Broken bones and a quick car trip...

Alyona a four week old Cria was hopping around the paddock the other day unable to put any weight on her front right foot. At first we thought it a sprain but it didn't get better then we administered anti inflammatory and it didn't get better so yesterday we bundled her into the backseat of the Hilux and too fake her to Towcester Vests for a x ray. After some heavy scrutiny it was discovered that she had a broken metacarpal and a cast was put on. For the next six weeks she will be hobbling around the paddock toting this lump of plaster like Marleys Ghost, but hopefully she will mend quick and we can get her back solidly on all fours a lot sooner. She sat as good as gold in the back seat, Never made  murmur during the examinations and came back to TOFT like the queen on her birthday procession- all dignity and calmness in the face of all adversity. I kid you not its like they know you are there to help.

Eeee.... This grass is taking a bit of eating..!

You can't hear the grass growing at TOFT these past few weeks. We are busy shuffling the weaners around en masses to try and chomp it down. If we were growing cows or sheep we would be overjoyed but the alpacas are such efficient grazers that they get fat on concrete. As we prefer to keep our alpacas at their 'ideal' weight we are currently employing an intensive grazing and cutting regime to keep the grass under control. However this warm wet weather is doing its best to scupper those well laid plans. 'Twas ever thus!

Mr TOFT Alpaca Judge busy at the SWAG show at the Royal Bath and West

Just had me a great two days judging halter at the South West Alpaca Group Show at the Royal Bath & West. I remember attending this show at its inception 15 years ago as an exhibitor, again the following year or so with the BAS promotional trailer when Julio Sumar judged it. I have watched it move and be developed ever since then into what is a fantastic showcase for our wonderful creatures. The alpacas now dominate one corner of the show ground. A location with immense potential for agility classes, walks , info demonstrations all sorts of Alpaca related activities to inform and entertain the public. 

We had a great crowd watching throughout. I was immensely proud of the Champion lineup in both Huacaya and Suri with some real quality alpaca livestock on display. 

Thanks to SWAG for inviting me. Thanks to Di Davies and her merry team of stewards and organise for their organisers for creating a truly memorable couple of days. Thanks to all the exhibitors for letting me judge your animals and here's wishing you a very healthy and productive season ahead.

And finally good luck to Julia Corrigan Stuart who apprenticed with me throughout. She did a great job was a pleasure to work with and I wish the very best from her judge certification later this year.

First TOFT Timogen babe hits the ground...result

Always difficult to know when to start the boys mating the females. This time last year we decided to get our Champion Brown Male TOFT Timogen working earlier than usual as we have syndicated this male and the new owners were keen for him to work in 2015. At the time we had a couple of older girls that we decided to let him practice on. Today the first results of that boys graduation to being a man arrived in the paddock in the form of a beautiful dark brown female out of TOFT Snowdrizzle. Result!

Hallelujah....Bring on the boys !

These girls are those that over wintered in the non pregnant paddocks yearning to meet the boys and satisfy their need to reproduce. We started mating at TOFT as soon as shearing finished, which was last week. So these girls are now all together in the early mating paddock being run in and serviced every other day by our very happy Stud males. Every day they queue at the gate with that 'look' in their eye! 

The sound of 'orgling' echoes around TOFT every Monday Wednesday  and Friday at the moment as the boys get themselves match fit for the rest of the season.

Devon County Show with Mrs TOFT Alpaca Judge

Splendid Thursday and Friday this week at the Devon County Show in Exeter where Shirley was judging the alpacas and I was commentating on the proceedings and keeping exhibitors and public informed on the wonderful world of Alpaca. The weather heals off both days from being disastrous with a short break for rain on the Thursday when we went inside for a couple of hours. 

All in all the rain threatened throughout as it does in an English Summer but it never really materialised and a good crowd enjoyed the proceedings throughout. Jo Bridge was apprenticing with Shirley and together they kept up a cracking pace to get through 170 entries over the two days.

It was a great two days of Alpaca fun and the standard of alpacas seemed very high with a very large Suri entry making my job of keeping the 'rabbit' going fairly easy. Great crowd, great setting, fabulous alpacas and a great sense of camaraderie from the exhibitors makes this an unmissable event. Just look at the setting, a permanently fenced show ring, two huge back up marquees to house the alpacas and to keep the ring going in adverse weather. All this next to the main show attraction the Devon Eye! What's not to enjoy??

What a showcase for our magnificent creatures. Congratulations to all the winners, commiserations to those who didn't get placed. Well done Mrs TOFT Alpaca judge and her apprentice from....Suffolk!

Well done Devon!!

Six minutes on that table and look what happens...

That's all it takes to shear an alpaca- walk it from the pen, lift it onto the table, tether back and front legs, stretch and secure as someone holds the head. Once settled, toe nails are cut and shearing begins . Shear one side then  roll the alpaca and shear the other. Check teeth, administer vaccination and wormer if appropriate then release. 

Meanwhile the useable part of the fleece, which is the majority, is taken from the shearing table and placed on the sorting table where three other people rapidly skirt and grade the fleece to its relative batch in less than six minutes.

6 min is all it takes to transform our stunningly beautiful 'teddy bears on legs' into ' Pink Panthers'. Now we must wait 3-6 months for the 'look' to return whilst enjoying the comedy of our Panther romping around inthe sun enjoying the freedom of their summer clothing.

Why do we leave the top knots on? Because it's cute- shave the topknot and  they look a bit like 'Old Nick'. You can't sell an alpaca with a shaved topknot!