alpacas: 08/26/09

[AlpacaTalk] Alpaca photo contest

I'm new to your list. Although I recognize some of you here. I just wanted to inform anyone interested there is a photo contest for the best alpaca photo at www.savethealpacas.com there is no cost to enter and the winner gets tickets to Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas for opening night.
Our alpacas will be the offical greeters for the evening. I think we'll have to get them some formal wear.
Margo Perryman
Marbri Alpacas
Fullerton CA
marbri96@earthlink.net

__._,_.___

Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.

Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

.

__,_._,___

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Shearing cria

I agree that I prefer to shear crias, although we've never done it. :) Skirting cria fleeces is maddeningly time consuming.

In judging fleeces, they do prefer that the tips are removed, because it makes for a more uniform fleece from weathered end to cut end. There is not allowed to be a preference for tipped vs. not for judging, in that one fleece should not place higher than another simply because it was tipped. Everyone knows what a cria tip is, and there is not supposed to be any disadvantage for not doing it. In halter shows, I guess the same thing would apply, the fleece is just more uniform from weathered tip to the skin.

Heather

Heather Zeleny

White Lotus Alpacas

Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

http://www.whitelotusalpacas.com

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlpacaTalk/join

On Aug 26, 2009, at 8:15 AM, dreamwoodalpacas wrote:

I prefer to shear as cria fleece is like velcro and by spring they have so much hay, straw, etc. in it that unless you are willing to spend gobs of time skirting, it is practically useless--yet it is the softest! So to me its $25 to shear (I don't have the courage or equipment to do it myself yet) and have a baby fine fleece to process easily, or $0 and spend HOURS skirting and still loose half. Sometimes there can also fleece breaks between the fuzz and the after-born fleece.

As far as showing, I've heard that untipped crias are at a disadvantage. However, I've seen several untipped juvies take blues, so I don't know if this is true in halter or if it is judge by judge--they usually do comment on the mats and abundance of crap, though. Supposedly in fleece shows it can hurt since the judge wants to see uniformity of crimp, etc. from tip to skin, and cria tips (1/4-1/2") are usually straight, plus you get/loose points for skirting.

I wouldn't worry too much about the cold, just be sure to have multiple sizes of coats available for the chillier Sept/Oct nights until s/he grows an inch or two back.

Cheers,

Morgen Bowers
Dreamwood Farm
Claverack, NY

__._,_.___

Messages in this topic (5) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.

Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

.

__,_._,___

[AlpacaTalk] Re: Shearing cria

I prefer to shear as cria fleece is like velcro and by spring they have so much hay, straw, etc. in it that unless you are willing to spend gobs of time skirting, it is practically useless--yet it is the softest! So to me its $25 to shear (I don't have the courage or equipment to do it myself yet) and have a baby fine fleece to process easily, or $0 and spend HOURS skirting and still loose half. Sometimes there can also fleece breaks between the fuzz and the after-born fleece.

As far as showing, I've heard that untipped crias are at a disadvantage. However, I've seen several untipped juvies take blues, so I don't know if this is true in halter or if it is judge by judge--they usually do comment on the mats and abundance of crap, though. Supposedly in fleece shows it can hurt since the judge wants to see uniformity of crimp, etc. from tip to skin, and cria tips (1/4-1/2") are usually straight, plus you get/loose points for skirting.

I wouldn't worry too much about the cold, just be sure to have multiple sizes of coats available for the chillier Sept/Oct nights until s/he grows an inch or two back.

Cheers,

Morgen Bowers
Dreamwood Farm
Claverack, NY

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "chrystella.volk" <chrystella.volk@...> wrote:
>
> I have heard some people say you should shear a cria and others that don't. Do you shear your crias? If so, why and what effects does that have on showing them?
>
> Sorry for strange questions, but I am a newbie and I just had my first two baby boys.
>
> Chrys Volk
> Suri-nity Meadows Alpaca Farm
> Ruggles, OH
>

__._,_.___

Messages in this topic (4) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.

MARKETPLACE

Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, for the world and for each other

Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

.

__,_._,___

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Shearing cria

Also, you might want to do it by hand or use dog clippers……..their skin is so easy to cut! We used dog clippers on our little one and I got the idea from another farm when we did theirs. It is soft and fluffy, too!

Laura Roberts

R Half Pint Farm

Spotsylvania, VA

540 895-5877

From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of LunarStruck@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:56 AM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Shearing cria

Depends how hot it is where you are. In Southern CA I don't know anyone who doesn't shear their crias, it is just too hot here. Cria fleece is fluffier and warmer than adult fleece, so I would take it all off. By the time they are old enough to show, it is growing back anyway.

SUSAN OLSON

Alpaca Loco

Riverside, CA

__._,_.___

Messages in this topic (3) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.

MARKETPLACE

Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, for the world and for each other