A rose between two fawns

Caught this little brown girl hiding between two fawns yesterday looking for the courage to come forward and join the big school.

Happy new tags big boys and girls...and welcome to your new school

Microchip and tag application day today with seventeen newly weaned cria taking up their residency in the weaner paddocks. When we wean at TOFT we change the nursery tags to the big flags and microchip at the same time. 

With Linda tagging, Freya handling and yours truly on the chipper and not one miss or a spot of blood- we were all done and dusted in 30mins. I think we can safely say we now have this routine down to a fine art.  

So now the weaners  all have their adult tags which as you can see adds another colour to the collective. Now they are popping around the paddocks proud as punch, like kids in new uniforms on their first day at school.  One of the boys even came posing for 'new school' photies. 

Welcome to infant school boys and girls just get on munching now grow into your tags please! 

TOFT Alpaca husbandry day...

Whoever arranged the weather today deserves a medal. I've known a lot worse in July. The sun shone on the Manor today in all its glory as we met a whole herd of alpaca enthusiasts and introduced them to the glories of these wonderful creatures. A great crowd, a lot of fun and we trust that no one made the journey home without the information they needed to consider making alpacas part of their future. All the best and see you soon. Rob & Shirl.

Toft Alpaca Husbandry Introductory Workshop- Perfick!

A great crowd, stunning weather, lunch and afternoon tea at the Toft Alpaca Studio in the Cornflower Cafe. It doesn't get much better than it did yesterday. 

Here's Dan and his son Ben doing a bit of father and son alpaca bonding whilst being shown how to halter alpacas by Shirley.

We are off tomorrow to North Somerset where Shirley is judging alpacas at the North Somerset Show. I'm playing companion animal - as one must. 

I am really looking forward at being at an alpaca show where I am not a steward, announcer, commentator or  judge. Time for some r&r on Bank Holiday Monday and a walk down the sheep lines and tool stalls whilst Whoopy Daisy puts the alpacas through their paces. Sad huh? But this is the closest we ever get to a holiday. Have a great Bank Holiday.