaca insurer in the marketplace. As experienced livestock insurers, Jardines have taken over from Risk Solutions and extended their insurance to alpacas. Changes that will appeal to breeders:

1. Premium rate of 4% of the animal's value
2. No vet certificate is required if the alpaca is valued at less than $25,000
3. Cria may be insured from one month of age at an additional 1% premium

Alpacas normally require an 8% crude protein diet, which they more than acheive from NZ grass paddocks. In late pregnancy female alpacas need 12- 15%. Winter feed conditions may mean your alpacas are looking for that extra supplementation.

We use McMillan's lactating chaff for any alpacas who are light in weight or low in body score. With McMillans now being a part of CRT, their products are more widely available, including in the North Island.