Members Directory

Transcription

Members Directory

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AONews
Published by the members of Alpaca Ontario
Volume 8 . Issue 2 . September 2010
Members
Directory
Page 12
Alpaca Fabrics...pg5
Fiber Herd Viability...pg6
Habitat for Alpacas 2010...pg12
a
AOpg2
A message from the President
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.
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 brainstorming 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 brandnew 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
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 Lloyd
Datrix Alpacas
datrixalpacas@gmail.com
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 Inside
President’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
AOpg3
The Show That Keeps on Growing!
by Stacey Davis
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
AOpg4
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 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
The canteen and lunch counter this year our knowledgeable speakers to address.
were run by the Maitland District RoVents - What a great introduction to the wonderful
a combined unit of Rovers and Venturers, world of alpaca for those in attendance.
aged 15 to 26, from a local Scout troop Congratulations go out to our top spot
toiled to keep a large crowd fed and happy. winners of the weekend. The 2010
Under the guidance of their advisor, a Alpaca Ontario Best in Show Suri was
great fundraising opportunity was provided KA Warren owned by Arden Jenkins
for their troop. Alpaca Ontario was happy of Koksilah Acres-Graycott Alpacas of
to be able to give back to the community Cobbe Hill, British Columbia. 2010 Best
that allows us to continue to host our in Show Huacaya went to High Plains
show in their backyard each Spring.
Super Sambrarro, co-owned by Rick and
The Fibre Fantasy area was well visited Evelyn Derksen of High Plains Alpacas in
over the weekend. The results of the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Elisabeth
2010 Mary-Ann English Alpaca Ontario Fortin and Luc Pinet of AlpacAdore, of
Spin-off Competition were displayed. St. Chrysostome, Quebec. To take home
A total of 74 entries were sent out to 7 these prestigious awards from a show of
spinners this year to be worked into some this size is quite an accomplishment. We
beautiful hand-spun skeins. A collection look forward to seeing what your breeding
of 30 entries to the Fibre Arts Competition programs will bring us in the future.
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.
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.
AOpg5
Create Alpaca Fabrics:
Woven and Felted
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
by Wade Gease with something that is known to be a
constant will help dilute
Since first acquiring alpacas
variations you may have
I have looked at their fleece
in your fleece selection.
as that year’s treasure. I
You will limit migration
find that many of us alpaca
and weakness in your
enthusiasts have an inner drive
fabric by selecting similar
to create, tinker, and explore
microns and lengths. This
options with alpaca fiber. I’ve
is where “sorting” is of
seen everything from stuffed
utmost importance and
pet toys and bird nesting balls
why it is one of the hotter
up to high end fabrics. All of
clinics alpaca breeders
these products can help push
are embracing. Sorting is
our industry into spot lights that
the process of separating
most consumers have not seen
out fleece micron ranges,
us in before. This can open up
lengths
and
color.
One fleece may be
countless new marketing opportunities for
sorted
into
possibly
half
dozen categories.
us as breeders and entrepreneurs. My
current personal ambition is to work with I am working on the idea that the lower the
developing alpaca fabrics and felt. It will micron (ex. Grade 1) the higher percent
be our industries highlight when we can of blending (30%) should be used. Fine
show how versatile alpaca fiber can be. fibers are soft, but are more likely to pill
We need to show how this natural fiber and fray. Typically you do not affect the
can be positively manipulated into items properties of the natural fiber being used
that we can either walk on or wrap around until you reach about 30%.
us on an evening out.
Both fabric runs that I experimented
Natural fibers have many positive properties with were about 20% blends of Bamboo
over synthetics. The best quality is simply with 80% Alpaca. The first run was
that it is not a petroleum based product. processed at Exotic Fibers of Canada.
Alpaca fabrics are not commonly seen in They have a minimum of 120+lbs/run.
North America. That is because there are I sorted my mature herd and combined
few worsted mills that have experience my most common variables together. The
making fabric from alpaca. It is also an commonality for me to get 100+lbs was
expensive order. Over the past three years to use all colors that came to a micron
Exotic Fibers of Canada has worked with range of 25-28 and were over 3 inches.
me and others in making some blends of I experimented with different percentages
alpaca with rayon bamboo. Rayon bamboo of colors to get a rose gray. 30% White,
is a fine, lustrous filament that is about 15%beige,20% fawn,25% brown, 10%
19 microns and blends well with alpaca. black. Then 20% of white bamboo was
Bamboo has good name recognition with added which tilted the mix towards a
consumers. Other rayon items that I’ve lighter shade. I think the percentages
heard blend well with alpaca are Tensil, are pretty forgiving if you are interested
SeaSilk, and Silk. Rayon is simply the in trying. The price is about $50 US/yard
classification of an item derived from a fabric. You end up with 95-100 yards. You
cellulose product (plants). My suggestions will need to make a sought-after product
for blending percentages are yarns 10- that commands a valued price to offset
20% & fabrics 15-20%. Also, take advice its expense to make woven material. The
of the millwright you are working with at fabric came back beautiful and I do sell a
your mill. They may have not worked with few yards here and there. I have hired a
an item you wish to blend with but they seamstress to make a few pieces for our
store. It is a long term inventory item that
certainly know what blending does.
Blending is a logical choice for alpaca will pay for itself over time.
fiber. It may be your way to extend the The second fiber run was with 22 micron
quantity you have by blending 15-20% of and under fibers that were separated,
another medium into your batch. These 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.
AOpg6
Alpaca Fiber Herd Viability
by Rose Mogerman
Once 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
AOpg7
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
A Report on the
Alpaca Ontario Fibre Initiative
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 Campbell
Chair, Fibre Initiative
photo by Wade Gease
AOpg8
Alpaca Ontario Invests in Camelid Training at the Ontario Veterinary College
Joanne Hewson1, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Ashley E. Whitehead1, BSc, DVM
Julia Hodgins2, DVM
Jocelyn Jansen3, DVM, DVSc
Ontario Veterinary College, University of
Guelph
1
Private practitioner and Small Ruminant
Veterinarians of Ontario Executive
2
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural
Affairs and Small Ruminant Veterinarians of
Ontario Executive
3
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
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
Image 1:
with surgeons, residents and
Dr. Christopher Cebra presented a wide variety of semiinterns reviewing common surgical
nars on camelid topics over the 3-day workshop.
techniques in camelids. He also
gave in-depth presentations on
of several options, it was ultimately decided intensive care of the critical cria, metabolic
that intensive personnel training from a disorders in camelids, and various medical
guest speaker would benefit the greatest conditions to the internists. Dr. Angelika
number of individuals at the College. This Schoster, currently in her second year of
knowledge could then be passed on to a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc)
future undergraduate veterinary students program at the OVC, described the event
as “a rare opportunity to interact with a
in the years to come.
world-renowned specialist in the field of
With this goal in mind, the OVC was
New World Camelid Medicine. The lectures
very fortunate to be able to recruit Dr.
were well rounded and very informative,
Christopher Cebra to deliver a 3-day series
and an extremely valuable addition to the
of seminars on camelids at the College
education already offered at the University
from February 23-25, 2010. Dr. Cebra,
of Guelph.”
a professor and Head of the Department
of Clinical Sciences at Oregon State Between presentations,
Cebra
very
University, is recognized internationally Dr.
as a camelid specialist. Dr. Cebra has willingly volunteered
worked with camelids for almost twenty to give some handsyears. He has published extensively on on training to OVC
camelid medicine and surgery topics and personnel as well. This
has been involved in numerous research included ultrasound
of
the
projects to advance our understanding of imaging
camelid diseases, including many of the abdomen of camelids,
common disorders we encounter such and tips to intravenous
as Eimeria macusaniensis, Coronavirus, catheter placement.
and Eperythrozoonosis (Mycoplasma Over the course
haemolama).
of the 3
The itinerary of Dr. Cebra’s visit was days,
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
AOpg9
alpacas”. This was an effective way to
reinforce all the learning from the week in
trying to solve several case presentations
of sick camelids.
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
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.
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.
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
Newsletter Advertising Rates:
Back Cover
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Quarter Page (4 available)
. ....................................................................$ 80.00
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For more information visit the Alpaca Ontario Website @ www.alpacaontario.ca/newsletters.html
AOpg10
Making a Choice
by Marty McGee Bennett
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
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?
physically
implement
the
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
AOpg11
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
llama/
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 groundbreaking 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
AOpg12
Members Directory
Ontario
Southwestern
Lambton County
Alpaca Fibre Co-op of Ontario
c/o Elaine Dobbin
5177 Courtright Line, RR#3
Oil Springs ON N0N 1P0
info@alpacafibreco-op.ca
www.alpacafibreco-op.ca
Type of Alpacas: Co-op
Angels Lane Alpacas
Randy & Sherry & Michael Whiting
4911 Oil Springs Line, RR#3
(519) 834-2178
sherrys_angels@hotmail.com
Type of Alpacas: Huacaya
Black Ash Acres
Elaine Dobbin
5177 Courtright Line, RR#3
(519) 844-2508
tdobbin@brktel.on.ca
Brier Run Alpacas
Heather Blanchard & N. McAuslan
4336 Eddy’s Mill Line
(519) 692-9430
edys-brier@hotmail.com
www.alpacascanada.com
Gold Star Alpacas
Richard & Jerra Anderson
12062 Plank Road, RR#6
Tillsonburg ON N4G 4G9
(519) 866-3790
rander6@amtelecom.net
www.goldstaralpacas.ca
Huron County
Cranbrook Acres Alpacas
John & Maureen Hengeveld
42692 Cranbrook Rd., RR#3
Brussels ON N0G 1H0
(519) 887-8630
jmhengeveld@live.com
Softail Lane Alpacas
Judith Elder-McCartney
RR#4, 42137 Mill Rd.,
Seaforth ON N0K 1W0
(519) 522-0366
judithmc@tcc.on.ca
www.jemstudioarts.com
Bruce County
D L Farms
Deidre Graham
542 Bruce Road 86, RR#1
Lucknow ON N0G 2H0
(519) 528-2406
dlfarms@hurontel.on.ca
Grey County
Alpaca Acres
Ann Clayburn
3979 Road 108, RR#4
Stratford ON N5A 6S5
(519) 625-1064
info@alpacaacres.ca
www.alpacaacres.ca
Leap of Faith Alpacas
Carolynne & George Rodgers
Deb Griffey
5128 Line 90, RR#2
Palmerston ON N0G 2P0
(519) 343-3193
deb@leapoffaithalpacas.ca
www.leapoffaithalpacas.ca
Perth County Alpaca
Business Collective
RR#2
(519) 343-3193
info@perthalpaca.com
www.perthcounty.com
Type of Alpacas: Co-op
Pootcorners Farm
Suelaine & Peter Poot
9455 Road 146, RR#2
(519) 343-3745
smpoot@hotmail.com
www.pootcorners.com
Type of Alpacas: Suri & Huacaya
Andres Alpacas
Henry Mengers
033201 Drive In Road, RR #1
Hanover ON N4N 3B8
(519) 364-4921
hamengers@sympatico.ca
www.andresalpacas.com
Providence Pastures
Moria Poot
9455 Perth Road 146 RR#2
(519) 343-3745
mspoot@hotmail.com
Type of Alpacas: Youth
Spruce Haven Alpaca Farm
Tracey VanHerpe
7757 Irish Drive, RR#1
Mount Brydges ON N0L 1W0
(519) 264-3268
traceyvan@xplornet.com
Heritage Farm Alpacas
Ed & Dorothy Van Dyke
2NCD RR#3
Hepworth ON N0H 1P0
(519) 935-3060
dorothyvandyke@hotmail.com
www.heritagefarmalpacas.webs.com
Shears to You
Deb Griffey
RR#2
(519) 343-3193
deb@shearstoyou.ca
www.shearstoyou.ca
Type of Alpacas: Mill
Ziraldo Alpacas
Debbie & Carlo Ziraldo
21370 Fairview Road, RR#2
Thorndale ON N0M 2P0
(519) 461-1582
zalpacas@xplornet.com
www.zalpacas.com
Kickin Back Alpaca Ranch
Doug & Carolyn Lilleyman
734762 West Back Line, RR#7
Markdale ON N0C 1H0
(519) 986-3758
info@kickinbackalpacaranch.com
Elgin County
Perth County
Sire Power Alpacas
Deb Griffey
RR #2
(519) 343-3193
deb@sirepoweralpacas.com
www.sirepoweralpacas.com
Eden Alpaca Farm Inc.
Michael & Pamela Innes
9793 Somers Road, RR#1
Eden ON N0J 1H0
(519) 842-1888
ebonyineden@eastlink.ca
A Brother’s Bond Alpacas
Reuben & Issac Poot
9455 Perth Road 146, RR#2
(519) 343-3745
rcpoot@hotmail.com
Middlesex County
David Kellam
333 Connongton St.
London ON N6C 4C8
(519) 434-9438
kellam@rogers.com
To Be Alpacas
Taryn Poot
9455 Perth Road 146 RR#2
(519) 343-3745
tbpoot@hotmail.com
Wellington County
7th Heaven Alpacas
Sally Andrade
5892 Highway 9, RR#4
Harriston ON N0G 1Z0
(519) 338-2726
sally@7heavenalpacas.ca
www.7heavenalpacas.ca
Alpaca-Trazz
Dianne Kirk-Benincasa
81 Brock Road South, RR#3
Guelph ON N1H 6H9
(519) 836-6486
dianne@alpaca-trazz.ca
www.alpaca-trazz.ca
Oxford County
Dickson Llamas & Alpacas
Donna Dickson
170 Ingersoll Road, RR#1
Woodstock ON N4S 7V6
(519) 537-2464
dickson@execulink.com
www.imagitek.com/dicksons
R & F Alpacas
R & F Hoving-Appeldoorn
264142 Prouse Road
Mt. Elgin ON N0J 1N0
(519) 688-4610
hovapp@xplornet.com
SanGrall Alpacas
Susan Schumacher
Mike Rossiter
RR #4
Bright ON N0J 1B0
(519) 632-8761
info@sangrall.com
www.sangrall.com
Brant, City of
Sewell Alpacas Farm
Barbara & William Sewell
218 Harley Road
Harley ON N0E 1E0
(519) 424-3854
sewellalpacasfarm@execulink.com
Starbright Alpaca
Bob & Lynne Calhoun
Jim Harley & Lisa Calhoun-Harley
53 McLean School Road, RR#2
St. George ON N0E 1N0
(519) 448-3607
revcanonlynne@aol.com
Tenklooster, Ina & John
Ina & John Tenklooster
150 Norwich Road, RR#2
Scotland ON N0E 1R0
(519) 446-2713
inatenklooster@silomail.com
AOpg13
Members Directory
Haldimand, Town of
Alpaca Jak’s
Debbie & Doug Meldrum
603 Townline Road W., RR#4
Cayuga ON N0A 1E0
(905) 768-8969
alpacajaks@hotmail.com
Erilyn Alpacas
Lynda & Tom Drever
211 Robinson Rd.
Dunnville ON N1A 2W1
(905) 701-9147
erilynalpacas@yahoo.com
www.erilynalpacas.com
Ontario
Golden Horseshoe
Niagara Region
Beneath the Sun Alpacas
Genie & Bob Reaume
5606 Sixteen Rd., RR#1
St. Ann’s ON L0R 1Y0
(905) 957-8219
genie.reaume@gmail.com
Canadian Comfort Farms
Bob & Leslie Comfort
3689 15 Road, RR#1
St. Anne’s ON L0S 1Y0
(905) 562-4252
herdatpineview@aol.com
www.canadiancomfortalpacas.com
Majestic Alpacas
Larry & Mary Johnstone
1912 Caistor Gainsboro Townline Rd
Smithville ON L0R 2A0
(905) 957-0805
josash2@yahoo.com
Moore House Fine Alpacas
Catherine Timms & Kevin Fuller
417 Tice Road, RR#1
Ridgeville ON L0S 1M0
(905) 892-8252
alpacas@moorehouse.ca
www.moorehouse.ca
Pelham Alpacas
Fiona Hunter & Michael Bidochka
216 Louth Townline Road
St. Catherines ON L2R 6P7
(905) 684-9847
fiona@pelhamalpacas.ca
www.pelhamalpacas.ca
Shorthill Alpacas
Elizabeth & Chelsey Allen
145 Orchard Hill Drive, RR#1
Ridgeville ON L0S 1M0
(905) 892-5233
shorthillalpacas@hotmail.com
Split Rock Farms Alpacas
Lynda & Glen Finbow
1652 Ridge Road North, RR#2
Ridgeway ON L0S 1N0
(905) 382-7777
Splitrockfarmsbb@aol.com
www.splitrockfarmsbb.com
Datrix Alpacas
David & Trixi Lloyd
1 Laurendale Ave.
Keswick ON L4P 4A8
(905) 656-0308
datrixalpacas@gmail.com
datrixalpacas.com
Northfork Alpacas
Ian Fockler & Mary Saindon
373 Feasby Road
Uxbridge ON L9P 1R1
(905) 852-1703
imnorthfork@aol.com
www.northforkalpacas.com
Hamilton, City of
Isle of Skye Ranch
Andrew & Kelly MacLeod
2388 Baseline Road, RR#2
Keswick ON L3P 3E9
(905) 806-5700
info@isleofskyeranch.ca
Spinning Wheel Alpacas
Nancy & Garth Hutchinson
1857 Regional Road 3
Enniskillen ON L0B 1J0
(905) 263-2098
nancy@spinningwheelalpacas.com
www.spinningwheelalpacas.com
SerenaVale Farm
Mark Armer
45 Sierra Court
Maple ON L6A 2E5
(905) 303-0092
marka@serenavale.com
Sunflower Ridge Alpacas
Tracey Newman & Doug Bartmann
14799 Concession 6
Uxbridge ON L9P 1R2
(705) 228-8450
sunflowerridgealpacas@hotmail.com
Toronto, City of
Thomark Alpacas
Delbert & Mary Thompson
RR #2, Concession 6, B1535
Beaverton ON L0K 1A0
(705) 426-7453
thomarkalpacas@sympatico.ca
Alpacas From Eighth and Mud
John Docherty & Sharon Trent
232 Eighth Road East
Stoney Creek ON L8J 3M2
(905) 643-0339
john@alpacasfromeighthandmud.com
www.alpacasfromeighthandmud.com
Green Acres Alpacas
Helga Hillyard
35 Melissa Cres.,
Flamborough ON L9H 7C5
(905) 689-6050
helga@cogeco.ca
www.greenacresalpacastore.com
Hobo Hill Farm
Kim Burns
145 Glencarry Ave.
Hamilton ON L8K 3R7
(905) 312-1776
Totem Farm
Heather Morrissey
Box 86
Carlisle ON L0R 1H0
(905) 690-9497
hmorrissey09@gmail.com
Halton Region
Lynda Watson
495 Shannon Cr.
Burlington ON L7L 2R9
(905) 637-9745
linda4@bell.net
Peel Region
Quarry Hill Farms
Dawn Balog
14822 Mississauga Road
Terra Cotta ON L7C 1W6
(905) 838-3963
dawn.balog@gmail.com
www.quarryhillfarms.ca
York Region
A Moments Grace Alpacas
Stacey Davis
166 Fairwood Dr.,
Keswick ON L4P 3Y3
(905) 476-5650
stacey.davis3@gmail.com
Ausangate Alpacas
Paul Doris & Jill Jamieson-Doris
50 Banmoor Blvd
Scarborough ON M1J 2Z2
(416) 439-4542
jilldoris@sympatico.ca
Eugenix
Steve & Jennifer Hagey
99 Burlington Street
Toronto ON M8V 3W1
(416) 252-8060
info@alpacaeugenix.com
www.alpacaeugenix.com
Durham Region
Arriba Linea Alpacas
Janet Jones
Brad Fort
P.O. Box 146
Zephyr ON L0E 1T0
(905) 473-1066
janet@arribalinea.com
Lori Jones & Tom Vanhanen
Beverley Vanhanen
755 Sandford Road
Uxbridge ON L0P 1R2
(416) 225-8950
lori@arribalinea.com
www.arribalinea.com
Celestial Casa Alpacas
Susan Garrett
Greg Precop
1900 Brock Road, RR#4
Uxbridge ON L9R 1R4
(905) 649-8040
info@celestialcasaalpacas.com
www.celestialcasaalpacas.com
VIP Alpacas
Paul & Vivian Aikins
S - 503 Durham Road 13
Sunderland ON L0C 1H0
(705) 357-3575
vp.aikins@sympatico.ca
www.vipalpacas.ca
Ontario
Central
Dufferin County
Alpaca Central
Jean & Aldo Marascio
Margaret & David MacDonald
201215 County Rd 109, RR#3
Grand Valley ON L0N 1G0
(519) 928-2890
info@alpacacentral.ca
www.alpacacentral.ca
Alpaca Park
Victor Brown
202 Jull Crt
Orangeville ON L9W 4M8
(519) 940-4166
victor@alpacapark.com
Heed Farm Alpacas
Kai-Liis McInnes
836100 4th Line EHS Mulmur RR#3
Mansfield ON L0N 1M0
(519) 925-0421
kai-liis@sympatico.ca
www.kai-liis.com
AOpg14
Members Directory
Hidden Hollow Alpacas
Carolynne Rodgers
5163 Ninth Line
Erin ON N0B 1T0
(519) 833-7198
carolynnerodgers@sympatico.ca
Skye & John Orr
5731 3rd Line, RR#2
Tottenham ON L0G 1W0
(905) 936-9497
merons@zing-net.ca
Type of Alpacas: None
Muskoka, District of
Humming Hill
Elspeth & Peter King
248082 5th Sideroad, RR#5
Orangeville ON L9W 2Z2
(519) 940-3014
elspeth4445@yahoo.ca
Gateway Fibreworks
Gail Stiver
1397 Beiers Road, General Delivery
Kilworthy ON P0E 1G0
(705) 687-9203
gail@gatewayfibreworks.com
www.gatewayfibreworks.com
Lady Slipper Alpacas
Randy & Wendy Cross
11405 E-W Garafraxa Townline,
RR#4
Belwood ON N0B 1J0
(519) 843-1663
wcross@hsfx.ca
Kawartha Lakes, City of
ladyslipperalpacas.vpweb.ca/default.html
Paradise Pastures
Gerry & Debra Terpstra
636592 Prince of Wales Road, RR#2
Shelburne ON L0N 1S6
(519) 925-6235
terpstra@bell.net
Gentle Glade Alpacas
Ausma & Mark Clappison
859 County Road 40
Norwood ON K0L 2V0
(705) 639-1641
gentle.glade.alpacas@gmail.com
www.gentlegladealpacas.com
Remington Valley
Joanne & David Rawlings
April & Melody Metcalf
652 Palmateer Road, RR#1
Tweed ON K0K 3J0
(613) 478-3056
alpacas@remingtonvalley.com
www.remingtonvalley.com
Hubbert Farms
Kathy McConnell & Larry Hubbert
600 Lily Lake Road, RR#2
Peterborough ON K9J 6X3
(705) 741-6730
info@hubbertfarms.ca
www.hubbertfarms.ca
Highgate Alpacas
Jane McKee
1515 North Shore Road
Haliburton ON K0M 1S0
(705) 489-2519
highgate@bell.net
www.highgatealpacas.com
Mucklebuck Farm Alpacas
Tom & Lorry Labelle
1843 Tates Rd., RR#1
Buckhorn ON K0L 1J0
(705) 657-9584
Salem Alpacas
Kathleen Holmes & Erma Burkhart
363 Salem Road, RR#1
Manilla ON K0M 2J0
(705) 786-2023
info@salemalpacas.com
www.salemalpacas.com
Simcoe County
Peterborough County
Eden Chase
Janet Ward
2064 20/21 Side Road, RR#2
Shanty Bay ON L0L 2L0
(705) 722-3477
deward36@hotmail.com
Averegan Alpacas
Donna Simmonds
1746 Crowley Ave., RR#6
(705) 750-1732
Lavender House Alpacas
Lorraine & Andrew Taylor
1824 Fairgrounds Road N. P.O. Box
648
Stayner ON L0M 1S0
(705) 443-8722
ladyrowena@xplornet.ca
www.lavender-house.net
Oak Hills Alpacas
Mike & Heather Candler
533 Gallivan Road, RR#4
Stirling ON K0K 3E0
(613) 395-3053
farm@ohalpacas.com
www.ohalpacas.com
Grassy Meadow Alpacas
Stacey Hipwell
137 Grassy Road, RR#1
Omemee ON K0L 2W0
(705) 799-2236
gmalpacas@hotmail.com
www.grassymeadowalpacas.com
Polana Ranch
Joanna Adamczyk
PO Box 30
Mansfield ON L0N 1M0
(519) 925-6328
joannaadamczyk@hotmail.com
www.polanaranch.com
E’reWind
Simone & Bruce Norman
4640 9th Line
Beeton ON L0G 1A0
(705) 458-2995
alpacapug@gmail.com
Elmlea Farm
Lee Resmer & Elmer Buchanan
243 Baker Road
Havelock ON K0L 1Z0
(705) 778-2070
elmlea@sympatico.ca
www.elmleafarm.com
mucklebuckfarmalpacas@hotmail.com
Obosheen Alpacas
Merel Verduyn
2650 Sherbrooke Street West
(705) 760-9888
merel4u@yahoo.com
www.obosheenalpacas.ca
Northumberland County
Prince Edward, City of
White Pines Alpaca Ranch
Jessica & James Klein
350 Schiver Road
Quinte West ON K0K 1H0
(613) 394-3645
info@all-about-alpacas.com
Ontario
Eastern
Lennox & Addington
County
Calypso Moon Alpacas
Peter Kerby
Jo-ann Ferreira
367 County Road 15, RR#1
Tamworth ON K0K 3G0
(613) 379-5862
info@calypsomoonalpacas.com
www.calypsomoonalpacas.com
Twoloom Alpacas
Melody Macdonald & D. Campbell
Hastings ON K0L 1Y0
(705) 696-1649
melody@twoloomalpacas.ca
www.twoloomalpacas.ca
Wilton Road Mill
Paul Moorby
Janet Wagg
Box 37
Odessa ON K0H 2H0
(613) 386-7379
mill@wiltonroad.com
www.wiltonroad.com
Hastings County
Frontenac County
Bellhaven Alpacas
Dave & Kathy Bell
445 Elgar Drive
Millbrook ON L0A 1G0
(705) 743-4420
kelgeti@gmail.com
Amazing Graze Alpacas
Marjory Brady & Steven Martin
127 Sine Road, RR#1
Stirling ON K0K 3E0
(613) 395-6406
amazinggraze@sympatico.ca
www.amazinggrazealpacas.ca
Silent Valley Alpaca
Hanne & Robert Quigley
RR #1
Ompah ON K0H 2J0
(613) 479-0307
silentvalleyalpaca@gmail.com
www.silentvalleyalpaca.ca
Cedar Ridge Alpaca Ranch
Denise & James Cole
1343 Scollard Drive
Peterborough ON K9H 7K2
(705) 742-4288
jamescole@nexicom.net
www.cedarridgealpacas.com
Moss Side Farm Alpacas
Jane Miller
Peter Millican
RR #2
Madoc ON K0K 2K0
(613) 767-9921
petermillican@mac.com
Type of Alpacas: Suri
Silver Cloud Alpacas
Nancy Carr
2719 Sumac Road, RR #1
Elginburg ON K0H 1M0
(613) 376-3389
carralpacas@sympatico.ca
www.silvercloudalpacas.com
donnacountryacrespetlodge@hotmail.com
www.avereganalpacas.org
AOpg15
Members Directory
Renfrew County
Ottawa, City of
Ballintotas Alpacas
Shannon & Chris Rouleau
78 Braeloch Road
Braeside ON K0A 1G0
(613) 623-0164
ballintotasalpacas@sympatico.ca
www.ballintotasalpacas.com
Blue Prints of the Future
Mary Anne Mounce
23 Brandy Creek Cres.,
Ottawa ON K2M 2B8
(613) 591-9514
mam@blueprintsofthefuture.com
www.blueprintsofthefuture.com
King’s Farm Alpacas
Mark & Sandra Griffiths
32668 Hwy #17
Deep River ON K0J 1P0
(613) 584-3230
m.griffiths@sympatico.ca
Magpie Hill Alpacas
Sarah Bethune & Aaron Daley
5849 Third Line Road N., RR#3
North Gower ON K0A 2T0
(613) 489-3338
magpiehill@sympatico.ca
www.magpiehill.ca
Lanark County
Alpaca Farms/Graycott Alpaca Farm
Arden Jenkins
John & Karen Southcott
737 Upper Scotch Line
Perth ON K7H 3C5
(613) 267-6204
arden@alpacafarms.com
www.alpacafarms.ca
Kings Creek Alpacas
Sandra & Ian Fredette
599 Kings Creek Road, RR#3
Ashton ON K0A 1B0
(613) 253-8228
sandra@kingscreekalpacas.ca
www.kingscreekalpacas.ca
Rosedale Meadow Alpacas
Jim & Sharon McIntosh
2631 Rosedale Road N.
Smiths Falls ON K7A 4S4
(613) 284-5280
rmalpacas@aol.com
www.rosedalemeadowalpacas.com
Victory Farm Alpacas
Brian Riff
1701 Concession 3 Dalhousie, RR#3
Lanark ON K0G 1K0
(613) 259-0228
brian@victoryfarm.ca
www.victoryfarmalpacas.ca
Leeds & Grenville
County
Alpaca Tracks
Kathy Enright
Corinne Cote
Oxford Station ON K0G 1T0
(613) 258-0177
kcfreedom39@hotmail.com
www.alpaca-tracks.com
Scorry Breck Alpaca
Rainer & Caecilia Goetze
136 Colonel Nicholson Lane
Woodlawn ON K0A 3M0
(613) 832-4718
caeciliag@msn.com
www.scorrybreckalpaca.com
Wilhaven Ridge Alpacas
Hans & Colleen Brouwer
1620 Wlhaven Drive
Cumberland ON K4C 1M9
(613) 833-3227
info@wilhavenridgealpacas.ca
Prescott & Russell
County
Ferme Camino Farm
Lucie Savage & Jean Dupuy
1789 rue des Pins, CP 430
Limoges ON K0A 2M0
(613) 443-3741
fermecaminofarm@sympatico.ca
www.fermecaminofarm.ca
Sunny Side Alpaca Ranch
Ron & Isabell Matschkal
3636 McLennan Road
Vankleek Hill ON K0B 1R0
(613) 678-5399
info@sunnysidealpacaranch.ca
sunnysidealpacaranch.ca
Stormont, Dundas &
Glengarry County
Brabant Alpaca Ranch
Rejean & Carmelle Brabant
12870 Ormond Road, RR#1
Winchester ON K0C 2K0
(613) 445-2545
montana@295.ca
Ontario
Eastern Canada
Northern
Quebec
Parry Sound, District of
AlpacAdore
Elisabeth Fortin & Luc Pinet
70 Norton Creek North, RR#5
St-Chrysostome QC J0S 1R0
(450) 825-2739
info@alpacadore.com
Alpaca Springs
Harold & Linda Beatty
241 Chiswick Line
Powassan ON P0H 1Z0
(705) 724-3886
beatty@efni.com
www.alpacasprings.ca
Nipissing, District of
Angora Ridge Ranch
Kris Alle
389 South River Road
Nipissing ON P0H 1W0
(705) 724-9151
angoraridge@hotmail.com
www.alpacanation.com/angoraridge.asp
Misty Haven Alpacas
Norma Wall
245 Derland Road
Corbeil ON P0H 1K0
(705) 752-4256
norma@mistyhavenalpacas.com
www.mistyhavenalpacas.com
Algoma, District of
Meadowview Alpaca Farm
Denise & Robert Martel
908 Carter Side Road, RR#1
Bruce Mines ON P0R 1C0
(705) 785-3389
rd.martel@xplornet.com
www.meadowviewalpacafarm.com
Stourie Brae
Sally Kennedy
Scott Baker
1141 Lakeview Road, RR#4
Echo Bay ON P0S 1C0
(705) 248-2255
sally.kennedy@sympatico.ca
Stokely Creek Alpaca Ranch
Sharon & Wes Ayotte
91 Pickard Rd., RR#1
Goulais River ON P0E 1E0
(705) 649-3158
ayotteabode@hotmail.com
Thunder Bay, District of
Hilltop Oasis Alpacas
Helen Huk & Stefan Huzan
5034 Dawson Road,
RR #12
Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E3
(807) 767-2458
hhuk@tbaytel.net
Alpaga Illimite/Alpaca Unlimited
Diane Feinberg & Francine Fournier
1066 Chemin Du Sixieme Rang
Gatineau QC J8R 3A6
(819) 669-5775
info@alpagaillimite.ca
www.alpagaillimite.ca
Alpagas Charlevoix
Nathalie Poirier
364 rg St-Godefroy
Les Eboulements QC G0A 2M0
(418) 635-1205
alpagascharlevoix@hotmail.com
Alpagas des Hauts Vents
Jean Yves & Sara Lalande
856 ch. Cowan
Havelock QC J0S 2C0
(450) 826-1233
info@alpagasdeshautsvents.com
Alpagas Hemmingford
Louise Verschelden
Robert Patenaude
674 Montée Giroux
Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0
(450) 826-0731
info@hemmingfordalpacas.com
www.hemmingfordalpacas.com
Alpagas Karisma Alpacas
Francois Grenon & Isabelle Cote
750, 7e Rang
Saint-Felix-de-Kingsey, QC J0B 2Y0
(819) 848-2484
francknorth@gmail.com
Gracias A La Vida
Valerie Hourdebaigt
106 Rue Sainte-Marie
Gatineau QC J8Y 2A8
(819) 776-9407
valerie2h@sympatico.ca
Ranch Alpaga L’Ourse Qui Danse
Johanne Ratelle
4240 Chemin Carr Front
Godmanchester QC J0S 1H0
(450) 264-2702
ratellejo@yahoo.ca
Willow Lane Alpacas
Laird Graham
#44, Hwy 148
Bristol QC J0X 1G0
(819) 647-5402
g.graham@picanoc.ca
AOpg16
Members Directory
Eastern Canada
Maritimes
New Brunswick
Irishtown Alpacas
Melanie & Dan Hicks
1820 Elmwood Drive
Moncton NB E1H 2H6
(506) 382-7396
irishtownalpacas@rogers.com
www.irishtownalpacas.com
Nova Scotia
Rocaro Alpacas
Caroline Gregg & Rob Woods
1745 Georgefield Rd. RR #1
Upper Kennetcook NS B0N 2L0
(902) 261-2122
rocaroalpacas@yahoo.ca
www.rocaroalpacas.ca
Prince Edward Island
Green Gable Alpacas
Janet Ogilvie
5627 Route 12
Birch Hill PE C0B 2C0
(902) 831-2559
jogilvie@greengablealpacas.com
Western Canada
Manitoba
Sweet Dreams Alpaca Ranch
Craig & Dawn Rogers
Box 23
Kenosee Lake SK S0C 2S0
(306) 739-2249
sweetdreamsalpacaranch@xplornet.com
www.sweet-dreams-alpaca-ranch.com
Woody Acres Alpacas
David Wood
Box 12, RR #5, Station Main
Saskatoon SK S7K 3J8
(306) 373-4949
dlwood2001@hotmail.com
www.woodyacresalpacas.com
Western Canada
Alberta
Camelot Haven
Julene Kaslowski
RR#2
Cachrane AB T4C 1A2
(403) 932-7036
camelothaven@platinum.ca
www.camelothaven.com
Neville Lake Alpacas
Frank & Lee Mohler
RR#1
Barrhead AB T7N 1N2
(780) 674-6653
info@nevillelakealpacas.com
www.nevillelakealpacas.com
Evergreen Acres UMA
Garry & Kathy Umscheid
P.O. Box 117
Arden MB R0J 0B0
(204) 368-2467
alpaca@evergreenacres.org
www.evergreenacres.org
Sunnyhill Alpacas
Kevin & Leanne Sept
General Delivery
Rolly View AB T0C 2K0
(780) 986-5392
twofarmsonevision@hotmail.com
www.twofarms-onevision.com
Western Canada
Wilderness Alpacas
Shirley & Barry Charters
Teresa & Jason Cooper
222194 Range Road 274
Rocky View AB T1X 0J4
(403) 936-5058
info@wilderness-alpacas.com
www.wilderness-alpacas.com
Saskatchewan
High Plains Alpacas Ltd.
Rick & Evelyn Derksen
Site 707, Box 36, RR#7
Saskatoon SK S7K 1N2
(306) 668-2178
info@highplainsalpacas.com
www.highplainsalpacas.com
Ring Ranch Alpacas
Deryl & Bernie Ring
1450 Baker Road East
Casa Rio (Saskatoon) SK S7T 1B5
(306) 477-2182
d.ring@sasktel.net
www.ringalpacas.com
Alpaca Ontario
Education Event
October 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.
AOpg17
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
fencedin 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
AOpg18
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
AOpg19
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!
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,
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.
AOpg20
From the Bean Pile
by Marj Brady
On Anthropomorphism
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
nonfavourite 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!
Old 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.
AOpg21
AOMarketplace
Farm Store Listings
Come Visit
Alpaca Acres Farm Store
Hand 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
SPLIT ROCK FARM ALPACAS
The Alpaca Habit
for your everyday and Christmas gifting needs:
handmade alpaca clothing, accessories, socks, yarns
Alpaca sales & services
905-382-7777
ALPACA CENTRAL
An excellent selection of luxurious alpaca products
Yarn, socks, insoles and beautifully crafted hand-made items
Livestock and breeding services
www.alpacacentral.ca
(519) 928-2890
Sales 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 Farms
Available Wholesale and Retail,
Wearables, Yarns, Fleece and Collectables
Livestock and Breeding Services
www.quarryhillfarms.ca
905-838-3963
Ziraldo Alpacas
Alpaca sales, stud services, yarn, roving, socks, insoles & hand knit
accessories
Debbie & Carlo Ziraldo
Thorndale, Ontario
519-461-1582
www.zalpacas.com
Brier Run Alpacas & Edy’s Mills Fine Fibres
Camelot Haven Alpaca Ranch
Quality Canadian Made Alpaca Products
Hand Woven Rugs, Unique Yarns, One 0f a Kind Handmade
Purses, Vests, Slippers...
Alpacas, Stud Services
Quality Alpacas/Quality Alpaca Products
Many Unique FAIR TRADE Items
Organic/Natural Fibres
519-692-9430
www.alpacascanada.com
Salem Alpacas
Handmade Alpaca Duvets, Available Wholesale & Retail
Wearables, Yarn, Fleece & Collectables
Livestock, Breeding Services & Boarding
www.salemalpacas.com
705-786-2023
Please visit: www.camelothaven.com
Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly
We offer hand woven & knit wearables made in Canada
by various ﬁne ﬁbre artists.
Alpaca yarn and rovings are also available.
We sell various items from Peru to offer our support to
La Casa Hogar Orphanage in Arequipa, Peru.
Livestock and breeding services are available.
www.alpaca-tracks.com
613-258-0177
Elmlea Farm
Misty Haven Alpacas Yarn & Garments
Self-Serve processing(skirting,tumbling,picking,carding) $10.00/hr.
Corbeil, Ontario
Yarn, Fibres & Handcrafted Accessories
Alpacas for Sale
(705)752-4256
http://shopping.mistyhavenalpacas.com
Alpacas, Angoras, Llamas
Fleece, Felt, Yarn, Socks and Hand-knitted items
Instruction and ongoing support included
www.elmleafarm.com
705-778-2070
AOpg22
Farm Store Listings
Celestial Casa Alpacas
Gold Star Alpacas
Canadian and Imported Alpaca Wear
Knitting, Spinning, Craft Supplies
Double Registered Alpacas
Store Hours: Weekends 12-4 (or by app’mt)
12062 Plank Rd., RR6, Tillsonburg
519-866-3790
Canadian made products from Canadian raised Alpacas
Yarn rovings, raw fleece, socks and other finished products
Livestock and Breedings for sale.
519-844-2508
Alpacas From Eighth and Mud
Mill to process fiber Yarn, rovings, creative yarn
Alpaca Clothing, accessories and Duvets
Livestock Breeding Services & Boarding
905-643-0339
YOUR
BUSINESS
CARD
COULD BE
HERE
905-649-8040 or 416-720-6435
www.celestialcasaalpacas.com
Moore House Fine Alpacas
Black Ash Acres
www.blackashacres.on.ca
Wide assortment of Handmade & imported wearables plus Yarn
Farm Tours
Breeding & Fibre alpacas for sale
Breeding Services
Wide selection of Luxury Yarns, Knit Kits, Socks, Duvets
Breeding Stock, Breeding Services, Hobby Alpacas
www.moorehouse.ca
905-892-8252
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
AOpg23
AOMarketplace
To advertise in the
AO Marketplace
please contact Dawn Campbell at
dawn@twoloomalpacas.ca
AOpg24
AOpg25
AOMarketplace
AOpg26
AOpg27
UpcomingEVENTS
September 9th - 12th, 2010
New Brunswick Alpaca Show
Fredericton Fairgrounds
Fredericton, NB
www.nbalpacashow.homestead.com
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
Woodstock, ON
www.outdoorfarmshow.com
International Plowing Match
St. Thomas, ON
www.ipm2010.com
September 25th & 26th, 2010
Alpaca Farm Days Open House
Various Locations
www.alpacaontario.ca
October 9th, 2010
Southwestern Ontario
Llama & Alpaca Show
Norfolk County Fairgrounds
Simcoe, ON
www.norfolkcountyfair.com
October 22nd, 2010
Alpaca Ontario Fleece Show
Peterborough, ON
Alpaca Farm Days
September 25th & 26th, 2010
Participating Farms
AlpacAdore
St-Chrysostome, QC
www.alpacadore.com
Alpacas From Eighth & Mud
Stoney Creek, ON
Alpaca Springs Farm
Powassan, ON
www.alpacasprings.ca
Stirling, ON
www.amazinggrazealpacas.ca
Uxbridge, ON
www.arribalinea.com
Datrix Alpacas
Keswick, ON
www.datrixalpacas.com
Ferme Camino Farm
Limoges, ON
www.fermecaminofarm.ca
October 23rd - 24th, 2010
Alpaca Ontario Education Event
Peterborough, ON
Gold Star Alpacas
Tillsonburg, ON
October 23rd, 2010
Woodstock Fleece Festival
Woodstock Fairgrounds
Woodstock, ON
www.fleecefestival.com
Hidden Hollow Alpacas
Erin, ON
carolynnerodgers@sympatico.ca
October 24th - 29th, 2010
Master Spinner 1, 2, & 3
and Master Weaver 1
Olds College Continuing Education
Off Campus Offerings
www.oldscollege.ca
November 5th - 14th, 2010
Royal Winter Fair
Exhibition Place
Toronto, ON
www.royalfair.org
November 5th - 7th, 2010
Eastern Canadian National Alpaca Sale
& Futurity
Orangeville Fairgrounds
Orangeville, ON
www.cnalpacaeast.com
Magpie Hill Alpacas
North Gower, ON
www.magpiehill.ca
Misty Haven Alpacas
Corbeil, ON
www.mistyhavenalpacas.com
Northfork Alpacas
Uxbridge, ON
www.northforkalpacas.com
Sire Power Alpacas
Palmerston, ON
www.sirepoweralpacas.com
Split Rock Farms Alpacas
Ridgeway, ON
Officers of the Corporation
Trixi Lloyd - President
Stacey Hipwell - Vice President
Stacey Davis - Secretary
Melody Macdonald - Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Stacey Hipwell - gmalpacas@hotmail.com
Trixi Lloyd - trixi@rogers.com
Stacey Davis - stacey.davis3@gmail.com
Deb Griffey - deb@sirepoweralpacas.com
Ann Clayburn - info@alpacaacres.ca
Michael Innes - ebonyineden@execulink.com
Tracey VanHerpe - traceyvan@xplornet.com
AO Committees
Education
Trixi Lloyd
David Lloyd
Events
Ann Clayburn
Fibre Promotions Committee
Stacey Davis - Chair
Marketing
Deb Griffey - Chair
Dee Graham
Rick Anderson
Membership
Melody Macdonald
Newsletter & Bulletin & Website
Dawn Campbell
OVC & Vet Liaison
Glen Finbow
Michael Innes
Show Steering Committee
Brian Riff - Chair
Suelaine Poot - Full Fleece Halter Show
Deb Griffey - Advertising & Promotion
Melody Macdonald - Financials
Tracey VanHerpe - Stud Auction & Sponsors
Stacey Davis - Fibre Display & Competition
Mailing Address
Alpaca Ontario Inc.
Full event listings can be found on the Alpaca Ontario website at
Newsletter layout by DCS
AO Board of Directors
Alpaca Ontario logo design by Igniter. www.igniter.ca
c/o Melody Macdonald
Hastings, ON K0L 1Y0
melodymacdonald@xplornet.ca

Members Directory

Transcription

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