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AONewsNewsPublished by the members of Alpaca Ontario Volume 8 . Issue 2 . September 2010

Alpaca Fabrics...pg5 Fiber Herd Viability...pg6 Habitat for Alpacas 2010...pg12

MembersDirectory

Page 12

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A message from the President

Alpaca Ontario represents the collective interests of Alpaca Owners and Breeders in Ontario to actively promote the awareness of the Alpaca and related fibre industry, encourage through education the highest quality Alpaca husbandry and breeding practices, and foster interaction among its members.

What’s InsidePresident’s Message 2

The Show That Keeps on Growing 3

Create Alpaca Fabrics: Woven & Felted 5

Alpaca Fibre Herd Viability 6

Alpaca Ontario Fibre Initiative 7

Alpaca Ontario Invests in Training 8

Making a Choice 10

Members Directory 12

Habitat for Alpacas 2010 17

On Anthropomorphism 20

AO Marketplace 21

Events Listing 27

Cover photo by Dawn Campbell, Twoloom Alpacas

These are truly exciting times to be a member of Alpaca Ontario. Not only are we forging ahead developing a fibre initiative that will in the long run benefit every Canadian breeder, but our education sessions are becoming more relevant and important to provide our members with the best knowledge and tools to implement this information.

The July 16/17, 2010 weekend saw 22 of us, members and your Board of Directors alike, in a room together brain-storming on how the fibre initiative will help us elevate our own alpaca industry to the next level. Larry Martin from the George Morris Centre made sure that we stayed on track while laying out Alpaca Ontario’s vision for our industry, defining a concrete goal that is in all our interests and a limited number of means through which this goal can be achieved. Dawn Campbell did a wonderful job of organizing the weekend and will elaborate in greater detail inside this newsletter.

This brings me to the education aspect of what we do. Knowledge and information are constantly evolving and improving and so must we, the breeders of alpacas and producers of incredible fibre products. Every year we strive to offer topics for our established members as well as brand-new farmers. This year will be especially important to attend as Dr. Brett Kaysen will return to teach us more about the improvements we can all implement on our own farm through genetic herd

evaluations. Dr. Pat Long is looking forward to sharing his knowledge with us. Dr. Long will structure his lessons in a way that we can all learn from him. Please check out biographies and further details online at www.alpacaontario.ca.

During the Sunday morning we are offering a break-out session with Jill MacLeod who will be telling us about fibre, our fibre. This session will be on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is very limited. Our second annual fleece competition will be judged by Jill MacLeod, an established judge who has been in the alpaca business for quite some time. Once again this competition will be organized by Stacey Davis who works hard at displaying and promoting all aspects of alpaca fibre.

Your Board of Directors as well as our different committees work hard to further our industry and to develop new incentives and opportunities for us all, the members. Dawn said it very well before and therefore I will repeat it here now: The success or failure of our industry rests with all alpaca breeders both in Ontario and in Canada. This is not a spectator sport; there are no bleachers or sidelines. It will take everyone’s participation to make this successful. I look forward to seeing you at the shows and at the education weekend in Peterborough.

Trixi LloydDatrix Alpacasdatrixalpacas@gmail.com

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The Show That Keeps on Growing!

Once again Ontario hosted the largest alpaca show in the country. The Alpaca Ontario Spring Show 2010 took place on April 10th and 11th, in Orangeville, Ontario. This event just keeps getting bigger and better with each passing year. We topped the charts at 375 alpacas this year from 75 farms. Seven provinces and one territory were represented, including farms all the way from the Northwest Territories and British Columbia.

The Show Steering Committee has been hard at work since last November getting all the details in order for this year’s show and it has really paid off. Many of the committee members and their families were at the fairgrounds on the Thursday prior to the show getting the ball rolling. There were last minute details to take care of, displays to set up and the first round of animals arriving from out of town.

Orangeville Agricultural Society has recently added a cover-all barn to their facility to double the housing space for the alpacas. The new barn was bright and clean and a terrific addition to the show venue. With the added space we avoided any crowding and allowed for farm showcases back in the barn area alongside the alpacas. The showcases had many visitors over the 2 days and were a valuable addition to our quest for public awareness and promotion of our

Canadian herd. The large screen and PA system located in the rear barn allowed for breeders and visitors to keep tabs on show progress while checking on the animals.

Friday’s check-in of show animals ran beautifully under the guiding eye of Chief Ring Steward, Nikki Sue Flannigan. With lots of volunteers out for the day there were helpers where needed and wait times were cut back for those travel weary alpacas and their owners. With everyone almost settled in by 6:30, Dr. Nancy Carr ran a brief handler’s clinic in the show ring – the do’s and do not’s of showing – truly important tips for anyone about to enter into the world of showing for the first time, and a good reminder for those who have been around a while.

A very well attended Annual General Meeting was held at 7:00 in the conference room at the Fairgrounds. It was great to see so many faces out this year, from founding members to new members of the association. Dawn Campbell walked us through Alpaca Ontario over the years and updated us on recent accomplishments. Guest speaker Nicole Marenick from the George Morris Centre shared with us some of her findings on the Canadian fibre market and where it is headed. Reminding us to work together to push the industry forward was the key point of the evening.

This year’s election saw a shift in President. Thank you to Dawn Campbell, finishing her 2 year term as the head of the association. Dawn has brought AO a long way in 2 short years and will continue to assist our board over the next 12 months. Her dedication to the Board has been greatly appreciated. Trixi Lloyd has stepped into Dawn’s shoes and plans to continue growing and improving the association with the assistance of the Directors and our various committees.

The barns were hives of activity bright and early on a very chilly Saturday morning. Fresh and nervous faces bustled about and there was an air of anticipation with a little good natured competition thrown in for good measure. There is no show crowd quite as supportive as an alpaca crowd. After breaking the ice off the water buckets it was time to head for the ring.

Our 2010 Judges were Mike Safley and Diana Timmerman. Mr. Safley comes to us from Oregon and judged the male huacaya and suri classes. Ms. Timmerman, from Colorado, judged the female huacayas and the showmanship classes. After a brief handler’s meeting with both judges in the arena, judging commenced simultaneously in two rings. Both judges kept the show flowing well with the help of their ring stewards and gate stewards over the course of the 2 days. Judge’s comments after each class helped to let handlers and spectators know what they were looking for in the ring, and what traits they most appreciated in the animals they were

by Stacey Davis

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judging. The large screen display raised ringside above the spectator stands was a wonderful addition this year. Tracking the progress of the show was made easy for family and friends.

Showmanship being popular with the youth of the industry prompted the addition of an Obstacle Class this year. Intending to imitate objects and situations the alpacas may encounter on or off the farm, obstacles were constructed by a team of youth volunteers. Leading their alpacas through a course of 9 obstacles the youth were judged on their leading abilities, as well as the team work between animal and handler. Judge Diana Timmerman gave each handler a chance to say what they enjoyed most about the course and what they thought they should work on.

This year saw a terrific increase in youth volunteers at the show. Our youth are our future and to see their interest in this business is very encouraging. Many stepped in close to the wire to fill empty slots. There were assistant ring stewards, gate assistants, ticket sellers, and a volunteer handlers pool to act as an extra set of hands showing alpacas in the ring. They worked tirelessly and competently in all their respective areas and it was greatly appreciated by all.

The canteen and lunch counter this year were run by the Maitland District RoVents - a combined unit of Rovers and Venturers, aged 15 to 26, from a local Scout troop toiled to keep a large crowd fed and happy. Under the guidance of their advisor, a great fundraising opportunity was provided for their troop. Alpaca Ontario was happy to be able to give back to the community that allows us to continue to host our show in their backyard each Spring.

The Fibre Fantasy area was well visited over the weekend. The results of the 2010 Mary-Ann English Alpaca Ontario Spin-off Competition were displayed. A total of 74 entries were sent out to 7 spinners this year to be worked into some beautiful hand-spun skeins. A collection of 30 entries to the Fibre Arts Competition were judged on the Friday before the halter show. All items were available for public viewing and voting for the People’s Choice Awards. The entries get more inventive and professional every year – I can’t wait to see what next year may bring.

The Nottawasaga Spinners and Weavers Guild were in attendance all weekend demonstrating their skills in knitting, weaving, and hand spinning. Once a dying art form, fibre arts have taken a turn and become extremely popular again as people learn more about the ecological benefits of natural fibres. Many had questions for our talented Guild members and took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to sit and watch them work.

Vendors from all areas of Ontario filled the Exhibition Hall with their wares. The display of alpaca products for sale was impressive. The Canadian Fibre Industry seems to be making its move from cottage-craft to high class. Many took advantage of these unique products available over the weekend and had some fun browsing and shopping. From full sized household rugs, to equipment and supplies, to clothing and accessories, there was something for everyone.

Very popular once again were the free seminars offered in the corner of the Exhibition Hall. Many attended to listen and learn more about the suri and huacaya alpacas they had come to see at the show. Alpaca 101, Focus on Fibre and Getting Started aimed to cover the basics and induced many questions for our knowledgeable speakers to address. What a great introduction to the wonderful world of alpaca for those in attendance.

Congratulations go out to our top spot winners of the weekend. The 2010 Alpaca Ontario Best in Show Suri was KA Warren owned by Arden Jenkins of Koksilah Acres-Graycott Alpacas of Cobbe Hill, British Columbia. 2010 Best in Show Huacaya went to High Plains Super Sambrarro, co-owned by Rick and Evelyn Derksen of High Plains Alpacas in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Elisabeth Fortin and Luc Pinet of AlpacAdore, of St. Chrysostome, Quebec. To take home these prestigious awards from a show of this size is quite an accomplishment. We look forward to seeing what your breeding programs will bring us in the future.

I had a virtual back-stage pass to the show this year as I held a position on the Show Steering Committee. It has been a learning experience to say the least. The amount of leg work that goes into a show of this size is really rather daunting

once you have seen the big picture. Many hours on the telephone, many inquiries, lots of discussion, lots of emails, number crunching, program building, and the list goes on. What makes all the difference is having a terrific committee of dedicated members. “Many hands make light work” is a saying that has crossed my mind more than a few times in the last 6 months. I have been privileged to be a part of that team this year, and I encourage you to find your niche and do the same. Get out there and volunteer, because after all this is your association and …The Show Must Go On!

Thank you to all of this year’s show sponsors and supporters. It is a pleasure to bring you a top notch show when it is so greatly appreciated. Thanks to all of our 2010 volunteers and committees for all of your hard work and dedication – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Hope to see you out April 9th and 10th 2011, at the Orangeville Fairgrounds as Alpaca Ontario celebrates our 10th Anniversary.

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Create Alpaca Fabrics: Woven and Felted

by Wade Gease

Since first acquiring alpacas I have looked at their fleece as that year’s treasure. I find that many of us alpaca enthusiasts have an inner drive to create, tinker, and explore options with alpaca fiber. I’ve seen everything from stuffed pet toys and bird nesting balls up to high end fabrics. All of these products can help push our industry into spot lights that most consumers have not seen us in before. This can open up countless new marketing opportunities for us as breeders and entrepreneurs. My current personal ambition is to work with developing alpaca fabrics and felt. It will be our industries highlight when we can show how versatile alpaca fiber can be. We need to show how this natural fiber can be positively manipulated into items that we can either walk on or wrap around us on an evening out.

Natural fibers have many positive properties over synthetics. The best quality is simply that it is not a petroleum based product. Alpaca fabrics are not commonly seen in North America. That is because there are few worsted mills that have experience making fabric from alpaca. It is also an expensive order. Over the past three years Exotic Fibers of Canada has worked with me and others in making some blends of alpaca with rayon bamboo. Rayon bamboo is a fine, lustrous filament that is about 19 microns and blends well with alpaca. Bamboo has good name recognition with consumers. Other rayon items that I’ve heard blend well with alpaca are Tensil, SeaSilk, and Silk. Rayon is simply the classification of an item derived from a cellulose product (plants). My suggestions for blending percentages are yarns 10-20% & fabrics 15-20%. Also, take advice of the millwright you are working with at your mill. They may have not worked with an item you wish to blend with but they certainly know what blending does.

Blending is a logical choice for alpaca fiber. It may be your way to extend the quantity you have by blending 15-20% of another medium into your batch. These

percentages don’t affect the wonderful feel or thermal benefits alpaca can give a product. It is also a way of making your total selected batch more uniform. Blending with something that is known to be a

constant will help dilute variations you may have in your fleece selection. You will limit migration and weakness in your fabric by selecting similar microns and lengths. This is where “sorting” is of utmost importance and why it is one of the hotter clinics alpaca breeders are embracing. Sorting is the process of separating out fleece micron ranges,

lengths and color. One fleece may be sorted into possibly half dozen categories.

I am working on the idea that the lower the micron (ex. Grade 1) the higher percent of blending (30%) should be used. Fine fibers are soft, but are more likely to pill and fray. Typically you do not affect the properties of the natural fiber being used until you reach about 30%.

Both fabric runs that I experimented with were about 20% blends of Bamboo with 80% Alpaca. The first run was processed at Exotic Fibers of Canada. They have a minimum of 120+lbs/run. I sorted my mature herd and combined my most common variables together. The commonality for me to get 100+lbs was to use all colors that came to a micron range of 25-28 and were over 3 inches. I experimented with different percentages of colors to get a rose gray. 30% White, 15%beige,20% fawn,25% brown, 10% black. Then 20% of white bamboo was added which tilted the mix towards a lighter shade. I think the percentages are pretty forgiving if you are interested in trying. The price is about $50 US/yard fabric. You end up with 95-100 yards. You will need to make a sought-after product that commands a valued price to offset its expense to make woven material. The fabric came back beautiful and I do sell a few yards here and there. I have hired a seamstress to make a few pieces for our store. It is a long term inventory item that will pay for itself over time.

The second fiber run was with 22 micron and under fibers that were separated, white and fawn. My ears picked up a

source that Sheppard’s Mill, Kansas started weaving some fabrics made from alpaca. They run their own mini mill but unfortunately they are not currently taking orders for woven items right now. I was able to pick out an interesting wave pattern that gave the cloth a texture depth that is quite attractive. Of course with the lower micron range enables me to use the fabric for scarves and wraps.

I see felting becoming a fun fetish among alpaca breeders. It is an empowering feeling when you can create right from your own ranch. There are many techniques to felting but all you need is a little water, a bit of detergent and agitation. There is an infinite range of items that can be made with felt. I have used high micron fleeces for mats, artwork, slippers & rugs. Finer fleeces can be used in countless applications as if it were a thicker fabric. I prefer wet felting over the dry felting because I am able to “harden” the felt fabric during the felting process. Hardening shocks the fleece fibers together and really solidifies the felt sheet. Dry felts are basically machine needle felted over and over until it holds together. I like the soft handle but they stretch out too easily for many of the products that I want to make. I also find that it sheds a bit more than wet felts. I have engineered The Alpaca Wet Felter for individual farm use. I am able to sell the machines per order. You can view more information on felt products and The Alpaca Wet Felter at www.AlpacaThreads.com or www.LondonDairyAlpacas.com .

There aren’t many things that I have done that overnight have become a success. It is just when you think you’d like to throw in the towel that just a bit more effort pushes you past the failure point to greater achievement. My advice is to think how you can make a usable item that is of high quality and then branch off from there.

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Alpaca Fiber Herd ViabilityOnce upon a time, not that long ago,alpaca breeders focused on increasing their herds, breeding up and selling seed stock. New people came into the alpaca industry for promises of a country life, a simpler life, and a laid back lifestyle leaving corporate America behind. A small percentage of alpaca owners decided long ago that the fiber was the reason behind raising these lovely creatures, not quick profits or a certain lifestyle; and a cottage fiber industry was born. Amazing products came to market in the form of wonderful yarns, socks, blankets, felted items and more. As the US reaches almost 200,000 alpacas today coast to coast, the possibility of a commercial industry comes more into focus and viability of fiber herds is on the mind of enterprising individuals looking for a commercial fiber or textile industry.

Most alpaca breeders across the US have small herds numbering less than 20 and the alpacas are treated more as pets then livestock. In order for a fiber herd to be viable, emotions must shift from family pets to livestock herds, much the way cattle, goats and sheep are raised today. In order to run an effective fiber herd enterprise several hundred alpacas must be raised and expenses minimized in order for profits to be realized.

Location in the viability of a fiber herd is a huge decision and there are certain areas of the country that will not be conducive to profitability. For example, in the Northeastern US, Meningeal Worm is a genuine concern for the health of alpacas. Until a viable vaccine is developed or somehow else Meningeal Worm is eradicated, the cost of treating alpacas monthly with Ivomec is costly and cost prohibitive for fiber herd viability. With the cost of medicine, syringe, needles at the rate of 1cc/50 pounds, each animal will cost approx $1.50 per month. For a herd

of 500 alpacas, that is $750 per month and that is before labor is even taken into account to round up the animals, dose them and let them back out to graze. In terms of location, other costs must be also evaluated.

Feeding hay on a dry lot farm will be a deterrent to profitability. Large pastureland like those enjoyed by cattle or goat/sheep breeders will need to be obtained in order to keep feed costs down. Minerals will need to be kept as an expense, but grain supplementation is probably something that needs to be carefully evaluated against the

bottom line. Adequate grazing areas with appropriate load rates of 5 – 7 alpacas per acre will need to be utilized not only for pasture preservation purposes but as well as parasite management.

While capital expenses such as land and animal acquisition need to be taken into account, it is the day-to-day expenses that really need to be managed in order for profitability to be realized. While researching livestock, I found countless articles on the science behind milk production in cattle based on certain feed rations etc. There is a science behind end product production and cost of input. Since fiber is the end product, more research needs to be done by what feed is optimal in a fiber herd in order to increase output and quality. Of course most would argue that fiber yield or quality is solely based on genetics, there is a degree of change that can be brought about by nutrition and management.

Other expenses to consider are cost of labor, electricity, water, property taxes and insurance. These will vary drastically on a number of factors such as location, family/purchased land, and are beyond the scope of this article. Expenses such as shearing and vet bills also need to be managed. Shearing of alpacas today is a minimum of $25 per head. Sheep breeders enjoy a cost of $6 per head. Many would say this is due to the fact that sheep are easier

by Rose Mogerman

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to shear and the lanolin in their coats prevents blades from becoming dull as quickly as happens with alpacas. Others would argue that it is because shearers charge alpaca people more because of the cost of the animals. In either event, costs must be controlled and it would be prudent for the fiber herd owner to become proficient in this skill him/herself or have labor on staff that is proficient. Vet bills need to be carefully managed as well. Most alpaca breeders today go to extraordinary measures to keep healthy or even save the life of an alpaca. Some breeders even go so far as prosthetic devices, chemotherapy, extended hospital stays and more. In the future of the fiber herd, the harsh reality is going to be that the strong will survive and there will be a percentage of the herd lost each year.

Markets must be sought after to sell raw fiber to immediately upon shearing, so that the fiber producer concentrates on producing fiber and not marketing or advertising a finished product. In the absence of this, the fiber herd owner needs to be able to skirt, sort, grade and process his/her fiber and either needs to work with a mill or own a mill in order to process the fiber. Costs such labor for sorting, production, shipping, marketing and advertising also need to be taken into account.

The largest shift in building a fiber herd rather than a breeding herd as most farms exist today is in attitude and emotion; daily interaction and alpacas as extended family will be replaced by profitability and expense management of a true livestock model. There will always be small farms who continue to interact daily with the herd and have a lifestyle in which the alpacas are a daily part, these farm models will remain part of the cottage industry and the commercial industry will shift to the larger fiber herds across the country.

About the Author

Rose Mogerman and her husband Joe Benford own and operate Alma Park Alpacas in NJ since 2002 and raise a herd of over 120 alpacas. In addition to alpacas, they have a commercial yarn store both on-line and on site. Rose lectures on making great yarn, herd health and business topic. She also teaches knitting, spinning, felting and dyeing.

She can be reached at rose@almapark.com or on the web at www.AlmaPark.com

photo by Wade Gease

In March of 2009 the Alpaca Ontario board of directors decided to look at the feasibility of creating a viable fibre industry in the province. Using the report on the Alpaca industry commissioned by Alpaca Canada, the board of directors met with the George Morris Centre in October to discuss creating a fibre industry on a provincial level at the same time aiming for a national and/or North American level fibre industry. The George Morris Centre thought that it was possible and agreed to help.

In March of 2010 the George Morris Centre put together a small survey which was open to all Alpaca Ontario members. The survey was designed to see if there had been any significant changes in the industry since the Alpaca Canada report. The results of the survey where presented at the Alpaca Ontario AGM in April.

Once again the Alpaca Ontario board of directors met with the George Morris Centre to determine what our next steps should be. Two days in July were booked for a strategic planning session. Alpaca Ontario was to provide 12 - 15 people from different areas of the supply chain and from different backgrounds to attend the meeting. The response from the membership was fantastic and we ended up with 19 people each day. At the end of the 2 days we had come up with a vision statement, a mission statement, and four strategic intents from which we can form an action plan.

Our biggest disparities happen between the producers and the mills and there seems to be no easy solution. What the mills are willing to pay for fibre, on a commercial level, is quite a bit lower than what the producers are able to sell the fibre for, promoting a strong cottage industry. The producer currently makes money on fibre by processing the fibre themselves and selling it as end product. The producer controls all aspects of the value chain and has to both have many skills and wear many hats. Those producers that do not wish to process their fibre are typically storing it for a lack of locations to sell it at what they would consider a reasonable

price. The mills are unable to get enough usable fibre to produce anything large enough to feed a commercial process.

Part of the problem is due to a lack of a comprehensive livestock model and part is due to lack of fibre knowledge at the producer level. Alpaca Ontario’s intent is to work with a consultant to come up with a working livestock model so that everyone from the breeder to the commercial fibre producer can make money and to train producers in regards to fibre.

If we collectively can implement the grading system for optimal fibre production and both train on production, grading, and marketing of Alpaca fibre and participate in that training then we will be much more capable of providing quality fibre to a manufacturing process. An efficient collection and distribution system will get the fibre to those that need it.

We do not want to compete with wool nor should we given the better qualities of alpaca fibre. A VQA-like label to differentiate Canadian grown alpaca will help to demonstrate the superior quality of our fibre over the “cheap” Peruvian imports currently being sold in stores and through online retailers fronting stores on auction sites like eBay. A feasibility study will need to be done to determine what product or products can be associated with the brand.

There is still a great deal of work to be done but given the support from within the Alpaca industry and the ability of many to work together towards a common goal I feel we will reach our goal of a sustainable fibre industry.

Dawn CampbellChair, Fibre Initiative

A Report on theAlpaca Ontario Fibre Initiative

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Alpaca Ontario Invests in Camelid Training at the Ontario Veterinary College

1Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

2Private practitioner and Small Ruminant Veterinarians of Ontario Executive

3Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs and Small Ruminant Veterinarians of Ontario Executive

As the camelid industry grows in Canada, new llama and alpaca owners often struggle to find a local veterinarian who can provide preventative health care and emergency service to their animals. Camelids have not historically been a species that is taught extensively in veterinary programs. One year ago, the wheels were set in motion to change this. The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) was fortunate enough to receive a generous donation from Alpaca Ontario. The donation was the result of the very dedicated and enthusiastic membership of alpaca owners that make up this organization. Alpaca Ontario fundraised through various events such as silent auctions, and presented the OVC with their donation at the banquet dinner of the 2009 Annual Alpaca Ontario Show in Orangeville, Ontario. This donation was for the advancement of veterinary care of alpacas in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and for teaching about alpacas in the veterinary program at the Ontario Veterinary College. This donation was a very proactive effort by the industry to ultimately increase the number of practitioners in Ontario that would be knowledgeable and skilled in caring for alpacas.

Large Animal Medicine and Surgery clinicians at the OVC brainstormed possible ways to utilize the donated funds, searching for ideas that would optimize the long-term impact of this investment by Alpaca Ontario. After careful consideration

of several options, it was ultimately decided that intensive personnel training from a guest speaker would benefit the greatest number of individuals at the College. This knowledge could then be passed on to future undergraduate veterinary students in the years to come.

With this goal in mind, the OVC was very fortunate to be able to recruit Dr. Christopher Cebra to deliver a 3-day series of seminars on camelids at the College from February 23-25, 2010. Dr. Cebra, a professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Oregon State University, is recognized internationally as a camelid specialist. Dr. Cebra has worked with camelids for almost twenty years. He has published extensively on camelid medicine and surgery topics and has been involved in numerous research projects to advance our understanding of camelid diseases, including many of the common disorders we encounter such as Eimeria macusaniensis, Coronavirus, and Eperythrozoonosis (Mycoplasma haemolama).

The itinerary of Dr. Cebra’s visit was designed to engage as many different groups as possible. His visit started with a lunchtime talk to the undergraduate veterinary students on the basics of camelids, the industry, and essential tips to working with llamas and alpacas. For many veterinary students, this was their first

exposure to llamas and alpacas, and the practical information helped demystify these unique creatures. Other broad topics covered early on in Dr. Cebra’s visit included the physical examination of camelid patients, appropriate animal restraint, sites and methods to obtain diagnostic samples, and common disorders seen in camelids.

As the week progressed, seminar topics became more focused: Dr. Cebra spent a morning session with surgeons, residents and interns reviewing common surgical techniques in camelids. He also gave in-depth presentations on

intensive care of the critical cria, metabolic disorders in camelids, and various medical conditions to the internists. Dr. Angelika Schoster, currently in her second year of a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) program at the OVC, described the event as “a rare opportunity to interact with a world-renowned specialist in the field of New World Camelid Medicine. The lectures were well rounded and very informative, and an extremely valuable addition to the education already offered at the University of Guelph.”

Between presentations, Dr. Cebra very willingly volunteered to give some hands-on training to OVC personnel as well. This included ultrasound imaging of the abdomen of camelids, and tips to intravenous catheter placement.

Over the course of the 3 days,

Joanne Hewson1, DVM, PhD, DACVIMAshley E. Whitehead1, BSc, DVMJulia Hodgins2, DVMJocelyn Jansen3, DVM, DVSc

Image 1: Dr. Christopher Cebra presented a wide variety of semi-nars on camelid topics over the 3-day workshop.

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Dr. Cebra’s wealth of experience and knowledge of camelids was shared with an estimated 60 – 80 people at the OVC. Clinicians, residents, interns, veterinary technicians, undergraduate students, as well as specialists in other areas (clinical pathology, parasitology, theriogenology) participated in the event. A session on preventative health care covered topics such as parasites, vaccinations, and disease transmission between species. This session was developed so that OVC clinicians could also be equipped to assist private practitioners as they provide primary care to llamas and alpacas in this growing industry.

On the final day, Dr. Cebra delivered a second presentation to the veterinary students: “CSI Camelids: Case discussions of common disorders in llamas and

alpacas”. This was an effective way to reinforce all the learning from the week in trying to solve several case presentations of sick camelids.

The 3-day workshop culminated in a continuing education evening for private practitioners, organized in collaboration with the Small Ruminant Veterinarians of Ontario (SRVO). This evening combined lectures by Dr. Cebra on herd health recommendations, with Dr. Natalia Santos of the OVC on reproductive management of camelids. The evening was well attended, with 46 SRVO members in attendance. Comments by veterinarians following the meeting were extremely positive. The knowledge gained from the meeting will help private practitioners to better serve their camelid clients.

Overall, the 3-day workshop was a great experience for everyone that could attend. The collective knowledge of the people at OVC about llamas and alpacas flourished, and everyone from the curious to the specialist benefited from Dr. Cebra’s visit. This unique continuing education opportunity would not have been possible without the enthusiastic and proactive alpaca owners that made it a reality by their fundraising activities and their generosity. Perhaps the most

valuable outcome of their donation, though, was the unified vision adopted by the Ontario Veterinary College, the Small Ruminant Veterinarians of Ontario, Alpaca Ontario and the alpaca industry to work together to grow our skills and collective knowledge in caring for camelids to our best ability.

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It seems as if every llama/alpaca owner you meet has a different opinion about how to manage their animals and how to train them. Some of the opinions are quite contradictory. Some people are horrified at methods other people endorse. Your animals have barely settled into their new home, and you hear about four different ways of trimming toenails. Each proponent swears his method of trimming is the best. How do you know which one to pick? Some methods are very similar to each other; other techniques are fundamentally different. Imprinting, Clicker training, TTEAM, Dominance Training. Is it okay to mix and match? If you are confused, how will your llama or alpaca feel? If a method doesn’t feel right should you still use it because someone with a book or video tells you to? Just because a method works should you do it? How do you handle the llama or alpaca that presents behavior that isn’t in the book or wasn’t covered at the clinic? Can you be creative in your approach? How can you learn to brainstorm new problems and figure out your own techniques?

Creating a “Colander”

These are common questions and problems handlers and owners pose when it comes to training and handling issues. The answers to these questions lie in your ability to create and articulate a philosophy. There are many ways to get from point A to point B. It isn’t a matter of right and wrong. There are lots of ways to work with an animal. Most people who practice and become proficient at a method—regardless of what it is—can

make it work to one degree or another.

Whether or not you are evaluating the latest method for trimming fighting teeth in your local club newsletter or you are deciding whether or not the program for starting babies presented in a book is right for you, you must evaluate the methods based on your own ideas of how things should be done. I suggest using the following set of questions to help you decide whether you will adopt a particular method:

1. Are you personally comfortable with the program?

2. Can you physically implement the program?

3. Is this technique going to enhance or damage the kind of relationship you want with your animal?

4. Do you feel satisfied and proud of how you train your animals?

5. Is it a method you would use or demonstrate in public?

I continue to add, subtract and refine and invent techniques all the time. Like you, when I see a new technique or think of a new idea, I must also decide whether or not to incorporate the method into my training toolbox. Try thinking of it this way: your philosophy is a metaphorical colander just like the one you use for pasta. Any technique I consider using is put into my colander. As long the technique is supported by my colander/philosophy then I add it to my training toolbox. I will incorporate this new technique into what I use to handle and train alpacas and what I teach to my students. Any technique that isn’t in keeping with my philosophy will drain out of the colander like the water off the pasta noodles. You may not know much about llamas or alpacas. Perhaps you haven’t even brought them home. Yet you already have a philosophy. Think about the relationship you want with your animals. Are words like trust, companionship, fun, respect, obedience, safety, friendship, and confidence important to you? If so, those are the words that shape the way you will do things with your animals. These words form your colander. Once you decide what you want and make a commitment to it, you need not worry about conflicting advice. You have lots of choices. You can decide for yourself how things will be on your ranch. Very often the tried and true techniques owners use are not compatible with the results they

hope to get. What your animals think of you or whether they decide to trust you is not dependent on how many hours you can spend in your barn, but rather how you behave while you are there.

Handling versus Training

It is very important to understand and distinguish between handling and training. These two words are frequently used interchangeably but are in fact totally different from one another. Training: Teaching an animal to understand and respond in a consistent manner to a visual, verbal or physical signal. Examples of training would be: teaching your llama or alpaca to lay down on command, fetch, respond to verbal commands, and respond to reins or signals on a lead. Handling is about working with an animal in a way that allows you to accomplish tasks. Examples of handling would be putting on a halter, giving a shot, picking up feet and trimming toenails, or shearing. Training is about the animal learning new skills; handling is about the human learning new skills. I don’t mean to imply that the animal is not learning while you are doing your handling. Every time you are in the presence of an animal—regardless of what you are doing—they are learning very important things. For instance, as you catch them and put the halter on, you would like your animal to learn that you:

1. are safe to be around,

2. know how a halter goes on,

3. know how to fit one safely, and

4. are competent and reasonable.

The animal does not learn how to put the halter on himself; you accomplish that job. There are things we definitely do not want alpacas and llamas to learn as we handle them. We don’t want them to learn that they are stronger, more agile, or that they can out run or out wrestle us. Young llamas and alpacas figure out pretty quickly that humans are very important and have capabilities that they do not. We enter their world as a very powerful presence. Most of the time we do good stuff. We clean up the poop and give out food and water. Until you demonstrate otherwise, your llamas and alpacas will assume that you are the “Great & Powerful Oz”...until you inadvertently let them peak behind the curtain. . When I work with or handle an animal I want to create the impression that I am the Goddess. The all-powerful

Making a Choiceby Marty McGee Bennett

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but understanding being that takes care of everything. I want to use techniques and tools that help to preserve that impression. I refuse to chase or try to outrun a llama or alpaca, and I refuse to wrestle or otherwise try to physically best them. The great and powerful Goddess would never deign to engage in those types of activities. The real truth is that I won’t resort to those tactics because I am inferior in these ways. My animal charges, however, don’t need to know this reality of my limitations. I get many calls and emails from people with the same sad story. They tell me, “My llama or alpaca was so easy and so cooperative until he turned two years old.” It is true that adolescent animals behave like adolescents however this period of time coincides with the attainment of new physical prowess. If you have been “having your way” with your young animals simply because you could make them do your bidding physically, don’t be surprised if they change their minds when they get big enough to beat you at your own game. In my book I focus primarily on handling (i.e. teaching you, the human) for three very important reasons.

1. Being a good handler makes you a better trainer.

2. In the case of camelids you are more than likely out-numbered by your animals. It is more sensible and attainable to teach yourself handling skills rather than training each one.

3. There is very little we actually want our llamas or alpacas to do. Essentially, we want our llamas or alpacas to do one of two things: stand still or move. We want them to stand quietly while we do the things that need doing, and we want them to walk politely on a lead going where we go. None of this requires any self-directed or self-motivated behavior on the part of the animal.

In the beginning of this article I said it is important to understand the difference between handling and training. Now that you do, let me explain why it is so crucial to differentiate between the two. Using training techniques for handling issues will get you into big trouble.

Practice makes _________________?

How would you complete this phrase? I would be willing to bet that the first thing that popped into your mind is “Practice makes perfect.” Many traditional animal training philosophies begin with the premise that animals are creatures of instinct and learn only by repetition. Your animal must have practice. You are instructed to repeat a lesson over and over consistently until your animal student “gets” it. In this way you will eventually condition the animal, and she will behave correctly. Let us apply this logic to the task of haltering. Remember as you read this haltering is a handling issue! You trap your alpaca/llama in the corner and hold her around the neck. The animal throws her weight into your arm so you brace yourself and hold on. Next she throws her head around wildly. The tall llama sticks her head as far away and high in the air as possible. The crazy alpaca

dives low and leaps up very suddenly, catching you in the chin. You have been told that you must not let the l lama/ alpaca win. Show her who is boss and finish

what you start! So you keep chasing that elusive head around until you snare the nose and clip the quick release buckle before your animal student can break

away. Since you didn’t have time to check it, the halter may or may not be comfortable or even safe (lots more on that later in the book). The process took five minutes. You got whacked in the chin; you are madder than a hornet; but you’d

better take that halter off and put it on again three more times like you read in that other book. WAIT. STOP. CONSIDER.

What are you practicing? What skill are you perfecting? It appears as if you will become expert at holding a llama or alpaca, chasing a head around with a halter and, getting hit on the chin and snapping a halter really fast. More to the point: what is your alpaca or llama going to master? What has your llama or alpaca learned about you? Based on my years of camelid observation, animals become better skilled at fighting and avoiding the human. I have met llamas and alpacas that were so effective at escape and evasion they could join the Marines. Animals are halter trained. Humans learn how to put on halters. This explains why so many new buyers think the seller has misrepresented an animal’s training level because they can’t halter the llama or alpaca as easily as the seller. You and your animal student will only perfect a skill if you are practicing what you want to do—not what you don’t want to do. So does practice makes perfect? Not necessarily.

Practice makes permanent.

Be careful what you practice.

I suggest that what you really want to practice is putting a halter on a relaxed animal that is standing quietly. You want to practice teaching an animal to stand in balance with his head still while you buckle and properly adjust the halter. Specifically how this is accomplished is addressed in detail throughout my book. The key point is that your alpaca or llama already knows how to stand still. It is your job to get him to do it. Haltering is a handling issue. If you’re having trouble accomplishing a handling task, you are the one that must learn the new skills.

About the Author

Marty has traveled the world devoting her professional life to the well-being of camelids and the education of their owners. Marty’s ground-breaking work with Linda Tellington-Jones (creator of the TTEAM animal handling concept), combined with the principals of balance and leverage make “Camelidynamics” the world’s most popular and enduring training/handling system for camelids. Her clinics, books, and videos have helped thousands of camelid owners more fully understand, appreciate, and enjoy this magical animal. Marty can be reached at marty@camelidynamics.com

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Members Directory

Alpaca Fibre Co-op of Ontarioc/o Elaine Dobbin5177 Courtright Line, RR#3Oil Springs ON N0N 1P0info@alpacafibreco-op.cawww.alpacafibreco-op.caType of Alpacas: Co-op

Angels Lane AlpacasRandy & Sherry & Michael Whiting4911 Oil Springs Line, RR#3Oil Springs ON N0N 1P0(519) 834-2178sherrys_angels@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Black Ash AcresElaine Dobbin5177 Courtright Line, RR#3Oil Springs ON N0N 1P0(519) 844-2508tdobbin@brktel.on.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Brier Run AlpacasHeather Blanchard & N. McAuslan4336 Eddy’s Mill Line Oil Springs ON N0N 1P0(519) 692-9430edys-brier@hotmail.comwww.alpacascanada.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

OntarioSouthwesternLambton County

Middlesex CountyDavid Kellam333 Connongton St. London ON N6C 4C8(519) 434-9438kellam@rogers.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Spruce Haven Alpaca FarmTracey VanHerpe7757 Irish Drive, RR#1Mount Brydges ON N0L 1W0(519) 264-3268traceyvan@xplornet.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Ziraldo AlpacasDebbie & Carlo Ziraldo21370 Fairview Road, RR#2Thorndale ON N0M 2P0(519) 461-1582zalpacas@xplornet.comwww.zalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Elgin CountyEden Alpaca Farm Inc.Michael & Pamela Innes9793 Somers Road, RR#1Eden ON N0J 1H0(519) 842-1888ebonyineden@eastlink.caType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Gold Star AlpacasRichard & Jerra Anderson12062 Plank Road, RR#6Tillsonburg ON N4G 4G9(519) 866-3790rander6@amtelecom.netwww.goldstaralpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Huron CountyCranbrook Acres AlpacasJohn & Maureen Hengeveld42692 Cranbrook Rd., RR#3Brussels ON N0G 1H0(519) 887-8630jmhengeveld@live.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Softail Lane AlpacasJudith Elder-McCartneyRR#4, 42137 Mill Rd., Seaforth ON N0K 1W0(519) 522-0366judithmc@tcc.on.cawww.jemstudioarts.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Bruce CountyD L FarmsDeidre Graham542 Bruce Road 86, RR#1Lucknow ON N0G 2H0(519) 528-2406dlfarms@hurontel.on.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Grey CountyAndres AlpacasHenry Mengers033201 Drive In Road, RR #1 Hanover ON N4N 3B8(519) 364-4921hamengers@sympatico.cawww.andresalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Heritage Farm AlpacasEd & Dorothy Van Dyke2NCD RR#3Hepworth ON N0H 1P0(519) 935-3060dorothyvandyke@hotmail.comwww.heritagefarmalpacas.webs.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Kickin Back Alpaca RanchDoug & Carolyn Lilleyman734762 West Back Line, RR#7Markdale ON N0C 1H0(519) 986-3758info@kickinbackalpacaranch.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Perth CountyA Brother’s Bond AlpacasReuben & Issac Poot9455 Perth Road 146, RR#2Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3745rcpoot@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Youth

Alpaca AcresAnn Clayburn3979 Road 108, RR#4Stratford ON N5A 6S5(519) 625-1064info@alpacaacres.cawww.alpacaacres.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Leap of Faith AlpacasCarolynne & George RodgersDeb Griffey5128 Line 90, RR#2Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3193deb@leapoffaithalpacas.cawww.leapoffaithalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Perth County AlpacaBusiness CollectiveRR#2 Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3193info@perthalpaca.comwww.perthcounty.comType of Alpacas: Co-op

Pootcorners FarmSuelaine & Peter Poot9455 Road 146, RR#2Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3745smpoot@hotmail.comwww.pootcorners.comType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Providence PasturesMoria Poot9455 Perth Road 146 RR#2Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3745mspoot@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Youth

Shears to YouDeb GriffeyRR#2 Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3193deb@shearstoyou.cawww.shearstoyou.caType of Alpacas: Mill

Sire Power AlpacasDeb GriffeyRR #2 Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3193deb@sirepoweralpacas.comwww.sirepoweralpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

To Be AlpacasTaryn Poot9455 Perth Road 146 RR#2Palmerston ON N0G 2P0(519) 343-3745tbpoot@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Wellington County7th Heaven AlpacasSally Andrade5892 Highway 9, RR#4Harriston ON N0G 1Z0(519) 338-2726sally@7heavenalpacas.cawww.7heavenalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpaca-TrazzDianne Kirk-Benincasa81 Brock Road South, RR#3Guelph ON N1H 6H9(519) 836-6486dianne@alpaca-trazz.cawww.alpaca-trazz.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Oxford CountyDickson Llamas & AlpacasDonna Dickson170 Ingersoll Road, RR#1Woodstock ON N4S 7V6(519) 537-2464dickson@execulink.comwww.imagitek.com/dicksonsType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

R & F AlpacasR & F Hoving-Appeldoorn264142 Prouse Road Mt. Elgin ON N0J 1N0(519) 688-4610hovapp@xplornet.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

SanGrall AlpacasSusan SchumacherMike RossiterRR #4 Bright ON N0J 1B0(519) 632-8761info@sangrall.comwww.sangrall.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Brant, City ofSewell Alpacas FarmBarbara & William Sewell218 Harley Road Harley ON N0E 1E0(519) 424-3854sewellalpacasfarm@execulink.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Starbright AlpacaBob & Lynne CalhounJim Harley & Lisa Calhoun-Harley53 McLean School Road, RR#2St. George ON N0E 1N0(519) 448-3607revcanonlynne@aol.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Tenklooster, Ina & JohnIna & John Tenklooster150 Norwich Road, RR#2Scotland ON N0E 1R0(519) 446-2713inatenklooster@silomail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

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Haldimand, Town ofAlpaca Jak’sDebbie & Doug Meldrum603 Townline Road W., RR#4Cayuga ON N0A 1E0(905) 768-8969alpacajaks@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Erilyn AlpacasLynda & Tom Drever211 Robinson Rd. Dunnville ON N1A 2W1(905) 701-9147erilynalpacas@yahoo.comwww.erilynalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

OntarioGolden HorseshoeNiagara RegionBeneath the Sun AlpacasGenie & Bob Reaume5606 Sixteen Rd., RR#1St. Ann’s ON L0R 1Y0(905) 957-8219genie.reaume@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Canadian Comfort FarmsBob & Leslie Comfort3689 15 Road, RR#1St. Anne’s ON L0S 1Y0(905) 562-4252herdatpineview@aol.comwww.canadiancomfortalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Majestic AlpacasLarry & Mary Johnstone1912 Caistor Gainsboro Townline Rd Smithville ON L0R 2A0(905) 957-0805josash2@yahoo.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Moore House Fine AlpacasCatherine Timms & Kevin Fuller417 Tice Road, RR#1Ridgeville ON L0S 1M0(905) 892-8252alpacas@moorehouse.cawww.moorehouse.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Pelham AlpacasFiona Hunter & Michael Bidochka216 Louth Townline Road St. Catherines ON L2R 6P7(905) 684-9847fiona@pelhamalpacas.cawww.pelhamalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Shorthill AlpacasElizabeth & Chelsey Allen145 Orchard Hill Drive, RR#1Ridgeville ON L0S 1M0(905) 892-5233shorthillalpacas@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Youth

Split Rock Farms AlpacasLynda & Glen Finbow1652 Ridge Road North, RR#2Ridgeway ON L0S 1N0(905) 382-7777Splitrockfarmsbb@aol.comwww.splitrockfarmsbb.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Hamilton, City ofAlpacas From Eighth and MudJohn Docherty & Sharon Trent232 Eighth Road East Stoney Creek ON L8J 3M2(905) 643-0339john@alpacasfromeighthandmud.comwww.alpacasfromeighthandmud.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Green Acres AlpacasHelga Hillyard35 Melissa Cres., Flamborough ON L9H 7C5(905) 689-6050helga@cogeco.cawww.greenacresalpacastore.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Hobo Hill FarmKim Burns145 Glencarry Ave. Hamilton ON L8K 3R7(905) 312-1776Type of Alpacas: Huacaya

Totem FarmHeather MorrisseyBox 86Carlisle ON L0R 1H0(905) 690-9497hmorrissey09@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Halton RegionLynda Watson495 Shannon Cr. Burlington ON L7L 2R9(905) 637-9745linda4@bell.netType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Peel RegionQuarry Hill FarmsDawn Balog14822 Mississauga Road Terra Cotta ON L7C 1W6(905) 838-3963dawn.balog@gmail.comwww.quarryhillfarms.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

York RegionA Moments Grace AlpacasStacey Davis166 Fairwood Dr., Keswick ON L4P 3Y3(905) 476-5650stacey.davis3@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Datrix AlpacasDavid & Trixi Lloyd1 Laurendale Ave. Keswick ON L4P 4A8(905) 656-0308datrixalpacas@gmail.comdatrixalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Isle of Skye RanchAndrew & Kelly MacLeod2388 Baseline Road, RR#2Keswick ON L3P 3E9(905) 806-5700info@isleofskyeranch.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

SerenaVale FarmMark Armer45 Sierra Court Maple ON L6A 2E5(905) 303-0092marka@serenavale.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Toronto, City ofAusangate AlpacasPaul Doris & Jill Jamieson-Doris50 Banmoor Blvd Scarborough ON M1J 2Z2(416) 439-4542jilldoris@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

EugenixSteve & Jennifer Hagey99 Burlington Street Toronto ON M8V 3W1(416) 252-8060info@alpacaeugenix.comwww.alpacaeugenix.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Durham RegionArriba Linea AlpacasJanet JonesBrad FortP.O. Box 146 Zephyr ON L0E 1T0(905) 473-1066janet@arribalinea.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Arriba Linea AlpacasLori Jones & Tom VanhanenBeverley Vanhanen755 Sandford Road Uxbridge ON L0P 1R2(416) 225-8950lori@arribalinea.comwww.arribalinea.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Celestial Casa AlpacasSusan GarrettGreg Precop1900 Brock Road, RR#4Uxbridge ON L9R 1R4(905) 649-8040info@celestialcasaalpacas.comwww.celestialcasaalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Northfork AlpacasIan Fockler & Mary Saindon373 Feasby Road Uxbridge ON L9P 1R1(905) 852-1703imnorthfork@aol.comwww.northforkalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Spinning Wheel AlpacasNancy & Garth Hutchinson1857 Regional Road 3 Enniskillen ON L0B 1J0(905) 263-2098nancy@spinningwheelalpacas.comwww.spinningwheelalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Sunflower Ridge AlpacasTracey Newman & Doug Bartmann14799 Concession 6 Uxbridge ON L9P 1R2(705) 228-8450sunflowerridgealpacas@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Thomark AlpacasDelbert & Mary ThompsonRR #2, Concession 6, B1535 Beaverton ON L0K 1A0(705) 426-7453thomarkalpacas@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

VIP AlpacasPaul & Vivian AikinsS - 503 Durham Road 13 Sunderland ON L0C 1H0(705) 357-3575vp.aikins@sympatico.cawww.vipalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

OntarioCentralDufferin CountyAlpaca CentralJean & Aldo MarascioMargaret & David MacDonald201215 County Rd 109, RR#3Grand Valley ON L0N 1G0(519) 928-2890info@alpacacentral.cawww.alpacacentral.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpaca ParkVictor Brown202 Jull Crt Orangeville ON L9W 4M8(519) 940-4166victor@alpacapark.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Heed Farm AlpacasKai-Liis McInnes836100 4th Line EHS Mulmur RR#3Mansfield ON L0N 1M0(519) 925-0421kai-liis@sympatico.cawww.kai-liis.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Members Directory

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Members DirectoryHidden Hollow AlpacasCarolynne Rodgers5163 Ninth Line Erin ON N0B 1T0(519) 833-7198carolynnerodgers@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Humming HillElspeth & Peter King248082 5th Sideroad, RR#5Orangeville ON L9W 2Z2(519) 940-3014elspeth4445@yahoo.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Lady Slipper AlpacasRandy & Wendy Cross11405 E-W Garafraxa Townline, RR#4Belwood ON N0B 1J0(519) 843-1663wcross@hsfx.caladyslipperalpacas.vpweb.ca/default.htmlType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Paradise PasturesGerry & Debra Terpstra636592 Prince of Wales Road, RR#2Shelburne ON L0N 1S6(519) 925-6235terpstra@bell.netType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Polana RanchJoanna AdamczykPO Box 30 Mansfield ON L0N 1M0(519) 925-6328joannaadamczyk@hotmail.comwww.polanaranch.comType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Simcoe CountyEden ChaseJanet Ward2064 20/21 Side Road, RR#2Shanty Bay ON L0L 2L0(705) 722-3477deward36@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

E’reWindSimone & Bruce Norman4640 9th Line Beeton ON L0G 1A0(705) 458-2995alpacapug@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Lavender House AlpacasLorraine & Andrew Taylor1824 Fairgrounds Road N. P.O. Box 648Stayner ON L0M 1S0(705) 443-8722ladyrowena@xplornet.cawww.lavender-house.netType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Skye & John Orr5731 3rd Line, RR#2Tottenham ON L0G 1W0(905) 936-9497merons@zing-net.caType of Alpacas: None

Muskoka, District ofGateway FibreworksGail Stiver1397 Beiers Road, General Delivery Kilworthy ON P0E 1G0(705) 687-9203gail@gatewayfibreworks.comwww.gatewayfibreworks.comType of Alpacas: Mill

Kawartha Lakes, City ofGrassy Meadow AlpacasStacey Hipwell137 Grassy Road, RR#1Omemee ON K0L 2W0(705) 799-2236gmalpacas@hotmail.comwww.grassymeadowalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Highgate AlpacasJane McKee1515 North Shore Road Haliburton ON K0M 1S0(705) 489-2519highgate@bell.netwww.highgatealpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Salem AlpacasKathleen Holmes & Erma Burkhart363 Salem Road, RR#1Manilla ON K0M 2J0(705) 786-2023info@salemalpacas.comwww.salemalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Peterborough CountyAveregan AlpacasDonna Simmonds1746 Crowley Ave., RR#6Peterborough ON K9J 6X7(705) 750-1732donnacountryacrespetlodge@hotmail.comwww.avereganalpacas.orgType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Bellhaven AlpacasDave & Kathy Bell445 Elgar Drive Millbrook ON L0A 1G0(705) 743-4420kelgeti@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Cedar Ridge Alpaca RanchDenise & James Cole1343 Scollard Drive Peterborough ON K9H 7K2(705) 742-4288jamescole@nexicom.netwww.cedarridgealpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Elmlea FarmLee Resmer & Elmer Buchanan243 Baker Road Havelock ON K0L 1Z0(705) 778-2070elmlea@sympatico.cawww.elmleafarm.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Gentle Glade AlpacasAusma & Mark Clappison859 County Road 40 Norwood ON K0L 2V0(705) 639-1641gentle.glade.alpacas@gmail.comwww.gentlegladealpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Hubbert FarmsKathy McConnell & Larry Hubbert600 Lily Lake Road, RR#2Peterborough ON K9J 6X3(705) 741-6730info@hubbertfarms.cawww.hubbertfarms.caType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Mucklebuck Farm AlpacasTom & Lorry Labelle1843 Tates Rd., RR#1Buckhorn ON K0L 1J0(705) 657-9584mucklebuckfarmalpacas@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Obosheen AlpacasMerel Verduyn2650 Sherbrooke Street West Peterborough ON K9J 6X4(705) 760-9888merel4u@yahoo.comwww.obosheenalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Northumberland CountyTwoloom AlpacasMelody Macdonald & D. Campbell290 County Road 35, RR#2Hastings ON K0L 1Y0(705) 696-1649melody@twoloomalpacas.cawww.twoloomalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Hastings CountyAmazing Graze AlpacasMarjory Brady & Steven Martin127 Sine Road, RR#1Stirling ON K0K 3E0(613) 395-6406amazinggraze@sympatico.cawww.amazinggrazealpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Moss Side Farm AlpacasJane MillerPeter MillicanRR #2 Madoc ON K0K 2K0(613) 767-9921petermillican@mac.comType of Alpacas: Suri

Oak Hills AlpacasMike & Heather Candler533 Gallivan Road, RR#4Stirling ON K0K 3E0(613) 395-3053farm@ohalpacas.comwww.ohalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Remington ValleyJoanne & David RawlingsApril & Melody Metcalf652 Palmateer Road, RR#1Tweed ON K0K 3J0(613) 478-3056alpacas@remingtonvalley.comwww.remingtonvalley.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Prince Edward, City ofWhite Pines Alpaca RanchJessica & James Klein350 Schiver Road Quinte West ON K0K 1H0(613) 394-3645info@all-about-alpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

OntarioEasternLennox & Addington CountyCalypso Moon AlpacasPeter KerbyJo-ann Ferreira367 County Road 15, RR#1Tamworth ON K0K 3G0(613) 379-5862info@calypsomoonalpacas.comwww.calypsomoonalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Wilton Road MillPaul MoorbyJanet WaggBox 37 Odessa ON K0H 2H0(613) 386-7379mill@wiltonroad.comwww.wiltonroad.comType of Alpacas: Mill

Frontenac CountySilent Valley AlpacaHanne & Robert QuigleyRR #1 Ompah ON K0H 2J0(613) 479-0307silentvalleyalpaca@gmail.comwww.silentvalleyalpaca.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Silver Cloud AlpacasNancy Carr2719 Sumac Road, RR #1Elginburg ON K0H 1M0(613) 376-3389carralpacas@sympatico.cawww.silvercloudalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

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Members DirectoryRenfrew CountyBallintotas AlpacasShannon & Chris Rouleau78 Braeloch Road Braeside ON K0A 1G0(613) 623-0164ballintotasalpacas@sympatico.cawww.ballintotasalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

King’s Farm AlpacasMark & Sandra Griffiths32668 Hwy #17 Deep River ON K0J 1P0(613) 584-3230m.griffiths@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Lanark CountyAlpaca Farms/Graycott Alpaca FarmArden JenkinsJohn & Karen Southcott737 Upper Scotch Line Perth ON K7H 3C5(613) 267-6204arden@alpacafarms.comwww.alpacafarms.caType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Kings Creek AlpacasSandra & Ian Fredette599 Kings Creek Road, RR#3Ashton ON K0A 1B0(613) 253-8228sandra@kingscreekalpacas.cawww.kingscreekalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Rosedale Meadow AlpacasJim & Sharon McIntosh2631 Rosedale Road N. Smiths Falls ON K7A 4S4(613) 284-5280rmalpacas@aol.comwww.rosedalemeadowalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Victory Farm AlpacasBrian Riff1701 Concession 3 Dalhousie, RR#3Lanark ON K0G 1K0(613) 259-0228brian@victoryfarm.cawww.victoryfarmalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Leeds & Grenville CountyAlpaca TracksKathy EnrightCorinne Cote820 County Road 18, RR#2Oxford Station ON K0G 1T0(613) 258-0177kcfreedom39@hotmail.comwww.alpaca-tracks.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Ottawa, City ofBlue Prints of the FutureMary Anne Mounce23 Brandy Creek Cres., Ottawa ON K2M 2B8(613) 591-9514mam@blueprintsofthefuture.comwww.blueprintsofthefuture.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Magpie Hill AlpacasSarah Bethune & Aaron Daley5849 Third Line Road N., RR#3North Gower ON K0A 2T0(613) 489-3338magpiehill@sympatico.cawww.magpiehill.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Scorry Breck AlpacaRainer & Caecilia Goetze136 Colonel Nicholson Lane Woodlawn ON K0A 3M0(613) 832-4718caeciliag@msn.comwww.scorrybreckalpaca.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Wilhaven Ridge AlpacasHans & Colleen Brouwer1620 Wlhaven Drive Cumberland ON K4C 1M9(613) 833-3227info@wilhavenridgealpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Prescott & Russell CountyFerme Camino FarmLucie Savage & Jean Dupuy1789 rue des Pins, CP 430 Limoges ON K0A 2M0(613) 443-3741fermecaminofarm@sympatico.cawww.fermecaminofarm.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Sunny Side Alpaca RanchRon & Isabell Matschkal3636 McLennan Road Vankleek Hill ON K0B 1R0(613) 678-5399info@sunnysidealpacaranch.casunnysidealpacaranch.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry CountyBrabant Alpaca RanchRejean & Carmelle Brabant12870 Ormond Road, RR#1Winchester ON K0C 2K0(613) 445-2545montana@295.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

OntarioNorthernParry Sound, District ofAlpaca SpringsHarold & Linda Beatty241 Chiswick Line Powassan ON P0H 1Z0(705) 724-3886beatty@efni.comwww.alpacasprings.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Nipissing, District ofAngora Ridge RanchKris Alle389 South River Road Nipissing ON P0H 1W0(705) 724-9151angoraridge@hotmail.comwww.alpacanation.com/angoraridge.aspType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Misty Haven AlpacasNorma Wall245 Derland Road Corbeil ON P0H 1K0(705) 752-4256norma@mistyhavenalpacas.comwww.mistyhavenalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Algoma, District ofMeadowview Alpaca FarmDenise & Robert Martel908 Carter Side Road, RR#1Bruce Mines ON P0R 1C0(705) 785-3389rd.martel@xplornet.comwww.meadowviewalpacafarm.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Stourie BraeSally KennedyScott Baker1141 Lakeview Road, RR#4Echo Bay ON P0S 1C0(705) 248-2255sally.kennedy@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Stokely Creek Alpaca RanchSharon & Wes Ayotte91 Pickard Rd., RR#1Goulais River ON P0E 1E0(705) 649-3158ayotteabode@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Thunder Bay, District ofHilltop Oasis AlpacasHelen Huk & Stefan Huzan5034 Dawson Road,RR #12 Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E3(807) 767-2458hhuk@tbaytel.netType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Eastern CanadaQuebecAlpacAdoreElisabeth Fortin & Luc Pinet70 Norton Creek North, RR#5St-Chrysostome QC J0S 1R0(450) 825-2739info@alpacadore.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpaga Illimite/Alpaca UnlimitedDiane Feinberg & Francine Fournier1066 Chemin Du Sixieme Rang Gatineau QC J8R 3A6(819) 669-5775info@alpagaillimite.cawww.alpagaillimite.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpagas CharlevoixNathalie Poirier364 rg St-Godefroy Les Eboulements QC G0A 2M0(418) 635-1205alpagascharlevoix@hotmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpagas des Hauts VentsJean Yves & Sara Lalande856 ch. Cowan Havelock QC J0S 2C0(450) 826-1233info@alpagasdeshautsvents.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpagas HemmingfordLouise VerscheldenRobert Patenaude674 Montée Giroux Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0(450) 826-0731info@hemmingfordalpacas.comwww.hemmingfordalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpagas Karisma AlpacasFrancois Grenon & Isabelle Cote750, 7e RangSaint-Felix-de-Kingsey, QC J0B 2Y0(819) 848-2484francknorth@gmail.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Gracias A La VidaValerie Hourdebaigt106 Rue Sainte-Marie Gatineau QC J8Y 2A8(819) 776-9407valerie2h@sympatico.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Ranch Alpaga L’Ourse Qui DanseJohanne Ratelle4240 Chemin Carr Front Godmanchester QC J0S 1H0(450) 264-2702ratellejo@yahoo.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Willow Lane AlpacasLaird Graham#44, Hwy 148 Bristol QC J0X 1G0(819) 647-5402g.graham@picanoc.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

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Eastern CanadaMaritimes

Members Directory

Prince Edward IslandGreen Gable AlpacasJanet Ogilvie5627 Route 12 Birch Hill PE C0B 2C0(902) 831-2559jogilvie@greengablealpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Nova ScotiaRocaro AlpacasCaroline Gregg & Rob Woods1745 Georgefield Rd. RR #1Upper Kennetcook NS B0N 2L0(902) 261-2122rocaroalpacas@yahoo.cawww.rocaroalpacas.caType of Alpacas: Huacaya

New BrunswickIrishtown AlpacasMelanie & Dan Hicks1820 Elmwood Drive Moncton NB E1H 2H6(506) 382-7396irishtownalpacas@rogers.comwww.irishtownalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Western CanadaManitobaEvergreen Acres UMAGarry & Kathy UmscheidP.O. Box 117 Arden MB R0J 0B0(204) 368-2467alpaca@evergreenacres.orgwww.evergreenacres.orgType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Western CanadaSaskatchewanHigh Plains Alpacas Ltd.Rick & Evelyn DerksenSite 707, Box 36, RR#7Saskatoon SK S7K 1N2(306) 668-2178info@highplainsalpacas.comwww.highplainsalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Ring Ranch AlpacasDeryl & Bernie Ring1450 Baker Road East Casa Rio (Saskatoon) SK S7T 1B5(306) 477-2182d.ring@sasktel.netwww.ringalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Sweet Dreams Alpaca RanchCraig & Dawn RogersBox 23 Kenosee Lake SK S0C 2S0(306) 739-2249sweetdreamsalpacaranch@xplornet.comwww.sweet-dreams-alpaca-ranch.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Woody Acres AlpacasDavid WoodBox 12, RR #5, Station Main Saskatoon SK S7K 3J8(306) 373-4949dlwood2001@hotmail.comwww.woodyacresalpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Western CanadaAlbertaCamelot HavenJulene KaslowskiRR#2 Cachrane AB T4C 1A2(403) 932-7036camelothaven@platinum.cawww.camelothaven.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Neville Lake AlpacasFrank & Lee MohlerRR#1 Barrhead AB T7N 1N2(780) 674-6653info@nevillelakealpacas.comwww.nevillelakealpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Sunnyhill AlpacasKevin & Leanne SeptGeneral Delivery Rolly View AB T0C 2K0(780) 986-5392twofarmsonevision@hotmail.comwww.twofarms-onevision.comType of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya

Wilderness AlpacasShirley & Barry ChartersTeresa & Jason Cooper222194 Range Road 274 Rocky View AB T1X 0J4(403) 936-5058info@wilderness-alpacas.comwww.wilderness-alpacas.comType of Alpacas: Huacaya

Alpaca Ontario

Education EventOctober 23-24, 2010

2010 is turning out to be a wonderful year as far as summer weather is concerned. By now many of us have cria running around and they are having a grand time. Summertime also means that breeding season is upon us; a time to make crucial decisions for our future herd. Are we breeding for fineness? Or perhaps crimp? Does temperament matter, especially in our males? Some of us think they have it all figured out; many of us understand that knowledge is always evolving. That is where our Fall Education Weekend, held in Peterborough on October 23-24, 2010, comes in.

Alpaca Ontario is currently working on establishing the fibre initiative geared to streamlining our processes and improving our animals and their fibre production. The Fall Education seminars are geared to complement this task. Our 2nd annual fleece competition will see many entries from a variety of members, whether established or brand-new. Jill MacLeod will be judging these fleeces on Friday, Oct 22, 2010 and I am excited to have her with us. Ms. MacLeod will stick around until Sunday, when she will be teaching us about our own fibre from the competition. The goal is to explain fleece characteristics and qualities and areas we might need to improve on.

Dr. Brett Kaysen is our key-note speaker for Saturday. If you did not get to see him last year then you cannot miss this year’s session. An expert in the field of genetics, genetic traits and herd management, Dr. Kaysen has co-developed a management system that will make it very easy to match up the best possible male and female for breeding improvements in anyone’s herd. Brett is an engaging speaker and his quick wit and charisma add to the package. He truly is a teacher not to be missed and I look forward to welcoming him back.

To round out the weekend we have asked Dr. Patrick Long to come in for the Sunday session. After all, if your alpacas are not properly nourished and cared for, how can we expect them to give us that gorgeous fleece we all desire? Nutrition and herd health are Dr. Long’s expertise. Sessions for our newer members include: Basic herd health--vaccination, de-worming, feet and teeth care; Preparation for birthing and Care for older animals. In the afternoon we will cover: Feeding alpacas; Care of the neonate; Common field problems that he encounters and Current research projects in camelid health. The latter topics should be of interest to all our members. We are hoping to have lots of hands-on training to ensure that even our newest member will gain confidence in dealing with their animals.

Registration forms and updates will be posted on the Alpaca Ontario’s website as they become available. Please note that the Holiday Inn in Peterborough will be our place to stay and learn. We look forward to seeing you there.

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Habitat for Alpacas 2010 The Second Year

by Stacey Davis

Riding on the success of Habitat 2009 the Team decided to give it a second go and put ourselves up for auction for a second time in 2010. Once again we took the highest bid in the Alpaca Ontario Silent Auction at the Spring Show. Since we did such a good job on their build last year, Dawn Campbell and Melody Macdonald of Twoloom Alpacas stepped up to the plate to join us this year. They wanted to pay it forward and take part in something that would help out one of their fellow breeders.

Arriba Linea of Uxbridge, Ontario held the winning bid this year. Raising $850.00 for Alpaca Ontario they secured themselves a weekend of work from a 6 member team. On the agenda this year? Fencing…and LOTS of it!! We picked a weekend that would suit everyone and plans were underway. Little did we know that the first weekend in July would be smack in the middle of an Ontario heat wave! Reaching temperatures of 36 degrees, 42 with the humidex, made for some very hot and

thirsty team members.

Arriba Linea first moved their alpaca’s home to their farm in Uxbridge in 2006. They had 5 acres of fenced-in area to house their barn and their animals and never dreamt they would need more room. Rapidly g r o w i n g their alpaca business in the last 4 years meant

they would need to expand their pastures. Connecting to the existing fencing the plan was to fence in 3 ¾ more acres of pasture to use mostly for the females and cria for adequate pasture rotation.

Tom Vanhanen of Arriba Linea had completed some preparation work before the team arrived to make sure we were making the best use of the most hands for the maximum time. A string-line was run to mark out where the new fence line would be. The sod was removed off the top to be used elsewhere on the farm, and a 4 inch deep trench was excavated along this line. A neighbouring farmer came by on the Friday and dug out 130 post holes, 4 feet deep, in record time! All supplies including posts and fencing had been trucked in ahead of time and all the tools needed for the job were on hand.

Arriving bright and early Saturday morning, loaded with tools, gloves and ambition, the team was at work by 8:00. First up was to clear some rocks out of a few holes dug over an old silo bed. Sounds like an easy enough task…hmmm…Dawn thought we were digging to China! There were some rather large rocks in the bunch. While that was going on, a second group started off setting corner posts as they were dropped off by pickup truck on the way around the perimeter.

Saturday turned into a very busy day. Lori and Janet Jones had to take a drive in the morning with a male to do a breeding at a local farm. An out of town farm arrived to drop off 2 of their girls for breeding on the farm, and to take a look at the fencing work being done. We were inside having a quick cool off break when out of the window Trixi spotted one of the moms we had been watching with a new cria at her feet. Sneaky girl waited for break time for her beautiful daughter Madeline

to arrive! We also had a visit from Ashley Whitehead, a vet graduated from the OVC at Guelph to do some acupuncture on one of Arriba’s girls - and all that before 11:00am!

Completing the first few tasks got the balance of the prep work out of the way and took us up to lunch time and a bit of a rest with some drinks inside. A few laughs, a lot of water, a brief planning session and we were headed out for Stage 2.

Loading up the huge cooler after lunch someone came up with the brilliant idea to motorize it so we could take it out into the new pasture with us! Golf cart to the rescue, a couple of tie straps, and we had a Power Cooler – Tim the Tool Man Taylor

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would have been impressed (insert grunt here) - to supply water and Gatorade to the workers! That golf cart sure had some miles put on it over the weekend.

Now off to run a string line between corner posts and start setting the posts in between for the rest of the fence. Since everyone was freed up from the preparation of the morning we had two teams working in tandem around the perimeter. The youngest member of the team this year at 21, my son Ryan got the fun filled job of using the clam digger to scoop out all the holes to a fairly level 4 feet deep. I’d never had the pleasure of using a tool of that sort before so part way through the afternoon I gave it whirl to give the young guy a break. Can’t say I ever want that sort of pleasure again! Back breaking work to say the least – best to take it in turns!

As we dropped 10 foot cedar posts in the holes we would swap jobs around a bit between shoveling, tamping, leveling and using the super long hose to soak down the dirt - and occasionally each other – to

set the posts. Brad was sure to encourage Melody and I in our shoveling by telling us we were “doing a great job” while he stood and held the level on the post. Soaking heads under the hose, or hats in the ice water in the cooler helped to make the heat of the day more bearable. We had a rest period at one point while David, Brad and Ryan worked on scooping a little vole out of one of our post holes. David’s hat became a scooper and eventually they got him out, safe and sound. Team 1 – Vole 0.

The end of Day 1 saw 130 posts set. Great work for a team of 9 workers, if I do say so myself. Ready and waiting for fencing to be stretched the next day they were an impressive sight to behold. Dinner was well earned that day! What a great barbeque we had. The frozen drinks were flowing to cool everyone down, and the laughs and conversation around the table were great medicine at the end of a hard day of work.

Day 2 started with a nice light breakfast and a good stretch of the muscles. Still hot as ever outside we were prepared.

Loading up the Power Cooler with some fresh bottles of water and fresh ice was the first detail to take care of. Sunscreen and hats on and out we went to tackle the rolls of fencing.

Landscape fabric was rolled out and laid double in the trench to help avoid weeds growing up through. Each pole needed a split in the fabric and a bit of a wrap to keep one long continuous piece running. Large size gravel was then dumped in the trench and spread

along to level it out just below the height of the grass for ease of lawn mowing around the outside later. Melody and Ian showed off their tractor maneuvering skills, and Dawn and Tom took it in turns using a skid steer, while Brad directed the tipping of the gravel with a tricky set of hand signals - 1100 feet of fabric and rocks is enough to wear anyone out! Most of the trench

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was lined and filled by lunch on Day 2.

After lunch one team started bracing the fence corners while the other team finished off spreading gravel. Wooden braces as well as a length of twisted wire helped to secure the corners of the fence. There is a real art to the chainsaw work needed to cut both the notch in the post and the angle on the support beam at the same time - makes for a terrific fit. Ian and Tom were the experts here and gave the rest of us a quick lesson. We all had fun learning the secret of “the twist” in the wire from Ian. Again as one team finished up a job they jumped in to start running 6 foot, no-climb fencing behind the team that was bracing. Once

the fence had been pulled tight using the tractor the whole team could grab staples and hammers and get to work securing the fence several posts at a time. Not an idle moment to be found in the 2 days.

A family arrived in the early afternoon for a short notice farm visit. Tom had explained that we had a lot of hot and sweaty workers busy on the farm that day, and that only made them more eager to come out and see what we were all up to. Not the most glamorous of days for the team members to be meeting new potential alpaca breeders, but as they said themselves “this is what it’s all about”. They were quite thrilled with the idea of farmer helping farmer. We may just see them on the bidding sheet next year!

We continued to toil through the afternoon with the aid of a freezie delivery run by Lori and Janet in the golf cart, and a short break in the shade. At the end of the 2 day project we had 600 feet of fencing strung, just 500 feet short of the completed job. It would have been nice to see a completely fenced pasture for the alpacas to run in, but with all the major work completed at least we could be happy in the knowledge that we were leaving the farm owners with a manageable job to finish off on their own.

Another very successful year for Habitat for Alpacas! Owners Lori and Tom were really pleased with all the work that was completed. The Team members once again had a fun filled, if not exhausting,

weekend of hard work, great laughs and good food, and we managed to learn so much. I had never strung fence before and wouldn’t have known how some of it was accomplished without seeing it and taking part myself. By the time I finally drive up the driveway on my own farm in the future, I will have acquired some of the knowledge and skill from last year to put up shelters in the pastures, and from this year to fence them in safely and securely. I just hope the Habitat Team is still willing to come out and do the job!

Thanks so much to team members Dawn Campbell, Melody Macdonald, Ian Fockler, David Lloyd, and Ryan Davis for stepping up to be the fuel behind this idea and sharing my belief that we all have to take some time to pay it forward. Thank you also to honorary team members Brad Fort, Janet Jones and Trixi Lloyd for working so hard alongside us, and to Beverly Vanhanen for keeping us all well fed and happy all weekend.

As a post script to this saga, the fencing was completed the following weekend. Having my own alpacas agisted at Arriba Linea, I was on hand for the grand opening…of the fence that is. Tom cut an opening in the existing fence to join on the new pasture. The honour of the first run went to the moms and their cria. We stood back and watched as first the crias crept out and their reluctant moms followed them into this new world. Taking in the sheer size of the new pasture the babies were the first to realize the great running potential this held for them and off they went! They soon discovered the dirt mound in the back of the pasture that was left from excavating the trench and a great game of “king of the mountain” broke out. The sight of the crias running and playing in the long grass was payment in full for a very hot weekend of work and at that moment in time there was nowhere I would rather have been standing.

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As alpaca owners and breeders we are frequently accused of attributing human traits to our animals.I’m guilty of it, maybe you are too. I’ll go you one better, mine talk. Well, I speak the words but the sentiment is all theirs and sometimes some of mine say bad words, especially the girls.

The older boys are usually very polite and say please a lot especially during breeding season. The younger ones strut around saying, hey! hey! look at me! look at me! Pick me! Pick me!!!!!! The geldings grumble and go back to eating. The yearling boys get all worked up and alternately try to breed or kill each other, sometimes they all just wind up in a big alpaca knot.

Shearing day is always good for some drama. My personal non-favourite is the drama queen who screams and cries and tells every one she’s going to die and we’re peeling her skin off, every year. Guess what, she survives in great shape, every year! Other animals almost always lie quietly throughout the process, some tolerate it very well, some aren’t happy about it but none of the others carries on the way Queenie does, thank goodness!

From the Bean Pile by Marj Brady

On AnthropomorphismOld Whitey aka Ole PeePee Legs has some kind of radar going on. She can be spotless throughout the entire winter but the week before shearing every year without fail she decides to sleep with her hind legs in the urine that puddles overnight in the dip in her stall floor. The stall isn’t over crowded, she manages to avoid the puddle for the 5 months that they sleep inside before shearing day, but the week before shearing ….ta da! Filthy pee-pee legs and trashed butt fleece. After 5 years I’m convinced she does it intentionally.

She was one of our original purchases and, unlike a lot of the older girls, this one is halter trained - she’s trained to spit in my face when I hold up the halter. In truth, once we get the introductions out

of the way she leads perfectly. She cushes for toenails because apparently she thinks it’s helpful, especially when she tucks her left foot into her right armpit. She growls, gurgles and grumbles, and mutters curses at me under her breath with a bad South American accent, some days it sounds like it might be middle Eastern European but I don’t know who she’s trying to kid – she was born in British Columbia not Columbia.

Old Whitey has given us trouble free, strong, healthy crias every year. As far as her birthing records showed when we bought her, no one had ever witnessed the birth of any of her crias – she’s one of those sneaky girls who fires one out when you turn your back for a minute. In 2007, after narrowly missing several of

her deliveries, I made it my personal mission to observe and catch her in the act. I’m not proud of it and I won’t do it again because in 2008 she gave us a surprise. Prior to me sneaking around after her in ’07 she had given us four solid coloured white or fawn crias with no patterns. In 2008 we were “gifted” with a lovely little tuxedo male who has the dubious distinction of carrying at least 8 different colours including grey and black and 3 or 4 different and distinct browns in his blanket. By way of apology I gave her the next year off. I know all you more scientifically minded types are shaking your heads saying it’s genetic, there must have been a tuxedo in somebody’s gene pool, but I’m sure he’s retribution for me spying on her in 2007.

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AOMarketplace

Farm Store Listings

Alpaca Acres Farm StoreHand crafted luxurious Alpaca items made by local artisans

Gorgeous yarns, rovings and knit kits from our herd.Halters, leads, animals sales & stud services.

www.alpacaacres.ca 519-625-1064 info@alpacaacres.ca

Come VisitSPLIT ROCK FARM ALPACAS

The Alpaca Habitfor your everyday and Christmas gifting needs:

handmade alpaca clothing, accessories, socks, yarns Alpaca sales & services

www.splitrockfarmsbb.com 905-382-7777

ALPACA CENTRALAn excellent selection of luxurious alpaca products

Yarn, socks, insoles and beautifully crafted hand-made itemsLivestock and breeding services

www.alpacacentral.ca(519) 928-2890

Amazing Graze AlpacasSales of Award Winning Breeding Stock & Fibre/Companion Animals

Our annual fibre harvest is processed into yarn, rovings, felt and finished items. Our Product is all Made in Canada using only Canadian alpaca fibre.

Available at the farm by appointment, at open houses, by telephone or email. Paypal is accepted for online purchases.

www.AmazingGrazeAlpacas.ca 613-395-6406

Quarry Hill FarmsAvailable Wholesale and Retail,

Wearables, Yarns, Fleece and CollectablesLivestock and Breeding Services

www.quarryhillfarms.ca905-838-3963

Ziraldo AlpacasAlpaca sales, stud services, yarn, roving, socks, insoles & hand knit

accessoriesDebbie & Carlo Ziraldo

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www.zalpacas.com

Brier Run Alpacas & Edy’s Mills Fine FibresQuality Canadian Made Alpaca Products

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Camelot Haven Alpaca RanchQuality Alpacas/Quality Alpaca Products

Many Unique FAIR TRADE ItemsOrganic/Natural Fibres

Please visit: www.camelothaven.com

Salem AlpacasHandmade Alpaca Duvets, Available Wholesale & Retail

Wearables, Yarn, Fleece & CollectablesLivestock, Breeding Services & Boarding

www.salemalpacas.com 705-786-2023

Alpaca Tracks T(h)read LightlyWe offer hand woven & knit wearables made in Canada

by various fi ne fi bre artists.Alpaca yarn and rovings are also available.

We sell various items from Peru to offer our support toLa Casa Hogar Orphanage in Arequipa, Peru.Livestock and breeding services are available.

www.alpaca-tracks.com 613-258-0177

Elmlea FarmAlpacas, Angoras, Llamas

Fleece, Felt, Yarn, Socks and Hand-knitted itemsSelf-Serve processing(skirting,tumbling,picking,carding) $10.00/hr.

Instruction and ongoing support included

www.elmleafarm.com 705-778-2070

Misty Haven Alpacas Yarn & GarmentsCorbeil, Ontario

Yarn, Fibres & Handcrafted AccessoriesAlpacas for Sale(705)752-4256

http://shopping.mistyhavenalpacas.com

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Farm Store Listings

Gold Star AlpacasCanadian and Imported Alpaca Wear

Knitting, Spinning, Craft SuppliesDouble Registered Alpacas

Store Hours: Weekends 12-4 (or by app’mt)12062 Plank Rd., RR6, Tillsonburg

www.goldstaralpacas.ca 519-866-3790

Celestial Casa AlpacasWide assortment of Handmade & imported wearables plus Yarn

Farm ToursBreeding & Fibre alpacas for sale

Breeding Services905-649-8040 or 416-720-6435www.celestialcasaalpacas.com

Black Ash AcresCanadian made products from Canadian raised Alpacas

Yarn rovings, raw fleece, socks and other finished productsLivestock and Breedings for sale.

www.blackashacres.on.ca 519-844-2508

Moore House Fine AlpacasWide selection of Luxury Yarns, Knit Kits, Socks, Duvets

Breeding Stock, Breeding Services, Hobby Alpacas

www.moorehouse.ca905-892-8252

Alpacas From Eighth and MudMill to process fiber Yarn, rovings, creative yarn

Alpaca Clothing, accessories and DuvetsLivestock Breeding Services & Boarding

www.alpacasfromeighthandmud.com905-643-0339

Rocaro Alpacas - Nova Scotia

Handmade Alpaca Duvets,Alpaca Fashions, Yarn, Rovings Fleece as available.

Alpaca Sales, Breeding Services & Boarding

www.rocaroalpacas.ca 902-261-2122

YOUR

BUSINESS

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AOMarketplace

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To advertise in the

AOMarketplaceplease contact Dawn Campbell at

dawn@twoloomalpacas.ca

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AOMarketplace

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AO Board of DirectorsOfficers Of the cOrpOratiOnTrixi Lloyd - PresidentStacey Hipwell - Vice PresidentStacey Davis - SecretaryMelody Macdonald - Treasurer

DirectOrsStacey Hipwell - gmalpacas@hotmail.comTrixi Lloyd - trixi@rogers.comStacey Davis - stacey.davis3@gmail.comDeb Griffey - deb@sirepoweralpacas.comAnn Clayburn - info@alpacaacres.caMichael Innes - ebonyineden@execulink.comTracey VanHerpe - traceyvan@xplornet.com

AO Committeeseducation Trixi LloydDavid Lloyd

events Ann Clayburn

fibre promotions committeeStacey Davis - Chair

MarketingDeb Griffey - ChairDee GrahamRick Anderson

MembershipMelody Macdonald

newsletter & Bulletin & WebsiteDawn Campbell

OVc & Vet LiaisonGlen FinbowMichael Innes

show steering committeeBrian Riff - ChairSuelaine Poot - Full Fleece Halter ShowDeb Griffey - Advertising & PromotionMelody Macdonald - FinancialsTracey VanHerpe - Stud Auction & SponsorsStacey Davis - Fibre Display & Competition

Mailing Addressalpaca Ontario inc.c/o Melody Macdonald

290 County Road 35, RR#2Hastings, ON K0L 1Y0

melodymacdonald@xplornet.ca

September 9th - 12th, 2010 New Brunswick Alpaca Show

Fredericton FairgroundsFredericton, NB

www.nbalpacashow.homestead.com

September 14th - 16th, 2010Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

Woodstock, ONwww.outdoorfarmshow.com

September 25th - 26th, 2010International Plowing Match

St. Thomas, ONwww.ipm2010.com

September 25th & 26th, 2010Alpaca Farm Days Open House

Various Locationswww.alpacaontario.ca

October 9th, 2010Southwestern OntarioLlama & Alpaca Show

Norfolk County FairgroundsSimcoe, ON

www.norfolkcountyfair.com

October 22nd, 2010Alpaca Ontario Fleece Show

Peterborough, ONwww.alpacaontario.ca

October 23rd - 24th, 2010Alpaca Ontario Education Event

Peterborough, ONwww.alpacaontario.ca

October 23rd, 2010Woodstock Fleece Festival

Woodstock FairgroundsWoodstock, ON

www.fleecefestival.com

October 24th - 29th, 2010Master Spinner 1, 2, & 3

and Master Weaver 1Olds College Continuing Education

Off Campus Offeringswww.oldscollege.ca

November 5th - 14th, 2010Royal Winter Fair

Exhibition PlaceToronto, ON

www.royalfair.org

November 5th - 7th, 2010Eastern Canadian National Alpaca Sale

& FuturityOrangeville Fairgrounds

Orangeville, ONwww.cnalpacaeast.com

Alpaca Farm DaysSeptember 25th & 26th, 2010

Participating Farms

AlpacAdoreSt-Chrysostome, QC

www.alpacadore.com

Alpacas From Eighth & MudStoney Creek, ON

www.alpacasfromeighthandmud.com

Alpaca Springs FarmPowassan, ON

www.alpacasprings.ca

Amazing Graze AlpacasStirling, ON

www.amazinggrazealpacas.ca

Arriba Linea AlpacasUxbridge, ON

www.arribalinea.com

Datrix AlpacasKeswick, ON

www.datrixalpacas.com

Ferme Camino FarmLimoges, ON

www.fermecaminofarm.ca

Gold Star AlpacasTillsonburg, ON

www.goldstaralpacas.ca

Hidden Hollow AlpacasErin, ON

carolynnerodgers@sympatico.ca

Magpie Hill AlpacasNorth Gower, ON

www.magpiehill.ca

Misty Haven AlpacasCorbeil, ON

www.mistyhavenalpacas.com

Northfork AlpacasUxbridge, ON

www.northforkalpacas.com

Sire Power AlpacasPalmerston, ON

www.sirepoweralpacas.com

Split Rock Farms AlpacasRidgeway, ON

www.splitrockfarmsbb.com

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U p c o m i n gEVENTS

Newsletter layout by DCS Alpaca Ontario logo design by Igniter. www.igniter.ca

Full event listings can be found on the Alpaca Ontario website atwww.alpacaontario.ca