Alpaka judging in the Allgau...

The schwabenhalle  in Buchloe was an ideal setting for the Alpaka Show last weekend. Apparently these halls are made specifically for the showing and sale of cattle. There is plenty of room for the animals alongside the hall and tons of tiered seats from which the public and breeders can enjoy the spectacle. The show was organised for breeders only on the Saturday and open to the public on the Sunday when 2000 people popped in to enjoy the alpacas. 

Great turn out and I had the privilege of judging some remarkable alpacas. Exhibitors had come all the way from Holland, Italy, Austria and France to compete their alpacas. A massive thanks to Hienz and Simon for inviting me to judge and for creating this alpaca showcase. A fantastic amount of work goes into getting it right and they worked their Alpaca socks off to make sure everyone had a good time.

There was a great atmosphere in the hall and the exhibitors as always took defeat in their stride with good humour and there were tears of joy for the winners. 'Twas ever thus - please feel free to blame the judge.

A big thanks also to Hieke who took Shirley and I out on the Thursday evening for my first ever Croation meal- yumliscious. 

A big thanks to Pia and Jan who worked as my interpreter - not an enviable task with my accent.

Thanks to Ritchie for his sound work and scribework  and thanks to his girlfriend who played show secretary throughout. 

Thanks to  Theresa for scribing the fleeces until late on Friday evening.

And  big thanks for the patience and good humour of the exhibitors and for all the volunteers and organisers who put in their time and talent to make this show a success.

And not forgetting the young Klinks - Reuben and Tom who did a great job ferrying fleeces to me all Friday evening. Thank you one and all for an unforgettable experience in your wonderful country and I hope to see you all in the UK pretty soon.

Alpaka Show Buchloe in the Allgau

Had a great four days in Southern Germany last week judging alpacas and fleece in a town called Buchloe.  A big thanks all round from Shirley and to the organisers Simon, Hienz and George for their wonderful hospitality. 

We arrived on Thursday and were taken out for the day by George  to visit the Bavarian Alps. The country is amazing. The views were to die for. We popped up a ski lift and spent an hour waiting for the wind to turn so that the Paragliders could terrify us mere mortals jumping off the cliffs. I was wobbly on the lift the very thought of jumping into the void hanging onto bits of nylon sitting in your rucksack is the stuff of nightmares. 

A big thanks to George of Alpaka Amada who was our driver and our host for the day. Thank you Simon and Hienz for an unforgettable day out. George got us back to the Show ground for 5pm where the jollies stopped and fleece judging commenced in earnest.

TOFT on tour in Buchloe...

Started the fleeces this evening still got 40 to get through in the morning before the halter starts in the afternoon. I shall have to work like the Duracell bunny to get through 180 alpacas and the fleeces and get the medals dished ouT by early doors Sunday. Alpaca breeders enter this show from France, Italy,Switzerland  and all points North and South. They drive for hours to get here and I'd like to get them on their way as early as possible on Sunday. One things certain they won't be hanging around to talk to the judge after the show.

Sexing guinea pigs is a little trickier than alpacas

A couple of months ago for young Edward's  birthday his Gran bought two female Guinea pigs for him. Unfortunately three weeks ago both females gave birth to five wee ones. Apparently Guinea pigs can breed at three weeks so suddenly we have five iincestouos offspring to find homes for. 

Today was week three for the little ones and this morning Shirley decides we have to sex them and separate boys and girls immediately  be on the safe side. So before we leave for Germany to judge alpacas we are sexing Guinea Pigs. As you do.

 The one below protruding is a male. The one not protruding above is a female. Obvious, when you know but tricky to apply the right amount of pressure to facilitate protruding. All this over ones Cornflakes. There's never a dull moment at TOFT alpacas. At least they won't get to bonk their mothers and sisters while we are away!

Jobs still on at TOFT Alpacas...

Big TOFT thanks to young Will who came to help me with the alpaca fencing last week. We are about halfway through setting up the new 15 acres of alpaca paddock. Ran out of time today as I am off to Munich at the crack of sparrows in the morning to judge fleece and halter at a big show over the weekend. Next week it's Spain. The fence job will all get done by Christmas- we hope!

Jobs on...

We've been at the fencing on the new alpaca pasture for almost nine days solid and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's still small and a long way away. We're probably at least another week or so away from getting the alpacas onto the new pastures which are currently growing  like they're on speed with this warm autumnal break. The number of posts in the stack are diminishing but still  a daunting pile remains. If the weather holds we get there quick and if it breaks we get their later but at least we know now we shall get there.

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.