Fallowfield Alpacas

Keep up to date with News from Fallowfield

Border Union Show - 26th July 2008

Following the success of our Junior Female, Laneside Evian in 2006, Fallowfield Alpacas regained the Scottish National Championship with our Junior Fawn male Fallowfield Ulysses. Ulysses is a very well grown alpaca for his age, showing great density of bone, producing a heavy cutting fleece with great character and staple definition which impressed Judge Liz Barlow. Ulysses followed this success two weeks later by winning at Slaley Show, with Fallowfield Dido taking Reserve Champion.

Australian Connections

Once again we were delighted to welcome Jeffry and Carole Farman of Flowerdale Estate Alpacas, Australia, to Fallowfield at the beginning of August. Whilst at Fallowfield, Jeffry ran a workshop with NEBAG members on developments in the Australian Alpaca Industry, which clearly illustrated the advances in alpaca breeding in Australia. It was great for Harry to see the Farmans again after his successful gap year spent at Flowerdale.

2008 Northumberland Show Success

We were delighted with our success at the 2008 Northumberland Show held at the end of May. Fallowfield Athena took 1st place in the Junior White Female class; Fallowfield Persephone took 1st place in the Intermediate White Female class, Intermediate Female Reserve Champion and Best white Huacaya. Fallowfield Dido took 4th place in the Junior Female Brown class, and Fallowfield Ulysses also took a 4th place in his Junior Male Fawn class.

Australian Imports

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Flowerdale Amaranthus and Flowerdale September Rain into our herd at the end of August, especially as they have successfully delivered their crias in New Zealand. These two crias - one male, one female, are our first Camelot Tor progeny to come into this country and if all goes well will be followed by more in 2009.

North East and Borders Alpaca Group

At the recent AGM of NEBAG, Melanie was elected Chairman, taking over from Graham MacHarg. The very successful Newsletter will be continued, with alpaca related events arranged on a regular basis. Particular emphasis will be given to increasing membership across the region and forging closer links with other Northern Regional groups. The first decision taken was to form a group to organise and run the Scottish National Championships at the Border Union Show in Kelso in July 2008.

Australian Purchases

Following youngest son Harry's experience working at Flowerdale Estate Alpacas near Melbourne, we developed an interest in the Australian alpaca industry, particularly their recent advances in genetic improvements through the SRS programme and Embryo Transfer. This was further developed when Jeffry and Carol Farman of Flowerdale stayed with us in the summer of 2007, and led to the opportunity to purchase top quality females from their Grand Flowerdale herd. Flowerdale Amaranthus and Flowerdale September Rain are now safely in quarantine in New Zealand, awaiting the births of their crias as a result of their mating with Camelot Tor. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of these alpacas and their crias in late summer 2008.

Halcyon Sollacotta Sunflower

Monday 22nd October 2007 was an exciting day for us, being the auction date of the Halcyon Alpaca Stud dispersal sale in Victoria, Australia. Halcyon have been at the forefront of the advances in the alpaca industry, sourcing the best genetics from across the world, then using advanced breeding technologies such as SRS® and Embryo Transfer to make them even better.

We were thrilled to be successful in purchasing Halcyon Sollacotta Sunflower, the top-priced female on the day. Her skin test results across all criteria are outstanding, from low primary micron to high density. Sollacotta will stay in Australia at Flowerdale as part of an Embryo Transfer programme, with progeny being imported to Fallowfield in due course. Exciting times ahead!